Hair styling apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed is a hair styling apparatus comprising a body having a hair styling element for styling hair. The hair styling element comprises a first portion and a second portion that is moveable relative to the first portion. The apparatus further comprises an actuator pivotably mounted to the body and engageable with the second portion to move the second portion, and a trigger connected to the actuator directly by pivotable connection or indirectly by one or more pivotably connected linkages. Depressing the trigger pivots the actuator from a first position to a second position so as to move the second portion. In another aspect, there is disclosed a similar apparatus in which the trigger is operatively connected to the actuator so as to move the actuator when depressed. The trigger comprises a trigger body and a grip portion for receipt of user's finger in use. The grip portion is slidably mounted to the trigger body so as to slide relative to the trigger body as the trigger is depressed.

1 . A hair styling apparatus comprising:
 a body having a hair styling element for styling hair, the hair styling element comprising a first portion and a second portion that is moveable relative to the first portion;   an actuator pivotably mounted to the body and engageable with the second portion to move the second portion; and   a trigger connected to the actuator directly by pivotable connection or indirectly by one or more pivotably connected linkages, whereby depressing the trigger pivots the actuator from a first position to a second position so as to move the second portion.   
     
     
         2 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the actuator and trigger each form linkages of a trigger mechanism, the trigger mechanism further comprising a fixed linkage forming part of the body and an intermediate linkage, each linkage having two pivotable connections to two other linkages of the four linkages, and wherein the pivotable mounting of the actuator to the body is a pivotable connection between the actuator and the fixed linkage. 
     
     
         3 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein both pivotable connections of the trigger are disposed at a first end of the trigger, the trigger projecting from the first end to a second end defining a grip portion configured to allow a user's finger to grip and depress the trigger in use. 
     
     
         4 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the trigger is pivotably connected to the fixed linkage and the intermediate linkage; and
 wherein the pivotable connection of the trigger to the intermediate linkage is interposed between the grip portion and the pivotable connection of the trigger to the fixed linkage. 
 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the trigger is pivotably connected to the actuator and the intermediate linkage; and
 wherein the pivotable connection of the trigger to the actuator is interposed between the grip portion and the pivotable connection of the trigger to the intermediate linkage. 
 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the trigger is directly connected to the actuator by a pivotable connection. 
     
     
         9 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the actuator is elongate and extends outwardly from the body. 
     
     
         10 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the trigger and the actuator are configured such that when the trigger is depressed by a user:
 the actuator pivots in a first direction about the connection between the actuator and the body; and 
 the trigger pivots in a second direction about the connection between the actuator and the trigger, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. 
 
     
     
         11 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein the trigger comprises biasing means configured to bias the trigger against movement in the second direction. 
     
     
         12 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the trigger comprises an annular portion defining a central aperture for receipt of a user's finger to depress the trigger. 
     
     
         13 . A hair styling apparatus comprising
 a body having a hair styling element for styling hair, the hair styling element comprising a first portion and a second portion that is moveable relative to the first portion;   an actuator pivotably mounted to the body and engageable with the second portion to move the second portion; and   a trigger operatively connected to the actuator so as to move the actuator when depressed; the trigger comprising a trigger body and a grip portion for receipt of user's finger in use, the grip portion slidably mounted to the trigger body so as to slide relative to the trigger body as the trigger is depressed.   
     
     
         14 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the trigger body comprises an arcuate track along which the grip portion slides. 
     
     
         15 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the trigger body is affixed to, or integral with, the actuator. 
     
     
         16 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the trigger body is slideably mounted to the actuator. 
     
     
         17 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the trigger body is slideable in a direction of extension of the actuator from the body of the apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the trigger body is biased towards the body of the apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the trigger comprises an annular portion and the grip portion is arcuate and extends at least partly about an internal rim of the annular portion. 
     
     
         20 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the styling element is a comb and each of the first and second portions comprises a transversely extending row of comb teeth, wherein the rows of comb teeth are adjacent one another, and wherein the row of comb teeth of the second portion is moveable along the transverse axis relative to the first portion. 
     
     
         21 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1  in the form of an attachment for a hair styling device, the body of the apparatus comprising a mounting portion configured for releasable mounting of the body of the apparatus to a hair styling device. 
     
     
         22 . A hair styling apparatus according to  claim 1  in the form of a hair styling device, the body of the apparatus comprising opposed forward and rearward ends, the hair styling element provided at the forward end and wherein the apparatus further comprises a handle projecting outwardly from the body of the apparatus at a location between the forward and rearward ends.