Hair styling accessory

Abstract

A hair styling accessory comprises a body supporting a pair of jaws defining a clamping space between them for receiving a tress of hair. The accessory is configured so that at least one of the jaws is movable to releasably clamp the tress of hair between the jaws. The movable jaw is actuated by air pressure. At least one of the jaws is configured to deliver a jet of air from the body to the clamping space.

1 . A hair styling accessory, comprising:
 a body supporting a pair of jaws defining a clamping space between them for receiving a tress of hair, the accessory being configured so that at least one of the jaws is movable to releasably clamp the tress of hair between the jaws; wherein,   the movable jaw is actuated by air pressure; and   at least one of the jaws is configured to deliver a jet of air from the body to the clamping space.   
     
     
         2 . A hair styling accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the or each movable jaw comprises a housing and a clamping member, the clamping member being coupled to the housing so as to be movable with respect to the housing between an unclamped position in which a tress of hair can be received in the clamping space, and a clamped position in which the jaws are arranged to clamp a tress of hair received in the clamping space. 
     
     
         3 . A hair styling accessory as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the or each movable jaw comprises a chamber defined between the housing and the clamping member, and an inlet for receiving a flow of air from the body into the chamber to actuate the movable jaw and move the clamping member from the unclamped position to the clamped position. 
     
     
         4 . A hair styling accessory as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the clamping member has an elongate shape defining a first long edge, and is coupled to the housing so as to be pivotable about the first long edge. 
     
     
         5 . A hair styling accessory as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the clamping member defines a clamping edge for engaging and clamping hair in the clamped position. 
     
     
         6 . A hair styling accessory as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the clamping member comprises a passage that connects the chamber to the clamping space thereby to deliver the jet of air thereto. 
     
     
         7 . A hair styling accessory as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the passage is arranged such that air entering the clamping space from the passage is directed generally towards the first long edge of the clamping member. 
     
     
         8 . A hair styling accessory as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the clamping member comprises a limit stop that engages with the housing in the clamped position to limit movement of the clamping member. 
     
     
         9 . A hair styling accessory as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a flexible member coupled to the housing and the clamping member, and configurable between:
 an extended configuration in which the flexible member extends between the housing and the clamping member, and the clamping member is in the clamped position; and,   a collapsed configuration in which the flexible member is folded between the housing and the clamping member, and the clamping member is in the unclamped position.   
     
     
         10 . A hair styling accessory as claimed in  claim 4 , and comprising two movable jaws, wherein the clamping member of one of the jaws is pivotably coupled to its respective housing at its first long edge, and the clamping member of the other jaw is pivotably coupled to its respective housing at a second, opposing, long edge. 
     
     
         11 . A hair styling accessory as claimed in  claim 2 , comprising a retainer for retaining the clamping member in the unclamped position. 
     
     
         12 . A hair styling accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an air generating device configured to deliver pressurised air to the body. 
     
     
         13 . A hair styling accessory as claimed in  claim 12 , configured such that at least a portion of the jet of air that actuates the movable jaw is delivered to the clamping space. 
     
     
         14 . A hair styling accessory, comprising:
 a body supporting a pair of jaws defining a clamping space between them for receiving a tress of hair;   wherein at least one of the jaws comprises a stationary member and a clamping member, the clamping member being coupled to the stationary member so as to be movable with respect to the stationary member between an unclamped position in which a tress of hair can be received in the clamping space, and a clamped position in which the jaws are arranged to clamp a tress of hair received in the clamping space,   wherein the movement of the clamping member is actuated by air pressure.   
     
     
         15 . A hair styling accessory according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one of the jaws comprises one or more airflow pathways to allow airflow to exit the jaw in a direction generally away from the clamping space. 
     
     
         16 . A hair styling accessory according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one of the jaws comprises an inlet for receiving a flow of air from the body to move the clamping member from the unclamped position to the clamped position. 
     
     
         17 . A hair styling accessory according to  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the stationary member is arranged inside the clamping member. 
     
     
         18 . A hair styling accessory according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one jaw comprises a chamber defined between the housing and the clamping member, and an inlet for receiving a flow of air from the body into the chamber to actuate the movable jaw and move the clamping member from the unclamped position to the clamped position. 
     
     
         19 . A hair styling accessory according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one jaw comprises one or more airflow pathways to allow airflow to exit the chamber in a direction generally away from the clamping space 
     
     
         20 . A hair styling accessory according to  claim 14 , wherein the clamping member comprises a limit stop that engages with the stationary member in the clamped position to limit movement of the clamping member. 
     
     
         21 . A hair styling accessory according to  claim 14 , wherein the stationary member comprises a limit stop that engages with the clamping member in the unclamped position to limit movement of the clamping member.