Visual user interface for hair styling apparatus

Abstract

The present invention is a heated hair styling device comprising a handle ( 20 ), a body ( 30 ), an LCD visual interface ( 50 ), and an audible signal ( 70 ) to notify a user of particular states of operation of the hair styling device. The LCD ( 50 ) display provides information of at least one operating condition of the device, for example, the temperature of the device, the heat setting, the amount of time that the device has been “on”, etc.

1 . A hair styling device comprising: 
 a handle;    a body;    a liquid crystal display (LCD) visual display positioned on one of the handle and the body, wherein the visual display provides information related to at least one operating condition of the device;    an audio signal which sounds an alarm after a predetermined operating time at which time the device automatically shuts off.    
   
   
       2 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the visual display provides information related to at least two operating conditions of the device.  
   
   
       3 . The hair styling device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two operating conditions include a timer indicator and a temperature setting indicator.  
   
   
       4 . The hair styling device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two operating conditions include an actual temperature indicator and a temperature setting indicator.  
   
   
       5 . The hair styling device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two operating conditions include an actual temperature indicator and a timer indicator.  
   
   
       6 . The hair styling device of  claim 3 , wherein the audio signal sounds an alarm when the operating condition of the device reaches a setting of the device.  
   
   
       7 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the hair styling device is a device selected from the group consisting of a curling iron, a hair straightener/crimper, and hot curlers.  
   
   
       8 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the hair styling device is a device selected from the group consisting of a hair dryer and an air brush.  
   
   
       9 . The hair styling device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one operating condition is selected from the group consisting of a temperature indicator, a temperature setting indicator, an airflow rate, a wattage consumption indicator, and a timer.  
   
   
       10 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is rotatable with respect to the body by at least 180 degrees.  
   
   
       11 . The hair styling device of  claim 1 , wherein the visual display further comprises a background light.  
   
   
       12 . The hair styling device of  claim 2 , wherein the LCD provides both numeric and symbolic data.  
   
   
       13 . A hair styling device comprising: 
 a handle;    a body;    an audio signal which sounds an alarm when at least one predetermined operating condition is achieved; and    a visual display positioned on one of the handle and body;    wherein the visual display comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) which provides information related to at least two operating conditions of the device.    
   
   
       14 . The hair styling device of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one predetermined operating condition is a predetermined temperature.  
   
   
       15 . The hair styling device of  claim 13 , wherein the hair styling device is a device selected from the group consisting of a curling iron, a hair straightener, and a hair crimper.  
   
   
       16 . The hair styling device of  claim 14 , wherein the LCD provides both numeric and symbolic data.  
   
   
       17 . The hair styling device of  claim 13 , wherein the hair styling device is a hair dryer.  
   
   
       18 . The hair styling device of  claim 17 , wherein the at least two operating conditions are selected from the group consisting of a temperature indicator, a temperature setting indicator, an airflow rate setting, and airflow rate, a wattage consumption rate indicator, and a timer.  
   
   
       19 . The hair styling device of  claim 13 , wherein the display comprises a timer wherein the audio signal sounds an alarm when the timer indicator reaches a predetermined time limit.  
   
   
       20 . A method of manufacturing a hair styling device comprising the steps of: 
 providing a handle;    providing a body;    providing electronic circuitry comprising an audio signal which sounds an alarm when at least one predetermined operating condition is achieved and an LCD display wherein the electronic circuitry is designed to provide at least one operational characteristic of the device to the LCD during operation; and    inserting the electronic circuitry into the handle and the body of the hair styling device such the LCD is visible on the surface of one of the handle and the body of the hair styling device.