Assembly comprising a styling tool and a collecting device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assembly including: —a styling tool (5), in particular a straightening iron, to be moved along a lock of hair to which water and/or a cosmetic composition has been applied, and—a collecting device (7) coupled to the styling tool so as to collect a runoff generated during the movement of the tool over the hair on account of the presence of water and/or said composition on the hair, the collecting device having a reservoir (9) for picking up the runoff.

Claims

1. Assembly comprising: a straightening iron to be moved along a lock of hair to which water in a liquid form and/or a cosmetic composition in a liquid or foam form has been applied, the straightening iron comprising: a bottom jaw and an upper jaw connected together by a hinge, the bottom jaw and the upper jaw being able to move relative to one another between a moved-together configuration for treating the hair and a spaced-apart configuration for inserting the hair to be treated between said jaws, and at least one heating plate disposed on one of the bottom and upper jaws and intended to come into contact with the hair while the bottom and upper jaws are in the moved-together configuration, and a collecting device coupled to the bottom jaw so as to collect a liquid or foam runoff generated during the movement of the straightening iron over the hair on account of the presence of water and/or said composition on the hair, the collecting device comprising: a reservoir for picking up the runoff, the reservoir comprising an opening for collecting the liquid or foam runoff in the reservoir, the reservoir being closed except for the opening that collects the liquid or foam runoff in the reservoir, a fastening system to couple the collecting device in a removable manner to the bottom jaw, and a grating disposed on the reservoir in the opening, the reservoir extending along the straightening iron, on a lateral side of the bottom jaw that is downstream of the heating plate with regard to a direction of movement of the straightening iron over the lock of hair, and laterally relative to the bottom and upper jaws.

2. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the grating is disposed in a removable manner on the reservoir.

3. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the grating has holes the largest dimension of which is less than or equal to 10 mm.

4. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fastening system is adjustable to the bottom jaw on which it is fastened.

5. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fastening system is configured to couple the collecting device in a removable manner to the bottom jaw by sliding.

6. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fastening system is configured to couple the collecting device in a removable manner to the bottom jaw by snap-fastening.

7. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fastening system is configured to couple the collecting device in a removable manner to the bottom jaw by screwing.

8. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fastening system is configured to couple the collecting device in a removable manner to the bottom jaw with the aid of a closable clamping member.

9. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir of the collecting device has a capacity of between 5 and 20 ml.

10. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is equipped with a retaining member that forms a barrier to the runoff and causes it to flow into the reservoir through the opening that extends between the straightening iron and the retaining member.

11. Assembly according to claim 10, wherein the retaining member comprises a strip extending transversely to a plane of the grating.

12. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the collecting device is configured to be fastened to either one side of the straightening iron or the other in order for the latter to be used by left-handed or right-handed persons.

13. A cosmetic method for treating hair with the aid of an assembly comprising: a straightening iron to be moved along a lock of hair comprising: a bottom jaw and an upper jaw connected together by a hinge, the bottom jaw and the upper jaw being able to move relative to one another between a moved-together configuration for treating the hair and a spaced-apart configuration for inserting hair to be treated between said jaws, and at least one heating element disposed on one of the jaws and intended to come into contact with the hair while the jaws are in the moved-together configuration, and a collecting device coupled to the bottom jaw of the straightening iron, the collecting device having a reservoir, the collecting device comprising a fastening system to couple the collecting device to the bottom jaw, the reservoir extending along the straightening iron and laterally on the side of the bottom jaw, the method comprising: applying water in a liquid form and/or a cosmetic composition in a liquid or foam form to the hair, passing the straightening iron over the hair, and collecting, with the aid of the collecting device, a runoff of liquid or foam in the reservoir due to the presence of water and/or the cosmetic composition on the hair and the passage of the straightening iron.

14. Method for treating hair according to claim 13, wherein the application of the water and/or the cosmetic composition to the hair is carried out independently of the passage of the straightening iron over the hair.

15. Method for treating hair according to claim 13, wherein: the water is applied to the hair during the application step and/or the cosmetic composition is applied to the hair during the application step, and the passage of the heating element along the hair brings about the runoff resulting from the melting of a compound of the cosmetic composition previously applied to the hair.

16. Method for treating hair according to claim 13, wherein the collecting device is fastened in a removable manner to the straightening iron.

17. Method for treating hair according to claim 13, wherein the collecting device is fastened in a permanent manner to the straightening iron.

18. Method for treating hair according to claim 13, wherein the collecting device is disposed downstream of the heating element with regard to a direction of movement of the straightening iron over the lock of hair.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The invention may be better understood from reading the following detailed description of nonlimiting illustrative embodiments thereof and from examining the appended drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an assembly according to the invention, comprising a styling tool coupled to a collecting device equipped with a grating and a retaining member,

(3) FIG. 2 shows the collecting device on its own,

(4) FIG. 3 shows the collecting device with the reservoir and the grating not assembled,

(5) FIG. 4 shows the reservoir on its own,

(6) FIG. 5 shows an embodiment detail of the collecting device,

(7) FIG. 6 shows an assembly according to the invention while it is being used,

(8) FIGS. 7 to 9 show examples of gratings mounted on reservoirs of collecting devices according to the invention,

(9) FIG. 10 shows the grating and the reservoir of the collecting device from FIG. 9 in the non-assembled state,

(10) FIG. 11 shows an embodiment detail of the grating on its own,

(11) FIG. 12 shows the collecting device from FIGS. 9 to 11 while it is being mounted,

(12) FIGS. 13 and 14 show a variant embodiment in which the collecting device comprises a system for fastening by way of binding straps, and

(13) FIGS. 15 and 16 show a variant embodiment in which the collecting device comprises a system for fastening by way of screwing.

(14) FIG. 1 shows an example of an assembly according to the invention, comprising a styling tool 5 coupled to a collecting device 7.

(15) In this example, the styling device 5 is a straightening iron in the form of grippers, comprising a bottom jaw 22 and a top jaw 23, these being able to pivot with respect to one another. A heating plate 24 is carried by the bottom jaw 22. A handle 25 makes it possible to hold the tool 5.

(16) The collecting device 7 comprises a shell 55 produced by moulding material, said shell 55 defining a reservoir 9.

(17) A part 30 of the shell 55 passes under the bottom jaw 22 and is terminated by an upright portion 17 which rises on that side of the jaw 22 that faces away from the reservoir 9.

(18) In the example in question, a fastening system 16, comprising a bolt 51 that is able to turn by way of a thumb wheel 53 that is accessible to the user from the outside, keeps the collecting device 7 on the tool 5.

(19) The bolt 51 can engage with a nut or thread present on the bottom jaw 22 on the side facing away from the top jaw.

(20) In the example in question, the reservoir 9 is equipped with a grating 11 having holes 12 that allow a runoff coming from the lock of hair during treatment by the tool 5 to pass through the grating 11 and then to prevent the collected runoff from coming back out of the reservoir 9 accidentally. The holes 12 in the grating 11 preferably have an elongate shape transversely to the length of the reservoir. The holes 12 have for example a width l of between 3 and 5 mm, for example of 4 mm, and are spaced apart by a distance d of between 0.5 and 2 mm, for example of 1 mm.

(21) In the example in question, the collecting device 7 is provided with a retaining member 14 which makes it possible to guide the runoff into the reservoir 9.

(22) This retaining member 14 is advantageously in the form of a strip which is positioned transversely to the plane of the grating 11, in the longitudinal direction of the reservoir 9, and rises, for example, by 8 to 12 mm, in particular 10 mm, with respect to the grating 11.

(23) In the example in question, the retaining member 14 passes through the grating 11 by virtue of a slot 57 provided thereon to this end, said slot 57 being visible more particularly in FIG. 3.

(24) In this example, the retaining member 14 is integral with the reservoir 9 because it is moulded in one piece therewith.

(25) The length of the retaining member 14 corresponds substantially to that of the heating plate 24 of the straightening iron 5, while the grating 11 is advantageously a little longer and, as illustrated in FIG. 5, extends beyond each side of the heating plate 24, thereby making it possible to more easily collect all of the runoff that results from the passage of the straightening iron 5 over the hair 20. In particular, at least one hole 12 may be present beyond each end of the retaining member 14, in the extension thereof.

(26) The grating 11 may be produced by cutting and bending a metal sheet, with a frame 56 which helps to couple it to the shell 55.

(27) This frame 56 may have a side 58 away from the grating 11 which has slots 59 that engage with corresponding reliefs 15 provided on that face of the upright portion 17 that faces the grating 11. A seal (not shown) may be interposed between the heating plate and the frame 56, being for example disposed on the internal perimeter of the frame 56.

(28) The retaining member 14 may, as illustrated, have teeth 63 on its face that faces the upright portion 17, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and these teeth 63 may be positioned above the slot 57 so as to keep the grating 11 in place on the reservoir 9.

(29) During the mounting of the collecting device 7 on the bottom jaw 22, the latter is housed in a space 67 defined between the reservoir 9 and the upright portion 17, the frame 56 being positioned around the heating plate and the bottom part 30 under the bottom jaw.

(30) Preferably, the grating 11 is coupled to the shell 55 so as to allow the grating 11 to be removed for cleaning.

(31) FIG. 6 shows an assembly according to the invention, similar to the one which has just been described, while it is being used: the passage of the styling tool 5 along a lock of hair 20 in the direction D wrings the hair and produces a runoff 21 which is collected downstream of the styling tool 5 by the collecting device 7. The runoff 21 passes through the holes 12 in the grating 11 in order to be collected in the reservoir 9. The retaining member 14 makes it possible to guide the runoff 21 into the holes 12 in the grating 11 and to avoid runs of surplus runoff for the time it takes for the runoff to discharge entirely into the reservoir 9 or if the reservoir 9 is full.

(32) In FIG. 6, the collecting device 7 is fastened to the right-hand side of the bottom jaw 22 of the straightening iron 5 and the user uses his or her left hand to pass the assembly according to the invention over the lock of hair 20.

(33) FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate two other examples of a collecting device 7 according to the invention on its own, each of these being equipped with a grating 11 and a retaining member 14.

(34) In these examples, the collecting device 7, as in the one in FIGS. 1 to 5, has a frame 56 which, in the case of coupling to a straightening iron (not shown in these figures), is positioned around the heating plate of the bottom jaw 22.

(35) In FIG. 7, the holes 12 in the grating 11 have an elongate shape transversely to the length of the reservoir and are organized in a single row.

(36) The retaining member 14 is positioned on the downstream edge of that part of the grating 11 that has holes, and not set back therefrom as in FIGS. 1 to 5.

(37) In FIG. 8, the holes 12 in the grating 11 have a triangular shape, the base of which is located by the retaining member 14 and the tip of which is located by the styling tool 5 (not shown in the figure).

(38) Numerous other shapes of holes are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(39) The collecting device 7 preferably has a mid-plane of symmetry P (visible in particular in FIG. 7) so as to be able to be used both by left-handers and by right-handers, by being placed on one side of the styling tool or on the other. Thus, the collecting device 7 is mounted on the left-hand side of the straightening iron in FIG. 1 and on the right-hand side in FIG. 6.

(40) FIG. 9 shows a variant embodiment of a collecting device 7 according to the invention, the fastening system of which works by sliding and snap-fastening. The bottom part 30 of the collecting device 7 passes under the bottom jaw of the styling tool. Lips 32 and 33 ensure the snap-fastening to or sliding along the lateral edges of this jaw, as illustrated in FIG. 12.

(41) Advantageously, a flexible contact point 34, such as an elastically deformable button or peg, is positioned in the bottom part 30 next to the tool in order to apply a relief thereto which makes it possible to retain the collecting device 7 relative to the bottom jaw 22 by pressure at the end of the sliding movement.

(42) In order to remove the collecting device 7, it is sufficient for the user to reverse the sliding movement by causing the flexible contact point 34 to yield.

(43) In the variant in FIGS. 9 to 12, the retaining member 14 is produced in one piece with the grating 11 and no longer belongs to the shell 55.

(44) The shell 55 can nevertheless retain an internal partition 66, under the grating 11, which reduces the risk of accidental outlet of the collected product during movements of the tool 5. A seal (not shown) can be interposed between the jaw and the lip 33, along the jaw.

(45) FIGS. 13 and 14 show a variant embodiment of a collecting device 7 in which the fastening system uses binding straps 41.

(46) The straps 41, which are preferably made at least partially from an elastically deformable material, are, in the example in question, equipped with buttonholes 42 into each of which a button 43 can be introduced. The latter has a head having dimensions slightly greater than those of the buttonhole 42, so as to ensure that the corresponding strap is fastened. The straps 41 are fastened to one side 47 of the frame 56.

(47) If need be, the frame 56 can lift during mounting on the styling tool (not shown in FIGS. 13 and 14) by deforming elastically.

(48) The binding straps 41 can be kept in the bound state in some other way than with the aid of buttonholes, for example by way of a Velcro® fastener or self-adhesive or press-stud fastening.

(49) The use of fastening bands 41 makes it possible, advantageously, to fasten and remove the collecting device 7 quickly and easily. In addition, such a fastening system makes it possible to be able to fasten the collecting device 7 to styling tools having varied shapes, and in particular thicknesses.

(50) FIGS. 15 and 16 show a variant embodiment of a collecting device 7 in which the fastening system works by screwing, in a similar manner to the one described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

(51) The thumb wheel 53 makes it possible to move the bolt 51 up or down, thereby locking the collecting device 7 to the styling tool. This bolt 51 may engage in a corresponding housing provided in the styling tool. The bolt 51 is prevented from rotating but can move axially in an extension 60 of the shell 55 of the collecting device when the thumb wheel 53 is rotated.

(52) The invention is not limited to a straightening iron as the styling tool. The tool may also be:

(53) a comb to which the collecting device can be fastened,

(54) an appliance for caring for, shaping, dyeing or bleaching the hair and/or any instrument that brings about heating as long as these bring about a runoff during their passage.

(55) The expression “comprising a” is synonymous with “comprising at least one”.