Hair styling device

Abstract

There is provided a hair styling device having a body defining a chamber adapted to accommodate a length of hair, the chamber having a primary opening through which the length of hair may pass. The device also has a rotatable element adapted to engage the length of hair adjacent to the primary opening, and an elongate member around which, in use, the length of hair is wound by the rotatable element. The device has at least one sensor adapted to detect misplaced hair. The sensor can be connected to a control system for the rotatable element whereby rotation of the rotatable element can be prevented when misplaced hair is detected by the sensor.

1 . A hair styling device having:
 a body defining a chamber adapted to accommodate a length of hair, the chamber having a primary opening through which the length of hair may pass;   a rotatable element adapted to engage the length of hair adjacent to the primary opening;   an elongate member around which, in use, the length of hair is wound by the rotatable element;   the device having at least one sensor adapted to detect misplaced hair.   
     
     
         2 . The hair styling device according to  claim 1  in which the body has an inclined surface adjacent to the primary opening, and in which the at least one sensor is located on the inclined surface. 
     
     
         3 . The hair styling device according to  claim 2  in which the at least one sensor is located at the end of the inclined surface opposed to the primary opening. 
     
     
         4 . The hair styling device according to  claim 3  having a movable panel to close the primary opening, the at least one sensor being adapted to detect the presence of hair between the end of the inclined surface and the panel when the panel is in its closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The hair styling device according to  claim 4  having an optical transmitter adjacent to the end of the inclined surface and a detector on the underside of the panel. 
     
     
         6 . The hair styling device according to  claim 1  in which the sensor is an optical sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The hair styling device according to  claim 1  having a control system adapted to control the rotation of the rotatable element, the sensor communicating with the control system, the control system being configured to prevent rotation of the rotatable element in the event that misplaced hair is detected by the sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The hair styling device according to  claim 7  in which the control system is configured to issue a warning signal to the user in the event that misplaced hair is detected by the sensor.