Bidirectional curling iron with an asymmetric clamping member having a lateral comb edge and an opposite parallel straight edge

Abstract

A curling iron includes a concave clamping member having a lateral straight edge and an opposite lateral comb edge. The clamping member is adapted to mate with a curling rod when the curling iron is in a closed position. During curling, the curling iron may be rotated so that either the straight edge or the comb edge moves towards the hair and engages and styles the hair with the lateral straight edge forming a solid barrel curl and the lateral comb edge forming evenly separated multiple curls, multiple spikes, multiple spirals and/or multiple waves.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An asymmetric curling iron comprised of
 a curling rod having a circular cross section, and   an asymmetric concave clamping member adapted to mate with the curling rod when the curling iron is in a closed position, said asymmetric concave clamping member defining a compartment in which at least half of the concave clamping member is received, said clamping member having a clamping section having an arcuate cross section that starts with a first terminal lateral free edge and ends with an opposite second terminal lateral free edge, said first terminal free edge being a lateral straight edge without comb teeth, said second terminal free edge being a lateral comb edge parallel to said first terminal free edge, and said comb edge including a plurality of comb teeth integrally formed in said clamping member, and said first lateral straight edge and said second lateral comb edge being integrally formed with the asymmetric concave clamping member; and   said curling rod engaging a lock of hair wrapped around the curling rod while the asymmetric concave clamping member is brought into the closed position receiving a portion of the curling rod with the lock of hair wrapped around the curling rod, and said first lateral straight edge engaging the lock of hair and forming a first curl if the curling rod is rotated in a first direction, and said second lateral comb edge engaging the lock of hair and forming a second curl if the curling rod is rotated in a second direction, said curling iron producing one of the first curl and the second curl depending upon the direction of rotation of the curling rod while the asymmetric concave clamping member is in the closed position with the lock of hair wrapped around the curling rod.   
     
     
         2 . A curling iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the comb edge includes a plurality of combing teeth, said combing teeth being uniformly spaced apart along the comb edge. 
     
     
         3 . A curling iron according to  claim 2 , wherein each tooth of the plurality of combing teeth includes a filleted free end. 
     
     
         4 . A curling iron according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of combing teeth are curved to the contour of the concave clamping member. 
     
     
         5 . A curling iron according to  claim 3 , wherein the straight edge and comb edge each terminate at a plane that is perpendicular to a midline of a cross-section of the clamping member. 
     
     
         6 . A curling iron according to  claim 3 , wherein the straight edge terminates at a first plane that is perpendicular to a midline of a cross-section of the clamping member and the comb edge terminates at a second plane that is perpendicular to a midline of a cross-section of the clamping member, said second plane being parallel to the first plane. 
     
     
         7 . A curling iron according to  claim 3 , wherein the straight edge terminates at a first plane that is perpendicular to a midline of a cross-section of the clamping member and the comb edge terminates at a second plane that is perpendicular to a midline of a cross-section of the clamping member, said second plane being further from a cusp of the clamping member than the first plane. 
     
     
         8 . A curling iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the curling rod has a circular cross section with a first radius of curvature and the clamping member has a radius of curvature about equal to or larger than the first radius of curvature. 
     
     
         9 . A curling iron according to  claim 1 , further comprising a spring configured to urge the curling iron into an open position. 
     
     
         10 . A curling iron according to  claim 1 , further comprising a spring configured to urge the curling iron into a closed position. 
     
     
         11 . A curling iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the curling rod contains an electrical heating element disposed within said curling rod. 
     
     
         12 . A curling iron according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a pair of handles, including a first handle being operably coupled to the curling rod, and a second handle being operably coupled to the clamping member,   a pivot pin adapted for pivotally joining the first handle to the second handle.   
     
     
         13 . A curling iron according to  claim 9 , wherein the curling rod has a cross section with a first radius of curvature and the clamping member has a radius of curvature about equal to or larger than the first radius of curvature. 
     
     
         14 . A curling iron according to  claim 9 , further comprising a first handle grip adapted for the first handle and a second handle grip adapted for the second handle. 
     
     
         15 . A curling iron comprised of
 a curling rod having a circular cross section,   an asymmetric, removable, reversible concave clamping member adapted to mate with the curling rod when the curling iron is in a closed position, said clamping member having a clamping section having a C-shaped cross section that starts with a first terminal free edge and ends with an opposite second terminal free edge, said first terminal free edge being a lateral straight edge without comb teeth, said second terminal free edge being a lateral comb edge parallel to said first terminal free edge, and said comb edge including comb teeth integrally formed in said clamping member; and   a pair of handle assemblies, including a first handle being operably coupled to the curling rod by a first connecting arm, and a second handle being operably coupled to the clamping member by a second connecting arm, said first and second connecting arms being pivotally coupled; and   means for releasably coupling the asymmetric, removable, reversible concave clamping member to the second connecting arm in a plurality of orientations; and   said curling rod engaging a lock of hair wrapped around the curling rod while the asymmetric, removable, reversible concave clamping member is brought into the closed position receiving a portion of the curling rod with the lock of hair wrapped around the curling rod, and said first lateral straight edge engaging the lock of hair and forming a first curl if the curling rod is rotated in a first direction, and said second lateral comb edge engaging the lock of hair and forming a second curl if the curling rod is rotated in a second direction.   
     
     
         16 . A curling iron according to  claim 15 , wherein each tooth of the plurality of combing teeth is tapered from a root portion to a distal end of the tooth. 
     
     
         17 . A curling iron according to  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of combing teeth are curved to the contour of the concave clamping member. 
     
     
         18 . A curling iron according to  claim 17 , wherein the circular cross section of the curling rod has a first radius of curvature and the semi-circular cross-section of the clamping member has a radius of curvature equal to or larger than the first radius of curvature. 
     
     
         19 . A curling iron according to  claim 3 , wherein the straight edge and comb edge each terminate at a plane that is perpendicular to a midline of a cross-section of the clamping member. 
     
     
         20 . A curling iron according to  claim 3 , wherein the straight edge terminates at a first plane that is perpendicular to a midline of a cross-section of the clamping member and the comb edge terminates at a second plane that is perpendicular to a midline of a cross-section of the clamping member, said second plane being further from a cusp of the clamping member than the first plane.