Hair styling device

Abstract

A hair styling device includes a shoulder; and first and second arms. At least the first arm is pivotally coupled to the shoulder such that it is moveable between an open position and a closed position. A spring has a first end acting on the first arm and a second end acting on the second arm for biasing the arms in the open position.

1 . A hair styling device comprising:
 a shoulder;   first and second arms, wherein at least the first arm is pivotally coupled to the shoulder such that the at least the first arm is moveable between an open position and a closed position; and   spring means with a first end acting on the first arm and a second end acting on the second arm for biasing the arms in the open position;   wherein the first arm comprises a cam surface and the spring means acts on the cam surface.   
     
     
         2 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the spring means comprises a torsion spring. 
     
     
         3 . The hair styling device of  claim 2 , wherein the torsion spring comprises at least one leg configured to act on the first arm and one leg configured to act on the second arm. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the spring means acts on the cam surface such that the force required to move the arms from the open position to the closed position is regularised over a majority of displacement between the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         6 . A hair styling device comprising:
 a shoulder;   first and second arms, wherein at least the first arm is pivotally coupled to the shoulder, such that the arms are moveable between an open position in which hair can be introduced between the arms and a closed position in which the hair is clamped between the arms, at least one of the arms having a heater for heating hair that contacts a hair contacting surface of the heater; and   spring means configured to bias the arms into the open position;   wherein the spring means acts on a cam surface of the first arm such that an actuation force required to move the arms from the open position to the closed position is regularised between the open and closed positions.   
     
     
         7 . The hair styling device of  claim 6 , wherein the spring means comprises a torsion spring, wherein the torsion spring comprises at least one leg configured to act on the cam surface of the first arm. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the spring means is configured to slip on the cam surface. 
     
     
         10 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the first arm pivots about a pivot axis and the cam surface is located at a distance from the pivot axis, such that the cam surface rotates around the axis. 
     
     
         11 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the cam surface is curved, wherein the cam surface is convex. 
     
     
         12 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the second arm is configured to pivot relative to the shoulder about a second pivot axis. 
     
     
         13 . The hair styling device of  claim 6 , wherein the second arm is configured to pivot relative to the shoulder about a second pivot axis and the spring means acts on a second cam surface of the second arm such that an actuation force required to move the arms from the open position to the closed position is regularised between the open and closed positions; wherein the spring means comprises a torsion spring having a first leg acting on the cam surface of the first arm and a second leg acting on the cam surface of the second arm. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The hair styling device of  claim 7 , wherein the spring means comprises a second torsion spring; wherein the torsion springs are positioned symmetrically with respect to a central axis of the device; and/or wherein each torsion spring comprises two legs, and one leg of each torsion spring acts on a cam surface of the first arm, and the other leg of each torsion spring acts on a cam surface of the second arm. 
     
     
         16 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the spring means is in tension when the arms are in the open position. 
     
     
         19 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the force required to move the arms from the open position to the closed position is regularised between 1.5N and 1.9N. 
     
     
         20 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the shoulder comprises one or more stop formations configured to limit movement of the first and/or second arms. 
     
     
         21 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivot pin via which the first arm is pivotally coupled to the shoulder, and a second pivot pin via which the second arm is pivotally coupled to the shoulder. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a rigid housing. 
     
     
         24 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the first arm and the second arm each comprise a heater for heating hair that contacts a hair contacting surface of the heater. 
     
     
         25 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board comprising light emitting diodes (LEDs); wherein the PCB comprises LEDs of more than one color, and/or further comprising a light guide configured to transmit light emitted from the LEDs to a rim on an external surface of the device. 
     
     
         26 .- 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A hinge joint comprising:
 a shoulder;   first and second arms, wherein at least the first arm is pivotally coupled to the shoulder such that the at least the first arm is moveable between an open position and a closed position; and   spring means with a first end acting on the first arm and a second end acting on the second arm for biasing the arms in the open position,   wherein the first arm comprises a cam surface and the spring means acts on the cam surface.