HAIRCARE APPLIANCE

Abstract

A haircare appliance has an air inlet, an air outlet, an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet, a fixed body defining the air outlet, and a rotatable member rotatable relative to the fixed body. The air outlet has a first aperture located on a first side of the fixed body, and a second aperture located on a second side of the fixed body opposite to the first side of the fixed body. The rotatable member is rotatable from a first configuration in which the rotatable member permits airflow through the first aperture and blocks airflow through the second aperture, to a second configuration in which the rotatable member permits airflow through the second aperture and blocks airflow through the first aperture. The rotatable member is rotatable relative to the fixed member under the action of gravity in use.

Claims

1. An attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment comprising an air inlet for receiving an airflow from the airflow generator, and an air outlet for emitting airflow, wherein the attachment comprises a fixed body defining the air outlet, and a rotatable member rotatable relative to the fixed body, wherein the air outlet comprises a first aperture located on a first side of the fixed body, and a second aperture located on a second side of the fixed body opposite to the first side of the fixed body, the rotatable member is rotatable from a first configuration in which the rotatable member permits airflow through the first aperture and blocks airflow through the second aperture, to a second configuration in which the rotatable member permits airflow through the second aperture and blocks airflow through the first aperture, the rotatable member located internally of the fixed member.

2. The attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotatable member comprises a weight such that airflow is directed through the one of the first and second apertures that face toward a surface upon which a user is standing in use when the haircare appliance is held parallel to the surface.

3. The attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotatable member comprises a channel, the channel is at least partially aligned with the first aperture in the first configuration, and the channel is at least partially aligned with the second aperture in the second configuration.

4. The attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotatable member comprise a blocking surface, the second aperture is blocked by the blocking surface in the first configuration, and the first aperture is blocked by the blocking surface in the second configuration.

5. The attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotatable member is located internally of the fixed member.

6. The attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotatable member is located outwardly of the fixed member.

7. The attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second apertures are located opposite one another on the fixed body.

8. The attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotatable member comprises a monolithic structure.

9. The attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein no airflow passes through the second side of the fixed body in the first configuration, and no airflow passes through the first side of the fixed body in the second configuration.

10. The attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air outlet comprises a plurality of apertures spaced about a periphery of the attachment such that a plurality of apertures are located on the first side of the fixed body and a plurality of apertures are located on the second side of the fixed body, and the rotatable member is rotatable such that the rotatable member permits airflow through the plurality of apertures on the first side of the fixed body and blocks airflow through the plurality of apertures on the second side of the fixed body in the first configuration, and such that rotatable member permits airflow through the plurality of apertures on the second side of the fixed body and blocks airflow through the plurality of apertures on the first side of the fixed body in the second configuration.

11. A haircare appliance comprising an air inlet, an air outlet, an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet, a fixed body defining the air outlet, and a rotatable member rotatable relative to the fixed body, wherein the air outlet comprises a first aperture located on a first side of the fixed body, and a second aperture located on a second side of the fixed body opposite to the first side of the fixed body, the rotatable member is rotatable from a first configuration in which the rotatable member permits airflow through the first aperture and blocks airflow through the second aperture, to a second configuration in which the rotatable member permits airflow through the second aperture and blocks airflow through the first aperture, the rotatable member located internally of the fixed member.

12. The haircare appliance as claimed in claim 11, wherein the haircare appliance comprises a handle unit within which the airflow generator is disposed, and an attachment comprising the air outlet, the attachment removably attachable to the handle unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a haircare appliance according to the present invention;

[0056] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view through a handle unit of the haircare appliance of FIG. 1;

[0057] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of an attachment for the haircare appliance of FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-section of the attachment of FIG. 3 in a first configuration;

[0059] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-section of the attachment of FIG. 3 in a second configuration;

[0060] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of an attachment for the haircare appliance of FIG. 1;

[0061] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-section of a third embodiment of an attachment for the haircare appliance of FIG. 1;

[0062] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-section of a fourth embodiment of an attachment for the haircare appliance of FIG. 1, in a first configuration; and

[0063] FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-section of the attachment of FIG. 8 in a second configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0064] A haircare appliance according to the present invention, generally designated 10, is shown schematically in FIG. 1.

[0065] The haircare appliance 10 comprises a handle unit 12, and an attachment 100 removably attachable to the handle unit 12.

[0066] The handle unit 12 comprises a housing 14, an airflow generator 16, a heater 18, and a control unit 20, as can be seen schematically in FIG. 2.

[0067] The housing 14 is tubular in shape, and comprises an air inlet 22 through which an airflow is drawn into the housing 14 by the airflow generator 16, and an air outlet 24 through which the airflow is discharged from the housing 14. The airflow generator 16 is housed within the housing 14, and comprises an impeller 26 driven by an electric motor 28. The heater 18 is also housed within the housing 14, and comprises heating elements 30 to optionally heat the airflow.

[0068] The control unit 20 comprises electronic circuitry for a user interface 32 and a control module 34. The user interface 32 is provided on an outer surface of the housing 14, and is used to power on and off the haircare appliance 10, to select a flow rate (for example high, medium and low), and to select an airflow temperature (for example hot, medium or cold). In the example of FIG. 1, the user interface comprises a plurality of sliding switches, but other forms of user interface 32, for example buttons, dials or touchscreens, are also envisaged.

[0069] The control module 34 is responsible for controlling the airflow generator 16, and the heater 18 in response to inputs from the user interface 32. For example, in response to inputs from the user interface 32, the control module 34 may control the power or the speed of the airflow generator 16 in order to adjust the airflow rate of the airflow, and the power of the heater 18 in order to adjust the temperature of the airflow.

[0070] The attachment 100 is shown schematically in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0071] The attachment 100 is shown schematically in FIGS. 3 to 6. The attachment 100 comprises a fixed body 102 and a rotatable member 104 rotatable relative to the fixed body 102.

[0072] The fixed body 102 is generally cylindrical in form, and is open at one end and closed at the other end. The open end serves as an inlet 106 into the fixed body 102. The fixed body 102 is generally hollow in form, and has recesses within which the rotatable member 104 is rotatable, as will be described hereafter. An outer surface of the fixed body 102 comprises openings 108 through which bristles 110 extend, and a plurality of apertures 112 which serve as the air outlet for the attachment 100. The apertures 112 and openings 108 are disposed in columns about the periphery of the outer surface of the attachment 100, with openings 108 and apertures 112 alternating in each column. Openings 108 and apertures 112 are offset between adjacent columns, such that an opening 108 in one column is roughly aligned in a same row as apertures 112 of adjacent columns.

[0073] The rotatable member 104 is a monolithic single piece structure, which is generally hollow in form, having first 114 and second 116 sides. The first side 114 of the rotatable member 104 is substantially solid, such that the first side 114 of the rotatable member 104 defines a blocking surface 115. The second side 116 of the rotatable member 104 comprises a plurality of channels 118 through which airflow can pass in use.

[0074] A connecting portion 120 of the second side 116 of the rotatable member 104 extends radially inwardly toward the centre of the rotatable member 104, and a rod 122 extends through the connecting portion 120 and is located within the recesses of the fixed body 102 such that the rotatable member 104 is rotatable within the fixed body 102 in use. A weight 124 is embedded in the connecting portion 120, such that the weight 124 is located within the second side 116 of the rotatable member 104. This ensures that the second side 116 of the rotatable member 104, and hence the channels 118, face downwardly when the attachment 100 is held in a horizontal orientation by a user, for example such that airflow is directed through the channels 118 in a generally downward direction.

[0075] As can be seen from FIG. 4, the fixed body 102 can also be considered to have a first side 126 and a second side 128, with the first 126 and second 128 sides either side of a central longitudinal axis C of the attachment 100, and with apertures disposed on each of the first 126 and second 128 sides of the fixed body 128. In the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the first side 126 faces in a generally downward direction, whilst the second side 128 faces in a generally upward direction. Here the second side 116 of the rotatable member 104 is aligned with the first side 126 of the fixed body 102, whilst the first side 114 of the rotatable member 104 is aligned with the second side 128 of the fixed body 102. Thus the channels 118 of the rotatable member 104 are aligned with apertures 112 on the first side 126 of the fixed body 102 in the configuration shown in FIG. 4, whilst the blocking surface 115 of the rotatable member 104 is aligned with apertures 112 on the second side 128 of the fixed body 102 in the configuration shown in FIG. 4.

[0076] In such a manner airflow is able to escape from apertures 112 on the first side 126 of the fixed body 102, whilst airflow is prevented from escaping apertures 112 on the second side 128 of the fixed body 102. This may enable a greater volume of airflow to be provided on one side of the attachment 100 relative to the other side of the attachment 100 in use, which may provide increased efficiency, for example with less wasted airflow directed away from hair in use, and may provide increased styling control with airflow primarily directed only in a desired direction in use, thereby decreasing the risk of stray airflow affecting a styling process.

[0077] As previously mentioned, the rotatable member 104 is rotatable relative to the fixed body 102, and the second side 116 of the rotatable member 104 comprises the weight 124. If a user were to rotate the haircare appliance 10, ie rotating the haircare appliance about the central longitudinal axis C, then, given the rotatable member 104 and its weight 124, the rotatable member would remain in the position shown in FIG. 4, whilst the first 126 and second 128 sides of the fixed body 102 would flip. Such a configuration is illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0078] In FIG. 5, the first side 126 of the fixed body 102 faces in a generally upward direction, whilst the second side 128 of the fixed body 102 faces in a generally downward direction. Here the second side 116 of the rotatable member 104 is aligned with the second side 128 of the fixed body 102, whilst the first side 114 of the rotatable member 104 is aligned with the first side 126 of the fixed body 102. Thus the channels 118 of the rotatable member 104 are aligned with apertures 112 on the second side 128 of the fixed body 102 in the configuration shown in FIG. 5, whilst the blocking surface 115 of the rotatable member 104 is aligned with apertures 112 on the first side 126 of the fixed body 102 in the configuration shown in FIG. 4.

[0079] In such a manner airflow is able to escape from apertures 112 on the first side 126 of the fixed body 102, whilst airflow is prevented from escaping apertures 112 on the second side 128 of the fixed body 102. Airflow is therefore consistently through one side of the attachment 100 only.

[0080] A further embodiment of an attachment 200 for use with the main body 12 of the haircare appliance 10 of FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 6. The attachment 200 of FIG. 6 is substantially similar to the attachment 100 of FIGS. 3 to 5 save that the weight 124 of the rotatable member 104 has been removed, and instead the attachment 300 of FIG. 6 comprises a user actuable dial 202 protruding upwardly from the attachment. The user actuable dial 202 is mechanically linked to the rotatable member 104 in any appropriate manner such that rotation of the user actuable dial 302 by a user causes rotation of the rotatable member 104 within the fixed body to adopt configurations similar to those illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0081] For example, the user actuable dial 202 may be used to move the rotatable member from a first configuration in which the channels 118 of the rotatable member 104 are aligned with apertures 112 on the first side 126 of the fixed body 102 whilst the blocking surface 115 of the rotatable member 104 is aligned with apertures 112 on the second side 128 of the fixed body 102, to a second configuration in which the channels 118 of the rotatable member 104 are aligned with apertures 112 on the second side 128 of the fixed body 102 whilst the blocking surface 115 of the rotatable member 104 is aligned with apertures 112 on the first side 126 of the fixed body 102. Thus airflow may be provided through one side only of the attachment 200 at a time, with the side through which airflow is allowed being chosen by a user via the user actuable dial 202.

[0082] A further embodiment of an attachment 300 for use with the main body 12 of the haircare appliance 10 of FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 7. The attachment 300 of FIG. 7 is substantially similar to the attachment 100 of FIGS. 3 to 5 save that the weight 124 of the rotatable member 104 has been removed, and instead the attachment 300 of FIG. 7 comprises a signal generator 302 to generate a signal indicative of hair contacting the attachment 300, and a drive motor 304 to drive rotation of the rotatable member 104 in response to the signal provided by the signal generator 302.

[0083] The signal generator 302 may take any appropriate form, including, for example, any of a proximity sensor, a proximity sensor, a capacitive sensor, a switch that opens or closes an electrical circuit when the switch is engaged by hair, an image sensor and a light sensor.

[0084] In response to the signal generated by the signal generator 302, the drive motor 304 is able to drive rotation of the rotatable member 104 such that airflow is always directed toward hair in use. For example, the drive motor 304 may drive rotation of the rotatable member 104 within the fixed body to adopt configurations similar to those illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, albeit rotated through 90 degrees in FIG. 7. Given the different mechanism for moving the rotatable member 104, it will be appreciated that the apertures 112 through which air passes in the embodiment of FIG. 7 may be located in any rotational direction about the periphery of the attachment 300, and not just in a downward direction as with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0085] For example, signal generator 302 and drive motor 304 may be used to move the rotatable member 104 from a first configuration in which the channels 118 of the rotatable member 104 are aligned with apertures 112 on the first side 126 of the fixed body 102 (left-hand side of the central axis in FIG. 7) whilst the blocking surface 115 of the rotatable member 104 is aligned with apertures 112 on the second side 128 of the fixed body 102 (right-hand side of the central axis in FIG. 7), to a second configuration in which the channels 118 of the rotatable member 104 are aligned with apertures 112 on the second side 128 of the fixed body 102 whilst the blocking surface 115 of the rotatable member 104 is aligned with apertures 112 on the first side 126 of the fixed body 102. Thus airflow may be provided through one side only of the attachment 300 at a time, with the side through which airflow is allowed being chosen being determined by the signal generator 302 and the drive motor 304.

[0086] A further embodiment of an attachment 400 for use with the main body 12 of the haircare appliance 10 of FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0087] The attachment 400 of FIG. 8 comprises a fixed body 402 having first 404 and second 406 apertures, and a rotatable member 408 rotatable relative to the fixed body 402, for example via a rod (not shown) as in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 5. Here the rotatable member 408 is disposed radially outwardly of the fixed body 402, such that the rotatable member 402 is rotatable about an outwardly facing surface of the fixed body 402. The rotatable member 408 has a single channel 410 formed therein, and a plurality of weights 412 embedded in the rotatable member 408 either side of the channel 410. A plurality of bristles 414 extend outwardly from the rotatable member 408.

[0088] The first aperture 404 is located on a first side 416 of the fixed body 402, and the second aperture 406 is located on a second side 418 of the fixed body 402 opposite to the first side 416 of the fixed body 402. The channel 410 is located on a first side 420 of the rotatable member 408, whilst a second side 422 of the rotatable member 408 is substantially solid with no apertures or openings, save those through which bristles may extend, formed therein.

[0089] Similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 5, the attachment 400 of FIGS. 8 and 9 has a first configuration, illustrated in FIG. 8, where the first side 420 of the rotatable member 408 is aligned with the first side 416 of the fixed body 402, such that the channel 410 is aligned with the first aperture 404 and airflow can escape from the first side 416 of the fixed body 402. Airflow through the second aperture 406 is blocked by the rotatable member 408 in the first configuration.

[0090] The attachment 400 of FIGS. 8 and 9 has a second configuration, illustrated in FIG. 9, where the first side 420 of the rotatable member 408 is aligned with the second side 418 of the fixed body 402, such that the channel 410 is aligned with the second aperture 406 and airflow can escape from the second side 418 of the fixed body 402. Airflow through the first aperture 404 is blocked by the rotatable member 408 in the second configuration.

[0091] These two configurations are enabled by the plurality of weights 412 embedded in the rotatable member 408, such that airflow is consistently through one side of the attachment 400 only. The plurality of weights 412 enable the rotatable member 404 to rotate relative to the fixed body 402 under the action of gravity in use, which may provide automatic adjustment of airflow from different sides of the fixed body 402.

[0092] Although described with only first 404 and second 406 apertures, and a single channel 410, it will be appreciated that a number of apertures and channels may be provided in practice, similar to the embodiment of the attachment 100 illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5.

[0093] Furthermore, although the attachment 400 of FIGS. 8 and 9 is illustrated with the rotatable member 408 rotating about a central axis, it will be appreciated that embodiments where the rotatable member 408 rotates within the fixed body about an axis offset from the central axis are also envisaged.

[0094] Embodiments are also envisaged where, rather than the haircare appliance 10 comprising a handle unit 12 and an attachment 100,200,300,400 the haircare appliance is a single-piece unit, for example taking the form of the combined handle unit 12 and attachment 100,200,300,400 previously described.