Hair straightening or waving mandrel for use with a vapor generating

Abstract

An appliance or device for treating hair includes a tubular barrel containing a generator for heat and vapor and a plurality of hair winding mandrels which are slidably mounted over the tubular barrel. The mandrels have different external sizes and configurations, but have interior structures which, though they may differ, allow each mandrel to be used with the same tubular barrel. A mandrel for straightening strands of hair when moved relative to the strands and for waving strands of hair when held stationary relative to the strands is provided. The mandrel is adapted to be removably associated with the tubular barrel. In the preferred embodiment, the mandrel is comprised of a heat-treating surface having a sinusoidal configuration. Apertures through the surface convey vapor from the vapor generator in the tubular barrel to the strands of hair engaged therewith. Contact points formed on the hair treating surface engage the surface of the tubular barrel to conduct heat from the heated vapor generating means to the hair treating surface and hair engaged therewith. A sinusoidal-configured clamp for urging the strands of hair into engagement with the treating surface is also employed. The mandrel further includes a bottom portion which cooperates with the hair treating surface to form a continuous, unobstructed vapor chamber substantially coextensive with the hair treating surface slideably receiving the tubular barrel. A heat insulating shield is positioned around the bottom portion to prevent the bottom portion from burning the hand of a person using the mandrel. Tines tangential to the tubular barrel extend laterally from opposite sides of the clamp to form combs which serve to align the hair.