Hair styling device

Abstract

A hair styling device is disclosed herein. The hair styling device may include an elongate body, a heating element, and a controller. The elongate body may have a working portion and a handle portion. The heating element may be operable to selectively heat the working portion of the elongate body. The controller may be associated with the handle portion and operable to receive, via a user input, a time setting representing a period of time and output an alert when the period of time has lapsed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hair styling device comprising:
 an elongate body having a working portion and a handle portion;   a heating element operable to selectively heat the working portion of the elongate body; and   a controller associated with the handle portion, the controller operable to:
 receive, via a user input, a time setting representing a period of time; and 
 output an alert when the period of time has lapsed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the working portion of the elongate body has a triangular cross-section.   
     
     
         3 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the working portion of the elongate body tapers toward a distal end of the elongate body.   
     
     
         4 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display located on the handle portion of the elongate body, the display linked to the controller.   
     
     
         5 . The hair styling device of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the display is configured to display the selected time setting.   
     
     
         6 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the working portion of the elongate body is fixed relative to the handle portion of the elongate body.   
     
     
         7 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a speaker associated with the controller, the speaker configured to generate an audible sound; and   wherein the alert includes the audible sound generated by the speaker.   
     
     
         8 . A method of styling hair, the method comprising:
 providing a hair styling device including an elongate body having a working portion and a handle portion, a heating element operable to selectively heat the working portion of the body, and a controller;   via interface tools associated with the handle portion, selecting a time setting representing a period of time;   placing a portion of hair in contact with the working portion of the elongate body for the selected period of time;   via the hair styling device, outputting an alert when the length of time has elapsed; and   moving the portion of hair such that it does not contact the working portion of the elongate body.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 via the heating element, heating the working portion of the elongate body to a desired temperature.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 displaying the selected time setting via a display located on the handle portion of the elongate body.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the working portion of the elongate body has a triangular cross-section.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the working portion of the elongate body tapers toward a distal end of the elongate body.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the working portion of the elongate body is fixed relative to the handle portion of the elongate body.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 placing a portion of hair in contact with the working portion of the elongate body includes wrapping the portion of hair around the working portion of the elongate body.