Modular hair styling apparatus

Abstract

A hair-styling device comprising a handle with first and second housings having proximal and distal ends. A pivot joint is formed at the proximal ends to bias the distal ends away from each other. The distal ends have a concave opening with male terminal pins disposed therein. A plurality of sets of hair-styling attachments are provided. Each attachment has a proximal end, a distal end, and a heating element. A female connector is formed on the proximal end of the attachment. The proximal ends of the attachments are configured to telescope into the concave opening so that the female connectors mate with the male terminal pins. A lock is provided for locking the handle in a closed position with the housings parallel to one another. A power cord is disposed at the proximal end of the handle for supplying power to the device.

1 . A modular hair styling apparatus comprising:
 a handle having first and second housings with proximal ends hinged to one another, and distal ends with at least one male terminal fitting disposed therein; and   a plurality of pairs of hair styling attachments, each hair styling attachment in each of the pairs having a proximal end configured for telescoping into engagement with the distal end of one of the first and second housings, the proximal end having at least one terminal configured for mating with the at least one terminal fitting in the corresponding housing when the proximal end is telescoped into engagement with the distal end of the corresponding housing, each of the hair styling attachments further being heatable when the terminal is connected to the terminal fitting.   
     
     
         2 . The modular hair styling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of styling attachments comprise an elongated barrel attachment and a part-tubular clamp attachment configured to nest around the elongated barrel attachment. 
     
     
         3 . The modular hair styling apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of styling attachments comprise a first flat panel and a second flat panel. 
     
     
         4 . The hair styling apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an elongated rod having a proximal end with a first prong defined by a female connector and a second prong defined by a female connector, the first and second prongs being configured for telescoping into the concave openings of both the first and second housings simultaneously. 
     
     
         5 . The hair styling apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the elongated rod is conical. 
     
     
         6 . The hair styling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing and second housing have substantially planar inner surfaces and semi-cylindrical outer surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The hair styling apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising left and right parallel flanges extending perpendicularly from the proximal end of the first housing at positions near the left and right edges and left and right parallel flanges extending perpendicularly from the proximal end of the second housing at positions spaced from the left and right edges so that outer surfaces of the flanges of the second housing are in surface-to-surface contact with the inner surfaces of the flanges of the first housing, each of the flanges being defined by a circular opening at a central position thereof, and a pin being inserted through the circular openings to create a pivot joint. 
     
     
         8 . The hair styling apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the power cord is rotatably connected to electrical contacts in the first housing. 
     
     
         9 . The hair styling apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a locking mechanism is engaged when the hair styling attachment is attached to the first or second housings. 
     
     
         10 . The hair styling apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a notch on the proximal ends of the plurality of hair styling attachment and buttons disposed on one of the left and right edges of the first and second housing in communication with tabs in an interior of the concave opening, the tabs being configured to fit snuggly inside the notches, wherein the buttons are engaged to move the tab to allow the insertion of the hair styling attachment, and disengaged to allow the tab to enter the notch. 
     
     
         11 . The hair styling apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the proximal ends of the plurality of hair styling attachments have a plurality of ridges for ensuring a secure fit when the proximal end is telescoped into the distal end of the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The hair styling apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a protuberance between the first and second housings for biasing the distal ends of the first and second housings away from one another. 
     
     
         13 . The hair styling apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a power cord attached to at least one of the first and second housings. 
     
     
         14 . The hair styling apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a locking element for disposing the first and second housings in a closed position with the distal ends of the first and second housings being substantially adjacent.