HAIR STYLING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a hair styling device, and in particular a multifunctional hair styling device having components which can carry out a number of different (and distinct) styling operations. The invention provides a hair styling device having a body portion and a handle portion, the body portion having an air inlet and an air outlet, an impeller between the air inlet and the air outlet and an electric motor to rotate the impeller, the handle portion having a pair of heating panels. The handle portion is separable from the body portion and can be used alone as a hair straighter, or the device can be used as a hair dryer with the handle portion attached to the body portion. The body portion can optionally include a hair curling chamber adapted for hair curling.

Claims

1. A hair styling device having a body portion and a handle portion, the body portion having an air inlet and an air outlet, an impeller between the air inlet and the air outlet and an electric motor to rotate the impeller, the handle portion having a pair of heating panels, each heating panel having one or more electrical heating element(s), the handle portion being separable from the body portion, the body portion having at least one heating element which is separate from the heating panels.

2. A hair styling device according to claim 1 in which the handle portion has two substantially planar heating panels.

3. A hair styling device according to claim 1 in which the heating panels are mounted to respective arms which can move towards and away from each other, in which the arms are connected together by way of a hinged joint, and in which the hinged joint is located adjacent to an end of the handle portion.

4. A hair styling device according to claim 1 in which the handle portion has respective covering parts which cover the heating panels, and in which each covering part has a number of surface deformations which act to dissipate heat.

5. A hair styling device according to claim 4 in which the surface deformations are elongate ribs in the covering part.

6. A hair styling device according to claim 1 in which the body portion has a mounting structure to which the handle portion can be attached.

7. A hair styling device according to claim 6 in which the mounting structure comprises a generally planar platform projecting from the remainder of the body portion.

8. A hair styling device according to claim 6 in which the mounting structure has at least one protective formation which covers a part of a side edge of the heating panels when the handle portion is attached to the body portion.

9. A hair styling device according to claim 6 in which the mounting structure has an opening which is sized and shaped to accommodate the heating panels.

10. A hair styling device according to claim 9 in which the body portion has a mounting structure to which the handle portion can be attached, and in which the protective formation is located adjacent to a side of the opening.

11. A hair styling device according to claim 10 in which the protective formation is continuous and extends beyond the ends of the heating panels when the handle portion is attached to the body portion.

12. A hair styling device according to claim 6 in which the mounting structure comprises a fixed part and a movable part, the fixed part being fixed relative to the remainder of the body portion and the movable part being movable relative to the fixed part.

13. A hair styling device according to claim 12 in which the mounting structure has an opening which is sized and shaped to accommodate the heating panels, and in which the opening is located in the movable part.

14. A hair styling device according to claim 12 in which the movable part of the mounting structure and the handle portion have cooperating formations to ensure that these elements move together.

15. A hair styling device according to claim 14 in which the cooperating formations comprise at least one projection and at least one recess which can accommodate the projection.

16. A hair styling device according to claim 1 in which the handle portion is secured to the body portion by a latch mechanism.

17. A hair styling device according to claim 16 in which the body portion has a mounting structure to which the handle portion can be attached, in which the mounting structure comprises a fixed part and a movable part, the fixed part being fixed relative to the remainder of the body portion and the movable part being movable relative to the fixed part, and in which the latch mechanism includes a latch member which is mounted on the fixed part of the mounting structure and which can releasably engage the movable part of the mounting structure.

18. (canceled)

19. A hair styling device according to claim 1 in which, when the handle portion is attached to the body portion, the heating panels are located outside the body portion

20. A hair styling device according to claim 1 in which the body portion has a curling chamber, the curling chamber having a rotatable element and an elongate member, at least part of the rotatable element and at least part of the elongate member being in the curling chamber, the curling chamber having a primary opening through which a section of hair can pass into the chamber, the rotatable element being located adjacent to the opening and being shaped to pull the section of hair through the opening in use, the rotatable element winding the section of hair around the elongate member in use, air in use flowing from the air inlet to the air outlet by way of the curling chamber.

21. A hair styling device according to claim 20 in which the curling chamber has a secondary opening through which the section of hair can pass out of the curling chamber, and in which the elongate member has a free end.

22. A hair styling device according to claim 21 in which a movable abutment is located adjacent to the free end and to the secondary opening, the movable abutment having a closed position in which the section of hair is retained in the curling chamber and an open position in which the section of hair can move off the free end of the elongate member and pass out of the curling chamber.

23. A hair styling device according to claim 22 in which the movable abutment spans at least 50% of the area of the secondary opening.

24. A hair styling device according to claim 20 in which the electric motor to rotate the impeller is a first electric motor and the body portion has a second electric motor to rotate the rotatable element.

25. A hair styling device according to claim 20 in which air enters the curling chamber by way of a number of openings or perforations in the elongate member.

26. A hair styling device according to claim 25 in which the outer wall of the curling chamber is also perforated, and in which the combined area of the perforations in the outer wall plus the area of the primary opening exceeds the combined area of the perforations in the elongate member.

27. A hair styling device according to claim 1 in which the handle portion has a controller and user-actuatable controls for the heating panels, and a controller and user-actuatable controls for the electric motor(s) in the body portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0062] The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0063] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a hair styling device according to the first aspect of the present invention, with the handle portion attached to the body portion;

[0064] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the handle portion and body portion of the hair styling device of FIG. 1 with the handle portion detached from the body portion;

[0065] FIG. 3 shows a partial view of the handle portion and the body portion with the handle portion in its released position;

[0066] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the handle portion alone, with the arms in their open condition;

[0067] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a body portion of a hair styling device including a curling chamber;

[0068] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the elongate member and rotatable element which are located in the curling chamber;

[0069] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view as FIG. 6 but including also the outer wall of the chamber;

[0070] FIG. 8 shows a front view of the body portion of FIG. 5 with the movable abutment in its closed position;

[0071] FIG. 9 shows a view as FIG. 8 but with the movable abutment in its open position;

[0072] FIG. 10 shows the device of FIG. 1 fitted with a nozzle attachment; and

[0073] FIG. 11 shows the device of FIG. 1 fitted with a diffuser attachment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0074] The hair styling device 10 has a body portion 12 and a handle portion 14. In common with a conventional hair dryer the body portion 12 has an air inlet 16 and an air outlet 18. An impeller and an electric motor to rotate the impeller (not seen) are mounted in the body portion 12 between the air inlet 16 and the air outlet 18.

[0075] The air can be heated as it flows from the air inlet 16 to the air outlet 18. In this embodiment the heat is provided by an electric heating element (not seen) inside the body portion. In other embodiments the heating panels 20 of the handle portion 14 (one of which is seen in FIG. 3) can provide some or all of the heat for the air.

[0076] The components and their layout inside the body portion 12 are not relevant to the present invention and may be entirely conventional. The body portion 12 is distinguished from a conventional hair dryer by the mounting structure 22 (FIG. 2) and by the handle portion 14 which is releasably mounted thereto, as explained in detail below.

[0077] The body portion 12 and the handle portion 14 can together be used similarly to a conventional hair dryer as is shown in FIG. 1. In this configuration the two arms 24 of the handle portion 14 provide the handle by which the user grips and manipulates the hair dryer. To further clarify the conventional structure of the hair dryer shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 10 shows an optional nozzle attachment 26 fitted at the air outlet 18 and which concentrates and directs the heated air flow. Also, FIG. 11 shows an optional diffuser attachment 28 fitted at the air outlet 18 to provide a more diffuse air flow.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 2, the handle portion 12 may be separated from the body portion 12. In this embodiment the body portion 14 has a mounting structure 22 to which the handle portion may be releasably attached as described below, the mounting structure providing a substantially planar platform which projects from the remainder of the body portion.

[0079] The mounting structure 22 has an opening 30 which is sized and shaped to accommodate the heating panels 20 of the handle portion 14. It can be arranged that the heating panels 20 engage each other in the closed (and attached) condition shown in FIG. 1, or the heating panels can be held slightly apart by the mounting structure 22. In either case, the heating panels 20 lie within the opening 30 and the working surfaces of the heating panels (which in this case are planar) do not engage any part of the mounting structure. The avoidance of unnecessary contact with parts of the mounting structure is expected to minimise the likelihood of damage or wear to the heating panels 20.

[0080] At each side of the opening 30 the mounting structure 22 has a protective formation 32. The protective formations 32 are made of a material which is a poor conductor of heat but which is also able to withstand the very high operating temperatures of the heating panels 20. In this embodiment the protective formations are made of plastic, specifically PEEK, but any suitable high temperature plastic or composite material could be used. It will be seen in FIG. 1 that when the handle portion 14 is attached to the body portion 12 the protective formations 32 overlie and obscure the side edges of the heating panels 20, which side edges would otherwise be exposed and accessible. The protective formations 32 thereby reduce the likelihood of a user being burned by inadvertent contact with the side edges of the heating panels if the device is used as a hair dryer (for example) with the heating panels close to their operating temperature.

[0081] The protective formations 32 are continuous and extend beyond the ends of the opening 30 (and thereby beyond the ends of the heating panels) so as to overlie and obscure all of the side edges of the heating panels.

[0082] The protective formations 32 are fixed parts of the mounting structure 22, i.e. they are rigidly connected to the remainder of the body portion 12. The opening 30 is formed in a slide plate 34 which can move (in this embodiment slide) relative to the protective formations 32 and other fixed parts of the mounting structure 22.

[0083] The slide plate 34 has two cooperating formations in the form of projections 36 which are upstanding from the remainder of the slide plate 34. As seen in FIG. 4 an arm 24 of the handle portion 14 has cooperating formations in the form of recesses 40 (only one of which can be seen) which can accommodate the respective projections 36. If desired, both of the arms 24 can have identical recesses 40 so that the handle portion 14 can fit to the mounting structure in either of two ways. It is not necessary that the slide plate 34 has corresponding projections 36 upstanding to both sides but that is not excluded.

[0084] To attach the handle portion 14 to the body portion 12, the arms 24 of the handle portion 14 are separated as shown in FIG. 4 and the respective heating panels 20 are passed to either side of the mounting structure 22 until the panels overlie the opening 30. The arms 24 are pressed together which causes the projections 36 to enter the recesses 40 and the heating panels 20 to enter the opening 30, as is shown in FIG. 3. From the released position shown in FIG. 3 the handle portion 14 is moved upwardly to the retained position shown in FIG. 1, during which movement the slide plate 34 (and consequently the projections 36 and the opening 30) move (upwardly from the position as drawn in FIG. 2) with the handle portion 14.

[0085] FIG. 2 shows the housing 42 for the electric connectors of the body portion 12. FIG. 2 also shows a cover 44 which obscures the electric connectors (not seen) of the handle portion 14. The cover 44 is movable, and specifically is hinged to the remainder of the arm 24, the cover being resiliently biased to the closed position as shown. The cover 44 spans an opening in the arm 24, the opening being sized to accommodate the housing 42.

[0086] As seen in FIG. 3, in the released position the housing 42 is spaced slightly from the arm 24 and so the cover 44 remains closed in that position. It is arranged that sliding movement of the handle portion 14 from the released position of FIG. 3 to the retained position of FIG. 1 causes the housing 42 to push open the cover 44 and enter the opening. Movement of the handle portion 14 to the retained position causes the electric connectors of the handle portion 14 to contact the electric connectors of the body portion 12.

[0087] Notwithstanding the cover 44, in this embodiment the handle portion 14 has female electric connectors and the body portion 12 has male electric connectors so as to reduce the likelihood that a user could open the cover 44 with a finger or tool and engage an electric connector.

[0088] Though not shown in the drawings, both of the arms 24 have electric connectors beneath a respective cover 44, and a housing 42 for cooperating electric connectors of the body portion 12 is located to both sides of the platform of the mounting structure 22.

[0089] Whilst it would be possible for the device to be battery powered, it will be seen from FIG. 1 that in this embodiment the electrical supply is connected by way of a mains cable 46 to the handle portion 14. The electrical supply to the body portion 12 to drive the impeller and to actuate the heating element is therefore communicated from the handle portion 14 by way of the cooperating electric connectors. In the simplest embodiments the impeller and heating element are actuated by attachment of the handle portion 14 to the body portion 12. It is preferred, however, that the electric connectors also communicate control signals to the body portion, including for example control signals to switch the impeller and heating element on and off, and perhaps also to adjust the speed of the impeller and to adjust the temperature of the heating element. Control information can also be communicated from the body portion to the handle portion, for example a temperature sensor in the body portion 12 can communicate with the controller in the handle portion 14 to switch off the heating element if a predetermined maximum temperature is reached.

[0090] The handle portion 14 is secured in the retained position of FIG. 1 by way of a latch mechanism. The structure of the latch mechanism is not shown in the drawings because the structure is not essential for the invention to be performed. Also, a skilled person would readily be able to incorporate a suitable latch mechanism in a suitable location. The latch mechanism automatically actuates to secure the handle portion 14 when the handle portion 14 is pressed into the retained position of FIG. 1. Preferably, the latch mechanism operates between the fixed part and the movable part of the mounting structure 22 so that it is not necessary for the latch mechanism to engage any part of the handle portion 14.

[0091] To release the latch mechanism it is necessary for the user to press two opposing buttons 50 together, only one of which buttons is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The requirement to press two buttons together reduces the likelihood that the handle portion 14 is inadvertently released.

[0092] As can be seen from FIG. 4, the handle portion 14 is formed very similarly to a conventional hair straightener in that the pair of arms 24 are connected by hinge 52 at one end of the arms, with the heating panels 20 at the other end of the arms. Also in conventional fashion the arms 24 are resiliently biased apart to the open condition of FIG. 3. During use as a hair straightener the arms 24 are pressed together by the user in known fashion, with the user's hand passing around both the arms 24 adjacent to the hinge 52 and with a section of hair passing between the heating panels 20.

[0093] As above indicated, in this embodiment the handle portion 14 can be attached to the mounting structure 22 in one of two ways. This avoids the user having to check the location of the projections 36 and recesses 40 and to orient the handle portion 14 accordingly each time the handle portion is attached to the body portion 12. The electric connectors on both of the arms 24, and the electric connectors in both of the housings 42, must therefore be identical, and connected to the same componentry, so that the device can operate regardless of the attached orientation of the handle portion. In an alternative embodiment only one of the arms 24 has recesses 40, and projections 36 are upstanding from only one side of the platform of the mounting structure 22, so that the user has to correctly orient the handle portion 14 relative to the mounting structure 22. In such embodiments the electric connectors for one arm 24 can differ from the electric connectors of the other arm 24 and the respective electric connectors can be connected to different componentry of the body portion 12.

[0094] When the handle portion 14 is being attached to the body portion 12 the arms 24 are pressed together by the user to hold the arms in contact with the mounting structure and to move the handle portion into the retained position of FIG. 1. In the retained position the housings 42 are located in the openings underneath the covers 44 and the arms 24 and are thereby held together against the resilient bias.

[0095] As above stated, during use the user will normally grip the handle portion 14 adjacent to the hinge 52. It is expected that the user will similarly grip the handle portion 14 during attachment to the body portion 12. Notwithstanding an operating temperature of the heating panels of 200° C. of higher, the arms 24 can comfortably be gripped adjacent to the hinge because of the poor thermal conductivity of the arms and the distance between the heating panels 20 and the region which is gripped. In the attached position as shown in FIG. 1, however, it is expected that the handle portion will be gripped in a region farther from the hinge, and in particular a region directly overlying at least a part of a heating panel 20.

[0096] Since the handle portion 14 may on occasions be attached to the body portion 12 with the heating panels 20 close to their operating temperature, the covering parts 48 of the arms (i.e. those parts of the arms which directly overlie the heating panels 20), have surface deformations, in this embodiment longitudinal ribs, so as to increase the surface area and thereby increase the dissipation of heat to the environment. The temperature of the covering parts 48 can thereby be reduced to make the arms 24 more comfortable to grip.

[0097] The heating panels 20 are preferably heated electrically by way of ceramic heaters in known fashion. Electric power is provided to the heaters by way of the power supply cable 46. In known fashion, one of the arms 24 has a controller (not seen) and control switches which are accessible to the user and by which the user can switch the power to the heating panels 20 on and off and can set the temperature of the heating panels 20. It can if desired be arranged that the heaters for the heating panels 20 are automatically switched off when the handle portion 14 is attached to the body portion 12 (although the user is expected normally to switch off the heaters before attempting to attach the handle portion). For example, the controller of the handle portion 14 can be configured to recognise when the electric connectors of the handle portion 14 and body portion 12 are connected and can switch off the power to the heaters if the user has not already done so.

[0098] In this embodiment the heating panels 20 are planar and can be pressed together so as to press the hair as it passes therebetween, with the pressure applied to the hair being determined by the user's grip upon the arms 24, as with conventional hair straighteners. In alternative embodiments the heating panels can be corrugated, and in yet other embodiments the heating panels 20 can be held slightly apart in their closed condition, to better provide the desired styling.

[0099] In an alternative embodiment the upper end (as viewed) of the handle portion may enter a recess in the body portion so that in the attached condition at least part of the heating panels lie inside the body portion. It can be arranged that the heating panels lie in the air path between the air inlet and the air outlet with a small gap therebetween which is sufficient to allow air to pass between the panels on its path from the air inlet to the air outlet. Accordingly, the heating panels of the handle portion act to heat the air as it passes through the body portion, perhaps instead of or in addition to separate or additional heating elements in the body portion.

[0100] FIG. 5 shows the body portion 60 of an alternative hair styling device which includes a curling chamber 62. The handle portion is not shown in FIG. 5 but it will be seen that the body portion 60 has a mounting structure 64 which is substantially identical to the mounting structure 22. The handle portion 14 of FIG. 3 can therefore be attached to and released from the body portion 60 in the same way as is described above for the body portion 12. As regards the attachment of the handle portion 14, the only significant differences between the respective body portions 12 and 60 are that the mounting structure 64 is slightly longer than the mounting structure 22 and that the buttons 50 to release the latch mechanism are outside the housing of the body portion 60. These differences are incidental and arise only because in practical embodiments there is less space to accommodate the latch mechanism inside the housing of the body portion 60 than inside the housing of the body portion 12.

[0101] In common with the known automated hair curlers, the body portion 60 has a primary opening 66 (see also FIGS. 7 and 9) through which a section of hair can pass into the chamber. The body portion 60 in this embodiment has angled guides 68 which converge towards the primary opening 66 and which assist the user in correctly positioning the section of hair adjacent to the primary opening.

[0102] Inside the curling chamber are an elongate member 70 and a rotatable element 72, as seen in FIG. 6. The rotatable element 72 extends beyond the primary opening 66 (and specifically rotates inside the annular sub-chamber 74 shown in FIG. 7). The rotatable element 72 lies alongside the elongate member 70 and in use engages the section of hair adjacent to the primary opening 66 and pulls the section of hair into the curling chamber 62 between the elongate member 70 and the outer wall 76. The detailed structure of the rotatable element 72 and the way in which it pulls the section of hair into the chamber and winds a section of hair around the elongate member in use is described in detail in WO 2009/077747 and WO 2012/080751 and it is not necessary to repeat that description in this application. In this embodiment the shape of the rotatable element 72 is similar to one of the embodiments shown and described in those prior art documents but it will be understood that alternative shapes could be used.

[0103] As is described in WO 2009/077747 in particular, at the end of a curling operation a section of hair is wound around the elongate member 70 in the curling chamber 62.

[0104] In this embodiment the elongate member 70 is perforated and the openings or perforations 80 are in communication with the air inlet 82. The body portion 60 includes an impeller and a continuous air path is formed from the air inlet 82 to the perforations 80 of the elongate member 70.

[0105] As seen in FIG. 7, the outer wall 76 of the curling chamber 62 is also perforated whereby air can pass out of the curling chamber by way of the openings or perforations 84. The combined area of the perforations 84 and the primary opening 66 in the outer wall 76 is significantly larger than the combined area of the perforations 80 of the elongate member 70. The outer wall 76 therefore does not substantially restrict the air flow with the result that air can flow from the perforations 80 in the elongate member 70 in a substantially radial direction through the curling chamber 62 and out through the outer wall 76. That air flow will act to drive a coiled section of hair away from the elongate member 70 and against the outer wall 76. Pushing a coiled section of hair outwardly towards or against the outer wall 76 as it is styled can help to create more consistent curls in the styled sections of hair (whether or not the outer wall 76 is directly heated).

[0106] The provision of substantially radial air flow in the curling chamber 62 is beneficial for a styling operation upon dry hair and also upon damp hair. In both cases the air is preferably heated by a heating element in the body portion 60 so as to heat (and dry, as applicable) the section of hair, it being recognised that the application of heat will assist the styling operation. Alternatively, the air blown through the perforations 80 can be substantially at ambient temperature and the hair can be heated by way of heating elements in the outer wall 76 and/or in the elongate member 70 (or the hair can be heated by a combination of these methods).

[0107] FIG. 7 shows that the outer wall 76 is part-circular in cross-section and therefore comprises a single continuous surface. It is appropriate to refer to a single outer wall in this embodiment but it should be understood that in alternative embodiments the outer wall could comprise separate curved sections. The term “outer wall” should therefore be interpreted throughout this application as a single continuous component or as multiple separate components which together provide the outer wall of the curling chamber.

[0108] As with the hair dryer of FIG. 1, it is a preferable feature of the hair curler of the present invention that electric power and control signals are provided to the body portion 60 from the handle portion 14, the body portion 60 including a housing 42 for electric connectors. This results in a device comprising separable components which nevertheless require only a single electric power cable and a single set of user switches. This also simplifies the structure of the body portion 60 since the body portion does not require its own power supply and is not able to operate without the attached handle portion 14.

[0109] The common housings 42 for the electric connectors enables the same handle portion 14 to be attached to the body portion 12 (for hair drying) and to the body portion 60 (for hair curling and/or hair drying/curling).

[0110] FIGS. 8 and 9 show front views of the body portion 60 in two different operational states. It will be seen from FIGS. 5,6 and 7 that the elongate member 70 has a free end and the curling chamber has a secondary opening 86 surrounding the free end. Whilst FIG. 5 shows the free end of the elongate member approximately aligned with the end of the curling chamber 62 that is not necessary and in other embodiments the elongate member can extend beyond or can terminate within the curling chamber. As is explained in WO2012/080751, the free end surrounded by a secondary opening enable a curled length of hair to slide along and off the elongate member 70 at the end of a curling operation with the minimum loss of the formed curl.

[0111] To prevent the section of hair simply being twisted around the elongate member, and to retain the length of hair in the curling chamber, as the rotatable element rotates, a movable abutment is located adjacent to the free end of the elongate member 70. In addition to the above functions, the movable abutment 90 in this embodiment additionally functions to close off a large proportion of the secondary opening 86 so as to reduce the passage of air through the secondary opening during the styling operation. FIG. 8 shows the movable abutment 90 in its closed position and FIG. 9 shows the movable abutment in the open position (the movable abutment cannot be seen in FIG. 9 as it has been retracted into the body portion 62 surrounding the free end of the elongate member.

[0112] To close more of the secondary opening the movable abutment 90 in this embodiment is formed in two separate parts and in alternative embodiments can be formed in more than two parts if desired. As seen in FIG. 8 the movable abutment does not close all of the secondary opening and a portion 92 remains open. In this embodiment the movable abutment 90 in its closed position covers approximately 70%, and the portion 92 comprises approximately 30%, of the area of the secondary opening 86.

[0113] It has been found that the rate of air flow through the open portion 92 is relatively slow and the open portion 92 does not prevent the desired substantially radial air flow from the perforations 80 to the perforations 84. Nevertheless, in alternative embodiments all (or substantially all) of the secondary opening 86 can be closed by the movable abutment if desired (for example by using multiple components similar to a camera shutter).

[0114] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a part-annular groove 94 adjacent to the end of the elongate member 70 and it is arranged that the movable abutment 90 enters the groove 94 in its closed condition. Whilst that is a preferable feature to help prevent any of the hairs in the section of hair from passing the movable abutment, it is not essential and in any event the movable abutment 90 does not need to engage any part of the elongate member 70.

[0115] The electric motor in the body portion 12 which rotates the impeller, and the electric motor(s) in the body portion 60 which rotate the impeller and the rotatable element 72 can be controlled totally from the controller in the handle portion 14 if desired. However, there is significantly more space to mount the printed circuit board (PCB) for the motor in the body portion 12/60 than in the handle portion 14 and it is expected that a separate PCB to control the motor(s) will be mounted in the body portion 12/60. The controller in the handle portion 14 is expected to have its own PCB which can communicate with the PCB in the body portion 12/60. Accordingly, all of the control functions for the hair straightener will be provided by the handle portion 14 whereas at least some of the control functions for the hair dryer and for the hair curler can be provided by the body portion 12/60. In any event, however, all of the user-actuatable controls for the hair dryer and the hair curler are mounted on the handle portion 14.

[0116] As above stated, it would be possible for a single motor in the body portion 60 to drive the impeller and also to drive the rotatable element 72. That is not preferred, however, firstly because of the significantly differing rotational rates of the impeller and rotatable element. Also, two separate motors allow the motor for the rotatable element to be stopped when all of the section of hair has been wound around the elongate member and the motor for the impeller to stop later on when the styling operation is complete.

[0117] The structure of the mechanical and electrical connections between the handle portion 14 and the body portion 12 is not critical to the present invention and many alternative structures to those which have been described can be used. In addition, the detailed structure and location of the electric connectors for power, and for control and/or information is also not critical to the invention and many different variants could be used.

[0118] In an alternative embodiment according to the second aspect of the invention, and which is not shown in the drawings, the curling chamber does not incorporate air flow. Accordingly, the body portion has a curling chamber but without an air inlet and without an impeller (and heater) for the air. Also, the elongate member and outer wall are not perforated. According to this aspect the device can comprise a handle portion 14 which can be releasably attached to a body portion having a curling chamber similar to the curling chamber described in WO2009.077747 or WO 2012/080751 for example.

[0119] It is preferably arranged that the rotatable element 72 should undertake a number of complete revolutions in each styling operation; the rotatable element 72 has a magnet 94 and a Hall effect sensor or the like can be used to detect the rotations of the rotatable element and communicate that to the controller so that the motor for the rotatable element can be activated and deactivated appropriately. Also, as described in WO 2012/080751, entanglement of the section of hair can be detected by an unexpected reduction in the rate of rotation of the motor driving the rotatable element, or by an increase in the electrical current drawn by that motor, both of which can be communicated to the controller to stop (and reverse) the rotatable element 72 as desired. If the body portion 60 has sensors to detect misplaced hair those sensors can communicate with the controller to prevent rotation of the rotatable element until the misplaced hair is removed.