Hair styling device

Abstract

A hair styling device, a method of making such a hair styling device, and methods of styling hair and instructing others to style hair using such a hair styling device are provided. The hair styling device containing two configurations of stable mechanical shapes, such that the hair styling device is capable of physical transformation to hold and retain a bundle of receiving hair in a desired hair style by inserting hair into its formed loop and further applying force to transform it from a first linear stable shape to a second generally cylindrical shape.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A hair styling device, comprising:
 a) a base member having two mechanical shapes stabilized by different curvature axis in a first stable state and a second stable state,   wherein in the first stable state, the base member has a linear structure including a concave surface, a convex surface and two longitudinal ends, and having a curved ridge around a longitudinal axis connecting the two longitudinal ends, and   in the second stable state, the base member has at least one wrap-around cylindrical structure and coiled around a lateral axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   b) a holding member made of a pliable and inelastic material, and being longer than the base member in the longitudinal axis; and   c) an attaching member for connecting each of two ends of the holding member to a corresponding one of the longitudinal ends on the convex surface, wherein the holding member wraps over and secured onto the longitudinal ends of the base member on the concave surface by way of the attaching member, such that the entire longitudinal length of the base member is available to hold hair;   whereby the hair is styled by being inserted between the base member and the holding member while the base member is in the first stable state, then being rolled together with the base member and the holding member until a desired configuration is achieved, and then being fixed in response to an external force applied to the convex surface of the base member to transform the base member into the second stable state.   
     
     
         2 . The hair styling device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the base member is made of a material selected from a group consisting of foam skin, plastic, PVC, rubber, silicone, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The hair styling device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the base member is made of a material selected from a group consisting of flexible stainless steel, alloy, iron, aluminum, tin and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The hair styling device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the holding member is made of a material selected from a group consisting of fabric, silicone, plastic, rubber, flannel woven, plush, sequin, velvet, silk, polyester, nylon, satin, PVC prismatic reflective sheet, vinyl, polyethylene, polythene, leather and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The hair styling device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the attaching member surrounds and encases at least the longitudinal ends of the base member, and is made of a material selected from a group consisting of fabric, silicone, plastic, polyester, Synthetic Wig, rubber and a combination thereof; or the attaching member integrates the holding member to the base member and is means selected from a group consisting of glue, tape, sewing, injection molding, knotting and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The hair styling device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the attaching member includes at least a pair of fasteners, which are means selected from a group consisting of a rivet, bolt and nut, clamp, staple, glue, sewing, welding, soldering, heat staking, dipping and a combination thereof, for affixing the holding member to the base member. 
     
     
         7 . The hair styling device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the base member further comprises a gripping portion and the gripping portion is made of a material selected from a group consisting of fabric texture, silicone, rubber, synthetic wig, anti-slippage material, and a combination thereof for a secure hold. 
     
     
         8 . The hair styling device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the holding member further comprises a gripping portion and the gripping portion is made of a material selected from a group consisting of fabric texture, silicone, rubber, anti-slippage material, and a combination thereof for a secure hold. 
     
     
         9 . A hair styling device, comprising:
 a) a base member, made of a material selected from a group consisting of flexible stainless steel, alloy, iron, aluminum and a combination thereof, and having two mechanical shapes stabilized by different curvature axis in a first stable state and a second stable state;   wherein in the first stable state, the base member has a linear structure including a concave surface, a convex surface and two longitudinal ends, and having a curved ridge around a longitudinal axis connecting the two longitudinal ends, and   in the second stable state, the base member has at least one wrap-around cylindrical structure and coiled around a lateral axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   b) a holding member being pliable, and having a pair of ends; and   c) an attaching member for connecting each of the ends of the holding member to a corresponding one of the longitudinal ends of the concave surface, such that the holding member forms a closed loop with the base member for receiving and restraining a bundle of hair;   whereby the hair is styled by being inserted between the base member and the holding member while the base member is in the first stable state, then being rolled together with the base member and the holding member until a desired configuration is achieved, and then being fixed in response to an external force applied to the convex surface of the base member to transform the base member into the second stable state.   
     
     
         10 . The hair styling device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the attaching member integrates with the base member stamped, punched or cut into the base member and are selected from a group consisting of hooks, caps, knots, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The hair styling device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the attaching member surrounds and encases at least the longitudinal ends of the base member, and is made of a material selected from a group consisting of fabric, silicone, plastic, polyester, synthetic Wig, rubber and a combination thereof; or the attaching member integrates the holding member to the base member and is means selected from a group consisting of glue, tape, sewing, injection molding, knotting and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The hair styling device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the attaching member includes at least a pair of fasteners, which are means selected from a group consisting of a rivet, bolt and nut, clamp, staple, glue, sewing, welding, soldering, heat staking, dipping and a combination thereof, for affixing the holding member to the base member. 
     
     
         13 . The hair styling device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the base member further comprises a gripping portion and the gripping portion is made of a material selected from a group consisting of fabric texture, silicone, rubber, synthetic wig, anti-slippage material, and a combination thereof for a secure hold. 
     
     
         14 . The hair styling device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the holding member further comprises a gripping portion and the gripping portion is made of a material selected from a group consisting of fabric texture, silicone, rubber, anti-slippage material, and a combination thereof for a secure hold. 
     
     
         15 . A hair styling device, comprising:
 a) a base member, wherein the base member is a thin non-metallic strip made of a material selected from the group consisting of foam skin, plastic, PVC, rubber, silicone and a combination thereof, having two mechanical shapes stabilized by different curvature axis in a first stable state and a second stable state;   wherein in the first stable state, the base member has a linear structure including a concave surface, a convex surface and two longitudinal ends, and having a curved ridge around a longitudinal axis connecting the two longitudinal ends, and   in the second stable state, the base member has at least one wrap-around cylindrical structure and coiled around a lateral axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   b) a holding member made of a pliable material, and having a pair of ends; and   c) an attaching member for connecting each of the ends of the holding member to a corresponding one of the two longitudinal ends of the base member on the concave surface, such that the holding member forms a closed loop with the base member for receiving and restraining a bundle of hair;   whereby the hair is styled by being inserted between the base member and the holding member while the base member is in the first stable state, then being rolled together with the base member and the holding member until a desired configuration is achieved, and then being fixed in response to an external force applied to the convex surface of the base member to transform the base member into the second stable state.   
     
     
         16 . The hair styling device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the attaching member connects the holding member to the base member on the convex surface, wherein the holding member wraps over and is secured onto the longitudinal ends of the base member on the concave surface by way of the attaching member, such that the entire longitudinal length of the base member is available to hold hair. 
     
     
         17 . The hair styling device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the attaching member surrounds and encases at least the longitudinal ends of the base member, and is made of a material selected from a group consisting of fabric, silicone, plastic, polyester, synthetic wig, rubber and a combination thereof; or the attaching member integrates the holding member to the base member and is means selected from a group consisting of glue, tape, sewing, injection molding, knotting and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The hair styling device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the attaching member integrates with the base member stamped, punched or cut into the base member and are selected from a group consisting of hooks, caps, knots, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The hair styling device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the base member further comprises a gripping portion and the gripping portion is made of a material selected from the group consisting of fabric texture, silicone, rubber, synthetic wig, anti-slippage material, and a combination thereof for a secure hold. 
     
     
         20 . The hair styling device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the holding member further comprises a gripping portion and the gripping portion is made of a material selected from the group consisting of fabric texture, silicone, rubber, anti-slippage material, and a combination thereof for a secure hold.