Hair care device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hair care device (10) for straightening, curling and/or volumizing hair, the hair care device comprising: a first jaw (12) that extends along a first longitudinal axis (30) and comprises a first handle part (16) which is coupled to a first heating tip (20), wherein the first heating tip (20) has a convex-shaped first heating surface (34), and distance elements (36, 40) to prevent a user from getting burned, preferably a bristle plate (36) that comprises a plurality of bristles or ribs (40), wherein the distance elements are arranged at a side (38) of the first heating tip (20) opposite the convex-shaped first heating surface (34), and wherein the first heating tip (20) is rotatably coupled to the first handle part (16) to permit a user to rotate the first heating tip (20) relative to first handle part (16) about the first longitudinal axis (30) a second jaw (14) that extends along a second longitudinal axis (32) and comprises a second handle part (18) which is coupled to a second heating tip (22); and wherein the first and the second jaw (12, 14) are coupled to each other, and via the handle parts (16, 18) moveable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position.

Claims

1. A hair care device for straightening, curling and/or volumizing hair, the hair care device comprising: a first jaw that extends along a first longitudinal axis and comprises a first handle part which is coupled to a first heating tip, wherein the first heating tip has a convex-shaped first heating surface; distance elements that comprise a plurality of bristles or ribs arranged at and extending outwardly from a planar flat bottom surface of the first heating tip opposite the convex-shaped first heating surface; and a second jaw that extends along a second longitudinal axis and comprises a second handle part which is coupled to a second heating tip, wherein the first and the second jaw are coupled to each other, and via the handle parts moveable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the first heating tip is rotatably coupled to the first handle part to permit a user to rotate the first heating tip relative to first handle part about the first longitudinal axis to switch between (i) a first position for a curling mode in which the distance elements (i)(a) face towards, (i)(b) are kept at a distance away from, and (i)(c) do not contact the second heating tip in response to the first and the second jaws being in the closed position, and (ii) a second position for a straightening and volumizing mode in which the distance elements face away from the second heating tip and keep the first and second heating tips away from a user's scalp to prevent the user from getting burned.

2. The hair care device according to claim 1, wherein the distance elements further comprise a bristle plate that comprises the plurality of bristles or ribs outwardly extending from a flat surface of the bristle plate.

3. The hair care device according to claim 2, wherein the first heating tip is rotatable relative to the first handle part about the first longitudinal axis between a first position, in which the outwardly extending plurality of bristles or ribs of the bristle plate faces towards the second heating tip, and a second position, in which the outwardly extending plurality of bristles or ribs of the bristle plate faces away from the second heating tip.

4. The hair care device according to claim 2, wherein the bristle plate is thermally insulated from the first heating tip and comprises a temperature-resistant synthetic material.

5. The hair care device according to claim 2, wherein the bristles or ribs protrude from the bristle plate, and wherein a multitude of said bristles or ribs is flexible and comprises a rounded free end.

6. The hair care device according to claim 2, wherein the bristle plate comprises a plurality of retractable bristles which are retracted when the bristle plate faces the second jaw and which are not retracted when the bristle plate does not face the second jaw.

7. The hair care device according to claim 3, wherein the second jaw further comprises at least one mechanical end stop element at a free end of the second heating tip that is configured to keep the distance elements at a distance away from and not in contact with the second heating tip when (i) the first heating tip is in the first position and (ii) the first and the second jaws are in the closed position.

8. The hair care device according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second jaw are swivel-mounted relative to each other to permit a user to swivel the jaws relative to each other about a hinge axis between the open position and the closed position, wherein the hinge axis runs transverse to the first and second longitudinal axes.

9. The hair care device according to claim 1, wherein the first heating tip has a generally crescent shaped cross-section.

10. The hair care device according to claim 1, wherein the second heating tip comprises: a convex-shaped second heating surface at a side that faces away from the first heating tip; and a third heating surface that faces towards the first heating tip and has at least in part a concave-shaped contour that matches an outer contour of the first heating surface of the first heating tip.

11. The hair care device according to claim 1, wherein the first jaw comprises a first grip element at a free end of the first heating tip to permit a user to rotate the first heating tip relative to the first handle part, wherein said free end of the first heating tip is opposite the end at which the first heating tip is connected to the first handle part.

12. The hair care device according to claim 11, wherein the first grip element is thermally insulated from the first heating tip and comprises a temperature-resistant synthetic material.

13. The hair care device according to claim 11, wherein the second jaw comprises a second grip element at a free end of the second heating tip, wherein said free end of the second heating tip is opposite the end at which the second heating tip is connected to the second handle part.

14. The hair care device according to claim 13, wherein at least one mechanical end stop element is arranged at one or more of the first and the second grip element.

15. The hair care device according to claim 13, wherein the first and second grip elements have matching outer contours, and wherein a locking mechanism for preventing a rotation of the first heating tip relative to the first handle part when the jaws are in the closed position, is realized by said matching outer contours that mate each other, when the first heating tip is in the second position and the jaws are in the closed position.

16. The hair care device according to claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism for preventing a rotation of the first heating tip relative to the first handle part, when the first and the second jaws are in the closed position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter. In the following drawings

(2) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the hair care device in open position in a perspective view (FIG. 1a) and a side view (FIG. 1b);

(3) FIG. 2 shows the exemplary embodiment of the hair care device in closed position in a perspective view (FIG. 2a) and in a side view (FIG. 2b);

(4) FIG. 3 shows enlarged views of the front portion of the hair care device in a first position;

(5) FIG. 4 shows enlarged views of the front portion of the hair care device in a second position;

(6) FIG. 5 shows top views from the front of the hair care device in the first position (FIG. 5a) and in the second position (FIG. 5b);

(7) FIG. 6 shows different types of practical applications for which the hair care device may be used: straightening (FIG. 6a), curling (FIG. 6b) and volumizing (FIG. 6c);

(8) FIGS. 7a-7c and FIGS. 8a-8b show a first embodiment having retractable bristles; and

(9) FIGS. 9a-9b show a second embodiment having retractable bristles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the hair care device according to the present invention. The hair care device is therein in its entirety denoted with reference numeral 10.

(11) The hair care device 10 comprises two jaws, a first jaw 12 and a second jaw 14. The first and the second jaw 12, 14 build the major housing parts of the device 10. Each jaw 12, 14 comprises a handle part 16, 18 and a heating tip 20, 22 that is coupled thereto. The first handle part 16 and the first heating tip 20 are arranged at the first jaw 12. The second handle part 18 and the second heating tip 22 are arranged at the second jaw 14. Both heating tips 20, 22 are herein also referred to as heating plates or heating barrels 20, 22.

(12) In the shown embodiment, the hair care device 10 is build up in a similar manner as a conventional hairs straightener. The two jaws 12, 14 are movable relative to each other between an open position (shown in FIG. 1a, b) and a closed position (shown in FIG. 2a, b). This is usually realized with a hinge 24 via which the two jaws 12, 14 are coupled. The hinge 24 is usually arranged at or near a rear end 26 of the device 10. The hinge 24 permits a user to swivel/pivot at least one of the jaws 12, 14 around a hinge axis 28. An additional spring element (not shown) may be provided that forces the two jaws 12, 14 into their open position (see FIG. 1a, b).

(13) The two heating tips 20, 22 are heated by a heater (not shown). This heater is preferably integrated into the heating tips 20, 22. Heaters of this kind can be realized in many different ways. Usually an inductive heater or a PTC heater is used. These heaters can either be powered by main supplied electricity or battery-driven.

(14) One of the central points of the present invention refers to the shape and functionality of the two heating tips 20, 22. Both heating tips 20, 22 have a generally crescent shaped cross section and substantially extend along a longitudinal axis. The first heating tip 20 substantially extends along a first longitudinal axis 30, along which also the first handle part 16 extends. The second heating tip substantially extends along a second longitudinal axis 32, along which also the second handle part 18 extends.

(15) The first heating tip 20 comprises a convex-shaped first heating surface 34 at its top side. This first heating surface 34 is preferably a sleek surface. On the rear side 38 of the first heating tip 20 that is opposite the first heating surface 34 and faces away therefrom, the heating tip 20 comprises a bristle plate 36. This bristle plate 36 comprises a plurality of bristles or ribs 40 which act as distance elements, as this will be explained further below in detail.

(16) The second heating tip 22 is preferably heated all around its peripheral surface. It comprises a convex-shaped second heating surface 42 that is arranged on the outer side and faces away from the first heating tip 12. On the opposite side that faces the first heating tip 20, it comprises a third heating surface 44. This third heating surface 44 preferably has at least in part a concave-shaped contour that matches with the outer contour of the first heating surface 34 of the first heating tip 20. The reasons for these matching contours will be elucidated below.

(17) A further central point is the rotatability of the first heating tip 20. The first heating tip 20 is rotatable relative to the first handle part 16 about the first longitudinal axis 30. Depending on the type of hair styling that shall be achieved (hair straightening, hair curling or hair volumizing), the first heating tip 20 may be rotated between a first position (illustrated in FIG. 3) and a second position (illustrated in FIG. 4).

(18) In the first position, which is illustrated in an enlarged view in FIGS. 3a, b, the first heating tip 20 is arranged such that the bristle plate 36 faces towards the second heating tip 22, in particular towards the third heating surface 44. The first heating surface 34 then faces upwards and builds an outer surface of the device 10. In this position of the first heating tip 20, the device 10 may be used as a hair curler. This is schematically illustrated in FIG. 6b. Since the device 10 in this case comprises two outer convex-shaped heated surfaces 34, 42, the hairs may be wrapped around these two surfaces in order to curl them. The jaws 12, 14 should in this case be closed. In order to facilitate the handling, a locking mechanism may be provided that allows the user to lock the jaws 12, 14 in their closed position (position shown in FIG. 2).

(19) If the first heating tip 20 is rotated into its second position, which his illustrated in an enlarged view in FIGS. 4a, b, the bristle plate 36 then faces upwards, i.e. away from the second heating tip 22. The first heating surface 34 in this case faces towards the second heating tip 22, i.e. towards the third heating surface 44.

(20) In the second position of the first heating tip 20 the device 10 may be used for two different types of hair styling. It may be either used for hair straightening, as this is schematically illustrated in FIG. 6a, or it may be used to create hair volume from the roots, as this is schematically illustrated in FIG. 6c.

(21) In order to use the device 10 as a hair straightener, hairs may be pinched hair strand by hair strand between the two jaws 12, 14, i.e. between the first and the third heating surface 34, 44 (see FIG. 6a). The two matching contours of the first and the second heating surface 34, 44 are in this case especially advantageous. Due to the convex- and concave-shaped heating surfaces 34, 44, the effective heating area that the hairs pass during straightening is enlarged compared to hair straighteners with flat heating plates. In FIG. 1a it may be also seen that only a part of the third heating surface 44, namely the middle part, has a concave shape. The lateral parts of the third heating surface 44, which adjoin said middle part on the left and right side, are instead preferably realized as planar surfaces. This is mainly to prevent kinking of the hairs that are to be straightened.

(22) As already mentioned above, the hair care device 10 may be in the second position of the first heating tip 20 also be used as a volumizer. As illustrated in FIG. 6c, the user may then guide the device to the hair roots and let a hair strand hang over the second heating surface 42 of the second heating tip 22, while the device 10 contacts the scalp of the user with the bristles or ribs 40 of the bristle plate 36. The bristle plate 36 in this case acts as a kind of burning protection. The bristles or ribs 40 act as distance elements to the scalp 46 of the user, keeping the hot heating tips 20, 22 away from the user's scalp 46.

(23) The bristle plate 36 is preferably made of a temperature-resistant synthetic material with very low heat conducting characteristics. In order to prevent that the bristle plate 36 becomes too hot, it may be in addition thermally insulated from the first heating tip 20. This may, for example, be realized by arranging a thermally insulating layer in between the first heat tip 20 and the bristle plate 36 (not shown). In this case there is no risk for a user to get burned. In order to create hair volume, the user may directly contact the scalp with the bristles or ribs 40. This enables to come very close to the scalp and to create hair volume starting from the hair roots. The user's comfort may be additionally increased by providing the bristles 40 with rounded tips 48 and making them at least partly flexible.

(24) In summary, this means that the hair care device 10 in accordance with the invention may be used for three different kinds of hair styling appliances: hair straightening, hair curling and hair volumizing. Such a three-in-one device is not only very practical and easy in handling, but also less cost intensive than having to buy three different devices, one for each hair styling appliance.

(25) In order to switch between the different modes, i.e. in order to rotate the first heating tip 20 as easy as possible, grip elements 50, 52 may be provided at the free end 54 of the two jaws 12, 14. A first grip element 50 is preferably provided at the free end 54 of the first heating tip 20. This first grip element 50 permits a user to rotate the first heating tip 20 relative to the first handle part 16. The free end 54 shall denote the end of the first heating tip 20 that is opposite to the end 56 at which the first heating tip 20 is connected to the first handle part 16.

(26) The second grip element 52 is arranged at the free end 54 of the second heating tip 22. Both grip elements 50, 52 may also be denoted as cool tips as the grip elements 50, 52 are preferably thermally insulated from the hot heating tips 20, 22, such that they do not get heated in a too strong manner and the user may touch them without getting burned.

(27) The grip elements 50, 52 may also be seen in the front views illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b. FIG. 5a shows the front of the device 10, wherein the first heating tip 20 is in its first position. FIG. 5b shows the front of the device 10, wherein the first heating tip 20 is in its second position. As it may be seen in FIGS. 5a and 5b, the device 10 additionally comprises a mechanical end stop element 58 that is configured to keep the bristles 40 of the bristle plate 36 at distance from the second heating tip 22, when the first heating tip 20 is in its first position and the jaws 12, 14 are in the closed position. In this position the bristles 40 do not contact the third heating surface 44 of the second heating tip 22. Otherwise the heating tips could get damaged. If the bristles 40 were heated in this position too strongly, this could also be dangerous for the user as soon as he/she rotates the first heating tip 20 into its second position and contacts his/her scalp with the bristles 40.

(28) The mechanical end stop element 58 is preferably integrated into the grip elements 50, 52, as this is shown in FIG. 5a. The grip elements 50, 52 thereto comprise side walls 60, 62 which stick out of the sides of the grip elements 50, 52. These side walls 60, 62 do not only act as mechanical end stop element 58 in the above-mentioned manner, but also act as protective walls preventing a user to get into contact with the hot heating tips 20, 22 when touching the grip elements 50, 52.

(29) A further function of these side walls 60, 62 is shown in FIG. 5b. They also act as a locking mechanism 64 for preventing a rotation of the first heating tip 20 relative to the first handle part 16, when the jaws 12, 14 are in the closed position and the first heating tip 20 is in its second position. This is realized by matching outer contours 66, 66, which are provided at the edge of the side walls 60, 62. The outer contours 66, 66 of the side walls 60, 62 mate each other, when the first heating tip 20 is arranged in its second position. An unintentional rotation of the first heating tip 20 is then effectively prevented.

(30) It is noted that the outer contours 66, 66 may of course also be realized in a manner different than illustrated in FIG. 5b. The outer contours 66, 66 could be corrugated or waved. It could be also realized by a notch that is provided in one of the side walls 60, 62 and a corresponding fitting key that is provided in the other side wall 60, 62.

(31) FIGS. 7a-7c and FIGS. 8a-8c show an alternative embodiment in which the bristle plate 36 comprises a plurality of retractable bristles. This prevents the bristles from becoming too hot in the position in which the bristles on the first jaw 12 face the second jaw 14, and it yields the additional advantage of a smaller gap at curling while maintaining the advantage of achieving sufficient distance to the scalp.

(32) FIG. 7a shows the bristle plate with bristles in an active position, and FIG. 7b shows the bristle plate with the bristles in the refracted position. FIG. 7c shows the hair care device with the retracted bristles facing the second jaw 14.

(33) FIG. 8a shows a spiral grove of a bearing part 81. FIG. 8b shows a bristle activator 83 which is linear moveable (by about 5 mm). It is activated by the spiral grove of the bearing part 81 shown in FIG. 8a, around which the whole unit is rotating 180. A spring 85 is pushing back the bristle activator 83, when turning back 180. FIG. 8c shows that when the bristle activator 83 is moving forward, the bristles 87 will rotate out.

(34) FIGS. 9a-9b show a second embodiment having retractable bristles, in which the bristles move out by a vertical translation instead of by a rotation. FIG. 9a shows the bristles in the retracted position, and FIG. 9b shows the bristles in the active position. Bearing part 91 is similar to the bearing part 81 shown in FIGS. 8a-8c. When the heating tip 20 is rotated, the bearing part 91 makes a first bristle activator part 92 move to the right, against a force applied by spring 95, resulting in a second bristle activator part 83 pushing the bristle plate upwards, against a force applied by spring 99, whereby bristles 97 are pushed through openings in the surface.

(35) From the foregoing it is clear that the hair care device in accordance with the invention may be used for different types of styling needs. This may be done with one and the same device. Switching between the different styling modes is very easy to handle.

(36) While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but only by the independent claims. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. A single element or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.