Hair styling device

Abstract

In one embodiment a device for styling hair includes a first housing having a first face, a second housing having a second face, a hinged frame coupled to the first and second housings and hinged to permit a user to bring the first face and the second face together into a closed position where the hair is engaged between the first and second faces. A first plate coupled to a first section of the first face defines a first covered zone and the remaining area left uncovered by the first plate is referred to as a first uncovered zone. A second plate coupled to a first section of the second face defines a second covered zone and the remaining area left uncovered by the second plate is referred to as the second uncovered zone. Pins extend from the first uncovered zone to engage holes in the second uncovered zone.

1 . A device for styling hair, comprising:
 a first housing having a first face;   a second housing having a second face;   a hinged frame coupled to 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 plate coupled to a first section of the first face to define a first covered zone of the first face covered by the first plate and a first uncovered zone of the first face, which is not covered by the first plate;   a second plate coupled to a first section of the second face to define a second covered zone of the second face covered by the second plate and a second uncovered zone of the second face, which is not covered by the second plate;   a plurality of first pins extending from the first uncovered zone;   a plurality of first holes formed in the second uncovered zone and disposed to engage the plurality of first pins when the first face and the second face are disposed in opposed relationship with one another; and, a heater configured to heat at least one of the first plate and the second plate.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of second pins extending from at least one of the first plate and the second plate; and   a plurality of corresponding second holes formed in at least one of the second plate and the first plate and disposed to engage the plurality of second pins when the first face and the second face are disposed in opposed relationship with one another.   
   
   
       3 . 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.   
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2 , 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.   
   
   
       5 . 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.   
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 2 , 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.   
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a plurality of the first pins are disposed in at least two rows, each row being substantially parallel to an edge of the first plate.   
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a plurality of the first 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 1 , wherein:
 a plurality of the second pins are disposed in at least two rows, each row being substantially parallel to an edge of at least one of the first and second plates, and   the first row of the second pins being spaced apart from the edge by a first distance, the second row of the pins being spaced apart from the first row by a second distance, wherein 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 2 , wherein:
 a plurality of the second pins are disposed in at least two rows,   each row is substantially parallel to an edge of at least one of the first and second plates,   the first row of second pins is spaced apart from the edge by a first distance,   the second row of second 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.   
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 at least a third row and a fourth row of second pins, wherein   the third row of second pins is spaced apart from the second row by a third distance,   the fourth row of second 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.   
   
   
       13 . 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 plate coupled to a first section of the first face defining a first covered zone comprising an area of the first face covered by the first plate and a first uncovered zone comprising an area of the first face not covered by the first plate;   a plurality of first pins extending from the first plate;   a plurality of second pins extending from the first uncovered zone;   a plurality of holes formed in the second face and disposed to engage the first and second pins when the first face and the second face are disposed in opposed relationship with one another; and   a heater configured to heat at least one of the first plate and the second plate.   
   
   
       14 . 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 plate coupled to a first section of the first face defining a first covered zone comprising an area of the first face covered by the first plate and a first uncovered zone comprising an area of the first face not covered by the first plate;   a plurality of first pins extending from the first plate;   a plurality of second pins extending from the second face;   a plurality of first holes formed in the second plate and disposed to engage the plurality of first pins when the first face and the second face are disposed in opposed relationship with one another;   a plurality of second holes formed in the first uncovered zone and disposed to engage the plurality of second pins when the first face and the second face are disposed in opposed relationship with one another; and   a heater configured to heat at least one of the first plate and the second plate.