Hair styling device

Abstract

A hair styling apparatus includes a pair of mating surfaces which engage one another and a handle which guides them into engagement at the manual control of a user. Hair to be styled is placed between the engaged surfaces. A plurality of pins extend from both of the surfaces and engage holes in the other of the surfaces. One or both surfaces may incorporate a source of dry heat. In another aspect of the invention, a source of steam is provided together with a trigger for discharging the steam through holes in at least one of the surfaces as an aid to hair styling.

1 . A device for styling hair, comprising:
 a first housing having a first face;   a second housing having a second face;   a hinged frame holding the first housing and the second housing and hinged to permit a user to bring the first face and the second face into opposed relationship with one another;   a first plurality of pins extending from the first face;   a first plurality of holes formed in the second face;   a second plurality of pins extending from the second face;   a second plurality of holes formed in the first face;   the first plurality of pins and the first plurality of holes configured so that when the first face and the second face are disposed in opposed relationship with one another the first plurality of pins engages the first plurality of holes;   the second plurality of pins and the second plurality of holes configured so that when the first face and the second face are disposed in opposed relationship with one another the second plurality of pins engages the second plurality of holes;   wherein the first face comprises a first plate;   wherein the second face comprises a second plate; and   a heater configured to heat at least one of the first plate and the second plate.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first plate forms a first section of the first face defining a first covered zone covered by the first plate and a first uncovered zone, which is not covered by the first plate;   the second plate forms a first section of the second face defining a second covered zone covered by the second plate and a second uncovered zone, which is not covered by the second plate;   a plurality of the first plurality of pins are configured to extend from the first plate (‘first plate pins’);   a plurality of the first plurality of pins are configured to extend from the first uncovered zone (‘first uncovered zone pins’);   a plurality of the first plurality of holes is formed in the second plate and disposed to engage the first plate pins when the first face and the second face are disposed in opposed relationship with one another.   a plurality of the first plurality of holes is formed in the second uncovered zone and disposed to engage the first uncovered zone pins when the first face and the second face are disposed in opposed relationship with one another.   
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first plate forms a first section of the first face defining a first covered zone covered by the first plate and a first uncovered zone, which is not covered by the first plate;   the second plate forms a first section of the second face defining a second covered zone covered by the second plate and a second uncovered zone, which is not covered by the second plate;   a plurality of the first plurality of pins are configured to extend from the first plate (‘first plate pins’);   a plurality of the second plurality of pins are configured to extend from the second uncovered zone (‘second uncovered zone pins’);   a plurality of the first plurality of holes is formed in the second plate and disposed to engage the first plate pins when the first face and the second face are disposed in opposed relationship with one another.   a plurality of the second plurality of holes is formed in the first uncovered zone and disposed to engage the second uncovered zone pins when the first face and the second face are disposed in opposed relationship with one another.   
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first plate forms a first section of the first face to define a first covered zone covered by the first plate and a first uncovered zone, which is not covered by the first plate;   a plurality of the first plurality of pins is configured to extend from the first plate (‘first plate pins’);   a plurality of the first plurality of pins are configured to extend from the first uncovered zone of the first plate (‘first uncovered zone pins’);   a plurality of the first plurality of holes is formed in the second face and disposed to engage the first uncovered zone pins when the first face and the second face are disposed in opposed relationship with one another.   
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first plate is disposed over a first section of the first face defining a first covered zone and a first uncovered zone, which is not covered by the first plate;   the second plate is disposed over a first section of the second face defining a second covered zone and a second uncovered zone, which is not covered by the second plate;   a plurality of the first plurality of pins is configured to extend from the first plate (‘first plate pins’);   a plurality of the first plurality of pins is configured to extend from the first uncovered zone (‘first uncovered zone pins’);   a plurality of the first plurality of holes is formed in the second plate and disposed to engage the first plate pins when the first face and the second face are disposed in opposed relationship with one another;   a plurality of the first plurality of holes is formed in the second uncovered zone of the second face and disposed to engage the first uncovered zone pins when the first face and the second face are disposed in opposed relationship with one another.   
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of fins coupled to at least one of the first and second housings, the members of the plurality of fins being spaced apart from one another a distance less than about the width of a human finger.   
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vapor generator coupled to at least one of the first and second housings, the vapor generator configured to heat aqueous fluid to vaporization;   a refillable reservoir for containing fluid coupled in fluid flow communication with the vapor generator;   a pump coupled in fluid flow communication with the refillable reservoir and the vapor generator, the pump configured to withdraw a metered volume of fluid from the reservoir and place the metered volume of fluid in contact with the vapor generator; and   a passage coupling the vapor generator and a plurality of holes in at least one of the first and second faces so that vaporized fluid can pass from these holes.   
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first plurality of pins are disposed in at least two rows, each row being substantially parallel to an edge of the first plate.   
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 a first row of the first plurality of pins is spaced apart from a first edge of the first plate by a first distance,   a second row of the first plurality of pins is spaced apart from the first row by a second distance,   each pin in the first row of pins is spaced apart from adjacent pins in the first row of pins by a first Y distance,   each pin in the second row of pins is spaced apart from adjacent pins in the second row of pins by a second Y distance, and   the first Y distance is less than the second Y distance.   
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first plurality of pins are disposed in at least four rows, a third and fourth row also each being substantially parallel to an edge of the first plate.   
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the third row of pins is spaced apart from the second row by a third distance,   the fourth row of pins is spaced apart from the third row by a fourth distance,   the second distance is greater than the first distance, and   the third and fourth distances are each substantially equal to each other.   
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the hinged frame comprises a handle including a first handle member wherein a distal end of the first handle member is coupled to the first housing, the handle further including a second handle member wherein a distal end of the second handle member is coupled to the second housing, a proximal end of the first handle member being coupled to a proximal end of the second handle member by a hinge, whereby the handle is pivotally operable between an open position and a closed position, the handle including a proximal guide member and a distal guide member affixed to the first handle member and the second handle member,   the proximal guide member comprising a proximal male alignment part coupled to the first handle member and a proximal female alignment part coupled to the second handle member, the proximal male alignment part and the proximal female alignment part being constructed and arranged so that when the handle is in the open position the alignment parts are not engaged with one another, and when a user moves the handle from a first partially closed position to a second partially closed position and from the second partially closed position to the closed position the proximal alignment parts engage one another to cause initial alignment of the first face and the second face, and   the distal guide member comprising a distal male alignment part coupled to the first handle member and a distal female alignment part coupled to the second handle member, the distal male alignment part and the distal female alignment part being constructed and arranged so that when the handle is in the open position and when the handle is between the first partially closed position and the second partially closed position, the distal alignment parts are not engaged with one another, and when a user moves the handle from the second partially closed position to the closed position the distal alignment parts engage one another to cause final alignment of the first face and the second face.