Split-barrel locking mechanism for hair appliance

Abstract

A hair-straightening device has a handle, a barrel, a spoon and a thumb rest. The barrel is comprised of an upper barrel and a lower barrel. The thumb rest includes a spoon lock that enables a user to choose between using the hair device as a hair-straightening appliance or as a curling iron. When the thumb rest is in a pulled back position, the spoon lock is disengaged from the barrel connector and upper barrel. As such, as the thumb rest is depressed, the hinge pivots about its axis, causing the spoon to open with respect to the barrel. The user can then operate the device as a curling iron. When the thumb rest is in the forward position, the spoon lock engages the barrel connector, which is connected to the upper barrel end. As the user depresses the thumb rest, the barrel connector and upper barrel end pivot about the hinge. This causes the entire upper barrel to open, rather than just the spoon. The user can then operate the device as a straightening iron.

1 . A hair styling device comprising: 
 a barrel including a first portion and a second portion;    a hinge connecting said first portion and said second portion;    a clamp member to hold a user's hair; and    a locking mechanism adapted to be placed in a first position to enable separation of said clamp member from said barrel or a second position to enable separation of said first portion from said second portion.    
   
   
       2 . A hair styling device according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 an actuator to enable a user to separate said clamp member from said barrel when said locking mechanism is in said first position or to separate said first portion from said second portion when said locking mechanism is in said second position.    
   
   
       3 . A hair styling device according to  claim 2 , further comprising 
 a connection member extending from said barrel in contact with said actuator.    
   
   
       4 . A hair styling device according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 said actuator is unobstructed by said connection member when said locking member is in said first position to enable said clamp member to rotate about a hinge away from said barrel; and    said actuator is obstructed by said connection member when said locking member is in said second position to enable said first portion to rotate about a hinge away from said second portion.    
   
   
       5 . A hair styling device according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a spring to bias said first portion away from said second portion.    
   
   
       6 . A hair styling device according to  claim 5 , wherein 
 said locking mechanism comprises:    a latch on one of said first or second portions; and    a switch and a plate on the other of said first or second portions.    
   
   
       7 . A hair styling device according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 said plate obstructs said latch, preventing said first portion from being separated from said second portion, when said switch is in a second position.    
   
   
       8 . A hair styling device according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 said latch is unobstructed by said plate, enabling said first portion to be separated from said second portion, when said switch is in a first position.    
   
   
       9 . A hair styling device according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a first heatable plate on said first arm for contacting a user's hair and a second heatable plate on said second arm for contacting a user's hair.    
   
   
       10 . A hair styling device according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 a distal end of said first and/or said second portions are made from a material to maintain said distal end at a temperature lower than said first and/or second portions.