Revolvable hair curling iron

Abstract

A hair curling iron for curling hairs is disclosed which includes a handle for housing a motor and a first member having a first end rotatably coupled to the handle and selectively driven into rotation by the motor. The first member has a second end spaced from the first end in a direction of elongation. The hair curling iron further includes a heating element disposed within the first member and extending partially in the direction of elongation between the first end and the second end and a clamp mounted for rotation with the first member, the clamp having a closed position suitable for retaining the hairs and an open position suitable for receiving and withdrawing the hairs.

1 . A hair curling iron for curling hairs, comprising: 
 a handle;    a motor within the handle;    a first member having a first end rotatably coupled to the handle and selectively driven into rotation by the motor, and having a second end spaced from the first end in a direction of elongation;    an elongated heating element disposed within the first member and extending partially in the direction of elongation between the first end and the second end; and    a clamp mounted for rotation with the first member, the clamp having a closed position suitable for retaining the hairs and an open position suitable for receiving and withdrawing the hairs.    
   
   
       2 . The curling iron of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element is fixed relative to the first and second ends of the first member.  
   
   
       3 . The curling iron of  claim 1 , further comprising a clutch rotatably coupled between the motor and the first member.  
   
   
       4 . The curling iron of  claim 3 , wherein the motor has a shaft and wherein the first member and the clutch rotate for so long as the drag on the first member is less then a prescribed value and the first member and at least part of the clutch slip relative to the motor shaft if the drag on the first member is greater than the prescribed value.  
   
   
       5 . The curling iron of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element has an axis and wherein the first member is coupled to the housing so as to rotate parallel to or coincident with the axis.  
   
   
       6 . The curling iron of  claim 1 , wherein the first member comprises a heat conductor.  
   
   
       7 . The curling iron of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element includes a plurality of through-holes.  
   
   
       8 . The curling iron of  claim 1 , further comprising a control switch disposed on the handle to control activation and deactivation of at least one of the heating element and the motor.  
   
   
       9 . The curling iron of  claim 1 , further comprising a series of ribs disposed circumferentially about the clamp.  
   
   
       10 . The curling iron of  claim 9 , wherein the series of ribs comprises a single rib oriented at an angle relative to the direction of elongation and extending between the first and second ends.  
   
   
       11 . The curling iron of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp is pivotally mounted relative to the first member.  
   
   
       12 . The curling iron of  claim 1 , further comprising a bezel, the bezel being rotatably mounted to the handle and wherein the first member is mounted to the bezel.  
   
   
       13 . The curling iron as in  claim 12 , wherein the clamp is mounted to the bezel.  
   
   
       14 . The curling iron of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring connected to the clamp to movably bias the clamp to the closed position and to resist movement of the clamp to the opened position.  
   
   
       15 . The curling iron of  claim 1 , further comprising a tip connected to the second end of the first member.  
   
   
       16 . The curling iron of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a relay circuit having an opened position and a closed position;    a control circuit connected between the relay circuit and the motor, the control circuit having an input for sensing the closed position, wherein the control circuit is operable to output a deactivation signal to the motor when the relay is closed and reactivate the motor after a predetermined time period has passed.    
   
   
       17 . The curling iron of  claim 16 , wherein the relay closes for each full rotation of the first member.  
   
   
       18 . The curling iron of  claim 1 , further comprising a control switch disposed on the handle to provide preselected levels of power to the motor or to continuously vary the power to the motor.  
   
   
       19 . The curling iron of  claim 1 , further comprising a control circuit connected to the motor, the control circuit being programmed to intermittently rotate the motor in accordance with prescribed time intervals or rotations of the first member.  
   
   
       20 . The curling iron of  claim 8 , wherein the motor is a variable speed motor and the control switch is a motor speed selection switch for controlling the speed of the motor.