Heated hair styling system

Abstract

A hair styling apparatus includes a pair of mating surfaces which engage one another and a handle which guides them into engagement at the manual control of a user. Hair to be styled is placed between the engaged surfaces. A plurality of comb-like pins extend from one of the surfaces and engage holes in the other of the surfaces. In another aspect of the invention, one or both surfaces may incorporate a source of dry heat. In another aspect of the invention, a source of steam is provided together with a trigger for discharging the steam through holes in at least one of the surfaces as an aid to hair styling.

1. An apparatus for styling hair, comprising:
 a first surface including a plurality of pins extending therefrom;  
 a second surface including a plurality of first holes therein;  
 a handle, said first surface and said second surface mounted to said handle, said handle operable between an open position and a closed position;  
 said pins of said first surface and said first holes of said second surface arranged so as to engage when the handle is in said closed position;  
 a housing extending from said second surface and having an internal cavity;  
 a refillable reservoir for containing fluid;  
 a vapor generator within said internal cavity of said housing, said vapor generator heating the fluid to vaporization;  
 a pump activated by a trigger attached to said handle, said pump withdrawing a metered volume of fluid from said reservoir and placing said metered volume of fluid in contact with said vapor generator; and  
 a passage connecting said vapor generator and second holes in said second surface so that vaporized fluid passes from said holes.  
 
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said second holes in said second surface and said first holes in said second surface are the same. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a first heating element. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said first heating element is disposed adjacent to said first surface so as to heat said first surface. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said first heating element is disposed adjacent to said second surface so as to heat said second surface. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to  claim 4  further comprising a second heating element disposed adjacent to said second surface so as to heat said second surface. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to  claim 2  further comprising a first heating element. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein said first heating element is disposed adjacent to said first surface so as to heat said first surface. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein said first heating element is disposed adjacent to said second surface so as to heat said second surface. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to  claim 8  further comprising a second heating element disposed adjacent to said second surface so as to heat said second surface. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said first and second surfaces are curved so that when placed together said first and second surfaces closely conform to one another. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said curve includes an “S” curve. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said first and second surfaces are flat. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus for styling hair, comprising:
   a handle pivotally operable between a first open position and a second closed position;        a first member and a second member disposed on said handle so that they are brought into mutual engagement when said handle is in said closed position;        a first source of dry heat in thermal contact with said first member so that in operation said first member is heated;        a first surface disposed on said first member;        a first two - dimensional array of a plurality of solid pins not all disposed in a line extending from said first surface;        a second source of dry heat in thermal contact with said second member so that in operation said second member is heated;        a second surface disposed on said second member; and        a second two - dimensional array of a plurality of apertures in said second surface, said apertures of said array oriented to receive corresponding pins from said array of pins without bending or distorting said pins.     
     
     
       15. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein said pins all have substantially a same sectional shape. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said pins have a circular sectional shape. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said apertures of said second array all have substantially a same sectional shape. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein individual apertures of said second array are arranged to mate with individual corresponding pins of said first array. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein said apertures have a circular sectional shape. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 14 , further comprising:
   a source of steam controlled by a trigger member attached to said handle, said source of steam emitting steam through holes in one of said first surface and said second surface in response to activation of said trigger.     
     
     
       21. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 14 , further comprising:
   a source of steam emitting steam through holes in one of said first surface and said second surface.     
     
     
       22. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 15 , further comprising:
   a source of steam controlled by a trigger member attached to said handle, said source of steam emitting steam through holes in one of said first surface and said second surface in response to activation of said trigger.     
     
     
       23. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 15 , further comprising:
   a source of steam emitting steam through holes in one of said first surface and said second surface.     
     
     
       24. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising:
   a source of steam controlled by a trigger member attached to said handle, said source of steam emitting steam through holes in one of said first surface and said second surface in response to activation of said trigger.     
     
     
       25. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising:
   a source of steam emitting steam through holes in one of said first surface and said second surface.     
     
     
       26. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 17 , further comprising:
   a source of steam controlled by a trigger member attached to said handle, said source of steam emitting steam through holes in one of said first surface and said second surface in response to activation of said trigger.     
     
     
       27. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 17 , further comprising:
   a source of steam emitting steam through holes in one of said first surface and said second surface.     
     
     
       28. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 18 , further comprising:
   a source of steam controlled by a trigger member attached to said handle, said source of steam emitting steam through holes in one of said first surface and said second surface in response to activation of said trigger.     
     
     
       29. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 18 , further comprising:
   a source of steam emitting steam through holes in one of said first surface and said second surface.     
     
     
       30. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 19 , further comprising:
   a source of steam controlled by a trigger member attached to said handle, said source of steam emitting steam through holes in one of said first surface and said second surface in response to activation of said trigger.     
     
     
       31. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 19 , further comprising:
   a source of steam emitting steam through holes in one of said first surface and said second surface.     
     
     
       32. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein said holes include at least some of said apertures in said second surface. 
     
     
       33. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 14 , further comprising:
   a housing within said handle extending from said second surface and having an internal cavity;        a refillable reservoir for containing fluid;        a vapor generator within said internal cavity of said housing, said vapor generator heating the fluid to vaporization;        a pump activated by a trigger attached to said handle, said pump withdrawing a metered volume of fluid from said reservoir and placing said metered volume of fluid in contact with said vapor generator; and        a passage connecting said vapor generator and at least some of said apertures in said second surface so that vaporized fluid passes from said at least some apertures.     
     
     
       34. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein said first and second surfaces are substantially flat. 
     
     
       35. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein said first and second surfaces are curved so that when said handle is in said closed position and said first and second surfaces are brought together said first and second surfaces closely conform to one another. 
     
     
       36. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 35 , wherein said curved first and second surfaces each include an “S” curve. 
     
     
       37. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein said first and second surfaces are substantially flat. 
     
     
       38. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein said first and second surfaces are curved so that when said handle is in said closed position and said first and second surfaces are brought together said first and second surfaces closely conform to one another. 
     
     
       39. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 38 , wherein said curved first and second surfaces each include an “S” curve. 
     
     
       40. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein said first and second surfaces are substantially flat. 
     
     
       41. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein said first and second surfaces are curved so that when said handle is in said closed position and said first and second surfaces are brought together said first and second surfaces closely conform to one another. 
     
     
       42. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 41 , wherein said curved first and second surfaces each include an “S” curve. 
     
     
       43. A method for styling hair, comprising:
   placing the hair to be styled between a first heated element and a second heated element, the first heated element including a first surface having a first two - dimensional array of a plurality of solid pins not all disposed in a line extending therefrom, said pins of said first array all having substantially a same sectional shape, the second heated element including a second surface having a second a second two - dimensional array of apertures disposed therein, said apertures of said second array all having substantially a same sectional shape and oriented to receive corresponding pins from said first array of pins without bending or distorting said pins;        bringing said first heated and said second heated element into proximity with one another with the hair to be styled between said first heated element and said second heated element; and        pulling the hair to be styled out from between said first heated element and said second heated element so that the hair is pulled through the pins.     
     
     
       44. The method in accordance with  claim 43 , wherein said pins of said first array all have a substantially same sectional shape. 
     
     
       45. The method in accordance with  claim 44 , wherein said apertures of said second array all have a substantially same sectional shape. 
     
     
       46. The method in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein said sectional shape is circular.