Hair styling apparatus

Abstract

A hair styling apparatus includes first and second handle members adapted for movement between an open position for receiving hair therebetween and a closed position adjacent the hair, a heating element associated with at least one of said first and second handle members and a vibration element mountable to at least one of the first and second handle member to impart mechanical energy to the heating element. The vibration element may include a transducer. The transducer may be a piezoelectric transducer.

1 . A hair styling apparatus, which comprises:
 first and second handle members adapted for movement between an open position for receiving hair therebetween and a closed position adjacent the hair, the first and second handle members extending along a longitudinal axis;   a heating element associated with at least one of the first and second handle members; and   a vibration element mountable to at least one of the first and second handle members to impart mechanical energy to the heating element, the vibration element axially spaced from the heating element.   
     
     
         2 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the vibration element includes a transducer. 
     
     
         3 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the vibration element includes a piezoelectric transducer. 
     
     
         4 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 3  including a first heating plate mounted to the first handle member and a second heating plate mounted to the second handle member. 
     
     
         5 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the transducer is positioned to impart mechanical energy to the second heating plate of the second handle member. 
     
     
         6 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the transducer is positioned to impart mechanical energy to each of the first and second heating plates of the first and second handle members. 
     
     
         7 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 4  including first and second transducers mounted within respective first and second handle members, the first transducer imparting mechanical energy to the first heating plate, the second transducer imparting mechanical energy to the second heating plate. 
     
     
         8 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 4  including a manually operable intensity control, the intensity control adapted for selective manipulation to control output of the transducer. 
     
     
         9 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the ultrasonic transducer is activated upon movement of the first and second handle members to the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the ultrasonic transducer is deactivated when the first and second handle members are in the open position. 
     
     
         11 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the first and second handle members include first and second frames, the first and second frames defining a hinge about which the first and second handle members pivot between the open position and the closed position, the first and second heating plates respectively coupled to the first and second frames. 
     
     
         12 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the transducer is mechanically coupled to at least one of the first and second frames. 
     
     
         13 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 12  including first and second transducers mechanically coupled to the first and second frames respectively. 
     
     
         14 . A hair styling apparatus, which comprises:
 first and second handle members adapted for pivotal movement about a hinge between an open position for receiving hair therebetween and a closed position adjacent the hair, the first and second handle members extending along a longitudinal axis;   first and second heating elements mounted to the first and second handle members respectively, and being remote from the hinge; and   a vibration element mountable to at least one of the first and second handle members to impart mechanical energy to the heating element, the vibration element axially spaced from the heating element.   
     
     
         15 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the first and second handle members include first and second frames, the first and second frames defining the hinge, the first and second heating plates respectively coupled to the first and second frames. 
     
     
         16 . The hair styling apparatus according to  claim 15  including first and second transducers mechanically coupled to the first and second frames respectively.