Hair curler using a fabric cover over a foam support

Abstract

A support made of a flexible, resilient foam material is enclosed by a fabric cover to prevent hair strands from becoming ensnared by the foam material. In a preferred embodiment, the support is configured as a foam roller which is mounted on a relatively rigid core with the core having a bail attached thereto that fits over the roller to secure hair to the roller. The cover is attached by draw strings positioned at the end of the cover. Preferably, the cover is porous and is made of a material such as satin, silk, rayon or polyester but is not limited to such materials.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A hair curler having a hair support made of a flexible, resilient foam material having a construction which is capable of ensnaring hair therein, the hair curler comprising: 
 a selected size and shape for the hair support, and    a flexible cover on the hair support, which cover encloses the hair support and prevents contact between hair strands and the foam material to prevent hair from becoming ensnared by the hair support.    
     
     
         2 . The hair curler of  claim 1  wherein the flexible cover is made of a material selected from the group consisting of satin, silk, rayon or polyester.  
     
     
         3 . The hair curler of  claim 2  wherein the hair support is configured as a cylindrical roller.  
     
     
         4 . The hair curler of  claim 3  wherein the cylindrical roller is mounted on a core which is attached at a first end to a bail that is pivotal over the roller and releasably latches to a second end of the core to claim stands of hair around the roller while in contact with the cover, which cover shields hair strands from direct contact with the foam material of the roller.  
     
     
         5 . The hair curler of  claim 4  wherein the foam material is liquid absorbent and wherein the flexible cover is porous to allow fluid to pass therethrough.  
     
     
         6 . The hair curler of  claim 4  wherein the cover is cylindrical having at least one open end for receiving the roller therethrough and a closure for closing the open end around the core.  
     
     
         7 . The hair curler of  claim 6  wherein the closure is a drawstring disposed in the cover adjacent the at least one open end.  
     
     
         8 . The hair curler of  claim 7  wherein the cover has two open ends, each with a closure.  
     
     
         9 . The hair curler of  claim 8  wherein each closure is a drawstring.  
     
     
         10 . The hair curler of  claim 8  wherein each closure is an elastic band.  
     
     
         11 . The hair curler of  claim 4  wherein the cover is cylindrical and is secured on the roller by adhesive which closes the ends of the cover.  
     
     
         12 . The hair curler of  claim 11  wherein adhesive is used to close a longitudinal seam in the cover.  
     
     
         13 . The hair curler of  claim 4  wherein the cover is made of a thermoplastic material which is heat sealed to close ends thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The hair curler of  claim 13  wherein the cover has a longitudinal seam which is heat sealed to close the cover along the roller.