Heat-retaining clips for creating textured waves in hair
View Patent ↗A heat-retaining clip assembly is provided. The heat-retaining clip assembly includes a convex surface nested in a concave surface in a closed position, wherein the convex and concave surfaces are pivotably connected to move between the closed position and an open position. The convex surface has a higher thermal conductivity than the concave surface. The present invention includes a system providing an arcuate heating element that can be sandwiched between the convex and concave surfaces in the closed position, while the convex surface conducts most of the heat. Then the heat-retaining clip assembly may be moved in the open position from the heating element to a user's hair so that the heat stored in the convex surface transfers to the hair to form textured waves in the hair after the clip is moved back to the closed position.
1. A heat-retaining clip assembly for curling hair, the assembly comprising:
a first curved base pivotably connected to a second curved base so said curved bases are movable between an open position and a closed position;
a first plurality of curved teeth extending from a distal edge of the first curved base;
a cylindrical body circumferentially joined to an inner surface of the first curved base;
a second plurality of curved teeth extending from a distal edge of the second curved base so that the first and second pluralities of curved teeth enmesh in the closed position; and
an arcuate body circumferentially joined to an inner surface of the second curved base so that in the closed position a convex surface of the cylindrical body is concentrically spaced apart from a concave surface of the arcuate body,
whereby said concentrically spaced apart relationship of the convex and concave surfaces in the closed position enables the convex and concave surfaces to sandwich an arcuate heating element and, separately, a lock of hair.
2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the open position there is a gap between distal ends of the first and second pluralities of curved teeth.
3. A system for curling hair, the system comprising:
one or more heat-retaining clip assemblies of claim 1 ;
one or more arcuate heating elements having a radius of curvature so that in the closed condition the heat-retaining clip assemblies sandwich the heating elements in a nested condition between the convex surface and the concave surface;
a housing element dimensioned and shaped to house the one or more heat-retaining clip assemblies and the one of more arcuate heating elements in the nested condition; and
the housing element having an end wall providing an arcuate opening for each arcuate heating element, wherein the arcuate heating element projects form the arcuate opening so as to enable the nested condition.
4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein a first radius of curvature of the convex surface is less than a second radius of curvature of the concave surface.
5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pivotable connection includes a hinge and levers extending from the first and second curved bases to effectuate the pivotable movement.
6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the convex surface has a first thermal conductivity greater than a second thermal conductivity of the concave surface.