Handle for hair styling tool with replaceable spring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12402702-B2
Application number	US-202218077461-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2022
Priority date	Jul 1, 2020
Publication date	Sep 2, 2025
Grant date	Sep 2, 2025

Abstract

A hair styling tool or curling iron includes a handle portion and a styling portion. The handle portion houses a torsion spring. The styling portion includes a hair engaging member adapted to be biased toward the styling portion by the torsion spring. A spring door is releasably and/or removably connected to the handle portion and is configured to cover and at least partially secure the torsion spring within the handle portion. The torsion spring is not mechanically connected to the handle portion so that releasing and/or removing of the spring door from the handle portion allows for removal and replacement of the torsion spring.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hair styling tool or curling iron comprises:
a handle portion housing a torsion spring; and
a styling portion including a hair engaging member adapted to be biased toward the styling portion by the torsion spring; and
a spring door releasably and/or removably connected directly to the handle portion, the spring door configured to cover and at least partially secure the torsion spring housed within the handle portion,
wherein the torsion spring is not mechanically connected to the handle portion so that releasing and/or removing of the spring door from the handle portion allows for removal and replacement of the torsion spring.

2. The hair styling tool or curling iron of claim 1 , including a barrel adapter housed within the handle portion, the styling portion connected to the barrel adapter, and the spring door is releasably connected to the barrel adapter.

3. The hair styling tool or curling iron of claim 2 , wherein the hair engaging member is pivotally connected to the barrel adapter.

4. The hair styling tool or curling iron of claim 3 , wherein the spring door includes a stop, and the hair engaging member abuts the stop in an open position of the hair engaging member.

5. The hair styling tool or curling iron of claim 2 , wherein the barrel adapter includes a body and a stand extended from the body, the spring door is engaged to both the body and the stand.

6. The hair styling tool or curling iron of claim 1 , including first and second spring mounts adapted to secure the torsion spring within the handle portion.

7. The hair styling tool or curling iron of claim 6 , wherein the first spring mount is provided on the spring door and the second spring mount is provided on one of the handle portion and the styling portion.

8. The hair styling tool or curling iron of claim 7 , wherein the second spring mount is provided on the styling portion.

9. The hair styling tool or curling iron of claim 8 , wherein the second spring mount is provided on the hair engaging member of the styling portion.

10. The hair styling tool or curling iron of claim 6 , wherein the torsion spring is seated between the first and second spring mounts, and further including a barrel adapter housed within the handle portion, the barrel adapter including a body adapted to at least partially receive the torsion spring.

11. The hair styling tool or curling iron of claim 10 , wherein with the torsion spring seated between the first and second spring mounts, one leg of the torsion spring is biased against an inner surface portion of the barrel adapter, and the other leg of the torsion spring is biased against an inner surface of one of the handle portion and the styling portion.

12. The hair styling tool or curling iron of claim 11 , wherein the inner surface portion includes a notch sized to receive the one leg.

13. A hair styling tool or curling iron comprises:
a handle portion housing a torsion spring; and
a styling portion including a hair engaging member adapted to be biased toward the styling portion by the torsion spring; and
a spring door releasably and/or removably connected to the handle portion, the spring door configured to cover and at least partially secure the torsion spring within the handle portion,
wherein first and second spring mounts secure the torsion spring within the handle portion, the first spring mount provided on the spring door so that releasing and/or removing of the spring door from the handle portion allows for removal and replacement of the torsion spring.

14. The hair styling tool or curling iron of claim 13 , wherein the second spring mount is provided on one of the handle portion and the styling portion.

15. The hair styling tool or curling iron of claim 13 , including a barrel adapter housed within the handle portion, the styling portion connected to the barrel adapter, and the spring door is releasably connected to the barrel adapter.

16. The hair styling tool or curling iron of claim 15 , wherein the barrel adapter includes a body and a stand extended from the body, the spring door is engaged to both the body and the stand.

17. A method of removing a torsion spring from a hair styling tool or curling iron, the hair styling tool or curling iron including:
a handle portion adapted to house the torsion spring, and
a styling portion connected to the handle portion and including a hair engaging member adapted to be biased toward the styling portion by the torsion spring,
the method comprises:
providing a spring door directly on the handle portion for covering and at least partially securing the torsion spring within the handle portion;
releasing and/or removing the spring door from the handle portion to provide direct access to the torsion spring; and
removing the torsion spring from within the handle portion.

18. The method of claim 17 , including securing the torsion spring between first and second spring mounts, with one of the first and second spring mounts provided on the spring door.

19. The method of claim 17 , including housing a barrel adapter within the handle portion, connecting the styling portion to the barrel adapter, and releasably securing the spring door to the barrel adapter.

20. The method of claim 19 , including providing an opening in the barrel adapter for passage of the torsion spring upon release and/or removal of the spring door.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein with the torsion spring positioned between the first and second spring mounts, the method includes biasing one leg of the torsion spring against an inner surface portion of the barrel adapter and biasing the other leg of the torsion spring an inner surface of one of the housing portion and the styling portion.

Assignees

• Helen Of Troy Ltd
• Kaz Europe Sarl

Inventors

• Hillebrecht Luke
• Koenemann Gary
• Fiebel William C

Classifications

• A45D1/04

  by electricity · CPC title

• A45D1/00 Primary

  Curling-tongs, i.e. tongs for use when hot; Curling-irons, i.e. irons for use when hot; Accessories therefor · CPC title

• A45D1/16 Primary

  with a single heated member (A45D1/02 takes precedence) · CPC title