HAIR TREATMENT PROCESS

Abstract

A process for treating a lock of hair, involving moving a device along the lock to perform the following steps when the device is passed over the lock: a heat treatment by gripping between two jaws of the device that are hinged together and passing through an internal heat treatment zone extending between the two jaws, a heat-treatment by passage over an external heat treatment zone extending on the outer surface of one of the two jaws of the device, guiding by passing through a guiding zone extending outside the jaw of the device bearing the external heat treatment zone, the guiding zone having guiding surfaces at the proximal and/or distal part of the jaw, forming laterally to the guiding zone an obstacle to the hair that is sufficient to contain the hair in said guiding zone.

Claims

1. A process for treating at least one lock of hair, involving the movement of a device along the lock of hair from the root to the tip of the hair in order to perform, during a passage of the device over the lock of hair, the following steps: a heat treatment of a portion of the lock of hair by gripping between two jaws of the device that are hinged together and passing through an internal heat treatment zone extending between the two jaws, a heat treatment of the portion of the lock of hair by passage over an external heat treatment zone extending on the outer surface of one of the two jaws of the device, an additional treatment of the portion of the lock of hair by passage through an additional treatment zone by the treatment device as it moves over the lock of hair, the additional treatment being performed by an additional treatment member extending from one of the jaws to the other of the jaws during the movement of the device along the lock of hair, guiding the portion of the lock of hair by passing it through a guiding zone extending outside the jaw of the device bearing the external heat treatment zone, the guiding zone having guiding surfaces at the proximal and/or distal part of the jaw, forming laterally to the guiding zone an obstacle to the hair that is sufficient to contain the hair in said guiding zone, in which the guiding zone is formed at least partially by a lateral recess of one of the jaws, a part of the additional treatment member extending from the other jaw into the lateral recess.

2. The process according to claim 1, in which the heat treatment by the internal heat treatment zone takes place at a temperature above 50 C.

3. The possess according to claim 1, in which the heat treatment by passing over an external heat treatment zone is at a temperature above 50 C.

4. The process according to claim 1, in which the guiding surface form an obstacle to the portion of the lock of hair of at least 2 mm.

5. The process according to claim 1, in which the or each guiding surface has a variable height.

6. The process according to claim 1, in which the heat treatment in the internal heat treatment zone is performed before the heat treatment in the external heat treatment zone on the portion of the lock of hair when the device is moved over the lock of hair.

7. The process according to claim 1, in which the internal heat treatment surface is a hair contact surface of an internal heat treatment member, the process including passing the portion of the lock of hair, placed under mechanical tension between a lateral edge of the internal treatment member and an outer surface of the jaw bearing the internal treatment member adjacent to the lateral edge against the lateral edge, the portion of the lock of hair under tension presenting an angle of less than or equal to 120, and strictly greater than 90, with a median plane Z of the device, extending between the jaws in the moved-together configuration of the jaws.

8. The process according to claim 1, in which the internal heat treatment zone is laterally offset upstream or downstream, the hair being moved from upstream to downstream during the heat treatment.

9. The process according to claim 1, in which the heat treatment by passing over the external heat treatment zone takes place by contact of the portion of the lock of hair with an external heating surface extending over at least part of the outer surface of one of the jaws.

10. The process according to claim 1, including heat treatment by passing through an additional external heat treatment zone extending over the outer surface of the other of the two jaws of the device.

11. The process according to claim 1, including gripping of the device by an outer surface of a distal portion of the jaws not having an external heating surface during the movement of the device along the lock of hair.

12. The process according to claim 1, including an additional treatment of the portion of the lock of hair by passage through an additional treatment zone by the treatment device as it moves over the lock of hair, the additional treatment notably being upstream of the abovementioned heat treatments and of the guiding of the hair.

13. The process according to claim 12, in which the additional treatment includes the application of steam and/or combing of the portion of the lock of hair.

14. The process according to claim 1 in which the steps of the process are performed in succession along the lock of hair, in the following order: heat treatment in the internal heat treatment zone, hair guiding, and heat treatment in the external heat treatment zone, or heat treatment in the internal heat treatment zone, heat treatment in the external heat treatment zone, guiding by the guiding zone.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0090] The invention may be understood more clearly on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

[0091] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example of a device according to the invention,

[0092] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the distal end of the device in FIG. 1,

[0093] FIG. 3 illustrates a view in cross section of an example of a device according to the invention,

[0094] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of FIG. 3 in the region of the treatment member,

[0095] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective and partial view of the distal end of the device in FIG. 1,

[0096] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of FIG. 3,

[0097] FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged view of an edge of one of the internal plates of the device in FIG. 3,

[0098] FIG. 8 illustrates, in isolation, the internal plates and the housings of the device in FIG. 3,

[0099] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of an example of a thermal protection cover according to the invention,

[0100] FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of another example of a thermal protection cover according to the invention,

[0101] FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of the distal end of a device having thermal protection covers according to the invention,

[0102] FIG. 12 is a view in longitudinal section of the device in FIG. 11,

[0103] FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective enlarged view of the device in FIG. 11 in the region of a shoulder,

[0104] FIG. 14 illustrates a perspective enlarged view of the device in FIG. 11 in the region of another shoulder,

[0105] FIG. 15 illustrates a side view of the fitting of a thermal protection cover on a device according to the invention.

[0106] FIG. 16 illustrates a perspective view of the distal end of a device having thermal protection end pieces according to the invention,

[0107] FIG. 17 is a longitudinal section through the distal end of the device in FIG. 16,

[0108] FIG. 18 illustrates a perspective view, in isolation, of the end pieces in FIG. 16,

[0109] FIG. 19 illustrates part of an example of a process for treating a lock of hair,

[0110] FIG. 20 illustrates the continuation of the process for treating a lock of hair of FIG. 19,

[0111] FIG. 21 illustrates the continuation of the process for treating a lock of hair of FIG. 20,

[0112] FIG. 22 illustrates the continuation of the process for treating a lock of hair of FIG. 21,

[0113] FIG. 23 illustrates part of a variant of a process for treating a lock of hair, and

[0114] FIG. 24 illustrates the continuation of the process for treating a lock of hair of FIG. 23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0115] In the rest of the description, elements that are identical or have identical functions bear the same reference signs. For the sake of conciseness of the present description, they are not described for each of the figures, only the differences between the embodiments being described.

[0116] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of a hair treatment device 2 according to the invention.

[0117] This device 2 has two jaws 3 and 4 that are movable with respect to one another between a spaced-apart configuration (not shown) for the introduction of a lock of hair between said jaws, and a moved-together treatment configuration, illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0118] The jaws 3 and 4 are borne by an upper arm 5 and a lower arm 6, respectively, which, in the example in question, are connected together at one of their ends by a hinge 8, the device 2 thus forming tongs.

[0119] The arms 5 and 6 define, between the hinge 8 and the jaws 3 and 4, respective half-handles 10 and 11 on which the user can press in order to move the jaws 3 and 4 together and thus grip the hair extending between the two jaws.

[0120] The width of the arms 5 and 6 at the half-handles 10 and 11 is less than that at the jaws 3 and 4. In a variant, the widths could be substantially identical, or the width of the arms 5 and 6 at the half-handles 10 and 11 could even be greater than that at the jaws 3 and 4.

[0121] The jaws 3 and 4 each have a convex outer surface and a substantially planar inner surface.

[0122] An elastic return member (not visible) is preferably provided to return the jaws 3 and 4 into the spaced-apart configuration, this elastic return member being for example a spring disposed around a pin of the hinge 8.

[0123] The invention is not limited to a particular manner of connecting the arms 5 and 6 together and the jaws 3 and 4 may be rendered able to move in some other way without departing from the scope of the present invention. However, the presence of a hinge is largely preferred for the ergonomics that it affords.

[0124] The device 2 extends, for example, along a longitudinal axis X. The device 2 has a line 17 designed to be able to supply the energy necessary for operation of the device. The line 17 may thus be an electric cord designed to connect the device to the electric mains. Without departing from the scope of the invention, the line could also be a fluidic line designed to supply the device with fluid (water for example).

[0125] The device may have a water reservoir for the production of steam.

[0126] A user interface (not shown in the figures) may be present on the device 2 in order to allow the user to control the operation of the device.

Heating Plates

[0127] The device 2 has an inner surface 45 for heating hair to be treated on each of the two jaws 3 and 4 facing the other of the jaws, and facing one another in the moved-together configuration of the jaws 3 and 4 so as to define, between one another, an internal heat treatment zone heated in the moved-together configuration of the two jaws 3 and 4. The two internal heating surfaces 45 are, for example, configured to grip between one another the hair extending between the two jaws 3 and 4 in the moved-together configuration of the two jaws 3 and 4.

[0128] The two internal heating surfaces 45 are substantially planar, but do not have to be. They could have complementary wavy shapes or complementary curved shapes for example.

[0129] The internal heating surfaces are, in the example illustrated, formed by the contact surface of internal plates 16 made of a heat conducting material that each extend over one of the jaws. Each internal plate 16 constitutes an internal treatment member of the device.

[0130] In a variant that is not illustrated, only one of the jaws 3 or 4 may bear an internal plate 16 having a heating contact surface facing a counter-bearing surface of the other jaw 3 or 4. The counter-bearing surface may be formed by the body of the jaw or by an element attached to the jaw.

[0131] In the example illustrated, the internal plates 16 are each mounted in the cavity 30 of a support 9, which itself is mounted in a housing 38 of the corresponding jaw 3 or 4. The internal plates 16 are each mounted fixed on the support 9. At least one of the supports 9 is mounted so as to be movable in its housing, as will be seen below. In a variant that is not illustrated, the internal plates may be mounted directly in the housing and may optionally be movable in the corresponding housing, or the internal plates may be mounted on the support while being movable in the cavity, the support being fixed in the housing.

[0132] At least one of the supports 9 is movable perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the jaw in its housing 38, between a high position spaced apart from the bottom of the housing and a low position moved close thereto.

[0133] The travel of the support 9 and the tilting thereof advantageously make it possible to position the internal heating surface 45 in the closed position of the device, such that the hair is gripped substantially uniformly and effectively during the treatment between the internal heating surfaces, thereby improving the straightening of the hair by the device.

[0134] The support 9 bears against a support means 140 that extends in the housing 38, allowing the support to carry out a tilting movement and, in the open position of the arms 5 and 6, keeping the support 9 in the high position.

[0135] The support means 140 may have one or more springs 141, in particular a spring as illustrated, extending between the bottom of the housing 38 and the support 9, or a leaf spring fixed in an indentation in the support 9 or in the bottom of the housing 13038. The support means may, in a variant or additionally, have a protruding relief between the support 9 and the bottom of the housing 38, allowing the tilting movement and limiting the travel of the support in the housing. For example, in the example illustrated, the support means has a ball joint compressed by a spring, as is described in patent application FR3011449.

[0136] The support 9 that is movable perpendicular to the longitudinal axis may have seals 33 providing sealing between the support 9 and the housing 38 while allowing the support 9 to move in the housing, as was described previously. Such a seal allows in particular the sealing of the housing with respect to the steam output by one or more steam outlets, as will be described below.

[0137] The device 2 also has two outer surfaces, formed by external plates 13, for heating the hair to be treated, which each extend over one of the two jaws 3 and 4 towards the exterior of the device 2 in the moved-together configuration of the two jaws 3 and 4, in particular over the convex outer surface of the jaw 3 or 4, and are on opposite sides to one another on the device 2 in the moved-together configuration of the jaws 3 and 4. The outer surfaces respectively define external heat treatment zones extending over the outer surface of the respective jaws.

[0138] Each external plate 13 is disposed on a face of the corresponding jaw 3 and 4 that faces away from the face receiving the internal plate 16 borne by the same jaw 3 or 4.

[0139] In the example illustrated, the external plates 13 are made of stainless steel and the internal plates 16 are made of aluminium. However, other materials that are good heat conductors, in particular other metals, could be used.

[0140] The external plates 13 may be metal sheets that are flexible or preformed so as to have a convex shape complementary to the outer surface of the jaws 3 and 4.

[0141] The external plates 13 may be in one-piece.

[0142] The external plates 13 may be free of any projecting combing teeth.

[0143] The width of the jaw 3 at the level of external plates 13 may be smaller than the width of the other jaw 4 at the same level.

[0144] The external plates 13 may extend laterally over the entire width of the jaw 3 and 4.

[0145] The side edges of the jaw 3 may extend laterally strictly between the side edges of the other jaw 4 over the entire length of the external plates 13, in particular the side edges of the other jaw 4 face a hollow zone of the jaw 3.

[0146] The external plates 13 are fixed to the jaw 3 or 4 by any suitable means. For example, the external plates 13 have longitudinal edges 90 that are curved inwardly and configured to each be fixed in a corresponding lateral groove or housing 91 of the corresponding jaw 3 or 4.

[0147] The external plates 13 and the internal plates 16 are preferably elongate along the longitudinal axis Y1 or Y2 of each of the jaws 3 and 4.

[0148] The external plates 13 and the internal plates 16 are at least partially superposed on one another along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the device 2. The internal plates 16 extend between the two side edges of the external plates 13.

[0149] The device 2 may, as illustrated, have a distal portion, at the opposite end from the hinge 8, which does not have a heating plate. This distal part may be domed and be wide enough to be able to be grasped by a hand, in particular while the device 2 is being used.

[0150] The internal plates 16 may be heated to a temperature above 50 C., better still between 90 C. and 230 C.

[0151] The external plates 13 may be heated to a temperature above 50 C., better still between 6 and 100 C.

[0152] In the example illustrated, the internal plate 13 and the external plate 16 borne by the same jaw 3 or 4 are heated by thermal conduction by a single heat source 14 extending in said jaw and visible in FIG. 3. However, this does not have to be the case, and the device 2 could in particular have several heat sources, respectively for the internal plates and the external plates.

[0153] In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, each internal plate 16 has a first lateral edge 31 and a second lateral edge 36 opposite the first edge 31, the edges 31 and 36 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis Y1 or Y2 of the corresponding jaw. The internal plates may be off-centre on the corresponding jaw such that the first edge 31 is closer to the adjacent lateral edge 100 of the corresponding jaw than the second edge 36 is to the adjacent lateral edge 101 of the corresponding jaw.

[0154] The internal plates 16 may protrude beyond the housing 30 38 laterally on both sides of the jaw and have a lateral extension defining the first lateral edge 31 that is longer in cross section of the device than the lateral extension defining the second edge 36.

[0155] As illustrated in FIG. 6 for the jaw 3, the first edge 31 may be configured such that, when the spring 141 is not compressed, an angle formed between a median plane Z of the device 2 extending between the jaws 3 and 4 in the moved-together configuration of the jaws 3 and 4 and hair under tension bearing on the first edge 31 of the internal plates 16 and on an adjacent outer surface of the jaw 3 or 4 bearing the internal plate, illustrated by the plane C, is less than or equal to 120 and strictly greater than 90, better still equal to 105+5, better still equal to 105+3, notably at rest, for example equal to 105.

[0156] As visible on FIG. 6, the device 1 comprises a groove between the first lateral edge 31 of the internal plate 16 and said adjacent outer surface of the jaw 3 or 4 bearing the internal plate 16 and that extends substantially along the longitudinal axis of the corresponding.

[0157] Said adjacent outer surface is offset from the internal plate 16 by a non-zero distance when the device 1 is viewed along its longitudinal axis.

[0158] The first lateral edge 31 extend so that it forms a protruding relief on the jaw 3 or 4.

[0159] The internal plates 16 may protrude laterally at rest from the housing 38 at the first edge 31 only by a width Ls of 1 mm.

[0160] As illustrated in FIG. 6, each internal plate 16 may be spaced apart, at rest, from a plane P lying laterally on the adjacent outer surface of the two jaws 3 and 4 by a distance Dp of less than or equal to 6 mm, better still less than or equal to 5.5 mm.

[0161] The first edge 31 of the internal plate 16 of the jaw 3 may have an edge corner 40 configured to come into contact with hair under mechanical tension during the treatment. This hair is depicted by the plane C lying on the first edge 31 of the internal plate 16 and on an adjacent outer surface of the jaw 3. The edge corner 40 may be rounded with a radius of curvature equal to 1.5 mm.

[0162] The support 9 may protrude, at rest, from the jaw 3 or 4 in the direction of the other jaw 3 or 4 by a height Hl of at least 2 mm, for example 4 mm.

[0163] This distance makes it possible to avoid contact between the surface of the plate protruding beyond the support 9 of the plate and the surface of the jaw bordering the housing 38 facing said surface of the plate during the movement of the support 9 in the housing 38 via the spring 141.

[0164] As illustrated in the enlarged view in FIG. 7, the first edge 31 having the edge corner 40 may have a second, planar part 122 that is oriented away from the jaw 4. This part 122 is parallel to the surface 45 of the internal plate 16.

[0165] The second part 122 extends, for example, from the edge corner 40 to a rib 125 of the internal plate 16, this rib 125 engaging in the seal 33 of the support 9 of the jaw 3.

[0166] Each internal plate 16 has a plurality of these ribs 125, as illustrated in FIG. 8. For example, a rib 125 is formed by a curve in the internal plate 16 at its second edge 36.

[0167] The thickness Eb of the first edge 31 bearing the edge corner 40 is less than the thickness Ep of the internal plate 16, away from the various ribs 125.

[0168] As illustrated in FIG. 8, each internal plate 16 has a cavity 130 configured to receive the heating element 14. This cavity 130 is formed by two parallel walls 131 extending orthogonally to the surface 45 and a wall 132 connecting the two walls 131.

[0169] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, each wall 131 has reliefs 135 that help to keep the internal plates 16 on the support 9.

[0170] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the first edge 31 of the internal plate 16 of the jaw 4 is not in contact with the support 9, unlike the second edge 36.

[0171] The first edges 31 and the second edges 36 are, for example, offset transversely from one another by a non-zero distance Db.

[0172] The first edge 31 of the internal plate 16 of the jaw 4 may be curved without having a protruding edge corner.

[0173] The second edges 36 of the internal plates 16 of the jaws 3 and 4 do not extend laterally with respect to the housings 30 and are curved so as not to have a protruding edge corner.

[0174] The position and the shape of the first edges 31 and in particular of the edge corner 40 allow, during curling, an improvement in the result since it increases the bending angle of the hair and produces, on passing over the edge corner 40, an effect equivalent to that obtained by a protruding edge corner passing at a particular angle over a gift ribbon.

[0175] The radius of curvature with respect to the longitudinal axis Y1 of the external plate 13 of the jaw 3 may be smaller than that of the external plate 13 of the jaw 4 with respect to the longitudinal axis Y2.

External Guiding Portion

[0176] In the examples illustrated, each jaw 3 and 4 has an external hair guiding portion delimited longitudinally, on each of its two sides, by a stop surface 18 formed by a shoulder. The external hair guiding portion is defined, for example, by the external plates 13.

[0177] The stop surface 18 may comprise a flat portion, particularly in a plane transverse to the jaw, particularly flat over a width at least equal to 50% of the width of the jaw, preferably 80% of the width of the jaw, better still 100%, at the level of said stop surface 18.

[0178] The shoulders 18 may have a variable height He, for example varying between 0.5 mm on the outer surface of the jaw extending laterally with respect to the internal plate 16 and 2 mm on the outer surface of jaw opposite the internal plate 16.

[0179] Each shoulder 18 may be formed by ribs delimiting the external hair guiding portion. The rib is preferably thicker on the opposite side from the internal plates 13 than on the sides of the internal plates 13.

[0180] Each external guiding portion is set back with respect to the base level of the jaw 3 or 4, defined as the level of the jaw 3 or 4 away from the shoulders 2018. Thus, each guiding portion has a visible width l1 and l2, illustrated in FIG. 3, that is smaller than and set back from the rest of the jaw 3 or 4.

[0181] The external plates 13 may extend along the entire length of the external guiding portion.

[0182] One of the jaws may have a lateral recess 170 at the corresponding guiding portion forming a hair guiding zone. The recess 170 is delimited laterally by the stop surfaces in the proximal and distal part of the jaw delimiting the guiding portion. These stop surfaces form, at the shoulder, guiding surfaces 20 with a greater height, making it possible to keep the hair in the recess 170. The recess 170 extends laterally with respect to the jaw and faces a part of the other jaw 3 or 4. As a result, a part of the outer surface 13 of the other jaw 3 or 4 gives onto the recess 170, making it possible to have at least a part of an additional treatment member extending from the other jaw into the recess 170, in particular a comb, as will be shown below, and affords new treatment possibilities. Preferably, the recess 170 has a uniform depth along the longitudinal axis of the device X such that the outer surface of the jaw has a substantially cylindrical shape along the recess 170, meaning that it has an identical cross section along the recess 170.

[0183] There is no lateral recess on the other side of said jaw.

[0184] On account of the presence of the recess 170, the width l1 of the jaw bearing the recess is smaller at said recess 170 than the width l2 of the other jaw facing said recess 170. The width l1 is between 30 mm and 50 mm and is, for example, equal to 38 mm. The width l2 is between 40 mm and 60 mm and is, for example, equal to 47 mm.

[0185] In a variant that is not illustrated, the hair guiding zone may not be a recess, specifically a zone of the jaw delimited laterally by one or two guiding surfaces in the proximal and/or distal part of the jaw.

Additional Treatment Member

[0186] In the examples illustrated, the device 2 has an additional hair treatment member 12 that extends from the jaw 4 towards the other jaw 3 in the moved-together configuration of the two jaws 3 and 4 and is arranged on said jaw 4 laterally with respect to the internal plate 16.

[0187] The additional treatment member is only present on the internal part of the jaw 4. The external parts of the jaws 3 and 4 are deprived of any additional member other than the external plate 13.

[0188] The member 12 extends longitudinally and parallel to the longitudinal axis Y2 along the second edge 36, opposite the first edge 31, of the internal plate 16 of the jaw 4, being separated from this internal plate 16, when the device 2 is viewed along its longitudinal axis X.

[0189] The member 12 may have a steam outlet 21 and a comb 22, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0190] The comb 22 may be disposed, removably, in a housing such as a longitudinal groove 35, visible in FIG. 2. The user can thus change or remove the comb 22 as desired. The groove 35 may have a rectangular cross section and open out at the distal end of the jaw 4.

[0191] The comb 22 may have, in the distal part of the device 2, an element 46 that makes it possible to grasp the comb 22 when it is being introduced into the groove 35 or extracted therefrom

[0192] The comb 22 may extend, for example, along the entire length of the guiding portion. In a variant, it could extend over only a part of the guiding portion.

[0193] The steam treatment may be ensured by virtue of a vaporization member formed by an element heating an evaporation chamber 19 supplied with water by a reservoir situated in one arm of the device, or, in a variant, by a remote reservoir. The device may have an electrically driven pump, preferably a peristaltic pump, which draws up the water to be sent to the device 2 from a water reservoir. The pump is for example as disclosed in the publication FR 2 967 018. The evaporation chamber may be produced in accordance with the teaching in patent application EP 2449909A1 or in a different way.

[0194] The evaporation chamber 19 may be disposed on one of the arms, namely the lower arm 6 in the example in question, and the steam outlet 21 is provided on the same arm 6.

[0195] The steam outlet 21 may be in the form of a strip, with a shape that is elongate in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis Y2.

[0196] The strip may have several orifices for spraying steam, for example between 4 and 10 orifices, preferably 7, which are preferably distributed evenly along the strip and each have an axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the median treatment plane.

[0197] The vaporization member is electrically powered and a temperature sensor is advantageously disposed in the evaporation chamber 19. The device is designed to keep the temperature of the evaporation chamber at a value of between 110 C. and 130 C.

[0198] The steam produced which exits via the outlets 21 is partially contained between the steam outlet 21, the internal heating plates 16 and the other jaw 3, in particular by virtue of the presence of a containment groove 500, visible in FIG. 3. This partial containment improves the application of the steam to the hair.

[0199] The comb 22 may be disposed facing the recess 170 of the other arm 5, illustrated in FIG. 2, such that the end of its teeth are housed in the recess 170.

[0200] The comb 22 may be arranged on the jaw 4 such that the distal end 23 of the teeth of the comb is spaced apart by a non-zero distance from hair wound around the two jaws 3 and 4.

[0201] To this end, the comb 22 is configured such that, for any cross section of the device in the moved-together configuration of the jaws, for example that in FIG. 4, the tangent T, which may for example fictitiously represent the hair, to the two jaws 3 and 4, extending on the side of the device bearing the comb 22, is at a distance from the comb 22.

[0202] The smallest distance Dd between the distal end 23 of the teeth of the comb 22 and the tangent T may be greater than or equal to 0.5 mm, better still greater than or equal to 1 mm, for example equal to 3 mm.

[0203] When the user winds hair around the jaws 3 and 4, in particular when curling, the hair under tension follows, between the two jaws 3 and 4, the tangent T. Thus, the wound hair does not pass through the comb 22, making the styling operation easier.

[0204] The distal end 23 of the teeth of the comb 22 is, for example, offset laterally, in the moved-together configuration of the jaws 3 and 4, from the opposite jaw 4, in this case from the jaw at the recess 170 by a distance Dde greater than or equal to 0.5 mm, preferably greater than 1 mm. This ensures that the teeth of the comb 22 cannot interfere with the jaw 4 at the recess 170.

[0205] The height Hde of the teeth of the comb 22 may be between 5 mm and 15 mm, preferably between 7 and 10 mm, for example around 8 mm.

[0206] The teeth of the comb 22 may have a rectangular cross section.

[0207] In the example illustrated, the combination of the external guiding portion, of the edge corner 40 and of the heat from the external plates 13 produces high quality curling of the hair.

[0208] In addition, the device 2 may also operate as a straightener, without any loss of straightening quality compared with a conventional device dedicated only to straightening the hair.

Thermal Protection Cover

[0209] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 9 to 15, the device 2 may have a thermal protection cover 70, for example two, made of polyamide and resistant to a temperature of at least 60 C.

[0210] Each cover 70 is mounted removably by being clip-fastened on one of the jaws 3 and 4 so as to entirely cover the corresponding external plate 13.

[0211] The cover 70 may be symmetric with respect to a longitudinal median plane.

[0212] Each cover 70 may have a recess 71 configured to form a preferential deformation zone 72 of the cover 70 when it is fitted on the device 2.

[0213] Each cover 70 may have a curved shape complementary to that of the corresponding external plate 13.

[0214] Each cover 70 has for example a thickness of about 1 mm at the longitudinal edges and 1.5 mm at the centre.

[0215] Each cover 70 extends along a longitudinal axis W, said recess 71 having an elongate shape transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cover, for example forming a right angle with the longitudinal axis W.

[0216] As illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11, the recess 71 is a through-recess and is symmetric with respect to a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis W of the cover 70. The recess 71 extends over at least 70% of the developed width of the cover 70.

[0217] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the recess 71 is straight. In a variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the recess 71 has several waves.

[0218] Each recess 71 may extend over the cover 70 at a distance from one of the longitudinal ends of the cover 70, in particular the distal end 73 of the cover 70, of less than or equal to 25% of the length Gc of the cover 70. The length Gc of the cover 70 corresponds to the length of the external treatment 13 of the device and, in this respect, may be between 50 mm and 150 mm, preferably between 80 and 100 mm, advantageously around 88 mm.

[0219] Each cover 70 may have a gripping protrusion 75 extending from the outer surface of the cover 70 at a distance of less than or equal to 25% of the length Gc of the cover 70 from the longitudinal end 74 opposite the longitudinal end 73.

[0220] Thus, when the cover 70 is mounted on the jaw 3 or 4, the protrusion 75 is situated close to the longitudinal end of the cover 70 extending towards the half-handles 10 and 11. This makes it possible for example to detach the cover 70 with one finger of the hand holding the half-handles 10 and 11 in a single motion, thereby making handling easier.

[0221] As illustrated in FIG. 9, the protrusion 75 may extend orthogonally to the cover 70 with a constant thickness and a domed outer surface.

[0222] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the protrusion 75 may have a domed shape along the longitudinal axis W of the cover 70.

[0223] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the protrusion 75 may be in the form of a tongue, in particular a wavy tongue, extending from the outer surface of the cover at an angle that is not a right angle.

[0224] Each cover 70 may have first protruding reliefs 77 extending at its two longitudinal ends 73 and 74 and designed to cooperate with second recessed reliefs 80 in the rest of the device 2, these being particularly illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14.

[0225] The first reliefs 77 may extend parallel to, and preferentially along, the longitudinal axis W of the cover 70.

[0226] Each first relief 77 has a thickness less than the thickness of the longitudinal end 73 or 74 of the cover 70.

[0227] The second reliefs 80 may be in the shoulders 20 18 opposite the internal plate 13. Thus, the first reliefs 77 of the cover extend into the shoulders 18.

[0228] As illustrated in FIG. 15, the cover 70 is configured to be mounted on the device 2 by the cooperation of the first relief 77 extending at the longitudinal end 73 of the cover 70, in particular the end opposite the protrusion 75, with the complementary second relief 80 and by the cover 70 being pivoted, on the rest of the device 2, about a pivot axis A transverse to the median plane of the cover 70.

[0229] The pivot axis A may be orthogonal to the longitudinal axis W of the cover 70 and situated at the first relief 77 of the cover 70 at the end 73 towards the recess 71.

[0230] During this operation of mounting the cover 70, the zone 72 deforms elastically towards the interior of the cover 70, allowing a slight displacement of the first relief 77 of the cover 70 towards the protrusion 75 along the longitudinal axis W of the cover 70. This deformation occurs when the user exerts a longitudinal pressure from the gripping protrusion 75. By virtue of this movement, the first relief 77 on the gripping protrusion 75 may, during pivoting, not come to rest against the shoulder 18.

[0231] Once pivoting has been completed, when the cover 70 is contact with the plate 13, the longitudinal pressure is released, allowing the zone 72 to return to its initial shape by elasticity. The first relief 77 on the side of the gripping protrusion 75 engages, during this releasing, in the second relief 80 of the shoulder 18 which faced it before the pressure was released.

[0232] The first reliefs 77 thus positioned in the second reliefs 80 make it possible to keep the cover 70 on the jaw 3 or 4.

[0233] To remove the cover 70, the reverse operation is carried out.

End Piece

[0234] In the example in FIGS. 16 to 18, the device 2 has two end pieces 50 made of plastic. Each end piece 50 is mounted removably by complementing shapes on a distal end of the corresponding jaw 3 or 4.

[0235] Each end piece 50 may have an edge 51 adjacent to the external plate 13 along which a stop 52 extends transversely to the longitudinal axis Y1 or Y2 of the jaw 3 or 4. The stop 52 forms a protrusion with a relatively constant height Hs, for example at least 1.5 mm, with respect to an external envelope surface 55 of the end piece 50 situated on the distal side with respect to the stop 51. The stop 52 extends across the entire width of the end piece 50.

[0236] For example, the edge 51 extends over the entire distal end 66 of the external plate 13.

[0237] Apart from this stop, the two stops 50 have for example a smooth outer surface 64 without reliefs.

[0238] Apart from at the stop 52, each end piece has for example a thickness of between 1 and 2 mm, preferably substantially equal to 1.5 mm.

[0239] Each end piece 50 may have a shell 56 with a shape substantially complementary to that of the jaw 3 or 4 which it covers, for example an ogive shape complementary to the distal end of the jaw 3 or 4.

[0240] Each external plate 13 may be positioned between the end piece 50 and the proximal end of the jaw 3 or 4. For example, the end piece 50 covers less than 5% of the external plate 13, for example covers it by 1 mm.

[0241] Each end piece 50 extends over the rib forming the shoulder 20 18 on the distal side of the external guiding portion.

[0242] Each end piece 50 extends from the distal end of the jaw 3 or 4 to the external guiding portion by covering a distal part of the external guiding portion.

[0243] Each end piece 50 has, on its inner surface, a slot 57 configured to receive the rib forming the shoulder 2018, in particular by snap-fastening.

[0244] As illustrated in FIG. 18, the slot 57 may extend under the entire length of the stop 52 and have a variable depth.

[0245] As illustrated in FIG. 16, each end piece 50 may have a first portion 60 configured to extend facing the other jaw 3 or 4, a second portion 61 configured to extend outwardly between the distal end of the jaw 3 or 4 and the external plate 13, and a connecting portion 62 of complementary shape to the distal end of the jaw 3 or 4 and configured to connect the first portion 60 and the second portion 61.

[0246] This enveloping shape of the end pieces 50 exhibits both flexibility, allowing deformation for fitting the end pieces 50 on the jaws, and sufficient stiffness to ensure a proper hold on the jaws 3 and 4.

[0247] The inner surface 63 of each end piece 50 may be complementary to the outer surface of the jaw 3 or 4 over which the end piece 50 extends, each end piece 50 being in contact over substantially its entire inner surface 63 with the outer surface of the corresponding jaw 3 or 4.

[0248] The end piece 50 mounted on the distal end of the jaw 4 bearing the comb 22 has a notch 65 intended to face the groove 35 into which the comb 22 is intended to be inserted. This notch 65 allows the free extraction of the comb 22 through the distal opening of the groove 35 when the end piece 50 is mounted on the jaw 4.

[0249] Each end piece 50 may be made in one piece from a thermoplastic polymer material that resists a temperature of at least 60 C.

[0250] Each end piece 50 may be configured to be mounted by being moved in translation along the longitudinal axis Y1 or Y2 of the jaw 3 or 4, until the rib of the shoulder 20 18 has been clip-fastened in the slot 57. In order to remove the end pieces 50, the user can unclip the end piece 50 by removing the rib of the shoulder 18 from the slot 57 and then translationally moving the end piece 50.

[0251] The width of the end piece 50 between the distal end of the jaw 3 or 4 and the stop is sufficient to allow it to be grasped by a user's hand during the use of the device. The stop 52 prevents accidental contact of the user's hand on the external heating plate 13, thus limiting the risk of burns.

Process

[0252] To curl or straighten hair using the device 2, a lock of hair may be moved on the device 2 between the internal plates 16 in the internal heat treatment zone, passing through the guiding zone and over at least one of the external plates 13 forming the external heat treatment zone, passing or not passing through the treatment member 12. It may be necessary to remove the cover(s) 70 prior to insertion of the hair into the device.

[0253] The hair treatment process for curling may include gripping a lock of hair between the two jaws and winding it around at least one of the two jaws through at least 180.

[0254] The hair treatment process for curling, illustrated in FIGS. 19 to 22, includes moving the device 2 along a lock of hair from the root to the ends thereof to perform the following successive steps on at least part of the lock of hair: [0255] a. Optionally guiding by the guiding zone delimited by the guiding surfaces at the proximal and distal part of the jaw, as seen in FIG. 22 at the hair tip, [0256] b. Optionally a treatment with the member 12, to comb the hair in the comb 22 and then to apply steam through the outlet 21 onto the hair, as seen in FIG. 19, [0257] c. A first heat treatment by gripping between the internal plates 16 of the device 2, as seen in FIG. 19, [0258] d. Optionally an application against the first lateral edge 31 with the hair tensioned by gripping and/or combing between the internal plates 16 and moving the device over the lock of hair, as seen in FIG. 20, [0259] e. A second heat treatment by applying to the hair under tension against the external plate 13 the jaw 3, as seen in FIG. 21, [0260] f. Guiding through the guiding zone delimited by the guiding surfaces at the proximal and distal part of the jaw, as seen in FIG. 22 at the hair roots, [0261] g. Optionally, notably in the case of locks of hair of great length, a second heat treatment by applying to the hair under tension against the external plate 13 the jaw 4, as seen in FIG. 22.

[0262] Preferably, the lock of hair undergoes a change in orientation about the device 2 of at least 180, preferentially of at least 270, better still of at least 360, during the treatment.

[0263] At the end of step c of heat treatment of the hair between the internal plates 16, the lock of hair undergoes, between the first edge 31 and the adjacent outer surface 32 of the jaw 3 around which the lock of hair is wound, a minimum change of orientation of 100.

[0264] At the end of step c of heating the hair on the internal plates 16, the hair is moved over the edge corner 40, making it possible to produce the abovementioned gift ribbon effect.

[0265] Another application of heat on the external plate 13 of the jaw 4 could also be carried out.

[0266] The lock of hair may also be wound several times around the two jaws, notably by manually winding the lock of hair around the device or by rotating the device on the lock of hair around its longitudinal axis, so that each portion of the lock of hair undergoes a repetition of steps e to g after step d. Thus, the lock of hair may undergo the following successive steps: second heat treatment/guiding by passing through the guiding zone/further application of heat by the plate 13 of the jaw 4.

[0267] As a variant illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 24, notably by changing the direction of insertion of the hair into the device, the hair treatment process for curling may include moving the device 2 along a lock of hair from the root to the ends to perform the following steps, preferentially performed in the following order on at least part of the lock of hair: [0268] a. A first heat treatment of the lock of hair by pressing between the internal plates 16 of the device 2, as seen in FIG. 23, [0269] b. Optionally treatment of the lock of hair with the member 12, to apply steam through the outlet 21, as seen in FIG. 23, [0270] c. Guiding the lock of hair through the guiding zone delimited by the guiding surfaces at the proximal and distal part of the jaw, the device having been preferentially rotated by 180 about its longitudinal axis, as seen in FIG. 24, and [0271] d. A second heat treatment of the lock of hair by applying tension against the external plate 13 of the jaw 3, as seen in FIG. 24.

[0272] This process is notably more suitable for a lock of hair that is too short to wind around both arms 3 and 4.

[0273] For these curling processes, it is possible to use the end pieces 50 in order to have better handling of the device 2, without the risk of burns.

[0274] The invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described.

[0275] The process may include the application of a cosmetic product by an applicator member, notably a porous element configured to come into contact with the hair between the jaws in the moved-together configuration of said jaws.