Automatic hair styling device

Abstract

A hair styling device is described that has a handle, an elongated, substantially cylindrical, heatable rod providing a curling surface and supported by the handle, a heater for heating the curling surface, a support spaced apart from the curling surface, and a rotatable member rotatable relative to the curling surface for wrapping hair around and in contact with the curling surface. The device has an opening in the rotatable member for receiving a section of a user's hair, a motor for rotating the rotatable member, and a flexible, heat-resistant clamp supported by the support and extending from the support toward the curling surface for clamping hair against the curling surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hair styling device comprising:
 a. a handle;   b. an elongated, substantially cylindrical, heatable rod comprising a curling surface and supported by the handle;   c. a heater for heating the curling surface of the rod;   d. a support spaced apart from the curling surface of the rod;   e. a rotatable member rotatable relative to the curling surface for wrapping hair around and in contact with the curling surface of the rod;   f. an opening in the rotatable member for receiving a user's hair;   g. a motor for rotating the rotatable member; and   h. a flexible, heat-resistant clamp supported by the support and extending from the support toward the curling surface of the rod for clamping hair against the curling surface of the rod.   
     
     
         2 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein there is no housing around any portion of the curling surface of the rod. 
     
     
         3 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the curling surface of the rod is accessible 360 degrees around the rod. 
     
     
         4 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the curling surface of the rod is visible to a user 360 degrees around the rod. 
     
     
         5 . The hair styling device of  claim 1  comprising a hook at the opening of the rotatable member for engaging the user's hair. 
     
     
         6 . The hair styling device of  claim 5 , wherein the hook comprises elastomeric material. 
     
     
         7 . The hair styling device of  claim 5 , wherein the hook comprises finger-like projections formed from elastomeric material. 
     
     
         8 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the clamp and the curling surface of the rod is from about 0.1 mm to about 3 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp has a first cross sectional area proximate to the curling surface of the rod, and a second cross sectional area at the support, the first cross sectional area being less that the second cross sectional area. 
     
     
         10 . The hair styling device of  claim 9 , wherein the clamp is proximate to the curling surface of the rod and is triangular in lateral cross section. 
     
     
         11 . The hair styling device of  claim 1  comprising a magnet on the rotatable member, a magnet sensor for positioning the opening of the rotatable member, and a controller for positioning the opening in the rotatable member to a selected position for receiving a user's hair when the rotation of the rotatable member ceases rotation. 
     
     
         12 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp is made of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         13 . The hair styling device of  claim 12 , wherein the elastomeric material is silicone. 
     
     
         14 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , further comprising two or more supports, each support supporting at least one clamp. 
     
     
         15 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , further comprising an optical sensor for detecting when hair has been removed from the curling surface of the rod. 
     
     
         16 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible, heat-resistant restrainer arm supported by the support and extending from the support toward the curling surface of the rod for preventing the hair from twisting as it wraps around the rod. 
     
     
         17 . A method for using the hair styling device of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 a. placing a selected portion of hair through the opening in the rotatable member;   b. activating the rotatable member so that the rotatable member winds the selected portion of hair around the curling surface of the rod, the hair being clamped by the clamp between the support and the curling surface of the rod during styling; and   c. pulling the device away from the hair, thereby sliding the hair from between the clamp and the curling surface of the rod and releasing the hair from the device.   
     
     
         18 . A hair styling device comprising:
 a. a handle;   b. an elongated, substantially cylindrical, heatable rod providing a curling surface and supported by the handle;   c. a heater for heating the curling surface of the rod;   d. a rotatable member rotatable relative to the curling surface of the rod for wrapping hair around and in contact with the curling surface of the rod;   e. an opening in the rotatable member for receiving a user's hair;   f. a motor for rotating the rotatable member; and   g. a flexible, heat-resistant clamp supported by the rotatable member.   
     
     
         19 . A method for using the hair styling device of  claim 18 , comprising the steps of:
 a. placing a selected portion of hair through the opening in the rotatable member;   b. activating the rotatable member so that the rotatable member winds the selected portion of hair around the curling surface, the hair being polished by the clamp during styling; and   c. pulling the device away from the hair, thereby sliding the hair from the curling surface and releasing the hair from the device.