Steam hairdressing appliance with steam containment means

Abstract

Provided is a hairdressing appliance comprising a portable treatment unit equipped with two arms configured to form a clamp provided with two surfaces positioned opposite each other that enable the simultaneous clamping of a lock of hair. The portable treatment unit comprises steam spraying means that is configured to disperse the steam from the first of two surfaces towards the second of the two surfaces. The appliance comprises a means for containing the steam dispersed between the two surfaces that are pressed together. Thus provided is a hairdressing appliance whose performance is comparable to that of hairdressing appliances with high flows of steam, yet while using a reduced flow of steam.

Claims

1. Hairdressing appliance comprising: a portable treatment unit equipped with first and second arms pivotably joined at proximal portions thereof to form a clamp, the first arm having a first surface and the second arm having a second surface, where the first and second surfaces are positioned opposite each other and enable the simultaneous clamping of a lock of hair there between, a steam dispersion means configured to disperse steam from the first surface towards the second surface, and a containment means for containing the dispersed steam, wherein the first surface comprises two adjacent grooves separated by a thin partition wall, each groove having a bottom, where at least one of the bottoms comprises a dispersion vent or a plurality of dispersion openings forming the dispersion means, and the steam containment means comprises a channel arranged in the second surface directly opposite the grooves, the channel has a width extending along a lateral direction, a length extending along a longitudinal direction transverse to the lateral direction and a depth which penetrates the second surface in a direction away from the first surface and transverse to both the width and the length, the width ranging between 2 and 6 mm, and a depth ranging between 0.5 and 2 mm, wherein the width of the channel corresponds to a total width of the grooves, wherein the grooves and the channel are offset in an upstream portion of the first and second surfaces, respectively, to form a single containment space offset in only the upstream portions of the first and second surfaces, wherein the upstream portions of the first and second surfaces are positioned laterally offset from a center of the first and second surfaces such that the channel and grooves extend along the longitudinal direction and do not cross a center of the first and second surfaces, a heating means provided in at least one of said first and second arms and operatively coupled to the first and/or second surfaces, respectively, and a vapor barrier projecting away from the first arm toward the second arm and disposed adjacent to a proximal lateral edge of the first surface, wherein the vapor barrier is configured to block the steam escaping from the containment means in the direction of the proximal portion of the clamp, which is configured to manipulate the portable treatment unit.

2. Hairdressing appliance as in claim 1, wherein the second surface includes a distal lateral edge opposite the proximal lateral edge and the channel empties on at least one of the proximal and distal lateral edges of the second surface.

3. Hairdressing appliance as in claim 1, wherein the length of the channel ranges between 20 and 220 mm.

4. Hairdressing appliance as in claim 1, wherein the channel and the grooves have a volume that is substantially identical.

5. Hairdressing appliance as in claim 1, wherein at least one groove empties on at least one of two lateral edges of the first surface.

6. Hairdressing appliance as in claim 1, wherein the each of the bottoms of the grooves comprise a plurality of dispersion openings arranged over a length of each of the grooves.

7. Hairdressing appliance as in claim 1, wherein the steam dispersion means comprises a dispersion vent arranged over a length of the bottom of each of the grooves.

8. Hairdressing appliance as in claim 1, wherein a grid is arranged above at least one of the grooves on the first surface.

9. Hairdressing appliance as in claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces are each formed on a heating plate, said heating plates being positioned opposite one another and simultaneously enabling the clamping of a lock of hair.

10. Hairdressing appliance as in claim 9, wherein the steam containment means are arranged between the two heating plates.

11. Hairdressing appliance as in claim 10, wherein a midpoint of the containment means is located at a distance (d1) from an upstream edge of the heating plates, with the ratio of the distance (d1) to a width (w1) of the heating plates ranging between 0.1 and 0.4.

12. Hairdressing appliance as in claim 1, wherein a comb is arranged upstream from one of the first and second surfaces.

13. Hairdressing appliance as in claim 1, wherein the steam dispersion means is configured to have a flow of steam ranging between 0.5 g/min and 2 g/min.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The following description of the different alternative embodiments reveals the features and advantages of the hairdressing appliance of the invention. This description is based on the following figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a hairdressing appliance of the invention, of the steam straightener type;

(3) FIGS. 2 and 3 show two heating plates as arranged on the two arms of the portable treatment unit in the clamping position and in the open position of the clamp, respectively;

(4) FIG. 4 illustrates a hairdressing appliance of the invention, revealing the presence of a vapor barrier;

(5) FIG. 5 illustrates a heating plate equipped with two adjacent grooves holding the steam dispersion means;

(6) FIG. 6 illustrates a heating plate equipped with a groove equipped with a perforated grid;

(7) FIG. 7 illustrates two heating plates in the clamping position and reveals a curved shape of the groove and a rounded perforated grid on the channel;

(8) FIG. 8 illustrates two heating plates in the clamping position and reveals a cylindrical form constituted by the groove and the channel, with the presence of a perforated roller in the cylinder;

(9) FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12 illustrate other alternative embodiments of the containment means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) In the following description, the same references are used to designate identical or similar features according to the different design alternatives of the hairdressing appliance of the invention, which are described based on FIGS. 1 to 12.

(11) In FIG. 1, the hairdressing appliance 1 of the invention is a hair straightener.

(12) The latter comprises a portable treatment unit 2. This portable treatment unit 2 is powered electrically by means of an electric connecting cable 8. The portable treatment unit 2 comprises two arms 3, 4also known as jawshinged to one another by means of a pivot linkage 21, thus constituting a clamp.

(13) The two arms 3, 4 each comprise a proximal portion 3a, 4a. These two proximal portions 3a, 4a can be grasped simultaneously with one hand, thus making it possible to manipulate the portable treatment unit 2 and close the clamp when the two proximal portions 3a, 4a are clasped.

(14) The two arms 3, 4 each comprise, on their inside face and in their distal portion 3b, 4b, a surface 5, 6 enabling the clamping of the lock of hair simultaneously. According to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the heating surfaces 5, 6 are flat and in the shape of two heating plates 17, 18. When the clamp is closed, the heating surfaces 17, 18 positioned opposite one another come into contact with one another, thus enabling said clamping.

(15) In one embodiment, the portable treatment unit 2 of the hairdressing appliance 1 of the invention can assume technical features similar to those described in French Patent Application FR2967017A1 filed by the Applicant in terms of the implementation of the heating means (not illustrated) of the heating plates 17, 18.

(16) Thus the heating means for the heating plates 17, 18 each comprise a heating device (not illustrated) consisting of a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistor, and a device (not illustrated) for measuring the temperature of the heating device composed of a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor. These heating and measurement devices will be positioned in the housing areas 22, 23 on each arm 3, 4, for each of the heating plates 17, 18. The features of such heating means for the heating plates 17, 18 are known to those skilled in the art, and will not be discussed in greater detail. Alternative embodiments, whether novel or known to those skilled in the art, are also conceivable for these heating means for the heating plates 17, 18, without exceeding the scope of the invention. Furthermore, alternative shapes are conceivable for the surfaces 5, 6. Curved surfaces, particularly as in hairdressing appliances used for curling hair, or even undulated surfaces, as in hairdressing appliances used to crimp hair, inter alia, can be implemented. Alternative embodiments of the portable treatment unit 2 with only one of the two surfaces 5 or 6 being a heating surface, and with the other surface merely helping to clamp the lock of hair for styling the same are furthermore conceivable.

(17) The portable treatment unit 2 of the hairdressing appliance 1 likewise comprises means for spraying or dispersing steam 7 from the first surface 5 towards the second surface 6. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first arm 3 comprises a groove 10 with a bottom 11 in which are arranged openings 12 that enable the spraying or dispersion of steam in the direction of the second arm 4, when the clamp is closed. In its distal portion 3b, the first arm 3 also comprises a vaporization chamber (not illustrated) for generating steam and spraying or dispersing this steam through the openings 12. In one embodiment, the portable treatment unit 2 of the hairdressing appliance 1 of the invention can assume technical features similar to those described in French Patent Application FR 2 967 017 A1 filed by the Applicant in terms of the implementation of the vaporization chamber. Thus, this vaporization chamber comprises, inter alia, a heating device (not illustrated) consisting of a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistor, and a device (not illustrated) for measuring the temperature of the heating device composed of a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor. These heating and measurement devices are arranged in a second housing area 24 illustrated in FIG. 2, under the first housing area 22. Alternative embodiments, whether novel or known to those skilled in the art, are also conceivable for this vaporization chamber, without exceeding the scope of the invention. Preferably, eight openings 12 of a diameter of 1.2 mm are arranged in the bottom 11 of the groove 10. Additionally, the steam spraying or dispersion means are configured to spray or disperse the steam with a flow ranging between 0.5 g/min and 2 g/min, preferably between 0.9 g/min and 1.2 g/min. The person skilled in the art is able to dimension said steam spraying or dispersing means to obtain such a flow. However, a flow between 0.5 g/min and 5 g/min, for example essentially equal to 4 g/min, is possible for a hairdressing appliance that is less bulky than that described in document FR2967017A1, which is capable of producing the same flow.

(18) Other features, also known to the person skilled in the art, are likewise implemented on the hairdressing appliance 1 of the invention. The portable treatment unit 2 comprises, inter alia, an electronic card (not illustrated) that is configured to control the activation of the heating plates 17, 18 and the vaporization chamber. This electronic card is arranged inside one of the two arms 3, 4, for example in the proximal portion 3a of the first arm 3. The portable treatment unit 2 comprises a magnetic reed switch (FR: ILS) sensor 25, illustrated in FIG. 1, which enables the detection of the closed position of the clamp in which the two surfaces 5, 6 are brought together and clamp a lock of hair. In an alternative embodiment, the reed switch could be replaced with a magnetoresistive sensor (MRS).

(19) As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the groove 10 is implemented in the upstream portion 17a of the first heating plate 17 (or first surface 5 that is not necessarily a heating surface), relative to the direction of the portable treatment unit's 2 movement from the roots to the tips of the hair, as represented by the arrow 26 in FIG. 2. This makes possible to steam treat the lock of hair prior to the heat treatment (respectively, or by clamping that is not necessarily heated).

(20) The groove 10 preferably empties at its two ends on the longitudinal edges 5a, 5b of the first surface 5. However, it is possible to conceive an alternative embodiment in which the groove 10 exits solely on one of the longitudinal edges 5a, 5b. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the midpoint 27 of the groove 10 is positioned at a distance d1 from the upstream lateral edge 29 of the first heating plate 17. The ratio of this distance d1 to the width w1 of this heating plate 17 preferably ranges between 0.1 and 0.4. For example, the width of the plate is equal to 28.9 mm and the distance d1 is equal to 6.25 mm, corresponding to a ratio of 0.22.

(21) As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, a channel 9 is arranged in the upstream portion 18a of the second heating plate 18, opposite the groove 10. According to this embodiment, the channel 9 and the groove 10 have a shape and volume that are essentially identical. The channel or the channel and groove assembly make it possible to form the containment means for the dispersed steam. As with groove 10, the channel 9 empties at its two ends on the longitudinal edges 6a, 6b of the second surface 6. The channel 9 and the groove 10 are dimensioned to simultaneously constitute a containment space 28 for the steam that is circulating from the openings 12. This containment space 28 makes it possible to contain the steam around the lock of hair clamped between the two surfaces 5, 6, before letting this steam escape via the ends of the channel 9 and the groove 10 due to the renewal of the steam circulating through the openings 12. The steam's containment enhances the steam treatment of the lock of hair while utilizing a reduced flow of steam, preferably ranging between 0.9 g/min and 1.2 g/min, while ensuring a more or less rapid movement of the portable treatment unit 2 along the lock of hair. Furthermore, the implementation of the containment space 28 between the two heating plates 17, 18 advantageously enables the reheating of the steam contained in said space. To implement this containment space 28, a groove 10 width ranging between 2 and 6 mm, preferably 2.5 mm, and a groove 10 depth ranging between 0.5 and 2 mm, preferably 1 mm, are chosen. In addition, the volume of the groove 10 preferably ranges between 200 mm.sup.3 and 275 mm.sup.3, and preferably 225 mm.sup.3. The length of the groove 10 preferably ranges between 20 mm and 220 mm, and preferably 90 mm. The dimensions and the volume of the channel 9 are preferably similar, which makes it possible to obtain a volume for the containment space 28 ranging between 400 mm.sup.3 and 550 mm.sup.3, and preferably 450 mm.sup.3.

(22) As illustrated in FIG. 4, the portable treatment unit 2 comprises a vapor barrier 20 that is arranged on the first arm 3 at the proximal longitudinal edge 5a of the first surface 5. This vapor barrier 20 prevents the steam that is escaping from the containment space 28 from entering into the gripping area of the portable treatment unit 2 constituted by the proximal portions 3a, 4a of the two arms 3, 4.

(23) FIG. 5 illustrates a variation of the implementation of the steam spraying or dispersion means 7 on the first surface 5. These steam spraying or dispersion means 7 comprise two adjacent grooves 10, 10 similar in design to that illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, arranged on the upstream portion 17a of the first heating plate 17. Each groove, 10, 10 comprises openings 12, 12 arranged in the bottom 11, 11 of said groove 10, 10 through which the steam is sprayed, dispersed, or transported. According to this implementation, the channel 9 arranged on the second heating plate 18 has a width corresponding to the total width of the two grooves 10, 10. The flow of steam likewise ranges between 0.5 g/min and 2 g/min, preferably between 0.9 g/min and 1.2 g/min. The volume of the containment space is in this case constituted by the volumes of the channel 9 and the grooves 10, 10. This volume is within a range of values double to that of the volume of the containment space 28 of the embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 3. In effect this doubles the steam canal or channel of the previous embodiments such that the steam follows a dual channel and the lock of hair is treated twice by the steam. The channels may be in fluid circulation at one of the ends of the surface or surfaces. In this steam circulation configuration with parallel channels formed by a channel in the complete shape of a U, an alternative is that the steam outlet openings are only present on one of the channels (not illustrated).

(24) In FIG. 6, the steam spraying or dispersion means 7 are similar to those in FIGS. 1 to 3. In addition, a grid 13 is arranged above the groove 10, which enhances the uniform distribution of the steam that is produced and transferred in the containment space 28 comparable to that illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. Such a grid 13 can be implemented on each groove 10, 10 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5.

(25) In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the groove 10 has a curved shape.

(26) The channel 9 comprises a rounded grid 14 with a shape that is complementary to said curved groove 10. This rounded grill makes it possible to distribute the steam uniformly in the containment space 28 and shoot it over the lock of hair while the portable treatment unit 2 is being moved. The volume of the containment space 28 will be within a range of values similar to that of the embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 3.

(27) In FIG. 8, the groove 10 and the channel 9 are circular in shape and define a cylinder 15 when the clamp is closed, said cylinder 15 defining the containment space 28. In addition, a perforated roller 16 is arranged in rotation along an axis X inside the cylinder 15. This perforated roller 16 may be motorized. The volume of the cylinder 15 will be within a range of values similar to that of the volume of the containment space 28 for the embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 3.

(28) FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12 each illustrate alternative embodiments of the containment means of FIG. 2, but may be implemented in all modes described, either alone or in combination. The common point of these modes is one or two particular referenced part(s) 30, 30a that are inserted individually or each into one or two converted spaces (still called gutters) in the heating plate(s). Such a part introduced into the plate defines at least partially the outline of the containment means. This part or parts makes it possible to introduce additional functionalities to the contained steam treatment.

(29) Thus, FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the space with one or two respective parts made of glass inserted into a converted space that is larger than the space of the final channel of the heating plates. The channel or channels are formed in the one or two glass parts. The part or parts of glass can be illuminated by one or several light-emitting diodes (LED) to form lighted bars on each side of the containment channel.

(30) FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the steam is transported by two input channels 31, 31a for the steam originating from the vaporization chamber. To do this, the particular part is inserted into the largest converted space on the treatment surface of the plates. This part makes it possible to divert the steam arriving through the channel that originates in the vaporization chamber.

(31) FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the particular part or parts are made of aluminum and, for example, painted, and, for example, slid into the converted space. Fastening can be done by dovetailing. Modifying the size of the channel or channels by replacing the particular part or parts is conceivable.

(32) Finally, FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the particular part or parts are made of silicone 30, 30a. Advantageously and as illustrated, the silicone part 30, 30a, once it is in place, may protrude from the surface of the heating plate 17, thus creating an area of tension 32 or an area of traction 32 of the hair on the side of the channel, enabling a better and gentler straightening of the lock of hair.

(33) In FIG. 1, a comb 19 is arranged upstream from the first surface 5 on the first arm 3. This comb 19 enables the untangling and aeration of the lock of hair prior to its passage between the two surfaces 5, 6.

(34) Other variations of implementation are conceivable within the scope of the invention.

(35) A containment space that is constituted solely by the volume of a channel 9 on the second surface 6, or solely by the volume of a groove 10 comprising steam dispersion or spraying openings 12 on the first surface 5, inter alia, is conceivable. In this case, said volume of the channel 9 or the groove 10, should be dimensioned so as to constitute said steam containment space.

(36) The arrangement of the containment means and steam dispersion or spraying means 7 on the surfaces 5, 6, separately from the heating plates 17, 18, is likewise conceivable, with said containment means and said steam dispersion and spraying means 7 being positioned upstream from said heating plates 17, 18.

(37) According to the aforementioned different alternative embodiments, the steam dispersion or spraying openings 12 can also be replaced by a steam dispersion or spraying vent arranged in the bottom 11, 11 of the groove 10, 10, while maintaining a flow of steam ranging between 0.5 g/min and 2 g/min, preferably between 0.9 g/min and 1.2 g/min.

(38) According to the aforementioned different alternative embodiments, an embedded ionizer intended to supply ions in the steam containment means to eliminate static electricity can be added.