Hand-held hair styling device

Abstract

A hand-held hair styling device includes a body having a front side, a back side, and a side edge extending between the front and back sides. A rotatable base is mounted on the body for rotation relative to the body about an axis of rotation. The rotatable base has a surface facing generally away from the body. The axis of rotation of the rotatable base extends substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the body. At least one hair styling element is mounted on the surface of the rotatable base for rotation with the rotatable base. The hair styling element includes a twisted elongate member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hand-held hair styling device, the hair styling device comprising:
 a body having a front side, a back side, and a side edge extending between the front and back sides;   a rotatable base mounted on the body for rotation relative to the body about an axis of rotation, the rotatable base having a surface facing generally away from the body, the axis of rotation of the rotatable base extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the body; and   at least one hair styling element mounted on the surface of the rotatable base for rotation with the rotatable base, the hair styling element comprising a twisted elongate member.   
     
     
         2 . A hand-held hair styling device as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of hair styling elements mounted on the surface, each hair styling element comprising a twisted elongate member. 
     
     
         3 . A hand-held hair styling device as set forth in  claim 2  wherein each hair styling element has a twisted paddle-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         4 . A hand-held hair styling device as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the twisted elongate member of each hair styling element includes a side surface extending in a spiral from a base mounted on the surface generally to a free end of the twisted elongate member. 
     
     
         5 . A hand-held hair styling device as set forth in  claim 3  wherein each hair styling element has a twisted rectangular paddle-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         6 . A hand-held hair styling device as set forth in  claim 3  wherein each hair styling element has a twisted petal paddle-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         7 . A hand-held hair styling device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the twisted elongate member of the at least one hair styling element is twisted by at least about 180 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . A hand-held hair styling device as set forth in  claim 2  wherein each of the hair styling elements mounted on the surface of the rotatable base is spaced from each of the other hair styling elements. 
     
     
         9 . A hand-held hair styling device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the at least one hair styling element has a longitudinal axis that extends non-parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable base such that the hair styling element extends at an angle to the axis of rotation of the rotatable base. 
     
     
         10 . A hand-held hair styling device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the at least one hair styling element is offset from the axis of rotation of the rotatable base such that the hair styling element rotates about the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         11 . A hand-held hair styling device as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a selectively activatable drive system for driving rotation of the rotatable base relative to the body. 
     
     
         12 . A hair styling attachment for a hand-held hair styling device, the attachment comprising:
 a base including an attachment member for attaching the base to the hair styling device for being rotated by the hair styling device, and a surface on the base; and   at least one hair styling element mounted on the surface of the base for rotation with the base, the hair styling element comprising a twisted elongate member.   
     
     
         13 . A hair styling attachment as set forth in  claim 12  further comprising a plurality of hair styling elements mounted on the surface of the base, each hair styling element comprising a twisted elongate member. 
     
     
         14 . A hair styling attachment as set forth in  claim 13  wherein each hair styling element has a twisted paddle-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         15 . A hair styling attachment as set forth in  claim 14  wherein the twisted elongate member of each hair styling element includes a side surface extending in a spiral from the base generally to a free end of the twisted elongate member. 
     
     
         16 . A hair styling attachment as set forth in  claim 14  wherein each hair styling element has a twisted rectangular paddle-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         17 . A hair styling attachment as set forth in  claim 14  wherein each hair styling element has a twisted petal paddle-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         18 . A hair styling attachment as set forth in  claim 13  wherein each of the hair styling elements mounted on the surface is spaced from each of the other hair styling elements. 
     
     
         19 . A hair styling attachment as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the at least one hair styling element has a longitudinal axis that extends non-parallel to a central axis of the base such that the hair styling element extends at an angle to the central axis of the base. 
     
     
         20 . A hair styling attachment as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the at least one hair styling element is offset from a central axis of the base.