Haircutting equipment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hair styling device for straightening hair, the hair styling device comprising: a straightening surface, a liquid container, a heating element, a wick, and a guiding mechanism for the wick, the straightening surface having at least one flat portion for contacting a lock of hair, the wick being in communication with the container so as to be wetted with liquid, the wick extending between a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being for contacting the heating element, the proximal end being supplied with liquid from the container, the guiding mechanism being configured to allow the wick to move from a non-activated position towards an activated position, at which the wick contacts the heating element to generate steam, characterized in that the guiding mechanism includes an elastic guiding means that contacts the periphery of the wick at the distal end.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of hair styling devices for straightening hair of the "straightener" type, and more particularly to a hair styling device equipped with a steam generation system comprising a liquid container, a wick wetted by the liquid, and a heating element, the wick being in contact with the heating element. Background Art

[0002] It is known from patent application FR3053577 to use a wick to move the liquid contained in the container of a hair straightening device of the straightening tongs or straightener type towards the heating element to generate steam. More precisely, the wick in contact with the liquid contained in the container is wetted by the liquid by capillary action, thus allowing the liquid to be conveyed from the container towards the heating element. This known solution allows the generation of steam, which has the effect of improving and facilitating combing as well as the strength and appearance of the hair styling, in particular the straightening operation that can be achieved by such a device.

[0003] In particular, such a device includes a container installed inside the straightening device, which is separated from the heating element by a wick. The wick and the container are movably mounted relative to the heating element to allow the user to automatically activate steam generation when he closes the arms of the device, that is to say when he straightens a lock of hair. More precisely, when the user closes the straightening tongs, this has the effect of moving the container and the wick in the direction of the heating element. Then, the wick comes into contact with the heating element, which has the effect of evaporating the liquid contained at its end and thus generating steam, which is then ejected onto the hair through holes located inside the straightening plates.

[0004] Such a device generally satisfies its users, but still has certain drawbacks, especially from the point of view of its durability and reliability. In fact, as the wick moves, that is to say each time the user closes the arms of the device, the wick comes into contact with the heating element. At this contact, the end of the wick curls up, that is to say is locally deformed, under the action of the force applied by the user and also under the action of the heat. More precisely, the overall length of the wick decreases while its diameter locally increases. This leads to poor contact between the wick and the heating element as use progresses, and thus to poor steam generation. The efficiency of the straightening device then decreases, so that if the wick curls up too much, is damaged too much and no longer comes into contact with the heating element, steam generation may even become impossible. This thus leads to a lack of reliability and limited durability of the hair styling device.

[0005] Another drawback of these known devices relates to their maintenance. In fact, considering that the heating liquid present is generally water, limescale forms in the core. The user must remove the core to descale it, for example by dipping it in an acidic solution (such as vinegar). However, considering the flexibility of the core, the operations of disassembling and reinstalling the core are particularly cumbersome and difficult to handle, and are even more serious if the core has been used, that is, if the core has been curled beforehand, because the core has been deformed as described in detail above. As a result, the user faces great difficulties, especially when reinstalling the core after descaling it, and sometimes even cannot reinstall it if the core is excessively deformed. Summary of the Invention

[0006] An object of the present invention is to overcome the above drawbacks.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a hair straightening device that is particularly reliable and durable, and in particular avoids the curling of the core that occurs as the straightening device is used.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a hair straightening device that is easy for the user to maintain.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a hair straightening device that is particularly simple, economical and reliable in construction.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a hair straightening device that generates steam quickly and continuously.

[0011] These objects are achieved by means of a hair straightening device comprising: a straightening surface, a liquid container, a heating element, a core, and a guiding mechanism for the core, the straightening surface having at least one flat portion for contact with a lock of hair, the core being in communication with the container so as to be wetted by the liquid, the core extending between a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being for contact with the heating element, the proximal end being supplied with liquid from the container, the guiding mechanism being configured to allow the core to move from an inactive position towards an active position, in which the core is in contact with the heating element to generate steam, characterized in that the guiding mechanism comprises elastic guiding means that come into contact with the periphery of the core at the distal end.

[0012] More precisely, the elastic guiding device is designed to be elastically deformable according to an axial deformation, which substantially corresponds to the axis of the core, i.e., to a direction along which the core extends. Preferably, said direction corresponds to an axis along which the core moves between its non-activated position and its activated position. Thus, the elastic guiding device ensures the maintenance of the peripheral surface of the core along a direction perpendicular to the core. In other words, the distal end of the core, which is intended to regularly contact the heating element for generating steam, is clearly maintained and guided along a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the core, which allows limiting or even eliminating the curling phenomenon of the core. Conversely, considering the elasticity of the guiding device in the axial direction, the core moves freely axially and is freely axially compressed, which particularly allows optimizing the contact between the core and the heating element. In addition, the activated position of the device, i.e., the position for generating steam, is not restricted by the length of the core.

[0013] Preferably, the electric mechanism allows activation of the heating element, which advantageously includes an evaporation plate, and the core contacts the evaporation plate at the activated position. The hair-cutting device according to the invention advantageously includes a temperature control unit for the heating element.

[0014] Preferably, the elastic guiding device is breathable in order to allow ventilation of the container and to counteract the pressure drop associated with the liquid emptied through the core.

[0015] Advantageously, the elastic guiding device includes a helical spring, and the core is arranged inside the spring, which allows for a simple, durable and economical assembly.

[0016] Advantageously, the diameter of the spring is between 2 mm and 8 mm and preferably between 4 mm and 6 mm. The length of the spring in the idle state is between 15 mm and 45 mm and preferably between 25 mm and 35 mm.

[0017] Furthermore, the guiding mechanism includes a core holder, and the helical spring is arranged inside the core holder. This arrangement allows for a particularly precise, durable and reliable core guiding device, while allowing air to pass particularly between the spring coils, as will be described in detail later.

[0018] Advantageously, the core holder includes a duct for delivering air towards the container in order to avoid a pressure drop in the container as the liquid is emptied.

[0019] Preferably, the elastic guiding device extends between the distal end and the proximal end of the core, in other words, over the entire length of the core. In addition, the elastic guiding device includes a stop that can come into contact with the proximal end, which advantageously allows preventing the core from moving in at least one axial movement direction.

[0020] According to a specific and inventive embodiment, a hair styling device for straightening hair comprises a straightening surface, a liquid container, a heating element, a wick, and a guiding mechanism for the wick. The straightening surface has at least one flat portion for contact with a lock of hair. The wick is in communication with the container so as to be impregnated with liquid. The guiding mechanism is configured to allow the wick to move from an inactive position towards an active position, at which the wick is in contact with the heating element to generate steam. The wick comprises a plurality of strands in contact with each other, the strands extending longitudinally. In other words, the wick is composed of a plurality of different threads or filaments, and the combination, juxtaposition, and assembly of these threads or filaments allow the formation of the wick, for example in the form of a cable. Thus, the wick is not made of a continuous material but by the assembly of materials. Therefore, the physical properties of each of the strands are different from the physical properties of the wick formed by the assembly of these strands. Advantageously, the wick is composed of different strands juxtaposed parallel to each other so as to form a cylinder comprising a plurality of strands.

[0021] Always according to this embodiment, each strand is preferably a glass fiber strand. This embodiment allows the provision of a wick made of a particularly heat-resistant material, which will confer upon the wick and thus upon the hair styling device great durability and reliability.

[0022] This particular construction allows, in particular, the flow rate of the liquid conveyed from the container towards the heating element to vary according to the number of strands provided in the wick. Advantageously, the greater the number of strands, the smaller the flow rate, because there is not much free space in the wick. Vice versa, the fewer the number of strands, the greater the flow rate. Preferably, the wick comprises 14 strands.

[0023] Particularly advantageously, each strand has a length between 30 mm and 90 mm and preferably between 50 mm and 70 mm, and each of the strands folds itself in half so as to halve its length. Advantageously, the length of each of the strands is approximately 60 mm, which allows the formation of a wick with a length of 30 mm by the self-folding of the strands. Preferably, the fold of the strand forms the proximal end of the wick, while the free end of the strand forms the distal end.

[0024] Alternatively, as is known and without going beyond the scope of the present invention, the wick is made of a continuous and uniform material that is sufficiently porous to allow the movement of liquid by capillary action.

[0025] Preferably, the wick is integral with the container, and the guiding mechanism is configured to move the container and the wick from the inactive position towards the active position.

[0026] Preferably, the hair treatment device comprises a first arm and a second arm, the first arm comprising the straightening surface and the second arm comprising a support surface, the first arm and the second arm being hingedly mounted relative to one another between a separated configuration and a proximity configuration, in which separated configuration the straightening surface and the support surface are separated from one another and a lock of hair can be introduced between the straightening surface and the support surface, and in which proximity configuration the straightening surface and the support surface are close to one another and can clamp the lock of hair, at least one of the first arm or the second arm comprising the core and the elastic guiding means.

[0027] According to this preferred embodiment, the device then forms a pair of tongs which can clamp a lock of hair under the action of the user in order to exert a pressure on this lock of hair, which lock of hair is then clamped between the straightening surface and the support surface. When the user moves the device translationally along the core, the combined effect of the pressure and the movement on the lock of hair then helps to straighten the lock of hair, and as is well known, such a device is called a "hair straightener". BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The features of the invention will emerge from the following description of a preferred and non-limiting embodiment of the hair treatment device. This description is based on the drawings, in which:

[0029] Figure 1 An overall view of a hair treatment device in the form of a pair of tongs defined by the invention, which hair treatment device is generally called a "hair straightener", is shown, this arrangement being in the proximity configuration;

[0030] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of the device along the intermediate longitudinal plane P, this device being in the separated configuration.

[0031] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of the device along the intermediate longitudinal plane P, this device being in the proximity configuration.

[0032] Figure 4 Shows Figure 1 A perspective view of the straightening surface and the support surface of the device.

[0033] Figure 5 Shows Figure 1 A detailed perspective view of a sub-assembly of the device, said sub-assembly comprising a core holder, elastic guiding means and a core according to the invention;

[0034] Figure 6 Shows Figure 5 An exploded perspective view of the different components constituting the sub-assembly;

[0035] Figure 7 Is Figure 3Detailed drawing. Detailed implementation

[0036] As Figure 1 shown, the hair styling device 1 includes a first arm 2 and a second arm 4, which are also known as cheek plates and are hinged together by means of a hinge, which particularly includes a hinge spring 3 and a pivot connection 7, as is well known.

[0037] The first arm 2 includes a straightening surface 5, which has at least one flat portion for contacting the hair strand. The "flat portion" can be understood as a portion that is not wavy or curved and is on a surface of several square centimeters, for example at least 2 cm 2 . However, the flat portion does not have to be continuous.

[0038] For example, the straightening surface includes a straightening plate, which is usually composed of a rectangular metal plate, as can be seen in Figure 4 and is used for contacting the hair strand. As is known to those skilled in the art, at least the straightening surface 5 includes one or more steam diffusion devices 15, as can be seen in Figure 4 .

[0039] However, variations can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention, for example a straightening surface composed of a substrate from which teeth or pins project. In other words, according to this variation (not shown), the straightening surface includes an alternation of flat portions (substrate) and teeth or brushes, which constitute a non-flat straightening surface. Thus, in this case and without departing from the scope of the present invention, the at least one flat portion is discontinuous, but its surface still advantageously remains greater than 2 cm 2 , as described above. This straightening surface composed of an alternation between flat portions and teeth in fact has very significant straightening performance and does not necessarily require applying pressure to the hair strand.

[0040] According to the embodiment shown in the drawings, the second arm 4 includes a support surface 6, which itself preferably includes additional straightening plates, that is to say flat surfaces, as can be seen in Figure 4 and as is well known. Alternatively, the support surface can include a non-flat surface or a partially flat surface, for example by including teeth or pins as described above.

[0041] The hair styling device 1 also includes one or more heating mechanisms configured to heat the straightening surface 5 and / or the support surface 6. These heating mechanisms are not described in detail in this patent application because they are well known to those skilled in the art. These heating mechanisms can for example include one or more positive temperature coefficient thermistors, called PTCs, which are usually arranged in direct contact with the straightening surface 5 and the support surface 6, for example inFigure 4 into the cavities 22 and 23 shown.

[0042] The first arm 2 and the second arm 4 are hingedly mounted relative to each other between a separating configuration visible in Figure 2 and an approaching configuration visible in Figure 1 and Figure 3 In the separating configuration, the straightening surface 5 and the support surface 6 are separated from each other, and in the approaching configuration, the straightening surface 5 and the support surface 6 approach each other. A separating configuration, or open position, in which a tress can be introduced between the straightening surface 5 and the support surface 6, generally corresponds to the idle position of the hair treatment device 1, especially due to the presence of the hinge spring 3. However, an idle position of the device can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention, in which the device is, conversely, in the approaching configuration or closed configuration. In the approaching configuration, the straightening surface 5 and the support surface 6 can clamp a tress.

[0043] The first arm 2 and the second arm 4 are configured to allow a user to manipulate the hair treatment device 1 during use of the hair treatment device 1 and, in particular, to move the hair treatment device 1 from the separating configuration to the approaching configuration. Preferably, each of the straightening surface 5 and the support surface 6 is located near the facing ends of the first arm 2 and the second arm 4, i.e., arranged such that they face each other when the device is in the approaching configuration, as Figure 1 and Figure 3 shown.

[0044] The first arm 2 includes an input end 200 for a power supply line, such as an electric wire. This wire is used in particular to supply electrical energy to one or more heating mechanisms of the device. In the present specification, the input end 200 advantageously constitutes the reference point for the reference of the terms "far" and "near": thus, the term "proximal end" refers to the end located on one side of the input end 200, while conversely, the term "distal end" refers to the end located opposite the input end 200.

[0045] As Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown, the hair treatment device 1 includes a liquid container 10. Preferably, the container 10 is filled with water. According to Figure 2 and Figure 3 the embodiment shown, the container 10 is elongated and extends substantially along an axis X in an extension direction similar to the extension direction of one of the two arms, such as the first arm 2. However, without departing from the scope of the invention, the container 10 can have a completely different form.

[0046] Preferably, the container 10 is removably mounted in the receiving part 8 which is provided in the first arm 2. Advantageously, the first arm 2 includes a passage opening and a closing element 81, such as a closing baffle, the passage opening leading to the housing 8 and for the passage of the container 10, the closing element 81 being pivotally mounted on the first arm 2 between an open position and a closed position, in the open position, the closing element 81 at least partially releases the passage opening and permits the removal and installation of the container 10 in the receiving part 8, in the closed position, the closing member 81 at least partially closes the passage opening and prevents the removal and installation of the container 10 in the receiving part 8. The closing element 81 is shown in Figure 2 in the closed position and in Figure 1 and Figure 3 shown in the open position, and includes, for example, a baffle.

[0047] The hair treatment device 1 further includes a heating element 21 which is advantageously located below the straightening surface, according to Figures 1 to 3 the embodiment of, located inside the first arm 2, as can be seen in Figure 2 and Figure 3 . In particular, the heating element 21 includes on the one hand an evaporation plate 17 and on the other hand a heating mechanism, such as a thermistor with a positive temperature coefficient (CTP), which allows the evaporation plate 17 to be heated by heat conduction. Preferably, the evaporation plate 17 includes a disk oriented perpendicular to the axis X. The heating element 21 also allows the straightening surface 3 to be heated when possible.

[0048] The hair treatment device 1 further includes a wick 13 which communicates with the container 10, which allows it to be wetted with liquid. More precisely, and as can be seen in the different figures, the wick 13 extends between a distal end 16 and a proximal end 20, the distal end 16 being for contact with the heating element 21 and in particular with the evaporation plate 17, the proximal end 20 being supplied with liquid by the container 10, for example by contact with the container 10 and / or extending into the interior of the container 10, as can be seen in Figure 2 and Figure 3 . Preferably, the wick 13 is a cylindrical wick. It is also well known that, according to the construction known to those skilled in the art, when the distal end 16 of the wick contacts the heating element, the liquid, in this case the water it contains, will evaporate and then generate steam, which is then conveyed to the steam diffusion device 15, such as a series of orifices.

[0049] The hair grooming device 1 is configured to allow the wick 13 to be moved from an inactive position towards an active position. The inactive position corresponds to a position where the wick is not in contact with the heating element 21 and thus does not allow water to evaporate. In other words, in the inactive position, the hair grooming device 1 does not generate steam. The active position corresponds to a position where the wick is in contact with the heating element 21 and more specifically with the evaporation plate 17. Thus, according to a mechanism known to those skilled in the art, the water contained in the wick can evaporate and the hair grooming device 1 can generate steam.

[0050] The hair grooming device 1 further includes a guiding mechanism for the wick 13 and in particular a tubular member 14, also known as the wick holder 14, which is fixedly (integrally) but removably (detachably) mounted on the container 10 and is used to receive (or support or hold) the wick 13, as can be seen in Figures 5 to 7 As shown. More specifically, the wick holder 14 includes an inner bore 141 that extends along the axis X over the entire length of the wick holder 14 and is used to receive in particular the wick 13.

[0051] The guiding mechanism for the wick 13 is configured to allow the wick 13 to be moved from an inactive position (a position where steam generation is not allowed) towards an active position (a position where steam generation is allowed), at which the wick 13 is in contact with the evaporation plate 17 to generate steam and vice versa. To this end, the container 10 and the wick holder 14 are slidably connected and mounted inside the first arm 2, which allows the said elements and the wick 13 to be translated along the longitudinal axis X so as to move the assembly (container 10, wick holder 14 and wick 13) from the active position, i.e. the position where steam generation is allowed, towards the inactive position, at which the distal end 16 of the wick 13 abuts against the evaporation plate 17, as Figure 7 shown, and at which the distal end 16 of the wick 13 is disengaged from the evaporation plate 17. Preferably, when the wick 13 is in the inactive position, the distal end 16 is spaced apart from the heating element 21 and in particular from the evaporation plate 17 by a distance between 3 mm and 10 mm, which allows ensuring a complete stop of steam generation. Preferably, the travel separating the inactive position and the active position is between 5 mm and 15 mm and advantageously is approximately equal to 10 mm.

[0052] As is known, when the hair-cutting device 1 is brought by the user from the separated configuration to the proximity configuration, that is, from the open position to the position for closing and clamping the tress, the cam 9 rotates. Then, the cam 9 translates along the X axis to push the container 10, which has the effect of bringing the core 13 to the activation position, as described above. In other words, when the hair-cutting device 1 is brought by the user to the proximity configuration, that is, when the user clamps the tress, the core 13 automatically moves to the activation position and generates steam. Therefore, as long as the device is in the proximity or closed configuration, the device generates steam and remains in that position. Conversely, once the user returns the device to its separated configuration, that is, when the user stops applying pressure to the tress and opens the device, for example because the straightening cycle of the tress has ended, the core, under the action of the hinge spring 3 that opens the device, is in the deactivated position due to the kinematics opposite to the foregoing and the generation of steam stops.

[0053] The guiding mechanism of the core 13 further includes elastic guiding means 18, such as a preferably helical spring, which contacts the periphery of the core 13 at the distal end portion 16 of the core 13, that is, contacts the outer surface of the core 13. More precisely, as Figure 6 and Figure 7 shown, the core 13 is located inside the spring 18 so that the cross-section of the core 13 is constrained by the cross-section of the spring 18. At least one of the first arm 2 or the second arm 4, in this case the first arm 2 according to the illustrated embodiment, includes the core 13 and the elastic guiding means 18.

[0054] According to this preferred embodiment, the spring 18 extends between the distal end portion 16 and the proximal end portion 20 of the core 13, that is, the spring 18 extends over the entire length of the core 13, thus achieving perfect guiding and holding of the core 13. In other words, the elastic guiding means, in this case the spring, contacts the periphery of the core 13 over its entire length. Preferably, the length of the spring when idle is approximately equal to 30 mm, which corresponds to the preferred length of the core 13. However, without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is conceivable to place only a part of the core inside the spring, in particular at least the distal end portion 16 of the core.

[0055] According to the preferred embodiment described herein, the core 13 has a circular cross-section, and the inner diameter of the spring 18 that is approximately equal to the diameter of the core 13 is approximately equal to 5 mm. Therefore, due to the spring 18 that wraps the core 13, the core 13 is confined in a space with a fixed cross-section, thereby preventing it from curling and / or deforming in the radial direction, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the axis X.

[0056] Conversely, the space holding the core 13 is elastically deformed in the axial direction, i.e., along the axis X. In other words, this arrangement allows the core 13 to be contained (i.e., constrained) in a space with a stable diameter, which is approximately equal to 5 mm, regardless of the position (unactivated position or activated position) and state (wet or dry) of the core 13. In fact, even when the core is wetted by the liquid, which naturally tends to increase its diameter, and even after multiple contacts with the evaporation plate 17 (which tends to curl up), the diameter of the core 13 remains constant along its entire length. In addition, the dimensional characteristics of the core 13 remain constant over time, even after multiple uses, which allows the normal operation of the device to be undisturbed, whether at the steam generation point of the evaporation plate or at the locking system described later.

[0057] Advantageously, the core 13 is tightly mounted inside the spring 18 and is thus fixed inside the spring 18. Therefore, according to Figure 6 the disassembly of the device of the subassembly shown is convenient, and the maintenance of the device, especially the cleaning of the core 13, is convenient, as described in detail later.

[0058] As can be seen in Figure 6 the spring 18 includes a stop 181 that can come into contact with the proximal end 20 of the core 13. Specifically, the stop 181 is formed by a coil of the spring 18 that is folded to form the radius of the spring 18. Therefore, the stop 181 prevents the movement of the core 13 located inside the spring 18 to lock the degree of freedom of the core 13 for axial translation. Thus, when the core 13 abuts against the evaporation plate 17, the core 13 is prevented by the stop 181 from entering the container.

[0059] As can be seen in Figure 5 and Figure 6 the spring 18 and the core 13 are both used to be mounted inside the core holder 14 and especially to be mounted inside the internal bore 141 thereof, for example, according to the principle of a sliding connection or a sliding pivot connection along the axis X.

[0060] According to the preferred embodiment shown in the attached drawings, the length of the core holder 14, or rather, the length of the internal bore 141 of the core holder 14 that houses the spring 18, is designed such that when the hair styling device 1 is in the activated position, the spring is constrained (i.e., compressed) by a few millimeters, preferably between 2 mm and 5 mm. Thus, as described above, the core 13 is also constrained. In other words, both the core 13 and the spring 18 are compressed by a few millimeters in the activated position of the hair styling device 1, which allows optimizing the contact between the distal end 16 of the core 13 and the evaporation plate 17, and thus improves steam generation. Conversely, when the device is in the non-activated position, the core and the spring are relaxed (in their idle position). In other words, the spring 18 and the core 13 translate along the axis X and move inside the internal bore 141 of the core holder 14. This compression of the core 13 significantly allows imparting a pumping effect to the hair styling device 1 when transferred to the activated position, thereby allowing expelling the air that may be present in the core holder 14, and thus improving the efficiency of the hair styling device 1. In fact, the air is quickly expelled through this pumping effect, and the transfer of the liquid is performed more quickly between the container 10 and the evaporation plate 17, which allows generating steam more quickly and thus allows minimizing the waiting time of the user and the triggering phenomenon required by the devices of the known prior art. In addition, the repeated translational movement of the core 13 and the spring 18 in the core holder 14 allows limiting the formation of scale, since the scale is removed with the movement of the core 13 and the spring 18.

[0061] This assembly, namely the core 13 arranged inside the spring 18, which is itself arranged inside the core holder 14, allows ensuring very good guidance and retention of the core 13 and the container 10 during axial movement (when the user applies pressure on the container 10 to obtain steam), while allowing venting the container 10. In fact, in order to allow the liquid contained in the container 10 to flow towards the heating element by means of the core 13, the container must not be under negative pressure. In other words, it is necessary to ensure that the container 10 is vented so that the pressure inside the container does not drop as the container empties its liquid.

[0062] The installation provided by the present invention, especially the presence of the spring 18 between the core 13 and the core holder 14, allows air to circulate along the coils of the spring and thus to circulate between the core 13 and the core holder 14 up to the inside of the container, which allows good transfer of the liquid by means of the core 13. Preferably, the internal bore 141 of the core holder 14 includes a duct 142 for conveying air towards the container, which duct 142 is advantageously formed by one or more grooves along the axis X on the periphery of the said internal bore 141, as can be seen in Figure 5 . Due to the spring 18 containing the core 13, the said grooves are not blocked by the core 13, even when the core 13 is wetted by the liquid, thus ensuring good venting of the container and thus ensuring good flow of the liquid contained in the container through the core 13.

[0063] The assembly formed by the container 10, the core holder 14, the core 13 and the spring 18 can be removed from the container 10, which allows access to the opening 11 on the container 10 for liquid filling of the container. Any assembly mechanism can be used to assemble the core holder 14 and the container, such as a bayonet system located on the bottom 19 of the core holder, as Figure 6 shown. Thus, the user can easily disassemble the hair cutting device 1 by opening the closing element, then removing the container 10, and then removing the sub-assembly consisting of the core holder 14, the spring 18 and the core 13. Then next, the user can separate the core holder 14 and the elements it contains (the core 13 and the spring 18), for example to clean them.

[0064] Furthermore, in the case where the core 13 is radially wrapped by a rigid body, in this case the spring 18, the present invention greatly facilitates the handling and maintenance operations of the core 13, especially its descaling, for example, according to practices known per se, including immersing the core 13 in vinegar. More precisely, the user can firmly grip the sub-assembly of the spring 18 and the core 13 between his fingers without fear of damaging the core 13, since the core 13 is protected by the spring 18. In addition, the rigidity of the sub-assembly is increased, which greatly facilitates the disassembly and especially the re-installation operations of the sub-assembly in the internal bore 141 of the core holder 14.

[0065] As described above, the spring 18 allows the core 13 to be compressed along the axis X without radial deformation, which allows a significant improvement in the operation of the locking / unlocking system. In fact, considering the axial movement of the spring 18 and the core 13, once the spring 18 and the core 13 come into contact with the evaporation plate 17, the spring 18 and the core 13 will move axially and / or be compressed, even if the movement of the container 10 continues slightly along the axis X. Thus, there will be no jamming effect associated with a core whose travel relative to the container 10 may be too long. Thus, the operation of the hair cutting device 1 is convenient for the user.

[0066] The above description allows an understanding of the essence of the present invention without limiting its scope of protection. Thus, other variants can be considered, especially regarding the implementation and arrangement of the elastic guiding means or in terms of the construction of the core itself.

Claims

1. A hair styling device for straightening hair, the hair styling device comprising: Straightening surface (5), liquid container (10), heating element (21), wick (13), and a guiding mechanism for the wick (13), the straightening surface (5) having at least one flat portion for contact with a lock of hair, the wick (13) being in communication with the container (10) so as to be wetted by a liquid, the wick (13) extending between a distal end portion (16) and a proximal end portion (20), the distal end portion (16) being for contact with the heating element (21), the proximal end portion (20) being supplied with liquid from the container (10), the guiding mechanism being configured to allow the wick (13) to move from an inactive position towards an active position, at which the wick is in contact with the heating element (21) to generate steam, characterized in that the guiding mechanism comprises elastic guiding means (18), the elastic guiding means (18) being in contact with the periphery of the wick (13) at the distal end portion (16), the elastic guiding means (18) comprising a helical spring, and the wick (13) being arranged inside the spring, the spring extending over the entire length of the wick (13).

2. The hair cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic guiding means (18) is air-permeable.

3. The hair cutting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The diameter of the spring is between 2 mm and 8 mm.

4. The hair cutting device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The diameter of the spring is further between 4 mm and 6 mm.

5. The hair cutting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The length of the spring in the idle state is between 15 mm and 45 mm.

6. The hair cutting device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The length of the spring in the idle state is further between 25 mm and 35 mm.

7. The hair cutting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The guiding mechanism comprises a wick holder (14), and the helical spring is arranged inside the wick holder (14).

8. The hair cutting device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The wick holder (14) comprises a duct (142) for delivering air towards the container (10).

9. The hair cutting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The elastic guiding means (18) extends between the distal end portion (16) and the proximal end portion (20) of the wick (13).

10. The hair cutting device according to claim 9, wherein The elastic guiding means (18) comprises a stop (181), and the stop (181) is in contact with the proximal end portion (20).

11. The hair cutting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The wick (13) comprises a plurality of strands in contact with each other, the plurality of strands extending longitudinally.

12. The hair cutting device according to claim 11, characterized in that, Each of the plurality of strands is a glass fiber strand.

13. The hair cutting device according to claim 11, characterized in that, Each of the plurality of strands has a length between 30 mm and 90 mm, and each of the plurality of strands is folded upon itself so as to halve its length.

14. The hair cutting device according to claim 13, characterized in that, Each of the plurality of strands further has a length between 50 mm and 70 mm.

15. The hair cutting device according to claim 13, wherein The folded portions of the plurality of strands form the proximal end portion (20), while the free ends of the plurality of strands form the distal end portion (16).

16. The hair cutting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The wick (13) is integrally connected with the container (10), and the guiding mechanism is configured to move the container (10) and the wick (13) from the inactive position towards the active position.

17. The hair cutting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The hair treatment device (1) comprises a first arm (2) and a second arm (4), the first arm (2) comprising the straightening surface (5), and the second arm (4) comprising a support surface (6), the first arm (2) and the second arm (4) being articulated relative to each other between a separated configuration and a close configuration, in the separated configuration, the straightening surface (5) and the support surface (6) are separated from each other and a tress of hair is introduced between the straightening surface (5) and the support surface (6), in the close configuration, the straightening surface (5) and the support surface (6) are close to each other and clamp the tress of hair, at least one of the first arm (2) or the second arm (4) comprising the core (13) and the elastic guiding means (18).

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