Curling Iron

Abstract

A curling iron includes a handle, a heating element and a plurality of coaxially oriented barrels thermally coupled to the heating element. The heating element may be electrically or chemically powered. An optional hair clamp biased against at least one of the barrels is configured to clamp the hair during the curling process. One or more of the barrels may collapse into one or more of the remaining barrels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A curling iron, comprising:
 a handle;   a heating element; and   a plurality of coaxially oriented barrels thermally coupled to the heating element.   
     
     
         2 . The curling iron of  claim 1  wherein the heating element is electrically powered. 
     
     
         3 . The curling iron of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the barrels is configured to retract into another one of the barrels. 
     
     
         4 . The curling iron of  claim 1 , further comprising a lever actuated member for clamping the hair against at least one of the barrels, the lever actuated member biased by a biasing member against the at least one of the barrels. 
     
     
         5 . The curling iron of  claim 4  wherein the heating element is electrically powered. 
     
     
         6 . The curling iron of  claim 3 , further comprising a lever actuated member for clamping the hair against at least one of the barrels, the lever actuated member biased by a biasing member against the at least one of the barrels. 
     
     
         7 . The curling iron of  claim 6  wherein the heating element is electrically powered. 
     
     
         8 . The curling iron of  claim 7 , further comprising a source of steam and a steam hole through which the steam may be applied to hair being styled. 
     
     
         9 . The curling iron of  claim 8 , wherein the lever actuated member includes a double hinge arrangement.