MAGNETIC BRUSH WITH DISPENSING OF COMPOSITION FOR CLEANSING THE HAIR

Abstract

Magnetic brush with dispensing of composition for cleansing the hair The invention relates to a device (100) for cleansing and/or applying a cosmetic composition for the hair, comprising a body structure (140) provided with one or more application elements (12), a system (112) for dispensing the cosmetic composition contained in a housing (103) connected to a dispensing opening (130), and the device has a magnetic system (21) for spraying the cosmetic composition from the dispensing opening (130) toward the hair, the magnetic system (21) being powered by a circuit (22) for supplying electric current.

Claims

1: A device for cleansing and/or applying a cosmetic composition for the hair, comprising a body structure provided with one or more application elements, a system for dispensing the cosmetic composition contained in a housing connected to a dispensing opening that opens onto the body structure and a handle extending the body structure; the device having a magnetic system for spraying the cosmetic composition from the dispensing opening toward the hair, the magnetic system being powered by a circuit for supplying electric current, wherein the body structure is covered at least partially by a removable support.

2: The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device has a system for collecting residues, the residues being waste particles.

3: The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetic system has one or more solenoids integrated in the body structure.

4: The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit for supplying electric current has a switch.

5: The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit for supplying electric current has a circuit for reversing the polarity of the current.

6: The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit for supplying electric current has a timer circuit.

7: The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit for supplying electric current has a current stabilizer.

8: The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a position or movement sensor.

9: The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a gyroscope.

10: The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a connection to an operation computer system.

11: The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the removable support is a wipe.

12: A kit for cleansing and/or applying a cosmetic composition for the hair, comprising a device as claimed in claim 1 and a cosmetic composition having magnetic bodies having a nonzero magnetic susceptibility and able to move under the effect of a magnetic field generated by the device.

13: The cleansing kit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the cosmetic composition is contained in a reservoir held in a removable manner in the housing.

14: A cosmetic method for cleansing and/or for applying a cosmetic composition for the hair, comprising: (i) providing a device according to claim 1, (ii) positioning a cosmetic composition having magnetic bodies having a nonzero magnetic susceptibility and able to move under the effect of a magnetic field generated by the device in the housing, (iii) at least partially exposing the composition to a magnetic field generated by the device, so as to modify the orientation and/or move at least some of the magnetic bodies toward the hair.

15: The cosmetic method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: (iv) disposing a removable support on the body structure, and (v) actuating the circuit for reversing the polarity of the current so as to recover, on the removable support, undesirable magnetic bodies, in order to remove them from the hair.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0070] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the following detailed description of nonlimiting implementation examples thereof and from examining the appended schematic and partial drawing, in which:

[0071] FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention;

[0072] FIG. 2 is a top view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention;

[0073] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a device according to the invention in the mode for spraying the composition toward the hair;

[0074] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a device in FIG. 3 in the mode for attracting the spent composition toward a wipe.

[0075] FIG. 1 shows a consumable brush system according to a first embodiment of a device 100 for applying and eliminating shampoo. The device 100 is an electrically powered device including a nebulization component for misting, spraying or atomizing a shampoo formulation through a first, dispensing opening 130 connected to a nebulizer (which are not shown). In one embodiment, the shampoo formulation is a liquid shampoo formulation.

[0076] The device 100 is formed by a body structure 140 comprising the first, central dispensing opening 130 for dispensing the composition in the form of droplets or particles.

[0077] The body structure 140 may be fixed or able to move relative to the handle 104 of the device 100 or the device may have a member for ejecting the body structure 140 in order to replace it after use.

[0078] The body structure 140 may have a central housing containing the nebulizer 112 (not shown).

[0079] The central dispensing opening 130 can be replaced by a plurality of dispensing openings that open onto the body structure 140. A dispensing opening may have a circular, oval, oblong shape, and preferably, all the possible dispensing openings are the same shape. Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the one or more dispensing openings is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the device. Thus, dispensing is effected more uniformly.

[0080] Preferably, the dispensing opening 130 has a piezoelectric system for a liquid composition or an aerosol valve for a composition of solid particles or capillarities with an arrangement of bristles.

[0081] A cartridge 102 containing a reusable cosmetic composition can be disposed on the body structure 140. It can be directly connected to the dispensing opening so as to avoid cleansing of the circuit for dispensing the composition.

[0082] The device 100 may include a housing that takes the removable cartridge 102 that contains shampoo and is connected to the nebulizer 112. The cartridge may be configured as a refillable cartridge or a disposable cartridge. In one embodiment, the device 100 may be configured to hold more than one cartridge.

[0083] The body structure 140 of longitudinal axis X may have a non-circular, for example polygonal, in particular hexagonal, triangular, square, octagonal, or rectangular, cross section perpendicular to the axis X.

[0084] The body structure 140 can also be made with a flattened shape.

[0085] The body structure 140 may be made with a constant material thickness, in particular in its portion intended to come into contact with the hair. The material thickness may also be non-constant.

[0086] The device 100 has a handle 104 and the body structure 140, which is elongate along the longitudinal axis X, has a free peripheral edge 20 delimited by a perimeter line 74. This device is designed to comb the hair. It is more suitable than a cylindrical sleeve designed to form curls, generally without disentangling.

[0087] Preferably, the application elements 12 are molded in one piece with the body structure 140 and are preferably made of an elastomer material so as to make the device flexible.

[0088] The application elements 12 may have a shape that is cylindrical or pyramidal, in particular with a triangular base, for example with an edge oriented toward the outside of the body structure 140.

[0089] Preferably, the application elements 12 are uniformly distributed on the body structure 140.

[0090] The base of the application elements 12 may also be oval or polygonal.

[0091] The device 100 has a shape identical to that of familiar appliances for the hair that are widely recognized to inspire confidence in the device, resulting in a use and hand movements that are intuitive during use.

[0092] A self-adhesive wipe 23, which is optionally repositionable, is fastened to the surface of the body structure 140. This wipe helps to remove in particular the excess product dispensed during brushing.

[0093] The device 100 shown in FIG. 2 is provided with a multidirectional head. It is provided with a nebulizer having a pump or compressor 112; such a nebulizer 112 causes air or the shampoo formulation or else a dry shampoo to flow at high speed, propelling the shampoo through the nozzle 27 delimiting the opening 130.

[0094] The device 100 can comprise its own PCB 180 that comprises communication and control circuits such as a wireless RF communication interface for communicating wirelessly with an external device. The PCB can also contain a movement detector, such as an accelerator/gyrometer indicating the angular position of the device along one, two or three axes.

[0095] As a variant, or in addition, a gyroscope can be used, which is a sensor that detects the angular velocity about the three spatial axes, and which is able to detect the rotation of an object.

[0096] In the example shown, the body structure 140 is connected to four accelerator/gyrometer sensors 141, 142, 143, 144, which are for example in the form of load cells, disposed around the perimeter thereof.

[0097] In FIG. 2, the direction of movement of the device is shown by the arrow 1 positioned on the right of the body structure. The device 100 is moved so as to cleanse the hair to be cleansed 70 while the hair 71 has already been cleansed by the device 100. It sprays a shampoo composition containing magnetic particles 72 onto the hair.

[0098] The sensors 141, 142, 143, 144 operate while the user brushes their hair. The device 100 adapts automatically to the hand movement of the user and dispenses only the useful direction of the movement of the hand.

[0099] The device 100 is provided with application elements 12 that extend from the longitudinal face 11 of the body structure 140 along a longitudinal axis (not shown). The application elements 12 have a first, free end 55 and a second end 56 connected to the longitudinal face 11 of the body structure 140.

[0100] The device 100 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a magnetic brush for cleansing the hair.

[0101] In FIG. 3, the device 100 sprays dry shampoo particles 72 stored in the cartridge 102 toward the hair to be cleansed 70. The device has a gyroscope 206 and a movement detector 208.

[0102] A wipe 23 adheres to the body structure 140, for example by means of an adhesive or Velcro?, so as to remove the excess dry shampoo dispensed.

[0103] One or more solenoids 75 (or coils) are accommodated in the body structure 140. The one or more solenoids, through which an alternating current generated by the circuit 22 for supplying electric current flows, produce a magnetic field in their vicinity, and of course inside their coils. The strength of the magnetic field depends on the intensity of the current and the characteristics of the coils. It applies a force that is either attractive or repulsive to a composition containing magnetic bodies, proportionally to the change in inductance of the coil. Depending on the direction of the current chosen, the force will have a positive (repulsive) value or a negative (attractive) value. The direction 2 of a magnetic field spraying particles 72 toward the hair is shown by arrows in FIG. 3 that are directed toward the hair to be cleansed 70.

[0104] As can be seen in the figure, the solenoids 75 are powered by a supply circuit 22 that has, for example, a battery and is optionally stabilized by a diode system (not shown). The supply circuit can be integrated in a circuit board that manages in particular the supply current of the solenoids, via an on/off switch controlling the charging of the battery. The electronic circuit can have a microcontroller 27 or the like so that the device 100 or the cartridge 102 can be operated.

[0105] The device 100 can be operated using a computer system such as a portable terminal, for example a smartphone, a tablet, for example of the iPad make, or a personal computer.

[0106] The operating information is transmitted preferably wirelessly by the terminal, for example via a Bluetooth link.

[0107] The application elements 12 may in particular be bristles, tufts of bristles, spikes, teeth, protrusions. They may have a cross section that is constant perpendicular to their longitudinal axis or for example have a conical shape decreasing in size gradually from the second end 56 toward the first end 55 or vice versa. The end 56 may be rounded for a massaging effect and the end 55 may have a chamfer. For example, the end 56 can form a ball 17.

[0108] The rounded ends 17 of the application elements 12 may separate the hair for easier access to the scalp and the roots of the hair. The rounded ends may include massaging bosses and a chamfered angle for cleansing.

[0109] In FIG. 4, the device 100 attracts waste particles 73 on the hair to be cleansed 70, for example magnetic particles that have absorbed sebum, so as to extract them from the hair and recover them on the wipe. Once the particles 73 have been removed from the hair to be cleansed 70, the hair becomes clean hair 71. Compared with FIG. 3, the direction of the current passing through the solenoids has been reversed, for example by means of a bidirectional switching system coupled to a timer. The supply circuit 22 can in particular be a direct current electrical supply circuit with polarity reversal control.

[0110] The waste particles 73 move in the direction shown by the arrow 3 from the hair toward the wipe 23. Gradually, they are deposited on the wipe 23, which could optionally be thrown away or washed for subsequent use.

Dispensing System

[0111] The dispensing system 112 may include a nebulizer.

[0112] The nebulizer 112 produces mist on demand, for example upon pressing a mist switch positioned for example on the handle 104 to allow it to be operated with the index finger. In one embodiment, the mist switch is a momentary action switch, the default position of which is the off position. When the mist switch is pressed, the nebulizer 112 is started and mist is produced. The nebulizer 112 is supplied with shampoo formulation by the cartridge 102. Releasing the mist switch may stop the nebulizer and the dispensing of shampoo formulation through the dispensing opening 130.

[0113] In one embodiment, the mist switch is a multifunctional, multi-position selector, which requires the positive selection of the off position to stop the nebulizer. In one embodiment, the mist switch is a multiple-position selector that has settings for stopping and more than one setting for producing mist, such as light mist or thick mist. In one embodiment, a mist selector may include settings for dispensing mist and without mist.

[0114] In one embodiment, the nebulizer 112 includes a compressor, a pump, or an ultrasonic wave generator for generating the mist from the shampoo formulation. In the case of a nebulizer having a pump or compressor 112, such a nebulizer 112 causes air or the shampoo formulation to flow at high speed, propelling the shampoo formulation through a fine nozzle designed to form mist at the opening 130.

[0115] In one embodiment, the dispensing system includes a pump mechanism to propel the shampoo formulation through the atomization nozzle at the opening 130. In the case of a nebulizer having a pump or compressor, a single nebulizer 112 may be positioned in the body structure of the device 100. Next, the output of the nebulizer 112 having a pump or compressor is guided through a system of ducts toward the first opening 130.

[0116] An ultrasonic wave nebulizer 112 has an ultrasonic wave generator in contact with the shampoo formulation, wherein the frequency of the ultrasonic waves is sufficient for producing the mist. An ultrasonic wave nebulizer also includes a mesh nebulizer that has a vibrating mesh that just touches the surface of the shampoo formulation to create mist. Any form of ultrasonic wave nebulizer may use a piezoelectric element. In the case of an ultrasonic wave nebulizer or mesh nebulizer, the nebulizer 112 including a piezoelectric element or a combination of a piezoelectric element and a mesh, the device 100 essentially has three nebulizers.

Cosmetic Composition

[0117] The cosmetic composition is a haircare composition, such as a shampoo composition.

[0118] The cosmetic composition used with the device according to the invention has magnetic bodies.

[0119] The magnetic bodies are, for example, magnetic pigments, for example having iron oxide Fe.sub.3O.sub.4.

[0120] The composition may have a ferrofluid, i.e. a stable colloidal suspension of magnetic particles, especially of magnetic nanoparticles.

[0121] The term ferrofluid also covers an emulsion of droplets of ferrofluid in a solvent. Each drop then contains colloidal magnetic particles in stable suspension.

[0122] The cosmetic composition may be contained in a cartridge connected to the nebulizer 112. According to the invention, the cosmetic composition for the hair does not need to be mixed with external water compared with a shampoo used in the shower.

[0123] The device 100 allows mechanical actions, combined with a chemical action, such as that of surfactants and molecules capable of capturing and removing oil from the hair, in order to cleanse the hair.

[0124] The use of the device 100 has a minimal impact on the hairstyle. Moreover, the device 100 does not require any manual contact with the haircare formulations. The device 100 allows people to cleanse their hair only as required, in order to maintain their hairstyle long term and to limit damage caused to the hair, in contrast to washing their hair each time they take a shower.

[0125] While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.