Hair styling implement

Claim 2

Hair styling apparatus comprising: heat and steam generating means; a handle having one end connected to said heat and steam generating means; a cylindrical adaptor tube means having a plurality of apertures for discharging a vapor; hair clamping means pivotally mounted on said adaptor tube for clamping a tress of hair against said adaptor tube; and means for detachably coupling said adaptor tube and hair clamping means to said one end of said handle, said adaptor tube and hair clamping means being in thermal contact with said heat and steam generating means and rotatable about a longitudinal axis of said adaptor tube independent of rotational movement of said heat and steam generating means.

Claim 3

Hair styling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said heat and steam generating means comprises a first tubular member having a plurality of apertures and a first end connected to said one end of said handle; a second tubular member disposed within said first tubular member in friction contact with said first tubular member, said second tubular member having a depression forming a void between said first and second tubular members; heat reservoir means attached to one end of said second tubular member; heat generating means disposed within said second tubular member in heat transfer contact with said heat reservoir means and said second tubular member; and fluid dispensing means mounted on a second end of said first tubular member for supplying a predetermined amount of fluid to said heat reservoir means for vaporization, whereby said vaporized fluid is discharged through said apertures.

Claim 4

Hair styling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for detachably coupling said adaptor tube to said handle includes a circumferential groove in said handle and a flexible detent on said adaptor tube for cooperating with said groove to fasten said adaptor tube to said handle, whereby said adaptor tube is rotatable about said longitudinal axis of said adaptor longitudinal axis longitudinal axis independent of rotational movement of said heat and steam generating means.

Claim 5

Hair styling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said heat generating means include resistance wire responsive to electrical current.

Claim 6

Hair styling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said resistance wire is embedded in a heat conduction electrical insulator disposed with said second tubular member.

Claim 7

Hair styling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said fluid dispensing means include a fluid saturated wick and a means for moving said fluid saturated wick to contact said heat reservoir means for vaporizing said fluid in said wick.

Claim 8

Hair styling apparatus comprising: heat and steam generating means; a handle having one end connected to said heat and steam generating means; a cyclindrical adaptor tube means having a plurality of apertures for discharging a vapor; hair clamping means pivotally mounted on said adaptor tube for clamping a tress of hair against said adaptor tube; and means for detachably coupling said adaptor tube and said hair clamping means to said handle including a circumferential groove in said handle and a flexible detent on said adaptor tube for cooperating with said groove to fasten said adaptor tube to said handle, said adaptor tube being substantially in coaxial alignment with said heat and steam generating means and in thermal contact with said heat and steam generating means.

Claim 9

Hair styling apparatus comprising: heat and steam generating means; a handle having one end connected to said heat and steam generating means; a cyclindrical adaptor tube means having a plurality of apertures for discharging a vapor; hair clamping means pivotally mounted on said adaptor tube for clamping a tress of hair against said adaptor tube; and means for detachably coupling said adaptor tube and said hair clamping means to said handle including a circumferential groove in said handle and a flexible detent on said adaptor tube for cooperating with said groove to fasten said adaptor tube to said handle, said adaptor tube being substantially in coaxial alignment with said heat and steam generating means and in thermal contact with said heat and steam generating means.

Claim 10

Hair styling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said heat and steam generating means comprises a first tubular member having a plurality of apertures, and a first end connected to said one end of said handle; a second tubular member disposed within said first tubular member in friction contact with said first tubular member; heat generating means disposed within said second tubular member; and fluid dispensing means mounted on a second end of said first tubular member for supplying a predetermined amount of fluid to said second tubular member for vaporization, whereby said vaporized fluid is discharged through said apertures.

Claim 11

Hair styling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said cylindrical adaptor tube means have comb-like appendages extending from a peripheral surface of said adaptor tube.