Hair curler

Abstract

A hair curler for subjecting hair to steam to effect a curling action includes a hollow perforated core surrounded by a compressible porous foam pad. A generally semicylindrical shield has notches in end walls for receiving the core.

I claim: 
     
       1. A hair curler for use with steam comprising a hollow perforated core, said core having an opening only at one end, a .[.purous.]. .Iadd.porous .Iaddend.sleeve around said core, a rim at each end of the core, the diameter of the rim being greater than the diameter of the core, at least one rim being releasably connected to the core, .[.and.]. a finger contact surface on the exterior surface of each rim, at least one of said finger contact surfaces being annular and coaxial with said opening.Iadd., and a shield which is generally semi-circular, said shield having end walls, each end wall having a notch, said end walls being juxtaposed to an associated rim and being between the rims while the core is received in said notches, an outer peripheral surface of the core engaging the surfaces of a notch in the end wall of the shield.Iaddend.. .[.2. A hair curler in accordance with claim 1 including a shield which is generally semicircular, said shield having end walls, each end wall having a notch, said end walls being juxtaposed to an associated rim and being between the rims while the core is received in said notches..]. .[.3. A hair curler in accordance with claim 2 wherein the outer peripheral surface of the core 
     
     
        engages the surfaces of a notch in the end wall of the shield..]. 4. A hair curler in accordance with claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.wherein each rim has an axially extending hub overlying an adjacent end portion of the sleeve, the outer periphery of each hub being in contact with a surface of 
     
     
        the notch on the associated end wall of the shield. 5. A hair curler in accordance with claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.including at least one ridge on the outer peripheral surface of the shield adjacent the free ends thereof to increase friction and facilitate rapid grasping of the shield. 
     
     
         . A hair curler in accordance with claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.including a plurality of passages in the shield to facilitate 
     
     
        blowing hot air through said passages. 7. A hair curler in accordance with claim 1 including a second sleeve surrounding said first sleeve, said second sleeve having integral outwardly extending projections to 
     
     
        facilitate catching hair. 8. A hair curler in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said finger contact surfaces is an annular boss extending in opposite directions away from their associated rims and having a 
     
     
        diameter corresponding generally to the diameter of the core. 9. A hair curler for use with steam comprising a hollow core having longitudinally extending slots, an opening at only one end of the core, a porous sleeve around said core, a rim at each end of the core, means cooperating with the outer periphery of said core to define an annular channel at each end of the core, each end of said sleeve extending into one of said annular channels .Iadd.wherein said annular channels overlie each end of said sleeve.Iaddend., a finger contact portion on the outer surface of each rim and extending away from the adjacent end of said core, one of said finger 
     
     
        contact portions being annular and coaxial with said opening. 10. A hair curler for use with steam comprising a hollow perforated core, said core having an opening only at one end, a porous foam plastic tubular pad around said core, a rim at each end of the core, the diameter of the rim being greater than the diameter of the core, a finger contact surface on the exterior surface of each rim, each of said finger contact surfaces being annular and coaxial with said opening, a shield which is generally semi-circular, said shield having end walls, each end wall having a notch, said end walls being Juxtaposed to an associated rim and being between the rims while the core is received in said notches, .Iadd.an outer peripheral surface of the core engaging surfaces of the notches in the end walls of the shield.Iaddend., and at least one ridge on the outer peripheral surface of the shield adjacent the free ends thereof to increase friction 
     
     
        and facilitate rapid grasping of the shield. .[.11.  A hair curler in accordance with claim 10 wherein the outer peripheral surface of the core 
     
     
        engages the surfaces of a notch in the end wall of the shield..]. 12. A hair curler in accordance with claim 10 wherein each rim has an axially extending hub overlying an adjacent end portion of the pad, the outer periphery of each hub being in contact with a surface of the notch on the 
     
     
        associated end wall of the shield. 13. A hair curler in accordance with claim 10 including a plurality of passages in the shield to facilitate 
     
     
        blowing hot air through said passages. 14. A hair curler in accordance with claim 10 including a sleeve surrounding said pad, said sleeve having integral outwardly extending projections to facilitate catching hair. 
     
     
        .Iadd.15.  A hair curler in accordance with claim 1 wherein the end walls of said shield frictionally contact inner surfaces of said rims. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. A hair curler for use with steam comprising a hollow perforated core, said core having an opening only at one end, a porous sleeve around said core, a rim at each end of the core, the diameter of the rim being greater than the diameter of the core, at least one rim being releasably connected to the core, and a finger contact surface on the exterior surface of each rim, at least one of said finger contact surfaces being annular and coaxial with said opening, and a shield which is generally semi-circular, said shield having end walls, each end wall having a notch, said end walls being juxtaposed to an associated rim and being between the rims while the core is received in said notches, said shield being disposed between said rims, the end walls of the shield frictionally 
     
     
        contacting inner surfaces of the rims. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17.  A hair curler for use with steam comprising a hollow perforated core, said core having an opening only at one end, a porous sleeve around said core, a rim at each end of said core, a finger contact surface on the exterior surface of each rim, at least one of the finger contact surfaces being annular and coaxial with the opening, the diameter of the rim being greater than the diameter of the core, at least one rim being releasably connected to the core, a shield which is generally semi-circular and disposed between said rims, said shield having end walls, each end wall between said rims, said shield having end walls, each end wall having a notch, said end walls being juxtaposed to an associated rim and being between the rims while the core is received in said notches, an outer peripheral surface of the core frictionally contacting the surfaces of a notch in the end wall of the 
     
     
        shield. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18.  A hair curler in accordance with claim 17 wherein the end walls of said shield frictionally contact inner surfaces of said rims. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. A hair curler for use with steam comprising a hollow perforated core, said core having an opening only at one end, a porous sleeve around said core, a rim at each end of the core, a finger contact surface on the exterior surface of each rim, at least one of the finger contact surfaces being annular and coaxial with the opening, the diameter of the rim being greater than the diameter of the core, at least one rim being releasably connected to the core, and a shield which is generally semi-circular, said shield having end walls, each end wall having a notch, said end walls being juxtaposed to an associated rim and being between the rims while the core is received in said notches, said shield being disposed between said rims, the end walls of the shield 
     
     
        frictionally contacting inner surfaces of said rims. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. A hair curler in accordance with claim 16, 17 or 19 wherein the finger contact surface projects axially outwardly from the exterior surface of 
     
     
        each rim. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21.  A hair curler in accordance with claim 16, 17 or 19 wherein the finger contact surface is a protrusion from the exterior surface of each rim. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A hair curler in accordance with claim 16, 17 or 19 wherein the finger contact surface is an annulus in the exterior surface of each rim. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A hair curler in accordance with claim 22 wherein the annulus is an annular boss that extends away from the exterior surface of each rim. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.  .  A hair curler in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer peripheral surface of the core engages the surfaces of the notch in the end wall of the shield by frictional contact therebetween. .Iaddend.