Hair Styling Apparatus With Insulating Air Gaps

Abstract

A hair styling apparatus includes first and second arms, each having respective first and second ends. The first and second arms are pivotably coupled to each other at least at the first end of the first arm for selective, pivotal movement relative to each other to configure the hair styling apparatus between an opened position and a closed position. A heating assembly has a first and second end. The second end of the heating assembly is pivotably coupled to the second end of the first arm. The heating assembly includes a heat plate having a hair-heating surface. The heat plate is spaced from the first arm in both the opened position and the closed position of the hair styling apparatus to define an air gap therebetween.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hair styling apparatus comprising:
 first and second arms each having respective first and second ends, the first and second arms being pivotably coupled to each other at least at the first end of the first arm for selective, pivotal movement relative to each other to selectively configure the hair styling apparatus between an opened position and a closed position; and   a heating assembly having a first and second end, the second end of the heating assembly being pivotably coupled to the second end of the first arm, the heating assembly comprising a heat plate having a hair-heating surface, wherein the heat plate is spaced from the first arm in both the opened position and the closed position of the hair styling apparatus to define an air gap therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The hair styling apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the heating assembly is pivotably coupled to the first arm by a revolute joint. 
     
     
         3 . The hair styling apparatus set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the revolute joint comprises a pin coupled to the insulating housing and a pin receiving block coupled to the first arm, the pin receiving block comprising a mounting surface configured to receive the pin to define a pivot axis for the heating assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The hair styling apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the heating assembly is pivotably coupled to the first arm using a resilient coupling. 
     
     
         5 . The hair styling apparatus set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a biasing member configured to bias the heating assembly away from the first arm. 
     
     
         6 . The hair styling apparatus set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the biasing member comprises a compression spring positioned between the first arm and the heating assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The hair styling apparatus set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the biasing member comprises a resilient material positioned between the first arm and the heating assembly adjacent the second end of the first arm. 
     
     
         8 . The hair styling apparatus set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a bumper positioned between the heating assembly and the first arm, the bumper configured to maintain the air gap in the closed position of the hair styling apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The hair styling apparatus set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the heating assembly further comprises an insulating housing configured to enclose at least a portion of the heat plate. 
     
     
         10 . A hair styling apparatus comprising:
 a handle having first and second arms having respective first and second ends, the first and second arms being pivotably coupled to each other at least at the first end of the first arm for selective, pivotal movement relative to each other to selectively configure the hair styling apparatus between an opened position and a closed position;   a first heating assembly having a first end and a second end, the second end of the first heating assembly being pivotably coupled to the second end of the first arm forming a cantilever, wherein the first heating assembly is spaced from the first arm in both the opened position and the closed position of the hair styling apparatus to define a first air gap therebetween;   a second heating assembly having a first end and a second end, the second end of the second heating assembly being pivotably coupled to the second end of the second arm forming a cantilever, wherein the second heating assembly is spaced from the second arm in both the opened position and the closed position of the hair styling apparatus to define a second air gap therebetween; and   a resilient bridge member coupled to the first ends of the first and second heating assemblies.   
     
     
         11 . The hair styling apparatus set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the resilient bridge member comprises at least one of an elastomer, a thermoset plastic, a thermoplastic, a fabric-based material, and a natural polymer. 
     
     
         12 . The hair styling apparatus set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the resilient bridge member is mechanically coupled to the first ends of the first and second heating assemblies using a mechanical fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The hair styling apparatus set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the resilient bridge member is formed integrally to the first ends of the first and second heating assemblies. 
     
     
         14 . The hair styling apparatus set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the resilient bridge member comprises a spring hinge having a first hinge member coupled to the first end of the first heating assembly, a second hinge member rotatably coupled to the first hinge member and coupled to the first end of the second heating assembly, and a torsion spring configured to bias the first hinge member toward the second hinge member. 
     
     
         15 . The hair styling apparatus set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the handle includes an angle proximate the first end of the first and second heating assemblies such that a first portion the handle defines and angle in the range between about 15 degree and about 90 degrees to a second portion of the handle. 
     
     
         16 . A hair styling apparatus comprising:
 first and second arms each having respective first and second ends, the first and second arms being pivotably coupled to each other at least at the first end of the first arm for selective, pivotal movement relative to each other to selectively configure the hair styling apparatus between an opened position and a closed position;   a cantilevered first heating assembly having a first end and a second end, the second end of the first heating assembly being pivotably coupled to the second end of the first arm, wherein the first heating assembly is spaced from the first arm in both the opened position and the closed position of the hair styling apparatus to define a first air gap therebetween;   a cantilevered second heating assembly having a first end and a second end, the second end of the second heating assembly being pivotably coupled to the second end of the second arm, wherein the second heating assembly is spaced from the second arm in both the opened position and the closed position of the hair styling apparatus to define an air gap therebetween; and   a spring hinge comprising:
 a first hinge member coupled to the first end of the first heating assembly; 
 a second hinge member coupled to the first end of the second heating assembly and rotatably coupled to the first hinge member; and 
 a torsion spring having a first end secured relative to the first hinge member and a second end secured relative to the second hinge member. 
   
     
     
         17 . A hair styling apparatus comprising:
 first and second arms each having respective first and second ends, the first and second arms being pivotably coupled to each other at least at the first end of the first arm for selective, pivotal movement relative to each other to selectively configure the hair styling apparatus between an opened position and a closed position; and   a heating assembly housing having first and second end portions and a center portion extending therebetween, at least the first end portion being coupled to the second end of the first arm, the center portion being spaced from the first arm to define an air gap therebetween;   a heat plate coupled to the center portion of the heating assembly housing, the heat plate having a hair-heating surface, wherein the heat plate is spaced from the first arm in both the opened position and the closed position of the hair styling apparatus.   
     
     
         18 . The hair styling apparatus set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the second end portion of the heating assembly is coupled to the first arm of the hair styling apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The hair styling apparatus set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the heat plate is rigidly coupled to the heating housing assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The hair styling apparatus set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the heat plate is flexibly mounted to the heating housing assembly.