Curling iron with variable timer and audible signals

Abstract

A curling iron having a variable timer to control audible signals that are referenced to and adjusted according to the actual temperature of the barrel as well as to the curl setting. The temperature of the barrel and the curl setting can be adjusted by the user, which alters the signaled time of exposure. A turbo setting can be employed to rapidly increase the temperature of the barrel.

1 . A curling iron comprising: 
 a handle;    a barrel extending from an end of said handle;    a heater within said barrel adapted to control the temperature of said barrel;    an audible signal generator adapted to emit an audible signal indicative of a predetermined period of time; and    an electronic circuit adapted to control said audible signal.    
   
   
       2 . A curling iron according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a timer button on said handle for starting a countdown on said predetermined period of time.    
   
   
       3 . A curling iron according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said countdown can be reset at any time by depressing said timer button.    
   
   
       4 . A curling iron according to  claim 2 , further comprising 
 a plurality of secondary buttons on said handle for increasing or decreasing said predetermined period of time.    
   
   
       5 . A curling iron according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said audible signal comprises one of a plurality of tones, wherein each tone is associated with a different time setting.    
   
   
       6 . A curling iron according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a turbo button for rapidly increasing said temperature of said barrel by a predetermined amount.    
   
   
       7 . A curling iron according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 said turbo button is adapted to be depressed and released.    
   
   
       8 . A curling iron according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 said temperature of said barrel is increased for the duration of time that said turbo button is depressed.    
   
   
       9 . A curling iron according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 said turbo button increases said temperature of said barrel by approximately 15-20 degrees C. when said barrel is at a maximum temperature.    
   
   
       10 . A curling iron according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 said turbo button increases said temperature of said barrel by approximately 2-20 degrees C. when said barrel is not at a maximum temperature.    
   
   
       11 . A curling iron according to  claim 6 , further comprising 
 an LCD display panel adapted to indicate the settings of said curling iron.    
   
   
       12 . A curling iron according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 said LCD display panel indicates said temperature of said barrel by a plurality of lit segments on a bar graph and by a numerical display.    
   
   
       13 . A curling iron according to  claim 12 , wherein 
 said plurality of lit segments on said bar graph is increased by two when said turbo button is depressed.    
   
   
       14 . A curling iron according to  claim 6 , further comprising 
 an LED display panel adapted to indicate the settings of said curling iron.    
   
   
       15 . A curling iron according to  claim 14 , wherein 
 said LED display panel indicates said temperature of said barrel by a plurality of lit segments on a bar graph and by a numerical display.    
   
   
       16 . A curling iron according to  claim 15 , wherein 
 said plurality of lit segments on said bar graph is increased when said turbo button is depressed.