Hairstyling accessory with rotatable handle

Abstract

A hairstyling accessory is disclosed which permits a handle to be rotatably adjusted with respect to a head on the accessory, thus permitting the accessory to be tailored to the user's particular needs. The head has a downwardly extending shaft with a longitudinal axis. The handle is disposed about at least a portion of the shaft and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The accessory includes a lock for locking the handle to the shaft at one of a plurality of different rotational positions about the longitudinal axis. The lock has a locked position and an unlocked position. The accessory preferably includes a spring for biasing the lock against movement into the unlocked position. The accessory may be a hair brush, a comb or a mirror.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hairstyling device comprising: 
 a head having a hairstyling component and a shaft extending downward from the hairstyling component, the shaft having a longitudinal axis;    a handle disposed about at least a portion of the shaft and being rotatable about the longitudinal axis; and    a lock mechanism located between the shaft and the handle, the lock mechanism engaging the handle to the shaft to lock the handle into a specific rotational orientation with respect to the head.    
     
     
         2 . The hairstyling device of  claim 1  wherein the lock mechanism further includes a spring for biasing the lock into a locking position.  
     
     
         3 . The hairstyling device of  claim 2  wherein the lock mechanism includes a locking end on the shaft and a locking socket in the handle, the engagement of the locking end with the locking socket inhibiting rotation of the handle with respect to the head, and wherein the spring biases the locking end toward the locking socket.  
     
     
         4 . The hairstyling device of  claim 3  wherein the locking end and the locking socket have cross-sectional shapes which permit the locking end to engage with the locking socket in at least two different rotational positions about the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         5 . The hairstyling device of  claim 4  wherein the locking end and the locking socket have substantially hexagonal cross-sections.  
     
     
         6 . The hairstyling device of  claim 2  wherein the lock mechanism includes a locking end on the shaft with a plurality of spaced apart apertures and a locking tab located in the handle and adapted to engage with the apertures for locking the handle to the shaft for inhibiting rotation of the handle with respect to the head, and wherein the spring biases the tab toward at least one aperture.  
     
     
         7 . The hairstyling device of  claim 6  wherein the lock mechanism further comprises a release button for permitting manual disengagement of the locking tab from an aperture.  
     
     
         8 . The hairstyling device of  claim 2  wherein the spring is a coil spring disposed about the shaft, the spring having an upper end which is in contact with a rim of the handle and a lower end which is in contact with a component on the shaft, the spring biasing the shaft against translation out of the handle, and wherein the lock mechanism includes a locking end on a lower portion of the shaft and a locking socket in the handle, the engagement of the locking end with the locking socket inhibiting rotation of the handle with respect to the head, and wherein the spring biases the locking end toward the locking socket.  
     
     
         9 . The hairstyling device of  claim 8  wherein the component on the shaft is a snap ring and washer assembly.  
     
     
         10 . The hairstyling device of  claim 8  wherein the rim and locking socket are portions of a sleeve which is located within a cavity in the handle.  
     
     
         11 . The hairstyling device of  claim 10  wherein the sleeve is formed from two separate portions that are fitted together around the shaft, and wherein the sleeve has a recess within which the spring is located.  
     
     
         12 . The hairstyling device of  claim 1  wherein the hairstyling component is a brush with bristles protruding outwardly in at least one direction.  
     
     
         13 . The hairstyling device of  claim 1  wherein the hairstyling component is select from a group consisting of a brush, comb and mirror.  
     
     
         14 . A hairstyling device comprising: 
 a head having a hairstyling component and a shaft extending downward from the hairstyling component, the shaft having a longitudinal axis;    a handle disposed about at least a portion of the shaft and being rotatable about the longitudinal axis; and    a lock for locking the handle to the shaft at one of a plurality of different rotational positions, the lock having a locked position and an unlocked position.    
     
     
         15 . The hairstyling device of  claim 14  further comprising a spring for biasing the lock against movement into the unlocked position.  
     
     
         16 . The hairstyling device of  claim 15  wherein the lock includes a locking end on the shaft and a locking socket located within the handle, the locked position corresponding to engagement of the locking end with the locking socket, and wherein the spring biases the shaft against disengagement of the locking end from the locking socket.  
     
     
         17 . The hairstyling device of  claim 16  wherein the locking end and the locking socket have cross-sectional shapes which permit the locking end to engage with the locking socket in at least two different rotational positions about the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         18 . The hairstyling device of  claim 17  wherein the locking end and the locking socket have substantially hexagonal cross-sections.  
     
     
         19 . The hairstyling device of  claim 15  wherein the lock includes a locking end on the shaft with a plurality of spaced apart apertures and a locking tab located in the handle and adapted to engage with the apertures for locking the handle to the shaft, and wherein the spring biases the tab toward at least one aperture.  
     
     
         20 . The hairstyling device of  claim 19  further comprising a release button for permitting manual disengagement of the locking tab from an aperture.  
     
     
         21 . The hairstyling device of  claim 15  wherein the spring is a coil spring disposed about the shaft, the spring having an upper end which is in contact with a rim of the handle and a lower end which is in contact with a component on the shaft, the spring biasing the shaft against translation out of the handle, and wherein the lock includes a locking end on a lower end of the shaft and a locking socket in the handle, the engagement of the locking end with the locking socket inhibiting rotation of the handle with respect to the head, and wherein the spring biases the locking end toward the locking socket.  
     
     
         22 . The hairstyling device of  claim 21  wherein the component on the shaft is a snap ring and washer assembly.  
     
     
         23 . The hairstyling device of  claim 21  wherein the rim and locking socket are portions of a sleeve disposed within a cavity in the handle.  
     
     
         24 . The hairstyling device of  claim 23  wherein the sleeve is formed from two separate portions that are fitted together around the shaft, and wherein the sleeve has a recess within which the spring is located.  
     
     
         25 . The hairstyling device of  claim 14  wherein the hairstyling component is a brush with bristles protruding outwardly in at least one direction.  
     
     
         26 . The hairstyling device of  claim 14  wherein the hairstyling component is select from a group consisting of a brush, comb and mirror.