HAIR TREATMENT DEVICE

Abstract

Device (1) for steam treating the hair, in particular a hair brush, having-a treatment plate (2) intended to come into contact with the hair during the treatment,a vaporization chamber (5) supplied with liquid water, where the liquid water is transformed into steam,at least one dispensing chamber (6, 6a, 6b) for dispensing steam onto the hair, which is different to the vaporization chamber and is in fluid communication with the vaporization chamber, and a heating system (3) arranged between the treatment plate and the vaporization chamber and configured to heat the vaporization chamber to a temperature above or equal to the water vaporization temperature and to heat at least a portion of the treatment plate.

Claims

1. Device (1) for steam treating the hair, in particular a hair brush, having a treatment plate (2) intended to come into contact with the hair during the treatment, a vaporization chamber (5) supplied with liquid water, where the liquid water is transformed into steam, at least one dispensing chamber (6, 6a, 6b) for dispensing steam onto the hair, which is different to the vaporization chamber and is in fluid communication with the vaporization chamber, and a heating system (3) arranged between the treatment plate and the vaporization chamber and configured to heat the vaporization chamber to a temperature above or equal to the water vaporization temperature and to heat at least a portion of the treatment plate.

2. Device according to the preceding claim, the vaporization chamber (5) being without an element for absorbing the liquid to be vaporized.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a gripping handle and a head comprising a plurality of teeth (20) for combing the hair.

4. Device according to the preceding claim, at least one tooth (20) out of the plurality of teeth being heated by the heating system (3), in particular to a temperature above or equal to 180 C.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the heating system (3) having a main face (31) facing the vaporization chamber (5), preferably in contact with a wall (90) delimiting the vaporization chamber (5), and an opposite main face (32) facing the treatment plate (2), preferably in contact with a surface of the treatment plate (92), in particular a lower surface of its base.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the dispensing chamber or chambers (6, 6a, 6b) and the vaporization chamber (5) being formed by a profile section.

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the vaporization chamber (5) including at least one wall (93) which is concave towards the treatment plate (2), in particular a wall with a cross section in the shape of a portion of a circle.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the or at least one dispensing chamber (6, 6a, 6b) extending at least partially laterally relative to the superposition of the vaporization chamber (5) and the heating system (3).

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the device including an inlet for liquid water into the vaporization chamber (5).

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the or at least one dispensing chamber (6, 6a, 6b) having at least one opening for steam to pass through (61), which may be a steam outlet, extending laterally relative to the treatment plate (2) or extending through the treatment plate (2).

11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the device including at least one duct, preferably at least two ducts (85), for supplying steam to the steam outlet or outlets, and/or preferably at least one duct, more preferably at least two ducts (85), between the dispensing chamber or chambers (6, 6a, 6b) and the vaporization chamber (5) for supplying steam to the dispensing chamber or chambers (6, 6a, 6b).

12. Device according to the preceding claim, the or each duct extending at a longitudinal end of the vaporization and dispensing chambers.

13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a hollow body (4) with at least two longitudinal cavities separated by a wall (50), forming the vaporization chamber (5) and the dispensing chamber (6, 6a, 6b), respectively, and having a housing (30) for the heating system (3), preferably of substantially polygonal, in particular rectangular cross section, delimited by at least one outer surface of the body, in particular a wall of the vaporization chamber (90) and optionally a wall of one or more dispensing chambers (91), and a surface of the treatment plate (92).

14. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the device including, at at least one of its longitudinal ends, preferably at both of its longitudinal ends, an end cover (8) for closing off at least the vaporization and dispensing chambers at the end.

15. Device according to the preceding claim, the or each end cover (8) having at least one groove (70) at least partially forming a duct for fluid communication between the vaporization chamber (5) and the dispensing chamber or chambers (6, 6a, 6b).

16. Device according to claim 14 or 15, the device including a seal (7) between the or each end cover (8) and the body of the device (4), the seal comprising at least one opening (80), the seal (7) preferably comprising the following openings: an opening (82) facing the dispensing chamber (6), on the one hand, in particular the bottom part of the dispensing chamber, and the groove (70) made in the end cover (8), on the other hand, and an opening (81) facing the vaporization chamber (5), on the one hand, in particular facing the top part of the vaporization chamber, and the groove (70) made in the end cover (8), on the other hand.

17. Method for treating the hair using a device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising placing the hair in contact with the treatment plate (2) and applying steam to the hair via one or more steam outlets (22, 61), the total flow rate of steam leaving the steam outlet or outlets (22, 61) preferably being between 0.5 and 2 g/min, more preferably between 0.7 and 2 g/min.

18. Method according to claim 18, comprising at least one step of applying a cosmetic product to the lock of hair before and/or after using the device (1) of the invention, and preferably before, in which the cosmetic product may be in particular a composition for cleaning, dyeing, bleaching, conditioning or shaping the hair.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0161] The invention may be better understood on reading the following description of non-limiting implementation examples thereof, and on examining the attached drawings, in which:

[0162] FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of a device according to a variant embodiment,

[0163] FIG. 2 is a view in cross section of the device in FIG. 1,

[0164] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the device in FIG. 1,

[0165] FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of the body of a device according to one variant of the invention,

[0166] FIG. 5 is an end-on view of the body of the device in FIG. 4,

[0167] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the body of the device in FIG. 4,

[0168] FIG. 7 is a view in cross section of the body of the device in FIG. 4,

[0169] FIG. 8 shows the end cover from FIG. 7 on its own,

[0170] FIG. 9 shows the end seal from FIG. 7 on its own, and

[0171] FIG. 10 is a diagram in cross section of a variant embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0172] FIGS. 1 to 3 show an example of an embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention. The device extends along a main axis X. The device 1 comprises a treatment plate 2 including a base 10 and teeth 20 with their proximal ends attached to the base 10.

[0173] The device 1 may further comprise, as shown, hollow teeth 21 extending at the periphery of the treatment plate and comprising steam outlets 22.

[0174] The device 1 comprises a hollow body 4, formed of a metal profile section, which has three longitudinal cavities separated by walls, forming a vaporization chamber 5 and two dispensing chambers 6a and 6b, respectively, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0175] The device 1 has a housing 30 intended to receive a heating system 3. The housing 30 extends along the partitioned hollow body 4, having for example a rectangular cross section, and the bottom of this housing is delimited by a partition 90 of the vaporization chamber 5. The housing is delimited laterally by partitions 91 of the dispensing chambers 6a and 6b, and a surface of the treatment plate 2.

[0176] The vaporization chamber 5 has, for example, a rectangular shape in cross section. The dispensing chambers 6a and 6b have, for example, an L shape in cross section, being symmetrical to one another about a median plane of symmetry containing the axis X.

[0177] The heating system 3 has a flattened shape, with a main face 31 facing the vaporization chamber and an opposite main face 32 facing the treatment plate 2.

[0178] The heating system 3 is arranged in the housing 30 between the treatment plate 2 and the vaporization chamber 5. The heating system 3 thus simultaneously heats the vaporization chamber 5, the base of the treatment plate 2 and the teeth.

[0179] Each chamber 6a or 6b has a wider base 60 which is separated from the vaporization chamber 5 by the wall 50.

[0180] Each dispensing chamber 6a and 6b comprises a dispensing opening 61 through which the steam exits. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the dispensing openings 61 are formed by slots and may extend over more than 80% of the length of the treatment plate 2. Each of the openings 61 lies below a row of hollow teeth 21 comprising steam outlets 22. The steam contained in the dispensing chambers 6a and 6b passes through the dispensing openings 61 then through the steam outlets 22, before being applied to the hair during the treatment.

[0181] The upper wall of each dispensing chamber 6a, 6b, which includes the opening 61 though which steam passes, is set back from the treatment plate.

[0182] The device 1 further includes a liquid water supply duct 9 which extends longitudinally under the head of the device in the example shown. The supply duct may be made of elastomer plastic or copper metal.

[0183] This supply duct 9 is for example connected to the vaporization chamber 5, for example by a bend linking the supply duct 9 to a longitudinal end of the vaporization chamber 5. As a variant, the supply duct 9 may include openings 90 emerging on the lower face 51 of the vaporization chamber 5. This chamber may thus be supplied with water via its lower face 51.

[0184] A seal may be arranged between the supply duct and the vaporization chamber to prevent liquid water from leaking.

[0185] The device 1 includes, at each of its longitudinal ends, an end cover 8 which closes off the vaporization chamber 5 and dispensing chambers 6a and 6b at this end. The end covers 8 may be secured to the device by any means, for example by one or more screws 83, by adhesive bonding, welding, snap-fastening, crimping or the like. A seal 7, in particular an elastomer seal, may be inserted between the body 4 and each cover 8, as shown.

[0186] A groove 70, which is substantially straight, may be formed in each end cover 7. Each seal 7 may comprise an opening 80 of substantially similar shape to the groove 70 such that when the end cover 8 and the seal 7 are fitted in the body 4 of the device, the opening 80 faces the groove 70.

[0187] The opening 80 and the groove 70 make it possible to form a duct 85 placing the exterior of the body 4 in communication with the vaporization chamber 5 and the dispensing chambers 6a and 6b. The steam generated in the vaporization chamber may thus flow to the dispensing chambers 6a and 6b.

[0188] The end covers 8 and the seals 7 may include holes 84 for receiving screws 83 in order to secure them to the body of the device 4.

[0189] One variant embodiment is shown in FIGS. 4 to 7.

[0190] In this variant, the body of the device 4 has a different cross section, while still being formed of a metal profile section.

[0191] It has three longitudinal cavities, two of which are separated by a wall 50 and form the vaporization chamber 5 and the dispensing chamber 6, respectively. The third cavity forms a housing 30 intended to receive the heating system.

[0192] The housing 30 has a rectangular cross section, for example. In the example in question, the housing 30 is delimited by a partition 90 of the vaporization chamber 5, a partition 91 of the dispensing chamber 6 and a surface 92 of the treatment plate 2.

[0193] The vaporization chamber 5 includes a partition 93, opposite the partition 91 and for example concave towards the treatment plate 2, as shown.

[0194] The vaporization chamber 5 is supplied with liquid water via a water intake, for example a tube 92, which passes through the end cover and the seal and emerges in the vaporization chamber. The tube 92 may be made of copper or elastomer plastic. This tube 92 makes it possible to deliver water in several directions, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0195] In this example, the treatment plate 2 is formed of an upper surface 25 of the hollow body 4. In a variant not shown, a treatment plate 2 is attached against the upper face 25 of the hollow body.

[0196] The heating system 3 is arranged between the vaporization chamber 5 and the treatment plate 2 and heats them simultaneously.

[0197] As shown in FIG. 4, the device may include an electrical power supply cable 100. This cable may for example supply power to the heating system. As a variant, the device may have electrical power supply batteries to make the device easier to handle.

[0198] The dispensing chamber 6 is generally L-shaped and includes a wider base 60. This base is separated from the vaporization chamber 5 by the wall 50. The wider base 60 of the dispensing chamber 6 is superposed at least partially on the vaporization chamber. The dispensing chamber 6 includes a steam dispensing opening 61 at the top, for example in the form of a longitudinal slot as in the previous example. The upper wall of each dispensing chamber, which includes the opening 61 though which steam passes, is set back from the treatment plate.

[0199] As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the device comprises, at each of its longitudinal ends, an end cover 8 which closes off the vaporization chamber 5 and dispensing chamber 6 with the insertion of a seal 7.

[0200] In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 9, the seals 7 include a first opening 81 and a second opening 82, both of oblong shape. The first opening 81 emerges in the top part of the vaporization chamber 5 and the second opening 82 emerges in the wider base 60 of the dispensing chamber 6.

[0201] A groove 70 is formed in the thickness of the end cover 8. This groove 70 is generally S-shaped and makes it possible to connect the two openings 81 and 82 in the seal 7. A duct comprising an S-bend between the vaporization chamber 5 and the dispensing chamber 6 is thus formed. The particular shape of the duct prevents liquid water contained in the vaporization chamber 5 from entering the dispensing chamber 6 and dripping onto the hair during the treatment.

[0202] FIG. 10 shows another variant embodiment of the invention. In this variant, two heating members 3a and 3b are arranged between the treatment plate 2 and the vaporization chamber 5. The device according to this variant comprises a single dispensing chamber 6 and the two heating members 3a and 3b are arranged laterally on either side of the dispensing chamber 6.

[0203] The dispensing chamber 6 includes a dispensing opening 61 which extends through the treatment plate 2 in an area with no teeth 20.

[0204] The dispensing chamber 6 is generally T-shaped in cross section. The dispensing chamber 6 is separated from the vaporization chamber 5 by a wall 50.

[0205] The dispensing chamber 6 and the vaporization chamber 5 communicate via a duct formed partially by a groove made in an end cover as described above with reference to the other embodiments.

[0206] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

[0207] For example, the device comprises a cosmetic product applicator for applying product to the hair.

[0208] The various embodiments and variants may be combined in so far as they are compatible.