Applying hair treatment with a hair iron

Abstract

A hair iron has two hingedly connected arms between which hair may be clamped and heated. A heating element is included on one or both arms, regulated by a temperature controller. A compartment is formed in one or both arms to hold a capsule for containing a fluid, and a connector, which includes liquid passing ports and a gas passing ports, the connector forming a coupling between the capsule and a pump and dispensing outlets within the arm. As the pump is pressed, gas passes through the connector into the capsule, creating pressure to force out liquid. The liquid passes through the connector and arm to exit at dispensing outlets located near the heaters. The fluid may be converted to steam by the heating elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hair iron, comprising:
 a first elongate arm;   a second elongate arm hingedly connected to the first arm, the first arm and the second arm thereby configured to form a clamp for clamping hair positioned between the first and second arms, wherein each arm defines an inner side facing the other arm;   at least one heating element provided on the inner side of at least one of the first and second arms;   a capsule including an internal reservoir for holding a fluid; and   a pump configured to be pump fluid from the capsule to at least one dispensing port proximate at least one of the at least one heating element.   
     
     
         2 . The hair iron of  claim 1 , further including:
 a connector having an input gas port, an output fluid port, a tube in fluid communication with the output port, the tube extendable into the internal reservoir, and a pressurizing port in gas communication with said input port and said reservoir.   
     
     
         3 . The hair iron of  claim 2 , further including:
 a compartment formed within at least one of the first and second arms and having a pump port and a dispensing port, the pump port connectable with the pressurizing port and the dispensing port connectable to the output fluid port, when a connected capsule and connector are placed within the compartment, the dispensing port operative to release fluid proximate a heating element.   
     
     
         4 . The hair iron of  claim 3 , the pump configured to force a gas into the input gas port, when the connector is connected to the pump port. 
     
     
         5 . The Hair iron of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is configured to be resiliently pressable to cause pumping of the pump. 
     
     
         6 . The hair iron of  claim 2 , the connector including a one-way valve associated with the input gas port, to admit gas into the reservoir, and to prevent gas or fluids from passing out of the input gas port. 
     
     
         7 . The hair iron of  claim 2 , wherein the connector and capsule are mutually separable. 
     
     
         8 . The hair iron of  claim 2 , wherein the connector and capsule are mutually connected by a twist-lock connector. 
     
     
         9 . The hair iron of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is disposed within one of the first or second arms, and an opposing protrusion is disposed on the other of the first or second arms, whereby when the first and second arms are moved together, the protrusion presses the pump to cause pumping of the pump. 
     
     
         10 . The hair iron of  claim 9 , wherein the protrusion is moveable between a first position wherein the protrusion presses the pump when the first and second arms are moved together, and a second position wherein the protrusion does not press the pump when the first and second arms are moved together. 
     
     
         11 . The hair iron of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating element includes two elongated heating elements disposed proximate one another upon one of the first and second arms, the plurality of fluid dispensing ports positioned between the two elongated heating elements. 
     
     
         12 . The hair iron of  claim 2 , the heating element configured to heat the fluid sufficiently to convert it to a gas at least one of before the fluid exits a fluid dispensing port or after the fluid exits a fluid dispensing port. 
     
     
         13 . The hair iron of  claim 1 , further including a fluid containable within the reservoir, the fluid including at least one of argan oil, keratin, or collagen. 
     
     
         14 . The hair iron of  claim 1 , further including a fluid containable within the reservoir, the fluid including at least one of a conditioner, hair nutrients, a straightener, or a heat protecting agent. 
     
     
         15 . The hair iron of  claim 1 , further including a supply line electrical connector including a a first resilient ring, a second resilient ring, a third ring, and a fourth ring, wherein the third ring rotatably nests within the first ring, and the fourth ring rotatably nests within the second ring, the first and second rings are connected to one of a load or a line, and the third and fourth rings are connected to the other of a load or a line, all nested rings configured to conduct electricity to the resilient rings. 
     
     
         16 . The hair iron of  claim 1 , further including a temperature controller. 
     
     
         17 . The hair iron of  claim 1 , wherein the heating elements are covered with metal. 
     
     
         18 . A hair iron, comprising:
 a first elongate arm;   a second elongate arm hingedly connected to the first arm, the first arm and the second arm thereby configured to form a clamp for clamping hair positioned between the first and second arms, wherein each arm defines an inner side facing the other arm;   at least one heating element provided on the inner side of at least one of the first and second arms;   a capsule including an internal reservoir for holding a fluid;   a connector having an input gas port, an output fluid port, a tube in fluid communication with the output port, the tube extendable into the internal reservoir, and a pressurizing port in gas communication with said input port and said reservoir; and   a compartment formed within at least one of the first and second arms and having a pump port and a dispensing port, the pump port connectable with the pressurizing port and the dispensing port connectable to the output fluid port, when a connected capsule and connector are placed within the compartment, the dispensing port operative to release fluid proximate a heating element.   
     
     
         19 . A method of styling hair, comprising
 slidingly clamping hair using a hair iron, the hair clamped between at least one heating element disposed upon at least one of a first and second elongate arm, the first and second arms mutually hingedly connected, the first arm and the second arm thereby configured to form a clamp for slidingly clamping hair positioned between the first and second arms, wherein each arm defines an inner side facing the other arm;   heating the clamped hair using the at least one heating element as the hair iron is slid along the hair; and   pressing a pump to cause fluid to be dispensed from a capsule including an internal reservoir for holding a fluid, the capsule removable from the hair iron.