ATTACHMENT FOR A HANDHELD APPLIANCE
20170273428 · 2017-09-28
Assignee
Inventors
- Annmarie Rita NICOLSON (Bristol, GB)
- Emma Victoria CARSON (Swindon, GB)
- Robert Mark Brett COULTON (Bristol, GB)
- Stephen Benjamin Courtney (Bath, GB)
Cpc classification
A46B11/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
Abstract
An attachment including a casing having an air inlet for receiving an airflow from a hair styling apparatus, a hair engaging member, supported by the casing, and adapted to move relative to the casing between a first position and a second position under the action of an over-centre mechanism. First and second airflow outlets are formed between the casing and the hair engaging member when the hair engaging member is in the first and second position, respectively.
Claims
1. An attachment for a hair styling apparatus comprising: a casing having an air inlet for receiving an airflow from a hair styling apparatus; and a hair engaging member, supported by the casing, and configured to move relative to the casing between a first position and a second position, wherein: a first airflow outlet is formed between the casing and the hair engaging member when the hair engaging member is in the first position, a second airflow outlet, spaced from the first airflow outlet, is formed between the casing and the hair engaging member when the hair engaging member is in the second position, the first airflow outlet is open and the second airflow outlet is closed when the hair engaging member is in the first position, and the first airflow outlet is closed and the second airflow outlet is open when the hair engaging member is in the second position.
2. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the hair engaging member is configured to move in a rocking movement, relative to the casing.
3. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the hair engaging member is pivotably supported within the casing and through a central axis of the hair engaging member.
4. The attachment of claim 3, wherein the hair engaging member is pivotably supported by pivot pins that mount the hair engaging member within the casing.
5. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the hair engaging member has an angle of movement which is in the range from 10° to 30°.
6. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the hair engaging member is configured to move into the first position when the attachment is drawn through a user's hair in a first direction and the hair engaging member is configured to move into the second position when the attachment is drawn through the user's hair in a second direction opposing the first direction.
7. The attachment of claim 1, wherein each of the first airflow outlet and the second airflow outlet comprise a plurality of outlet apertures.
8. The attachment of claim 7, wherein each of the first airflow outlet and the second airflow outlet comprise a plurality of outlet apertures positioned in a row.
9. The attachment of claim 1, wherein each of the first airflow outlet and the second airflow outlet are defined by a respective side face of the hair engaging member and a respective part of the casing.
10. The attachment of claim 1, wherein each of the first airflow outlet and the second airflow outlet is a slot shape.
11. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the hair engaging member has an elongate form.
12. The attachment of claim 1, wherein each of the first airflow outlet and the second airflow outlet extends substantially the length of the hair engaging member.
13. The attachment of claim 1, comprising two hair engaging members.
14. The attachment of claim 13, wherein the casing comprises an outer casing section and an inner casing section, and a ledge of the inner casing section is located between the hair engaging members.
15. The attachment of claim 13, wherein, in a first configuration of the attachment: a first hair engaging member is in the first position defining a first airflow outlet with the ledge, and a second hair engaging member is in the second position defining a second airflow outlet with the outer casing section.
16. The attachment of claim 13, wherein, in a second configuration of the attachment: the first hair engaging member is in the second position defining a third airflow outlet with the outer casing section, and the second hair engaging member is in the second position defining a fourth airflow outlet with the ledge.
17. The attachment of claim 14, wherein the first hair engaging member and the second hair engaging member move synchronously.
18. The attachment of claim 14, wherein the attachment moves between a first configuration and a second configuration under the action of an over centre mechanism.
19. The attachment of claim 18, wherein the over centre mechanism is a torsion spring connected between the first hair engaging member and the second hair engaging member.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040] Preferred features of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
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[0055]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0056]
[0057] The attachment comprises at least one hair engaging member for engaging hair during the use of the hot air styling device. In this example, the attachment comprises two hair engaging members. Each hair engaging member comprises a moveable member and a set of bristles supported by the moveable member. In this example, a first moveable member 16 and a second moveable member 18 are both elongate in form and are disposed side by side. The moveable members are positioned longitudinally either side of a central fixed ledge 22. The central fixed ledge 22 forms part of an inner casing section 45 about which the outer casing section 44 extends. A first end of each moveable member is positioned towards the air inlet end of the attachment 10 and a second end of each moveable member is positioned towards a distal end of the attachment 10. The first moveable member 16 and the second moveable member 18 are positioned between both the outer casing section 44 and the inner casing section 45 and supported at the distal end of the attachment via fixing plate 62 for movement relative to the casing. At the distal end of the attachment is a cap 24, housing a movement mechanism for moving the moveable members relative to the casing, and attached cool tip 26.
[0058] Each moveable member has a curved outer surface. A plurality of parallel ribs 30 are positioned on the outer surface and the ribs 30 run perpendicular to the length of the moveable member. Two adjacent ribs 30 form a channel 32 therebetween. A total area of ribs 30 on each moveable member has a rectangular form which is surrounded by a smooth peripheral surface. Each rib 30 supports a respective row of bristles 20.
[0059] In this embodiment, the width of each channel 32 is preferably equal to or less than the height of the ribs 30. In an alternative embodiment, the width of each channel 32 is wider than the width of a rib 30. In further alternative embodiments, the channels 32 may comprise multi-faceted geometries as determined by fluid dynamics analyses.
[0060] Both the first moveable member 16 and the second moveable member 18 have an inner side face 34 adjacent to the central fixed ledge 22 and an outer side face 40 adjacent to a side wall 42 of the outer casing section 44. The inner side faces 34 of each moveable member comprise a series of regular indentations 36. The outer side faces 40 of each moveable member comprise a series of regular indentations 38. With reference to
[0061] A series of baffles 46 are connected to the underside of the central fixed ledge 22. As illustrated in
[0062] With reference to
[0063] In further reference to
[0064] A linkage arm pin 64 protrudes from an outer side of the end face of the second end of each moveable member. Each linkage arm pin 64 passes through an oval hole 66 in the fixing plate 62 and is received in the respective end of a linkage arm 68. The linkage arm 68 functions to ensure that the first moveable member 16 and the second moveable member 18 move synchronously relative to the outer casing section 44.
[0065] A spring pin 70 protrudes from an inner side of the end face of the second end of each moveable member. Each spring pin 70 passes through an enlarged hole 72 in the fixing plate 62 and through a leg 74 of a torsion spring 76 and is finally received into respective holes in the first side of the end cap 24. The torsion spring 76 functions as an over-centre mechanism between a stable first position and a stable second position, ensuring that the first moveable member 16 and the second moveable member 18 can tilt between stable first position and a stable second position without hindrance.
[0066] The second side of the cap 24 includes a central extended feature, a cool tip 26, which is relatively insulated from the heat of the airflow within the attachment.
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[0070]
[0071] In one embodiment, the base 53 has a smooth curved profile with greatest height at the centre of the end plate 92 with the profile sloping down towards the side walls 42 and away from the end plate 92. In further embodiments, the gradual tapering of the internal cross-sectional area of the attachment 10 can be realized in alternative configurations of the base 53.
[0072] A “see-saw movement” of the moveable members will now be described with reference to
[0073]
[0074] The second moveable member 18 illustrated at the right side of
[0075] It will be apparent to the skilled person that
[0076] When the direction of the brushing action by the user is reversed and equally the direction of the tension force in the bristles 20 is reversed, then the moveable members move synchronously into their opposite position. Thus, the first moveable member 16 and the second moveable member 18 are in the second configuration relative to the casing as illustrated in
[0077] The second moveable member 18 illustrated at the right side of
[0078] It will be apparent to the skilled person that
[0079] Such a synchronous motion between two opposing positions is a so-called “see-saw” action. The “see-saw” motion is both enabled and limited by the oval holes 72 and 66 in the fixing plate 62 through which the pivot pins 58 and linkage arm pins 64 are positioned, respectively. The attachment 10 has a single open inner air outlet and a single open outer air outlet when the moveable members adopt one of the two different stable configurations. For example, when the moveable members are in the first configuration, airflow outlets 94, 95 are open, and airflow outlets 96, 97 are closed. When the moveable members are in the second configuration, airflow outlets 94, 95 are closed and airflow outlets 96, 97 are open.
[0080] In use, the attachment 10 is connected to the airflow outlet end of a hot air styling device. The airflow passes from the hot air styling device through the air inlet 12 and into the attachment 10. A front side 48 of each of the series of baffles 46 functions to change the direction of the incident airflow. Specifically, the incident airflow from the air inlet 12 is primarily parallel to a longitudinal axis of the attachment 10. The baffles 46 alter this path through approximately 90 degrees in the direction of the central fixed ledge 22 and towards the open inner air outlet 94. Both the front side 48 and a rear side 50 of each baffle 46 assists in altering the airflow direction. In cooperation with the regular indentations 36 on the inner side face 34 of each moveable member, the series of baffles 46 form a first series of air jets exiting the attachment 10.
[0081] Additionally, the side vanes 56 function to direct airflow towards the open outer air outlet 95 and, in cooperation with the regular indentations 38 in the outer side face 40 of each moveable member, form a second series of air jets exiting the attachment 10.
[0082] Air flow exiting the attachment 10 through one of the open inner air outlet and open outer air outlet is directed to flow over the outer surface of an adjacent one of the moveable members by virtue of the profile of the moveable members. The form of the side vanes 56 and the baffles 46 enables the exiting airflow jets to be straight and parallel and flow evenly over the surface of the moveable members thereby attracting the hair to the surface of the moveable members. In an exemplary embodiment, the airflow velocity exiting each airflow outlet is around 30 m/s.
[0083] Ambient airflow is drawn into this surface air flow as a consequence of the dimensions of the airflow outlet and the profile of each moveable member. Therefore, the airflow through the channels 32 and along the length of the user's hair is augmented by ambient airflow. Furthermore, the form and dimensions of the channels 32 enhance flow attachment as the airflow moves over the surface of the moveable member.
[0084] With reference to
[0085] The cross-sectional area of the internal volume of the attachment 10 reduces gradually towards the downstream end of the attachment 10. The function of this reduction in cross-sectional area is to ensure a constant pressure of airflow exiting the attachment along the entire length of the air outlets and to prevent turbulent flow. The reduction in cross-sectional area is proportional to a falling mass flow rate of the airflow within the attachment. The mass flow rate falls as airflow exits the attachment 10, via the inner air outlet and outer air outlet, from the upstream end of the attachment to the downstream end of the attachment. Consequently, the reduction of the cross-sectional area results in a constant airflow velocity exiting the attachment along the entire length of the air outlets. It is also observed that attachment of airflow to vanes and baffles is improved as a consequence of the progressive reduction of the internal cross-sectional area.
[0086] The first raised ridge 78 and the second raised ridge 80 function to avoid undesirable entrainment of ambient air into the even, parallel airflow moving through the channels 32.
[0087]
[0088] Furthermore, the form of each bristle 99 may be contoured to optimize flow attachment as the airflow moves between the bristles 20 and over the surface of each moveable member. In a preferred embodiment, the bristles 20 are able to flex and may be approximately 15 mm in length. The bristles 20 may be formed with or without the approximately spherical end form.
[0089] It will be apparent to the skilled person that the bristles of the present hot air styling device attachment may be assembled singly or in pre-formed rows of two or more connected bristles (as shown in
[0090] With reference to
[0091]
[0092] In a further embodiment, the bases 53, 54 may be provided with a channel between them which functions as an insulated coolwall cavity. In a further preferred embodiment, the cavity 90 for reducing the inner cross-sectional area of the attachment may be continuous with the coolwall cavity between the bases 53, 54. Such a coolwall cavity functions to reduce the temperature of the base 54 of the outer casing section 44 which may come into contact with the user.
[0093] In a further structural alternative, a coolwall may comprise a separate layer of material covering the base and walls of the outer casing section 44 of the attachment 10, maintained at a predetermined distance from the base and walls of the outer casing section 44 by a minimum number of joining ribs. The coolwall does not create a closed cavity, but forms a channel between the coolwall and the outer casing section 44 which may encourage airflow through the coolwall channel by the Venturi effect when in use.
[0094] It will be apparent to the skilled person that the biasing function of the torsion spring 76 may be realized in several alternative ways. For example, a magnetic latch or weighted moveable members or integrated ball bearings in a detent mechanism may be used.
[0095] The attachment may be fabricated from any suitable heat resistant materials, and in a preferred embodiment the casing and moveable members are fabricated from glass-filled nylon. The highest preferred operating temperature of such an attachment connected to a hot air styling device is approximately 130° C.
[0096] In the present example of an attachment, two parallel moveable members are described. Alternatively, a single moveable member or three or more moveable members may be used within the outer casing section 44. An embodiment comprising a single moveable member would necessarily omit the central baffles and central fixed ledge. An alternative embodiment comprising multiple moveable members may include multiple rows of central baffles positioned to create airflow jets between the moveable members. Furthermore, in an alternative embodiment of the attachment, the moveable members may be adapted to move in a hinged movement or a sliding movement.
[0097] In the present example of an attachment 10, as illustrated in the accompanying figures, three rows of bristles 20 are shown on each moveable member. However, it is clear to the skilled person that the number of rows of bristles on each moveable member may be greater or smaller than three. In particular, advantage is found in an attachment without bristles, so that the user may benefit from the hair smoothing effects of the airflow path without the harsher effect of the bristles through the hair. Alternatively, bristles 20 may be positioned on the outer casing section 44, instead of, or in addition to, bristles 20 on each moveable member. Further, embodiments which have more than one moveable member may not have bristles positioned on each moveable member.
[0098] The invention is not limited to the detailed description given above. Variations will be apparent to the person skilled in the art.