Retractable iron

Abstract

An apparatus for styling hair includes a hinged frame two arms and a hinge. A platen for engaging hair and having a plurality of through holes arranged in a pattern has a mounted surface against a first one of the arms and a free surface facing a second one of the two arms. A pin carrier is interposed between the first one of the arms and the flat plate, having a plurality of pins arranged in the pattern for inserting into the through holes. A mechanism is coupled to the pin carrier, movable between an extended state wherein the plurality of pins protrudes above the free surface and a retracted state wherein the plurality of pins are retracted below the free surface. The perforated platen and a mating platen can be heated for styling hair and a user can easily move the pins between the engaged and retracted states.

1 . An apparatus for styling hair, comprising:
 a hinged frame comprising two opposing arms and a hinge;   a perforated platen for engaging hair comprising a plurality of through holes arranged in a pattern, having a mounted surface against a first one of the arms and a free surface facing a second one of the two arms;   a pin carrier interposed between the first one of the arms and the perforated plate, comprising a plurality of pins coupled to a substrate and arranged in the pattern for inserting into the through holes; and   a mechanism coupled to the pin carrier, movable between an extended state wherein the plurality of pins protrude above the free surface and a retracted state wherein the plurality of pins are retracted below the free surface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a sliding actuator coupled to the mechanism for moving the mechanism between the extended state and the retracted state. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a resilient spring biasing the pin carrier towards one of the extended state and the retracted state. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a ramp disposed against the pin carrier, positioned for transforming motion of the pin carrier parallel to the perforated platen into motion perpendicular to the perforated platen. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the ramp is formed in a frame of the mechanism fixed to the first one of the two arms. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the sliding actuator comprises a manual actuator mounted in a receiver of the hinged frame. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises an assembly of components. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pins comprises a stainless steel material. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of pins has a diameter in a range of 0.5 to 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of pins has length in a range of 1 to 4 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the stainless steel material is coated with one of a ceramic or fluoropolymer. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pin carrier comprises two separate pieces, each holding two rows of the plurality of pins. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein pins in a first of the two rows are spaced apart a uniform amount that is less than spacing between pins in a second of the two rows. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein each of the two separate pieces is positioned relative to the perforated platen so the first of the two rows is along and closer to an edge of the perforated platen than the second of the two rows. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the perforated platen is flat and smooth on its free surface. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the perforated platen is in conductive communication with a resistive heating element. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a water reservoir for producing steam. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second platen mounted to the second arm opposite to the perforated platen. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the through holes have cylindrical walls. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern of through holes include a row of more closely-spaced holes along each long edge of the smooth plate, and two or more rows of more widely-spaced holes there between.