Hair styling device with grip-tip

Abstract

A hair styling device comprises a handle, a heatable elongated member having a longitudinal axis, a distal portion and a proximal portion. The proximal portion of the elongated member is connected to the handle. The device has a hair retention slot at the distal portion of the elongated sized to receive and retain a section of a user's hair. Also described is an attachment for a hair styling device providing such a hair retention slot and a method of using the device and the attachment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hair styling device comprising:
 a. a handle;   b. an elongated member having a longitudinal axis, a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the proximal portion of the elongated member is connected to the handle;   c. a heater for heating the elongated member; and   d. a hair retention slot proximate to the elongated member, the slot sized to receive and retain a section of a user's hair.   
     
     
         2 . The hair styling device according to  claim 1 , comprising a wall bordering the slot. 
     
     
         3 . The hair styling device according to  claim 2 , wherein projections extend from the wall into the slot. 
     
     
         4 . The hair styling device according to  claim 3 , wherein the projections comprise bristles. 
     
     
         5 . The hair styling device according to  claim 2 , wherein the wall comprise an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         6 . The hair styling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the slot has a longitudinal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongated member. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the slot has a longitudinal axis that is not aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongated member. 
     
     
         8 . The hair styling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the slot has a proximal portion proximate to the elongated member, an opposed distal portion, a first width at the slot proximal portion, and a second width at the slot distal portion, and wherein first width is larger than the second width. 
     
     
         9 . The hair styling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the slot has a proximal portion proximate to the elongated member, an opposed distal portion, a first width at the slot proximal portion, and a second width at the slot distal portion, and wherein second width is larger than the first width. 
     
     
         10 . A method for styling a user's hair with the device of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 a. activating the heater;   b. placing a section of a user's hair to be styled into the slot;   c. winding the section of the user's hair around the elongated member;   d. heating the wound section of the user's hair with the heated elongated member; and   e. after step (d), removing the section of the user's hair from the elongated member.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein step (b) is performed after step (c). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein step (b) is performed before step (a). 
     
     
         13 . An attachment for a hair styling device, the attachment having a body with a first portion with an opening for attaching to the hair styling device, the body having a hair retention slot therein, the body has a wall bordering the slot, the slot being sized to receive and retain a section of a user's hair during styling. 
     
     
         14 . The attachment according to  claim 13 , wherein the wall has projections projecting into the slot. 
     
     
         15 . The attachment according to  claim 14 , wherein the projections comprises bristles. 
     
     
         16 . The attachment according to  claim 13 , wherein the wall comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         17 . The attachment according to  claim 16 , wherein the elastomeric material comprises foam rubber. 
     
     
         18 . The attachment according to  claim 16 , wherein the elastomeric material comprises silicone. 
     
     
         19 . The attachment of  claim 13 , wherein the attachment is removably attached to a hair styling device, the hair styling device comprising:
 a. a handle;   b. an elongated member having a longitudinal axis, a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the proximal portion of the elongated member is connected to the handle; and   c. a heater for heating the elongated member.