Hair straightener

Abstract

A hair straightening and/or pressing device for straightening and/or pressing coarse, thick, ethnic, kinky or curly hair can include two arms connected pivotally at one end. The arms can have opposing surfaces that can be heated. The heated surfaces can be featureless or include features. One or both surfaces can have rows of closely spaced, parallel blade shaped tines extending across substantially the entire width of the surface from one side of the device to another side of the device. The hair straightening device can have at least two different temperature settings selectable by a user. In certain implementations, one temperature setting may be lower than the other two settings and at a temperature that is not optimal for straightening hair. The other two temperature settings may be set to a temperature that is optimal for straightening hair of different types.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device configured for straightening and/or pressing hair, the device comprising:
 a first arm and a second arm extending along first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, between proximal and distal ends wherein the first and second arms are coupled at the proximal ends allowing the hair straightening device to be moveable between open and closed positions, the first arm having a first heated surface and the second arm having a second heated surface; and   a plurality of parallel and closely spaced blades extending laterally across the first surface of the first arm in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, wherein a portion of the blades of the first arm contact a portion of the second surface of the second arm when the hair straightening device is in the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second arms do not have spike-shaped teeth. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second surface comprises a smooth featureless plate. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the blades have a rounded top edge. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the blades have a flat top edge. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the blades have a pointed top edge. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second surfaces form a flat nesting relationship when the hair straightening device is in the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second surfaces form a convex/concave shaped nesting relationship when the hair straightening device is in the closed position. 
     
     
         9 . A device configured for straightening and/or pressing hair, the device comprising:
 a first arm and a second arm extending along first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, between having proximal and distal ends wherein the first and second arms are pivotally coupled at the proximal ends allowing the hair straightening device so as to be moveable between open and closed positions, the first arm having a first surface and the second arm having a second surface wherein both surfaces are heated; and   a first and second temperature setting selectable by the user, wherein the first temperature setting is lower than the second temperature setting, the first temperature setting configured for straightening and/or pressing a first type of hair, the second temperature setting configured for straightening and/or pressing a second type of hair, the first type of hair being different from the second type of hair.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising an off-position setting. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a circuit configured to activate at least a first heating device to heat the first and second surfaces, in accordance with the first and second temperature settings. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein first temperature setting is 420 degrees Fahrenheit, and the second temperature setting is 450 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising indicia to indicate a position for each of the first and second temperature settings. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein a plurality of parallel and closely spaced blades extends laterally across the first surface of the first arm in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the blades extend from a lateral edge of a first side of the first arm to a lateral edge of the second side of the first arm. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein heated surfaces of the first and second arm extend over first and second lateral edges of the first and second arm.