Hair roller

Abstract

A hair roller comprises a housing, an electrically-powered heater, and an electrical connector. A section of hair can be wrapped around the housing and, in use, the electrically-powered heater heats the hair roller to transfer heat to the hair wrapped around the housing. The electrical connector is removably connectable to an electrical supply connector of a power applicator. In use, the electrical connector is to receive electrical energy from the electrical supply connector for delivery to the electrically-powered heater. The power applicator is configured so that the electrical energy can supplied to the electrical connector from the electrical supply connector when the hair is wrapped around the housing of the hair roller.

1 . A hair roller comprising:
 a housing sized and shaped such that, around which a section of hair on a user's head is wrappable;   an electrically-powered heater configured to, in use, heat the hair roller to transfer heat to the hair wrapped around the housing;   an electrical connector, the electrical connector being removably connectable to an electrical supply connector of a power applicator,   wherein the electrical connector is configured to, in use, receive electrical energy from the electrical supply connector for delivery to the electrically-powered heater, and   wherein the power applicator is configured so that the electrical energy can be supplied to the electrical connector from the electrical supply connector when the hair is wrapped around the housing of the hair roller.   
     
     
         2 . The hair roller according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrically-powered heater comprises a resistive heater wherein the resistive heater comprises a thin-film heater wrapped around a portion of the housing around which the hair is rolled. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The hair roller according to  claim 2 , wherein the hair roller comprises an insulator wrapped around the housing to encapsulate the thin-film heater. 
     
     
         5 . The hair roller according to  claim 1 , wherein the hair roller comprises a temperature monitoring unit to measure or react to the temperature of the housing or of the electrically-powered heater. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The hair roller according to  claim 1 , further comprising a water retaining layer configured to release moisture to the hair in response to the hair roller being heated. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The hair roller according to  claim 5 , wherein the water retaining layer forms a sleeve at least partly encapsulating a portion of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The hair roller according to  claim 5 , wherein the water retaining layer is detachably attached to the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The hair roller according to  claim 5 , wherein the water retaining layer comprises a hygroscopic material, wherein the hair roller further comprising a cover layer arranged to at least partly encapsulate the hygroscopic material, wherein the cover layer is configured to repel liquid water and allow water vapour to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The hair roller according to  claim 5 , wherein the housing comprises a hydrophobic surface portion. 
     
     
         14 . A power applicator for applying electrical energy to a hair roller according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 an electrical energy source to supply electrical energy to the electrical supply connector; and   a control system to control the supply of electrical energy to the electrical supply connector.   wherein the power applicator is configured so that the electrical energy can be supplied to the electrical connector when a section of hair on a user's head is wrapped around the hair roller.   
     
     
         15 . The power applicator according to  claim 14 , wherein the electrical supply connector is shaped to guide the electrical supply connector to connect with the electrical connector of the hair roller. 
     
     
         16 . The power applicator according to  claim 14 , wherein the electrical energy source comprises a lithium-ion battery. wherein the battery provides a voltage of 6V or higher, wherein the battery has a capacity of at least 5000 mAh, and wherein at least 180 W continuous power is deliverable by the battery. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The power applicator according to  claim 16 , wherein the power applicator comprises a second electrical connector and a charging unit, the charging unit to deliver electrical energy from a second electrical connector to the battery to recharge the battery. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The power applicator according to  claim 14 , wherein the power applicator comprises a base unit and a probe, wherein the electrical energy source is located within the base unit, wherein the probe comprises the electrical supply connector, and wherein the probe is connected to the base unit by a power supply cable. 
     
     
         21 . The power applicator according to  claim 14 , wherein the control system comprises a user interface through which a user can set a heating duration and a heating temperature for the electrically-powered heater of the hair roller. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The power applicator according to  claim 14 , wherein, in use, the control system is connectable to a temperature monitoring unit of the hair roller. 
     
     
         24 . The power applicator according to  claim 14 , wherein the control system comprises a timer unit to control the duration for which electrical energy is supplied to the electrical supply connector. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A hair roller kit comprising:
 one or more hair rollers, each hair roller comprising:
 a housing sized and shaped such that, around which a section of hair on a user's head is wrappable; 
 an electrically-powered heater configured to, in use, heat the hair roller to transfer heat to the hair wrapped around the housing; 
 an electrical connector, the electrical connector being removably connectable to an electrical supply connector of a power applicator, 
 wherein the electrical connector is configured to, in use, receive electrical energy from the electrical supply connector for delivery to the electrically-powered heater, and 
 wherein the power applicator is configured so that the electrical energy can be supplied to the electrical connector from the electrical supply connector when the hair is wrapped around the housing of the hair roller; and 
 a power applicator to apply electrical energy to the hair rollers, in use, the power applicator comprising:
 an electrical supply connector, the electrical supply connector being removably connectable to the electrical connector of the hair roller, wherein the electrical supply connector is configured to, in use, deliver electrical energy to the electrical connector for delivery to the electrically-powered heater, and wherein the power applicator is configured so that the electrical energy can be supplied to the electrical connector when a section of hair on a user's head is wrapped around the hair roller; 
 an electrical energy source to supply electrical energy to the electrical supply connector; and 
 a control system to control the supply of electrical energy to the electrical supply connector. 
 
   
     
     
         27 . A hair roller kit comprising:
 one or more hair rollers, each hair roller comprising:
 a housing sized and shaped such that, around which a section of hair on a user's head is wrappable; 
 an electrically-powered heater configured to, in use, heat the hair roller to transfer heat to the hair wrapped around the housing; 
 an electrical connector, the electrical connector being removably connectable to an electrical supply connector of a power applicator, 
 wherein the electrical connector is configured to, in use, receive electrical energy from the electrical supply connector for delivery to the electrically-powered heater 
 wherein the power applicator is configured so that the electrical energy can be supplied to the electrical connector from the electrical supply connector when the hair is wrapped around the housing of the hair roller; and 
   a power applicator to, in use, apply electrical energy to the one or more hair rollers, the power applicator comprising:
 an electrical supply connector is removably connectable to the electrical connector of the hair roller, 
 wherein the electrical supply connector is configured to, in use, deliver electrical energy to the electrical connector for delivery to the electrically-powered heater, and 
 wherein the power applicator is configured so that the electrical energy can be supplied to the electrical connector when a section of hair on a user's head is wrapped around the hair roller; 
 an electrical energy source to supply electrical energy to the electrical supply connector; 
 a control system to control the supply of electrical energy to the electrical supply connector; and 
 a charging device, the charging device comprising:
 a second electrical energy source to deliver electrical energy to the power applicator to recharge the electrical energy source; and 
 a charging connector through which the electrical energy from the second electrical energy source is deliverable to the second electrical connector of the power applicator, wherein the charging connector is electrically connectable with the second electrical connector. 
 
   
     
     
         28 . The hair roller kit according to  claim 27 , wherein the charging device comprises a controller to control the supply of the electrical energy to the charging connector.