1 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 TAKASHI MUKAI COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Hairdressing apparatus and hairdressing method The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to a hairdressing apparatus for and hairdressing method of, for example, curling hair. 2. Description of Related Art An example of a hairdressing apparatus is a hair waving apparatus disclosed in 10 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 09-215517. Figures 16 and 17 show this hair waving apparatus. The apparatus has a power distribution box 201 from which cords 203 are extended. An end of each cord 203 is detachably connected to a hair curler 205. The hair curler 205 incorporates a ceramic heater 207 which electrically generates heat to curl hair. 15 This structure only heat the hair from the inside of the hair curler 205 with the ceramic heater 207 incorporated in the hair curler 205. It is difficult for this structure to quickly and properly curl the hair. In addition, heat from the hair curler 205 generated by the ceramic heater 207 affects the scalp of a person who is treated with the apparatus. Accordingly, it is 20 impossible for this apparatus to sufficiently increase the temperature of the hair curler 205 to quickly and surely curl the hair. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that 3 any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application. Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as 5 "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 10 According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hairdressing apparatus including a hair curling rod around which hair is windable, the hair curling rod having a temperature adjuster, a controller configured to control the temperature of the temperature adjuster, and a heat insulator having a pair of arms configured to cover and heat-insulate a periphery of the rod; wherein each arm has a 15 curved inner surface, a radius of curvature of the cured inner surface being greater than a radius of the rod, and each arm contains an internal heat insulating space extending within the arm to inhibit the transfer of heat from the rod through the heat insulator. In embodiments of the present invention, hair wound around the rod is heated from the inner side thereof with the temperature-controlled temperature adjuster while 20 the outer side of the hair is covered with the heat insulator. This configuration can sufficiently increase the temperature of the rod, and at the same time, can suppress the influence of the heat on the scalp of a person who is being treated with the hairdressing apparatus. Accordingly, it is possible to speedily and surely curl the hair. A heat insulating material may be sealed within the heat insulating space.
4 Accordingly, in an embodiment of the invention, the heat insulator can surely suppress the influence of heat on the scalp of a person who is treated with the hairdressing apparatus. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 5 Figure 1 is a schematic view showing a hairdressing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view showing a combined rod and hair stopper of the hairdressing apparatus according to the first embodiment; Fig. 3 is a side view showing the combined rod and hair stopper of the 10 hairdressing apparatus according to the first embodiment; The description continues on page 5.
Fig. 4 is an exploded sectional view showing the rod of the hairdressing apparatus according to the first embodiment; Fig. 5 is a side view showing the rod of the hairdressing apparatus according to the first embodiment; Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the hair stopper of the hairdressing apparatus according to the first embodiment; Figs. 7A and 7B are a plan view and a side view, respectively, showing a cap of the hairdressing apparatus according to the first embodiment; Fig. 8 is a side view showing a closed state of the hair stopper of the hairdressing apparatus according to the first embodiment; Fig. 9 is a side view showing an opened state of the hair stopper of the hairdressing apparatus according to the first embodiment; Fig. 10 is a schematic view showing a hairdressing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 11 is a plan view showing a combined rod and heat insulator of the hairdressing apparatus according to the second embodiment; Fig. 12 is a side view showing the combined rod and heat insulator of the hairdressing apparatus according to the second embodiment; Fig. 13 is a plan view showing the heat insulator of the hairdressing apparatus . 0 according to the second embodiment; Fig. 14 is a side view showing a closed state of the heat insulator of the hairdressing apparatus according to the second embodiment; Fig. 15 is a side view showing an opened state of the heat insulator of the hairdressing apparatus according to the second embodiment; -5- Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing a hair waving apparatus according to a related art; and Fig. 17 is a partly broken front view showing a hair curler of the hair waving apparatus according to the related art. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS A hairdressing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained. The first embodiment speedily and surely curls hair by winding the hair around a rod and heat-treating the wound hair from the inner and outer 10 sides of the wound hair at controlled temperatures. Figure 1 is a schematic view showing the hairdressing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The hairdressing apparatus 1 has a control box 3 serving as a controller, a plurality of rods 5, and a plurality of hair stoppers 7. The control box 3 has a plurality of control buttons 9, a liquid crystal display 11, electric cords 13 and 15, and the like. The control buttons 9 are used to select a sequential setting or a single setting, set temperatures, and the like. The sequential setting is to control the temperatures of film heaters 25, 51, and 53 (to be explained later) of the rod 5 and hair stopper 7 when achieving a sequence of heat-treatments. The single setting is to control the temperatures of the film heaters 25, 51, and 53 to, for example, a temperature difference of 50*C (to be explained later). The liquid crystal display 11 displays, for example, set temperatures. The cords 13 are electrically and detachably connected to the rods 5, respectively. The cords 15 are electrically and detachably connected to the hair stoppers 7, respectively. -6- Figures 2 and 3 show the rod 3 and hair stopper 7, in which Fig. 2 is a plan view showing a combined state of the rod 5 and hair stopper 7 and Fig. 3 is a side view showing the same. In Figs. 2 and 3, hair is omitted. In practice, hair is wound around the rod 5, and the hair stopper 7 is detachably attached around the rod 5. The details of the rod 5 will be explained with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 in which Fig. 4 is an exploded sectional view of the rod 5 and Fig. 5 is a side view of the same. In Figs. 2 to 5, the rod 5 consists of a rod body 17 and a terminal 19. The rod body 17 is made of nonconductive resin and has a cylindrical shape. An end of the rod body 17 is closed with an end wall 21, and the other end thereof forms an open fitting hole 23. An inner circumferential face of the rod body 17 is provided with a detachable film heater 25 serving as an inner temperature adjuster. The film heater 25 is made of a nonconductive resin film and a wire made of, for example, nichrome arranged on the resin film. The film heater 25 has resiliency so that it is held against the inner circumferential face of the rod body 17. The film heater 25 may be fixed to the inner circumferential face of the rod body 17. The film heater 25 is arranged to entirely or partly cover the inner circumferential face of the rod body 17. An inner space of the rod body 17 where the film heater 25 is arranged is a closed space. Around the film heater 25, oil of good thermal conductivity is sealed or coated. O Namely, a gap between the film heater 25 and the rod body 17 is filled with oil to smoothly transfer heat from the film heater 25 to the rod body 17. The film heater 25 is connected to positive and negative connectors 27 and 28. The terminal 19 consists of a terminal body 29 made of nonconductive resin and positive and negative terminal fittings 31 and 33. The terminal body 29 has a fitting part -7- 35 to detachably be attached to the fitting hole 23 of the rod body 17. Inner ends of the terminal fittings 31 and 33 are connected to the connectors 27 and 28 of the film heater 25. Outer ends of the terminal fittings 31 and 33 are detachably connected to positive and negative connectors 37 and 39. Figures 6 to 9 show the hair stopper 7, in which Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the hair stopper 7, Fig. 7A is a plan view showing a cap attached to the hair stopper 7, Fig. 7B is a side view showing the cap, Fig. 8 is a side view showing a closed state of the hair stopper 7, and Fig. 9 is a side view showing an opened state of the hair stopper 7. In Figs. 2, 3,'and 6 to 9, the hair stopper 7 consists of a pair of flaps 41 and 43. 10 The flap 41 (43) consists of a bend 45 (47) and a tab 49 (50) that are made of nonconductive resin and are integral with each other. The bend 45 (47) has a curvature corresponding to that of the rod 5 and a diameter greater than that of the rod 5, to form a slight space to hold hair between the rod 5 and the hair stopper 7. The bends 45 and 47 are provided with the film heaters 51 and 53, respectively. The film heaters 51 and 53 serve as an outer temperature adjuster. The film heater 51 (53) spreads along the bend 45 (47). The film heater 51 (53) is made of a nonconductive resin film and a wire made of, for example, nichrome arranged on the film. The film heater 51 (53) is inserted in a slit 55 (57) formed in the bend 45 (47). Accordingly, the film heater 51 (53) is easily replaceable with a new one. The film heater 51 (53) has e20 similar width and length to those of the bend 45 (47) so that the film heater 51 (53) may adjust the temperature of the whole of the bend 45 (47). The film heater 51 is connected to positive and negative electric cords 59 and 61. Ends of the cords 59 and 61 have connectors 63 and 65. The cords 59 and 61 are extended from the bend 45 of the flap 41 through a window 67 formed in the bend 45. -8- The window 67 is provided with a cap 69 whose shape corresponds to the window 67, to hold the cords 59 and 61. The cap 69 has leaves 71 and 73 that are inserted into the window 67 to fix the cap 69 to the window 67. Similarly, electric cords are extended from the film heater 53, and ends of the cords are provided with connectors. The connectors 63 and 65 are connected to the connectors of the cord 15. The tabs 49 and 50 are arranged to form an angle between them and are provided with integral joints 75 and 77, respectively. The joints 75 and 77 are joined together with a joint pin 79. The joint pin 79 supports a torque spring 81. The torque spring 81 has arms 83 and 85 that are resiliently pressed against inner faces of the tabs 49 and 50, 10 respectively. When the tabs 49 and 50 are pinched and pressed to each other, the tabs 49 and 50 come close to each other against the resilient force of the torque spring 81, and the flaps 41 and 43 open around the joint pin 79 as shown in Fig. 9. When the tabs 49 and 50 are released, the flaps 41 and 43 close due to the resilient force of the torque spring 81 as shown in Fig. 8. Operation of the hairdressing apparatus 1 as well as a hairdressing method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained. To curl hair, the hair is wound around the rod 5, and the hair stopper 7 is set around the rod 5 where the hair is wound in a curling process. When the hair is wound around the rod 5 or when the hair stopper 7 is attached to the periphery of the rod 5, the cords 13 and 15 are disconnected. 20 Hair is wound around a plurality of the rods 5, and the hair stopper 7 is attached around each rod 5 where the hair is wound. When attaching the hair stopper 7 to the rod 5, the tabs 49 and 50 are pinched as explained with reference to Figs. 8 and 9, to open the flaps 41 and 43 against the resilient force of the torque spring 81 and close the flaps 41 and 43 with the resilient force of the torque spring 81. -9- The connectors 37 and 39 of the cord 13 are connected to the terminal fittings 31 and 33 of each rod 5. The connectors of the cord 15 are connected to the connectors 63, 65, and the like of the film heaters 51 and 53 of each hair stopper 7. This electrically connects the control box 3 to the rods 5 and hair stoppers 7. In this state, the control buttons 9 of the control box 3 are operated to set temperatures for a sequential or single setting, thereby properly controlling the temperatures of the film heater 25 of each rod 5 and the film heaters 51 and 53 of each hair stopper 7. Then, a heat-treating process is carried out to heat-treat the inner side of the curled hair at a relatively high temperature and the outer side thereof at a relatively low to temperature. According to this embodiment, the film heaters 25, 51, and 53 are controlled to form a temperature difference between the film heater 25 and the film heaters 51 and 53. The temperature difference is, for example, 50*C. To realize the temperature difference of 50*C, the film heater 25 is controlled to provide a relatively high temperature and the film heaters 51 and 53 are controlled to provide a relatively low temperature. More precisely, the film heater 25 is controlled to 110*C and the film heaters 51 and 53 to 60*C to realize the temperature difference of 50*C. The temperatures of the film heaters 25, 51, and 53 are displayed on the liquid crystal display 11 so that an operator can adjust temperatures while monitoring the liquid 20 crystal display 11. In a sequential setting, the control box 3 is used to set the temperatures of the film heaters 25, 51, and 53 to automatically control temperatures. In this case, various temperatures may be set in the course to finally attain 110*C on the film heater 25 and 60*C on the film heaters 51 and 53, i.e., the temperature difference of 50*C. -10- As a result, the embodiment can surely and quickly curl the hair. The rods 5 and hair stoppers 7 may easily be washed after removing the film heaters 25, 51, and 53 therefrom. In this way, the hair wound around each rod 5 is heat-treated from the inner and outer sides of the hair with the temperature-adjusted film heaters 25, 51, and 53 and is speedily and surely curled. The film heaters 25, 51, and 53 generate heat under the electrical control of the control box 3 so that the hair wound around the rod 5 is heat-treated from the inner and outer sides of the hair and is speedily and surely curled. O0 The control box 3 controls the film heaters 25, 51, and 53 to provide a temperature difference between the film heater 25 and the film heaters 51 and 53, so that the hair wound around the rod 5 is heat-treated from the inner and outer sides of the hair and is speedily and surely curled at the temperature difference. The control box 3 may control the above-mentioned temperature difference to lb 50*C, which is suitable for curling hair surely and speedily. The control box 3 controls the film heater 25 to a relatively high temperature and the film heaters 51 and 53 to a relatively low temperature so that the inner side of the curled hair is relatively strongly heated. This results in speedily and surely curing the hair. The control box 3 may control the film heater 25 to 110C and the film heaters 51 2O and 53 to 60C. These temperatures and a temperature difference between them are appropriate for speedily and surely curling hair. The embodiment explained above controls the film heater 25 to a relatively high temperature and the film heaters 51 and 53 to a relatively low temperature. Instead, the film heater 25 may be controlled to a relatively low temperature and the film heaters 51 -11and 53 to a relatively high temperature. The temperature difference between the film heater 25 and the film heaters 51 and 53 may be set to a temperature value other than 50*C. Alternatively, the film heaters 25, 51, and 53 may be controlled to an identical temperature so that no temperature difference is caused. According to the first embodiment, the inner temperature adjuster (film heater 25) and outer temperature adjuster (film heaters 51 and 53) are electrically controlled to generate heat. Instead, one of the inner and outer temperature adjusters may be made of a piezoelectric element that can be cooled. In this case, one of the inner and outer temperature adjusters is cooled and the other is heated to produce a temperature difference. The inner and outer temperature adjusters may be made of silicon rubber heaters, or may be made by directly embedding nichrome wires in the nonconductive resin of the rod 5 and hair stopper 7. Next, a hairdressing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present 6 invention will be explained. The second embodiment realizes the object of quickly and surely curling hair with the use of a heat insulator. Figure 10 is a schematic view showing the hairdressing apparatus according to the second embodiment. The same parts as those of the first embodiment are represented with like reference marks. In Fig. 10, the hairdressing apparatus 1A of the second ;LO embodiment is basically the same as the hairdressing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it employs the heat insulator 107 instead of the hair stopper 7. Control buttons 9 on a control box 3 are used to select a sequential setting or a single setting and set temperatures like the first embodiment. The sequential setting is to -12control, for example, the temperature of a film heater 25 of a rod 5 when conducting a sequence of several heating processes. The single setting is to control, for example, the film heater 25 to a single temperature. Figures 11 and 12 show the rod 5 and heat insulator 107, in which Fig. 11 is a plan view showing a combined state of the rod 5 and heat insulator 107 and Fig. 12 is a side view showing the same. Although Figs. 11 and 12 omit hair, hair is wound around the rod 5 and the heat insulator 107 is removably attached to the periphery of the rod 5. The heat insulator 107 will be explained with reference to Figs. 11 and 12 and also to Figs. 13 to 15 in which Fig. 13 is a plan view showing the heat insulator 107, Fig. 14 is a side view showing a closed state of the heat insulator 107, and Fig. 15 is a side view showing an opened state of the same. In Figs. 11 to 15, the heat insulator 107 is made of a pair of flaps 41A and 43A. The flap 41A (43A) consists of a bend 45A (47A) and a tab 49A (50A) that are integrally made of nonconductive resin. The curvature of each of the bends 45A and 47A 15 corresponds to the curvature of the rod 5 and the diameter thereof is greater than that of the rod 5 to form a gap to hold hair between the rod 5 and the bends 45A and 47A. The bend 45A (47A) contains a heat insulating space 51A (53A) extended along the bend 45A (47A). The heat insulating space 51A (53A) is formed to cover substantially the whole of the bend 45A (47A) and is a closed space according to the AO second embodiment. The width and length of the heat insulating space 51A (53A) are substantially the same as those of the bend 45A (47A), to heat-insulate the whole of the flap 41A (43A). The heat insulating spaces 51A and 53A may seal heat insulating material, for example, silicon or glass wool. Like the hair stopper 7 of the first embodiment, the tabs 49A and 50A have joints -13- 75A and 77A, respectively. The joints 75A and 77A are joined together with a joint pin 79. The joint pin 79 supports a torque spring 81A. Operation of the hairdressing apparatus 1A as well as a hairdressing method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained. To curl hair, the Ei hair is wound around the rod 5, and the heat insulator 107 is attached around the periphery of the rod 5 where the hair is wound in a curling process. When winding the hair around the rod 5, the rod 5 is disconnected from an electric cord 13. Hair is wound around a plurality of the rods 5, and the heat insulator 107 is attached around each rod 5 where the hair is wound. When attaching the heat insulator |O 107 to the rod 5, the tabs 49A and 50A are pinched to open the flaps 41A and 43A against the resilient force of the torque spring 81A. When the tabs 49A and 50A are released, the flaps 41A and 43A close due to the resilient force of the torque spring 81A. Connectors 37 and 39 of the cord 13 are connected to terminal fittings 31 and 33 of the rod 5 to electrically connect the control box 3 to the rod 5. In this state, the control buttons 9 of the control box 3 are operated to set temperatures for the sequential or single setting, thereby properly controlling the temperature of the film heater 25 of the rod 5. For example, the temperature of the film heater 25 is initially increased from the room temperature to about 130*C and is maintained at 130*C for about ten minutes to apply sudden thermal stress to the hair. 20c Thereafter, the temperature of the film heater 25 is decreased to about 100*C. In this way, controlling the temperature of the film heater 25 to a high temperature in a short time is effective to surely curl the hair without damaging the hair by heat. The temperature of the film heater 25 may be controlled within the range of the room temperature to 150*C in real time to treat a various kinds of hair such as healthy hair -14and damaged hair. When such temperature control is conducted, the heat insulator 107 covers the outside of the rod 5, to prevent the influence of heat on the scalp of a person whose hair is treated with the hairdressing apparatus and allow the rod 5 to properly heat-treat the hair and speedily and surely curl the hair. When cleaning the rod 5, the film heater 25 is removable therefrom, and therefore, the rod 5 can easily and wholly be washed. In this way, the second embodiment can sufficiently increase the temperature of the rod 5 while preventing the influence of heat on the scalp of a person whose hair is treated. Consequently, the second embodiment can quickly and surely curl the hair. The heat insulator 107 has the inner heat insulating spaces 51A and 53A that may seal heat insulating material such as silicon or glass wool therein to surely prevent the influence of heat on the scalp of a person whose hair is treated. According to the second embodiment, the heat insulating spaces 51A and 53A are 15 closed and may seal heat insulating material therein. It is possible to omit the heat insulating material so that the heat insulating spaces 51A and 53A contain only air. In this case, the air inside the heat insulating spaces 51A and 53A functions as heat insulating material to provide the above-mentioned effect. Instead of closing the heat insulating spaces 51A and 53A, an end of each of the heat insulating spaces 51A and 53A may be .0 opened to the outside of the heat insulator 107. In this case, heat is discharged from the inside of the heat insulating spaces 51A and 53A to the outside through the open ends, to prevent the temperature increase of the heat insulator 107. The heat insulating spaces 51A and 53A may be omitted, and the heat insulator 107 may be made of a material of high heat insulation. This also provides the above -15mentioned effect. The temperature adjuster, i.e., the film heater 25 may be a silicon rubber heater, or may be made by directly embedding a nichrome wire in the nonconductive resin of the rod 5. -16-