Multi-blow mode hairdressing appliance with indicator system for indicating selected blow mode

By designing two independent blower outlets and control systems on portable hair salons, the cumbersome and safety problems of mode switching in the prior art are solved, and multifunctional, easy-to-use and safe hair salons are realized.

CN120358968APending Publication Date: 2025-07-22SEB SA
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202380086035.9
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2022-12-15
Filing Date
2023-12-12
Publication Date
2025-07-22

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing hair salons need to disassemble or assemble accessories when switching blowing modes. The operation is cumbersome and there is a risk of scalding, which affects ease of use and safety.

Method used

A portable hair salon utensil with two independent blowing outlets and control systems allows users to alternately select blowing modes through the control system and clarify modes through visual selection markings, simplifying operation and improving safety.

Benefits of technology

The versatility, ease of use and safety of portable hair salons can be achieved, and users can easily switch modes and reduce scald risk.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention relates to a portable hairdressing appliance (1) comprising an air flow generating means for generating an air flow according to two blowing modes, the appliance having a first face (2) carrying a first blowing outlet (3) for blowing the air flow in a first blowing mode and a second face (4) carrying a second blowing outlet (5) for blowing the air flow in a second blowing mode, the second face carries a second blowing outlet (5) for blowing an airflow in a second blowing mode, the appliance comprising a control system (20) for alternately selecting one of the blowing modes or the other of the blowing modes, and an indicator system for providing visual information about which of the blowing modes is selected, the indicator system comprises visual selection marks (21 ', 21' ') which are alternately visible on the side of the first face and the second face bearing the blowing outlet corresponding to the selected blowing mode.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the general technical field of hair care appliances, such as household hair care appliances, and more particularly, to the field of portable hair care appliances designed to blow an air stream for drying hair and / or facilitating hair styling. Background Art

[0002] In the field of hair care appliances, there are known appliances that are designed to blow an air stream towards the hair according to different blowing modes, so as to endow these appliances with multi-functional features, thereby enabling various hair drying and / or styling techniques to be achieved using a single appliance. For example, there is thus known a hand-held hair dryer that includes a handle and a blowing head, the blowing head including an air outlet for directing a forced air stream of hot air or cold air towards the user's hair. The forced air stream flows along a single trajectory within the appliance until it exits from the said air outlet. In order to change the blowing mode of these hair dryers, additional accessories are typically provided at the air outlet in a removable or non-removable manner, so as to typically change the effective cross-section of the air passage and / or the air blowing direction, thereby defining a plurality of different blowing modes suitable for implementing specific hair drying and / or styling techniques. Although these known hair dryers are generally satisfactory, they do have certain drawbacks. In particular, switching the hair dryer from one blowing mode to another requires the user to assemble / dismantle the accessories, or requires the manipulation of the operation of the accessories pre-installed at the air outlet. This operation has proven to be sometimes tedious, which is not conducive to the ease of use and ergonomics of the appliance. In addition, when manipulating the one or more accessories, there is a non-negligible risk of scalding, and there may be a risk of losing the accessories when these accessories are not simply stored out of reach and when the user wants to use them but cannot get them. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, an object assigned to the present invention is to provide a new type of multi-functional portable hair care appliance that is particularly practical and intuitive to use, even for users lacking professional hair styling skills.

[0004] Another object of the present invention is to provide a new type of portable hair care appliance that is ergonomically designed and particularly practical to use.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a new type of portable hair care appliance that is particularly safe to use.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a new type of portable hair care appliance that is particularly simple and compact in construction.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a new type of portable hair care appliance that is particularly robust and reliable.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a new type of portable hair care appliance that allows the user to perform a variety of different operations easily and efficiently without relying on external auxiliary hair care appliances.

[0009] The object assigned to the present invention is achieved by a portable hair care appliance that includes an air flow generating member that generates an air flow according to at least two different blowing modes. The appliance has a first side and a second side. The first side bears a first blowing outlet for blowing the air flow out of the appliance in a first blowing mode among the blowing modes, and the second side bears a second blowing outlet for blowing the air flow out of the appliance in a second blowing mode among the blowing modes. The appliance includes

[0010] - a control system for allowing the user to alternately select one or the other of the blowing modes, and

[0011] - an indicator system for providing the user with visual information about which one of the blowing modes has been thus selected. The indicator system includes a visual selection marker that is alternately visible on the side of the first and second sides that bears the blowing outlet corresponding to the selected blowing mode. Description of the Drawings

[0012] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more specifically embodied and manifested by reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are given only by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples, wherein:

[0013] Figure 1 An embodiment of the hair care appliance according to the present invention is shown in a side view;

[0014] Figure 2 is shown in a perspective view Figure 1 of the hair care appliance;

[0015] Figure 3 is schematically shown in a front view of the first side bearing the first blowing outlet Figure 1 of the hair care appliance in three consecutive states. In the state shown on the left, the first blowing mode (here the "blow brush" mode) is selected, and the visual selection marker is visible on the side of the first side (black). In the transitional state shown in the middle, the button of the push-button type control mechanism of the control system of the hair care appliance is pressed to switch the appliance from the first blowing mode to the second blowing mode (here the "hair dryer" mode). In the state shown on the right, the second blowing mode is selected, and thus the visual selection marker is no longer visible on the side of the first side;

[0016] Figure 4 is schematically shown in a front view of the second side bearing the second blowing outlet Figure 3Three consecutive states of the appliance. In the state shown on the left, the first blowing mode is selected, so the visual selection marker is not visible on that side of the second face. In the state shown on the right, the second blowing mode is selected, and the visual selection marker is visible on that side of the second face (and is no longer visible on that side of the first face);

[0017] Figure 5 is schematically shown in a top view Figure 1 of the appliance. On the left, the first blowing mode is selected, as Figure 3 in the state shown on the left. On the right, the second blowing mode is selected, as Figure 4 in the state shown on the right;

[0018] Figure 6 is schematically shown in a partial cross-sectional view along I-I (see Figure 3 ) of the appliance, which is in Figure 1 the state shown on the left and Figure 3 and Figure 4 corresponds to the selection of the first blowing mode, as Figure 5 shown on the left. Figure 6 Thus, an embodiment of the control system and the indicator system of the Figure 1 appliance is particularly shown;

[0019] Figure 7 is schematically shown in a partial cross-sectional view along II-II (see Figure 4 ) of the appliance, which is in Figure 1 the state shown on the right and Figure 3 and Figure 4 corresponds to the selection of the second blowing mode, as Figure 5 shown on the right;

[0020] Figure 8 Another embodiment of the hair styling appliance according to the present invention is shown in a side view;

[0021] Figure 9 is shown in a perspective view Figure 8 of the appliance;

[0022] Figure 10 is schematically shown in a front view of the first face carrying the first blowing outlet Figure 8Three consecutive states of a hair styling appliance. In the state shown on the left, the first blowing mode (here the "blow-dry brush" mode) is selected, and the visual selection marker is visible (black) on that side of the first face. In the transitional state shown in the middle, the button of the push-button type control mechanism of the control system of the hair styling appliance is pressed to switch the appliance from the first blowing mode to the second blowing mode (here the "hair dryer" mode). In the state shown on the right, the second blowing mode is selected, and thus the visual selection marker is no longer visible on that side of the first face;

[0023] Figure 11 The appliance is schematically shown in a front view of the second face carrying the second blowing outlet Figure 10 Three consecutive states of the appliance. In the state shown on the left, the first blowing mode is selected, so the visual selection marker is not visible on that side of the second face. In the state shown on the right, the second blowing mode is selected, and thus the visual selection marker is visible on that side of the second face (and is no longer visible on that side of the first face);

[0024] Figure 12 Schematically shown in a partial cross-sectional view along I-I (see Figure 10 ) is the appliance Figure 8 in the state shown on the left, corresponding to the selection of the first blowing mode. Figure 10 and Figure 11 Thus, an embodiment of the control system and the indicator system of the appliance is particularly shown; Figure 12 Thus, in particular, shown is Figure 8 an embodiment of the control system and the indicator system of the appliance;

[0025] Figure 13 Schematically shown in a partial cross-sectional view along II-II (see Figure 11 ) is the appliance Figure 8 in the state shown on the right, corresponding to the selection of the second blowing mode. Figure 10 and Figure 11 Thus, an embodiment of the same control system and indicator system as in Figure 13 is particularly shown; Figure 12 in

[0026] Figure 14 Schematically shown in a partial cross-sectional view along I-I (see Figure 10 ) is the appliance Figure 8 in the state shown on the left, corresponding to the selection of the first blowing mode. Figure 10 and Figure 11 Thus, an embodiment of the control system and the indicator system of the appliance is particularly shown; Figure 14 Thus, in particular, shown is Figure 8 another embodiment of the control system and the indicator system of the appliance;

[0027] Figure 15is schematically shown in a partial cross-sectional view along II-II (see Figure 11 ), the appliance being in the state shown on the right side of Figure 8 and Figure 10 and corresponding to the selection of the second blowing mode. Figure 11 Thus, in particular, an embodiment of the same control system and indicator system as in Figure 14 is shown; Figure 14

[0028] Figure 16 is schematically shown in a partial cross-sectional view along III-III (see Figure 8 ), the appliance being in the state shown on the left side of Figure 8 and Figure 10 and corresponding to the selection of the first blowing mode; Figure 11

[0029] Figure 17 is schematically shown in a partial cross-sectional view along III-III (see Figure 8 ), the appliance being in the transitional state shown in the middle of Figure 8 and Figure 10 and Figure 11 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The hair styling appliance 1 according to the invention is a portable hair styling appliance designed to be picked up and manipulated by hand. It is a hair styling appliance preferably intended for use by a user (male or female) lacking any specific hair styling professional skills (i.e., in hair drying and styling, or even in hair setting) in a home environment. Preferably, the hair styling appliance 1 is designed for the user to use the hair styling appliance 1 on themselves, i.e., on their own hair. However, it is entirely conceivable that the hair styling appliance 1 is designed to be used by the user on the hair of a third person. In the above figures, two non-limiting embodiments of the hair styling appliance 1 are shown by way of example. For the sake of simplicity, elements that are substantially the same between the embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0031] According to the present invention, the hair care appliance 1 comprises an air flow generating member for generating an air flow F according to at least two different blowing modes. Thus, it is advantageously a "multi-mode" or "multi-functional" appliance, designed and configured to blow the air flow F towards the user's hair according to at least two different blowing modes, which two different blowing modes can be alternately selected by the user. "Different blowing modes" preferably refer to those blowing modes according to which the hair care appliance 1 blows different air flows, for example air flows different in their shape, direction and / or intensity, so as to perform different operations on the hair according to the selected blowing mode, such as for example a hair drying operation or a hair styling operation, which will be described in detail hereinafter. The hair care appliance 1 has a first face 2 and a second face 4, the first face 2 carrying a first blowing outlet 3 for blowing the air flow F out of the hair care appliance 1 in a first blowing mode among the said blowing modes, and the second face 4 carrying a second blowing outlet 5 for blowing the air flow F out of the hair care appliance 1 in a second blowing mode among the said blowing modes. The first and second blowing outlets 3, 5 are separate, preferably spaced apart from each other, and advantageously opposite to each other. The first and second faces 2, 4 carrying the first and second blowing outlets 3, 5 constitute different, preferably opposite, faces of the hair care appliance 1. The first and second blowing outlets 3, 5 are advantageously present simultaneously (i.e. they are both permanently present on the hair care appliance 1), rather than alternately. Advantageously, the hair care appliance 1 comprises a housing 6 made of, for example, plastic, the outer surface of the housing 6 defining at least a part of the said first and second faces 2, 4 of the hair care appliance 1.

[0032] Thus, the first and second blowing modes generally correspond to different trajectories of the air flow F inside the hair care appliance 1. Thus, the hair care appliance 1 is advantageously designed and configured such that the air flow F flows along different (aerodynamic) trajectories inside the hair care appliance 1 according to the blowing mode selected by the user. In other words, in the first blowing mode among the said blowing modes, the air flow F thus flows inside the hair care appliance 1 along at least a first trajectory until it is blown out of the hair care appliance 1 through the first blowing outlet 3. In the second blowing mode among the said blowing modes, the air flow F flows inside the hair care appliance 1 along another trajectory (i.e. a trajectory at least partially different from one or more of the trajectories taken by the air flow F in the first blowing mode among the blowing modes) until it is blown out of the hair care appliance 1 through the second blowing outlet 5. The implementation of such different aerodynamic trajectories advantageously permits the definition of very different blowing modes, in particular according to the selected configuration and construction of the first and second blowing outlets 3, 5 and their relative arrangement, etc.

[0033] As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the first blowing mode can thus advantageously correspond to the operating mode of the hair care appliance 1 in the "blow-dry brush" mode, while the second blowing mode can advantageously correspond to the operating mode of the hair care appliance 1 in the "hair dryer" mode. Of course, the present invention is not limited to these specific blowing modes, and other blowing modes can be envisaged according to the intended use of the hair care appliance 1 in terms of hair drying and / or styling. In addition, the number of different blowing modes is not actually limited to two. Furthermore, a given same blowing mode may correspond to multiple different trajectories of the air flow F inside the hair care appliance 1.

[0034] As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the hair care appliance 1 preferably includes a hand-held handle 7 (or grip), which is intended to be manually grasped by the user to manipulate the hair care appliance 1. The handle 7 is advantageously defined by a part of the housing 6 of the hair care appliance 1, and the handle 7 generally extends between a first end 8 and an opposite second end 9, preferably longitudinally along an average extension axis A-A'. The handle 7 advantageously has an elongated shape such that an adult user can hold it with the whole hand. As shown, the hair care appliance 1 also preferably includes a blow head 10, which is connected to the handle 7 and advantageously bears the first and second blowing outlets 3, 5, so that the air flow F is thus advantageously intended to be blown out of the hair care appliance 1 through the blow head 10 towards the user's hair. The blow head 10 is advantageously defined by a part of the housing 6 of the hair care appliance 1, and the blow head 10 has at least a first face and a second face, the first face defining or at least contributing to defining the first face 2 of the hair care appliance 1, and the second face defining or at least contributing to defining the second face 4 of the hair care appliance 1. However, alternatively, the blow head 10 can bear one of the first and second blowing outlets 3, 5, while the other of the first and second blowing outlets 3, 5 will be borne by the handle 7 or another part of the hair care appliance 1. Advantageously, the blow head 10 extends between a lower end (where the blow head 10 is connected to the handle 7) and an opposite (free) upper end along an average extension axis B-B', and thus preferably extends the handle 7 beyond the first end 8 of the handle. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the average extension axis B-B' of the blow head 10 is advantageously parallel or collinear (coincident) with the average longitudinal extension axis A-A' of the handle 7. The hair care appliance 1 thus advantageously extends generally along an average extension direction that is parallel or collinear with the average longitudinal extension axis A-A' of the handle 7 and the average extension axis B-B' of the blow head 10.

[0035] As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the first blowing mode advantageously corresponds to the operating mode of the hair styling appliance 1 in the "blow - brush" mode. The blow head 10 generally includes a hair mechanical engagement element 11 which is capable of mechanically interacting with the user's hair so as to, in particular, brush, shape and / or comb the hair. Advantageously, the hair mechanical engagement element 11 is carried by the first face of the blow head 10 (which defines or contributes to defining the first face 2 of the hair styling appliance 1). The hair mechanical engagement element 11 may include multiple rows or strips of bristles and / or teeth. The first blowing outlet 3 may advantageously include one or more blowing outlet portions, for example defined (or each portion is defined thereby) by continuous elongated openings such as slots or by a plurality of different holes arranged in a line (straight or curved). Particularly for example as Figure 3 and Figure 10 shown, the first blowing outlet 3 is advantageously arranged between the bristles and / or teeth of the hair mechanical engagement element 11. Separately, the second blowing mode advantageously corresponds to the operating mode of the hair styling appliance 1 in the "hair dryer" mode. The second blowing outlet 5 may have an elongated opening which is generally oval, particularly as Figure 4 and Figure 11 illustrated by way of example, to blow the air flow F in the form of a blowing vane. Alternatively, the second blowing outlet 5 may have an opening which is generally circular, for example, so as to blow the air flow F in a generally cylindrical or frustoconical form.

[0036] Advantageously, the air flow generating member for generating the air flow F includes a blower module 12 (or "motor - fan unit") for initiating the air flow F from the ambient air of the environment of the hair styling appliance 1. Preferably, the blower module 12 is embedded inside the hair styling appliance 1 itself. The hair styling appliance 1 is advantageously provided with an air inlet 13 through which ambient air can be drawn in by the blower module 12 for blowing towards the user's hair. The blower module 12 generally includes at least one fan actuated by an electric motor and the blower module 12 can be advantageously arranged inside the handle 7 or inside the blow head 10. However, more preferably, the blower module 12 is assembled to the handle 7 at the second end 9 of the handle 7 such that the blower module 12 advantageously extends the handle 7 beyond the second end 9 of the handle. Advantageously, the blow head 10 is connected to the handle 7 at the first end 8 of the handle 7. The hair styling appliance 1 advantageously includes a guiding channel 14 formed inside the handle 7 for guiding and directing the air flow F initiated by the blower module 12 to the blow head 10. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the guiding channel 14 can advantageously be single such that it defines a common portion of the different trajectories taken by the air flow F inside the hair styling appliance 1 according to different blowing modes. However, alternatively, a plurality of different guiding channels can be implemented, although at the expense of the simplicity of the design and manufacture of the appliance 1. Advantageously, the air flow generating member for generating the air flow F according to at least two different blowing modes thus includes the guiding channel (or the plurality of guiding channels) 14.

[0037] The blow head 10 can be designed to be removably connected, assembled to the handle 7 so that the user can detach the blow head 10 from the handle 7, for example for cleaning or replacing the blow head 10. Alternatively, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the blow head 10 is designed to remain permanently connected to the handle 7 of the hair styling appliance 1 and is thus not intended (during normal use) to be detached by the user from the handle 7. This simplifies the design and use of the hair styling appliance 1. In any case, the blow head 10 is preferably non - movably connected relative to the handle 7.

[0038] Preferably, the hair styling appliance 1 further comprises a heating element designed to raise the temperature of the air flow F initiated by the blower module 12. The heating element embedded inside the hair styling appliance 1 is arranged to be inserted into the air flow F initiated by the blower module 12. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the heating element (not shown) is advantageously located inside the guide channel 14 formed in the handle 7. The heating element is generally an electric heating element, including an electric heating resistor formed by an electric wire wound around an insulating core. Alternatively, the heating element may be housed in the blow head 10, although at the expense of the compactness of the blow head 10. Advantageously, the hair styling appliance 1 comprises manual control and / or adjustment members 15 for manually controlling and / or adjusting the electrical operation of the hair styling appliance 1, in particular the blower module 12 and / or the heating element. These are adjustment members such as toggle switches, buttons and / or slide or rotary converter types in the example shown in the drawings, on which the user can act directly to electrically start / stop the hair styling appliance 1 and change the rotational speed of the fan of the blower module 12, and thus change the speed / flow rate of the air flow F blown by the hair styling appliance 1, and / or the heating temperature of the heating element. The manual control / adjustment member 15 may be located, for example, at the handle 7 as shown in the drawings, or at the blower module 12 when the blower module 12 is assembled to the second end 9 of the handle 7. The hair styling appliance 1 may also optionally comprise a cold / hot air switch (not shown), for example arranged at the handle 7, to control the opening and / or closing of the heating element. The hair styling appliance 1 advantageously constitutes a portable electronic appliance, and the hair styling appliance 1 is preferably designed to be powered from a power source via a power cord 16, the free end of which is fitted with an electrical connection plug (not shown).

[0039] Preferably, the air flow generating member for generating the air flow F comprises an air guiding member 17 ("air distribution member", or "air deflection member" or "deflector") for guiding the air flow F initiated by the blower module 12 to one and / or the other (preferably one or the other) of the first and second blowing outlets 3, 5 of the hair styling appliance 1 according to the selected blowing mode. For this purpose, the air guiding member 17 is advantageously mounted to be movable inside the hair styling appliance 1 at least between a first air guiding configuration (or "first air distribution configuration") and a second air guiding configuration (or "second air distribution configuration"), in the first air guiding configuration, the air guiding member 17 guides (and preferably only guides) the initiated air flow F to the first blowing outlet 3 according to the first blowing mode, and in the second air guiding configuration, the air guiding member 17 guides (and preferably only guides) the initiated air flow F to the second blowing outlet 5 according to the second blowing mode.

[0040] Accordingly, the air guiding member 17 is advantageously designed and configured to define or at least contribute to defining different trajectories of the air flow F inside the hair styling appliance 1, depending on the air guiding configuration in which it is located. Preferably, the air guiding member 17 is arranged inside the blow head 10, which contributes to a simple and compact design of the blow head 10. The air guiding member 17 is then advantageously configured to deflect the air flow F leaving the guiding channel 14 formed in the handle 7 towards one and / or the other of the first and second blowing outlets 3, 5. Even more advantageously, the air guiding member 17 is configured to alternately deflect the air flow F leaving the guiding channel 14 towards one or the other of the first and second blowing outlets 3, 5. Alternatively, the air guiding member 17 may be arranged inside the handle 7, although this is not conducive to the compactness of the latter.

[0041] Preferably, the air guiding member 17 forms an air guiding duct (or "air deflection duct", "deflector duct" or "sleeve") that longitudinally extends beyond one end of the handle 7, typically beyond the first end 8 of the handle 7. The air guiding member 17 then includes at least one air guiding outlet 18 through which, depending on the air guiding configuration in which the air guiding member 17 is located, the air flow F is guided by the air guiding member 17 towards one and / or the other of the first and second blowing outlets 3, 5 (and preferably towards one or the other). In the case where the blower module 12 is arranged in the handle 7 or at the second end 9 of the handle 7, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the air guiding member 17 may include an air inlet 19 that is connected to the guiding channel 14 of the handle 7 to collect the air flow F initiated by the blower module 12. Accordingly, the air guiding member 17 advantageously extends the guiding channel 14 beyond the first end 8 of the handle 7. Advantageously, the air guiding duct formed by the air guiding member 17 includes a generally cylindrical or preferably frustoconical hollow tube. The hollow tube is open at one end to define the air inlet 19, and the hollow tube preferably has a substantially airtight wall through which the air guiding outlet 18 is formed.

[0042] The hair styling appliance 1 further includes a control system 20 to allow the user to alternately select one or the other of the blowing modes, i.e., to control the hair styling appliance 1 to switch from one of the blowing modes to the other, e.g., from the first blowing mode to the second blowing mode ( Figure 3 and Figure 4 , and Figure 10 and Figure 11 ), and conversely from the second blowing mode to the first blowing mode. To this end, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the control system 20 is advantageously connected to the air guiding member 17 to control each switching of the air guiding member 17 from one of the first and second aforementioned air guiding configurations to the other.

[0043] By acting on the control system 20, the user can thus alternately select one or the other of the blowing modes of the hair styling appliance 1 from at least two different blowing modes. The user can thus advantageously select through which of the first and second blowing outlets 3, 5 the air flow F is blown out of the hair styling appliance 1, and thus select the operating mode of the hair styling appliance 1. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the control system 20 is advantageously different from the manual control and / or adjustment member 15 for manually controlling and / or adjusting the electrical operation of the hair styling appliance 1 and the cold / hot air switch that the hair styling appliance 1 may include as described above. In particular, it is thus advantageous that the user can select another of the blowing modes even if the user has selected one of the blowing modes before starting the blower module 13 of the hair styling appliance 1. For example, as shown in the figure, the control system 20 is advantageously embedded in the blow head 10 and preferably located on the average extension axis B-B' of the blow head 10. Preferably, at least a part of the elements of the control system 20 forms or at least contributes to forming the upper (free) end of the blow head 10. This allows the user to easily and intuitively activate the control system.

[0044] According to the invention, the hair styling appliance 1 further includes an indicator system for providing the user with visual information as to which blowing mode has thus been selected through the control system 20. Here, "visual information" means an indication that is visually perceptible to the naked eye when the user views the hair styling appliance 1 held in one of his / her hands. The indicator system includes visual selection marks 21, 21', 21", which are alternately visible on the side of the first and second faces 2, 4 that bears the (first or second) blowing outlet 3, 5 corresponding to the (first or second) selected blowing mode. In other words, the visual selection marks 21, 21', 21" are designed and configured to be provided on the side of the (first or second) face 2, 4 of the hair styling appliance 1 that bears the selected (first or second) blowing outlet 3, 5 and to be visible from that side, typically when the user's eyes are positioned to face or look at the (first or second) face 2, 4 of the hair styling appliance 1 that bears the selected (first or second) blowing outlet 3, 5. It should thus be understood that the visual selection marks 21, 21', 21" are only visible on the side of the (first or second) face 2, 4 that bears the blowing outlet 3, 5 corresponding to the selected blowing mode.

[0045] Thus, as shown in the figure, in the case where the hair styling appliance 1 only includes the first and second faces 2, 4 that respectively bear the first and second blowing outlets 3, 5, the visual selection marks 21, 21', 21" are then visible on the following side:

[0046] - when the first blowing mode is selected, on the side of the first face 2 (and not on the side of the second face 4), Figure 5On the left side), it is visible, thus visually notifying the user of the fact that the first blowing mode has been selected. Therefore, the air flow F will be blown out from the hair styling appliance 1 through the first blowing outlet 3.

[0047] - When the second blowing mode is selected, it is visible on the side of the second face 4 (instead of the side of the first face 2), Figure 5 On the right side), thus visually notifying the user of the fact that the second blowing mode has been selected. Therefore, the air flow F will be blown out from the hair styling appliance 1 through the second blowing outlet 5.

[0048] In other words, the visual selection marks 21, 21', 21" are only visible on the face (the first face 2 or the second face 4) that bears the blowing outlet (the first blowing outlet 3 or the second blowing outlet 5) pre-selected by the user with the aid of the control system 20. This allows the user to very easily and quickly identify which blowing outlet 3, 5 will be used without having to orient the hair styling appliance 1 in a specific way, and thus which face 2, 4 of the hair styling appliance 1 he must orient towards his hair. Moreover, if the user has any doubts about which blowing outlet 3, 5 has been selected, he will intuitively tend to look at one or the other of the faces 3, 5 of the hair styling appliance 1, and then he will immediately observe the presence of the visual selection marks 21, 21', 21" on the face (the first face 2 or the second face 4) that will be in operation (i.e., the air flow F will be blown out from the hair styling appliance 1 through this face).

[0049] Therefore, the hair styling appliance 1 according to the present invention is particularly practical and intuitive to use, even for users without special professional hair styling skills. The user can thus freely select one blowing mode from the various different blowing modes provided by the hair styling appliance 1 with the aid of the control system 20, and then, by simply taking a look at the hair styling appliance 1, can very easily and practically find out which blowing mode has actually been selected among these blowing modes, and through which of these blowing outlets 3, 5 the air flow F will be blown out from the hair styling appliance 1. Therefore, after selecting one of these blowing modes by acting on the control system 20 (if the desired blowing mode has not yet been selected), the user can very easily ensure that the air flow F will indeed be blown out from the hair styling appliance 1 through those blowing outlets 3, 5 that he / she wants to orient towards his / her hair in order to benefit from the corresponding blowing mode. It also advantageously increases the safety of use of the hair styling appliance 1, because due to the presence of the visual selection marks 21, 21', 21" that are directly visible on the face 3, 5 corresponding to the selected blowing mode, the risk that the user accidentally burns himself by accidentally touching the face 3, 5 from which the hot air flow F is blown out is significantly reduced.

[0050] Preferably, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the first and second blowing outlets 3, 5 are carried by the blow head 10 of the hair styling appliance 1, and the visual selection marks 21, 21', 21" themselves are also carried by the blow head 10. Thus, when the first blowing mode is selected, the visual selection marks 21, 21', 21" are arranged on the side of the first face of the blow head 10 of the hair styling appliance 1 that carries the first blowing outlet 3, and are visible (only) from that side. Symmetrically, when the second blowing mode is selected, the visual selection marks 21, 21', 21" are arranged on the side of the second face of the blow head 10 of the hair styling appliance 1 that carries the second blowing outlet 5, and are visible (only) from that side. Advantageously, regardless of the arrangement of the (first and second) blowing outlets 3, 5, the visual selection marks 21, 21', 21" are arranged at a distance between 10 mm and 100 mm, and even more advantageously between 20 mm and 50 mm, from the (first or second) blowing outlet 3, 5 corresponding to the (first or second) selected blowing mode. More precisely, the visual selection marks 21, 21', 21" are arranged, for example, at a distance of 25 mm from the first blowing outlet 2 and at a distance of 46 mm from the second blowing outlet 3. The aforementioned distances advantageously correspond to the shortest distance by which the respective proximal edges of each element are separated from one another. Each of these additional technical features contributes to making the hair styling appliance 1 more practical and intuitive to use. Furthermore, the visual selection marks 21, 21', 21" are arranged at the blow head 10 of the hair styling appliance 1, rather than at the handle 7 of the hair styling appliance 1, which allows ensuring good visual accessibility of the visual selection marks 21, 21', 21" without the risk of the visual selection marks being obscured by the hand of the user manipulating the hair styling appliance 1 (in particular the hand of the user holding the handle 7 of the hair styling appliance 1).

[0051] In order to further enhance the practical and intuitive characteristics of the hair styling appliance 1, the first and second blowing outlets 3, 5 are preferably arranged on opposite sides of a plane P1 inscribed in the average extension direction of the hair styling appliance 1 (or, where applicable, one of the average extension directions of the hair styling appliance 1). In the case where the first and second blowing outlets 3, 5 are carried by the blow head 10 of the hair styling appliance 1, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the average extension direction of the hair styling appliance 1 preferably corresponds to the average extension direction B - B' of the blow head 10. Accordingly, the first and second blowing outlets 3, 5 are preferably arranged opposite each other on opposite sides of the plane P1 inscribed in the average extension direction B - B'. In this way, when the user views the first blowing outlet 3 and the second blowing outlet 5 separately from the front, the first and second blowing outlets 3, 5 are thus advantageously not simultaneously visible to the user. By simply rotating the handle 7 of the hair styling appliance 1 by 180° to orient a corresponding one of the first and second blowing outlets 3, 5 towards the hair to be treated, the user can easily alternately use the hair styling appliance 1 according to the first blowing mode or according to the second blowing mode.

[0052] Preferably, as Figure 3 and Figure 10 (left side) illustrated by way of example, the first face 2 of the hair styling appliance 1 has a first longitudinal axis of symmetry S1, and when the first blowing mode is selected, the visual selection markings 21, 21', 21" are advantageously arranged to be aligned (and visible) along the first longitudinal axis of symmetry S1. Preferably, as Figure 4 and Figure 11 (right side) illustrated by way of example, the second face 4 of the hair styling appliance 1 has a second longitudinal axis of symmetry S2, and when the second blowing mode is selected, the visual selection markings 21, 21', 21" are advantageously arranged to be aligned (and visible) along the second longitudinal axis of symmetry S2. These additional technical features can be used independently of each other or, preferably, in combination, and particularly contribute to giving the hair styling appliance 1 particularly intuitive, ergonomic and aesthetic characteristics. Advantageously, as shown, the first and second axes of symmetry S1, S2 are inscribed in a plane orthogonal to the aforementioned plane P1, in which the average extension direction of the hair styling appliance 1 is inscribed. This advantageously contributes to the overall aesthetics of the hair styling appliance and to a good balance in the hand.

[0053] Advantageously, the control system 20 includes a movable manual control member 22, such as a button or a wheel, to allow a user to act on the control system 20 to manually select one or the other of the blowing modes. "Movable" advantageously means that the manual control member 22 is capable of evolving between at least two advantageously predefined positions and / or spatial orientations (relative to the rest of the hair care appliance 1), typically by translation, rotation and / or toggling under the action of a manual mechanical action exerted thereon by the user. Preferably, as illustrated by way of example in the figures, the manual control member 22 is arranged at the blow head 10, i.e., it is carried by (or belongs to) the blow head 10 and not at the handle 7. This allows limiting the risk that the hand of the user holding the handle 7 accidentally manipulates the manual control member 22. More preferably, the manual control member 22 is arranged at a distance from the handle 7 such that the fingers of the user's hand holding the handle 7 cannot reach it. The fingers of the hand of the user holding the handle 7 cannot reach the manual control member 22, but advantageously the fingers of the user's other hand can reach the manual control member 22. Even more preferably, still as illustrated by way of example in the figures, the manual control member 22 is arranged substantially along an axis parallel or coincident with the average extension axis B - B' of the blow head 10, such that the user can reach it from above the blow head 10.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the indicator system includes:

[0055] - at least one opening 23A, 23B formed through a part 24A, 24B of the peripheral wall of the (movable) manual control member 22, the peripheral wall part 24A, 24B being visible from the outside of the hair care appliance 1 (at least visible to the user), and

[0056] - a support part 25 which carries a visual selection marker 21 and which is at least partially received in a free space 26 formed inside the (movable) manual control member 22, such that the visual selection marker 21 is arranged facing the opening 23A, 23B according to the selected blowing mode.

[0057] In other words, the manual control member 22 has on the one hand a peripheral wall, at least a part 24A, 24B of which is arranged to be visible to the user from the outside of the hair care appliance 1 and is provided with at least one through - opening 23A, 23B, and on the other hand includes a free space 26 formed inside the manual control member 22. The at least one opening 23A, 23B thus opens on the one hand to the outside of the hair care appliance 1 and on the other hand into the free space 26. The support part 25 carrying the visual selection marker 21 is at least partially disposed inside the free space 26.

[0058] According to this embodiment, as Figures 1 to 6 shown, the indicator system more preferably includes:

[0059] - a first opening 23A formed through a first part 24A of the peripheral wall, the first part 24A being visible from the outside of the hair styling appliance 1 on the side of the first face 2 of the hair styling appliance 1, in particular when the user views the first face 2 perpendicularly to the first face 2, and

[0060] - a second opening 23B (different from the first opening 23A) formed through a second part 24B of the peripheral wall, the second part 24B being visible from the outside of the hair styling appliance 1 on the side of the second face 4 of the hair styling appliance 1, in particular when the user views the second face 4 perpendicularly to the second face 4.

[0061] In this preferred case (hereinafter referred to as "Example 1"), the support part 25 is then advantageously mounted so as to be movable within the free space 26 formed inside the manual control member 22 between the following positions:

[0062] - a first position in which, when the first blowing mode is selected, the visual selection marker 21 is arranged facing the first opening 23A( Figure 6 ), and

[0063] - a second position in which, when the second blowing mode is selected, the visual selection marker 21 is arranged facing the second opening 23B (as visible, for example, in Figure 7 ).

[0064] When the support part 25 is in the first position, the visual selection marker 21 is thus visible to the user through the first opening 23A when the user views the first face 2 perpendicularly to the first face 2 (as visible, for example, in Figure 5 the left side and Figure 6 ). When the support part 25 is in the second position, the visual selection marker 21 is thus visible to the user through the second opening 23B when the user views the second face 4 perpendicularly to the second face 4 (as visible, for example, in Figure 5 the right side and Figure 7 ). On the other hand, in the first position, the visual selection marker 21 is thus not arranged facing the second opening 23B and is thus not visible to the user when the user views the second face 4 perpendicularly to the second face 4 of the hair styling appliance 1( Figure 5 the left side and Figure 6 ). Conversely, in the second position, the visual selection marker 21 is thus not arranged facing the first opening 23A and is thus not visible to the user when the user views the first face 2 perpendicularly to the first face 2 of the hair styling appliance 1( Figure 5 the right side and Figure 7 ).

[0065] According to Figures 8 to 17Another embodiment shown (hereinafter referred to as "Example 2") is such that, on the one hand, the indicator system includes a first opening 27A formed through a first (fixed) cover part 28A of the hair styling appliance 1, wherein the outer surface of the first cover part defines at least a part of the first face 2 of the hair styling appliance 1, and a second opening 27B formed through a second (fixed) cover part 28B of the hair styling appliance 1, wherein the outer surface of the second cover part defines at least a part of the second face 4 of the hair styling appliance 1. The first and second cover parts 28A, 28B advantageously contribute to forming the housing 6 of the hair styling appliance 1. On the other hand, the indicator system further includes support parts 25', 25", which carry visual selection marks 21', 21". The support parts 25', 25" are received in internal recesses 26', 26" defined (in particular between them) by the first and second cover parts 28A, 28B and are mounted to be movable between the following positions:

[0066] - A first position in which, when a first blowing mode is selected, the visual selection marks 21', 21" are arranged to face the first opening 27A, and

[0067] - A second position in which, when a second blowing mode is selected, the visual selection marks 21', 21" are arranged to face the second opening 27B.

[0068] This Example 2 can be modified in various ways, in particular as Figure 12 and Figure 13 shown ("Example 2A") or as Figure 14 and Figure 15 shown ("Example 2B"). When the visual selection marks 21', 21" are in the first position, the visual selection marks 21', 21" are thus visible to the user through the first opening 27A formed through the first cover part 28A when the user advantageously views the first face 2 of the hair styling appliance 1 perpendicularly to the first face 2. When the visual selection marks 21', 21" are in the second position, the visual selection marks 21', 21" are thus visible to the user through the second opening 27B formed through the second cover part 28B when the user advantageously views the second face 4 of the hair styling appliance 1 perpendicularly to the second face 4. On the other hand, in the first position, the visual selection marks 21', 21" are not arranged to face the second opening 27B, so that the visual selection marks 21', 21" are not visible to the user when the user views the second face 4 of the hair styling appliance 1 ( Figure 12 and Figure 14)。On the contrary, in the second position, the visual selection markers 21', 21'' are not arranged to face the first opening 27A, so that when the user views the first face 2 of the hair styling appliance 1, the visual selection markers 21', 21'' are not visible to the user ( Figure 13 and Figure 15 ).

[0069] In Examples 1 and 2, the visual selection markers 21', 21'' may advantageously include or be formed by a colored element, which is then fixed, for example, pasted onto all or part of the support parts 25, 25', 25'', or is defined by a part of the support parts 25, 25', 25'' themselves. As can be seen from the above, the indicator system can thus advantageously be a mechanical indicator system and thus has no electrical or electronic components. The advantage of such a mechanical indicator system is that it can be easily and safely arranged near the (one or more) areas of the hair styling appliance 1 that may be at a high temperature during operation of the hair styling appliance 1, especially due to the internal circulation of the air flow F heated by the heating element. Therefore, such an indicator system has particularly advantageous features of simplicity, economy and reliability. However, alternatively, the indicator system may include one or more light sources, such as one or more light-emitting diodes, which form the visual selection marker in the illuminated state. In this case, the indicator system will thus be an electrically controlled indicator system.

[0070] Advantageously, as shown, the control system 20 of the hair styling appliance 1 is of the push-button 29, 29', 29'' type control mechanism (or "push-push motion control mechanism", or "push-push" type button control mechanism) for thus controlling each switching of the hair styling appliance 1 from one blowing mode to another blowing mode. The control system 20 is designed to be actuated by the user, for example, manually, so that the control system 20 is designed and configured to convert each push applied by the user (for example, by means of the user's finger) on the buttons 29, 29', 29'' of the control system 20 into a switching of the hair styling appliance 1 from one blowing mode to another blowing mode, or at least a switching from one blowing mode to another blowing mode. The buttons 29, 29', 29'' of the control system 20 then advantageously form the manual control member 22 as described above. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the push-button 29, 29', 29'' type control mechanism is thus advantageously connected to the air guiding member 17 to control each switching of the air guiding member 17 from one of the first and second air guiding configurations to the other.

[0071] Due to this push-button type 29, 29', 29'' control mechanism, the use of the hair styling appliance 1 is thus particularly simple and intuitive, because the reproduction of the simple pushing action performed by the user on the buttons 29, 29', 29'' of the control mechanism controls each change in the blowing mode of the hair styling appliance 1 each time in the same pushing direction. Thus, each push applied by the user on the buttons 29, 29', 29'' of the control mechanism controls the cyclic switching of the hair styling appliance 1 from a given initial blowing mode to a subsequent blowing mode, and so on, until returning to the initial blowing mode after the control mechanism has been actuated continuously as many times as there are different blowing modes that the hair styling appliance 1 has. Assuming that the air flow generating member for generating the air flow F of the hair styling appliance 1 is designed to generate the air flow F only according to two different blowing modes, each push applied by the user on the buttons 29, 29', 29'' thus controls an alternating switching from the first operating mode (first blowing mode) of the hair styling appliance 1 to the second operating mode (second blowing mode) of the hair styling appliance 1, then from the first operating mode of the hair styling appliance 1 to the second operating mode, and so on.

[0072] Advantageously, the push - button 29, 29', 29'' - type control mechanism is designed and configured to mechanically control each switching of the hair - styling appliance 1 from one blowing mode to another. Thus, the control mechanism is designed and configured to mechanically convert each push applied by the user (e.g., by means of the user's finger) on the buttons 29, 29', 29'' of the control mechanism into a switching of the hair - styling appliance 1 from one blowing mode to another, or at least a switching from one blowing mode to another. Thus, the push - button 29, 29', 29'' - type control mechanism advantageously has no electrical or electromechanical components, making its design particularly simple, economical and reliable. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the push - button 29, 29', 29'' - type control mechanism is thus advantageously mechanically connected to the air - guiding member 17 to mechanically convert each movement of the buttons 29, 29', 29'' of the push - button - type control mechanism under the action of a push applied (by the user) on the buttons 29, 29', 29'' into a movement of the air - guiding member 17 from one of the first and second air - guiding configurations to the other. Thus, advantageously, this is not an electromechanical push - button - type control mechanism, which would establish an electromechanical connection between the button of the control mechanism and the air - guiding member, i.e., it would be designed to convert the mechanical push applied by the user on the button into an electrical command of an electric actuator, which would be connected to the air - guiding member 17. The implementation of such a purely mechanical control mechanism advantageously allows the user to change the blowing mode of the hair - styling appliance 1 even when the hair - styling appliance 1 is not powered (i.e., when the hair - styling appliance 1 is turned off or even unplugged). This improves the safety of use of the hair - styling appliance 1, since it limits the risk of air being blown directly in a direction not desired by the user, such as towards the face. Nevertheless, the hair - styling appliance 1 remains easy to use, since the user still retains the possibility of changing the blowing mode of the hair - styling appliance 1 while the hair - styling appliance 1 is running. In addition, implementing a purely mechanical control system for changing the blowing mode, rather than an electromechanical control system, helps to improve the operating reliability of the hair - styling appliance 1 and to reduce its manufacturing cost.

[0073] According to a variant (not shown), the button of the push - button - type control mechanism is a bistable button. Generally, the control mechanism is then designed and configured such that the button can:

[0074] - Under the action of a first push applied by the user, evolve from a first stable position (called the release position) to a second unstable position (called the unstable pressing position), and

[0075] - Then, when the first push applied by the user stops, under the action of the elastic return member, it automatically returns to a third stable position (referred to as the stable pressing position) located in the middle of the first stable position and the second unstable position. Then, the button remains temporarily locked at the stable pressing position, corresponding to one of the blowing modes of the hair styling appliance 1.

[0076] Conversely, the control mechanism is then designed and configured such that the button can evolve from the third stable pressing position to the second unstable pressing position under the action of a second push applied by the user. The second push follows the first push and thus allows unlocking of the button. Then, when the second push applied by the user stops, it allows the button to return to the first stable release position under the action of the elastic return member. For example, such a bistable push - push button - type control mechanism can implement a so - called "heart - shaped" mechanism or kinematics.

[0077] According to a more preferred variant implemented in the illustrated embodiment, the buttons 29, 29', 29" of the push - push button 29, 29', 29" - type control mechanism are monostable buttons. Thus, the control mechanism is preferably designed and configured such that the buttons 29, 29', 29" can:

[0078] - Under the action of a push applied by the user (for example, as shown in the first and second states of Figure 3 and Figure 4 (Example 1) and Figure 10 and Figure 11 (Examples 2A and 2B)), evolve from a first stable position (referred to as the release position, or "unpressed position", or "rest position") to a second unstable position (referred to as the pressed position), and

[0079] - Then, when the push applied by the user stops (for example, as shown in the third state of Figure 3 and Figure 4 (Example 1) and Figure 10 and Figure 11 (Examples 2A and 2B)), automatically return from the pressed position to the release position.

[0080] To this end, the control mechanism advantageously includes an elastic return member 30, such as a spring, to automatically reset the buttons 29, 29', 29" to the release position (or stable release position, or unpressed position) when the push applied by the user stops. It has been proven that this "monostable" variant is more advantageous than the above - mentioned "bistable" variant because the buttons 29, 29', 29" systematically return to the release position, so the user can access it equally regardless of the selected blowing mode. In addition, this "monostable" variant is simpler to design and more stable to use.

[0081] According to a variant (not shown), the control mechanism can be designed and configured to convert each push applied by the user on the button of the control mechanism into a switch from one of the blowing modes of the hair styling appliance 1 to another of the blowing modes. In this case, it is permitted to switch the hair styling appliance 1 from one of the blowing modes to another of the blowing modes by only one push applied by the user on the button of the control mechanism. Once the hair styling appliance 1 has implemented this other blowing mode, the user can stop applying the pushing force on the button. According to another more preferred variant implemented in the embodiment shown in the figures, the push-button 29, 29', 29'' type control mechanism is designed and configured to convert each push applied by the user on the buttons 29, 29', 29'' of the control mechanism into a switch, a transition from one of the blowing modes of the hair styling appliance 1 to another of the blowing modes, and then, when the push applied by the user stops, automatically complete the switch of the hair styling appliance 1 to another of the blowing modes under the action of the automatic return of the buttons 29, 29', 29'' to the stable release position (non-pressed position). In other words, the change of the blowing mode is thus only initiated by the push applied by the user on the buttons 29, 29', 29'', and then automatically terminated by the control mechanism. This particularly allows the user to change the blowing mode more easily, more intuitively and more quickly.

[0082] The buttons 29, 29', 29" of the push-button type control mechanism of the 29, 29', 29" type usually have a contact portion 31, 31', 31" or an interaction portion, which is intended to come into direct contact with the user (e.g., contact with the user's finger) when the user applies a push to the buttons 29, 29', 29" to control the change of the blowing mode. The above-mentioned peripheral wall of the button 29 then advantageously extends and protrudes from the contact portion 31, usually following the outer peripheral contour of the contact portion. According to a variant (not shown), in the absence of a push applied to the button, at least the contact portion of the button protrudes from the outer surface of the hair styling appliance 1. Thus, the control mechanism is advantageously designed and configured such that when no push is applied to the buttons 29, 29', 29", at least the contact portions 31, 31', 31" of the buttons 29, 29', 29" are arranged above the outer surface of the hair styling appliance 1. This allows for easy access by the user to the 29, 29', 29" and manipulation of the buttons 29, 29', 29". This can also advantageously help to limit the risk of contact between the user and the outer surface of the hair styling appliance 1, which may be hot, and thus limit the risk of burns. According to another variant implemented in the embodiment shown in the drawings, the control mechanism is advantageously designed and configured such that in the absence of a push applied to the buttons 29, 29', 29", the contact portions 31, 31', 31" of the buttons 29, 29', 29" are arranged to be aligned or almost flush with the outer surface (or at least the outer geometric envelope) of the housing 6 of the hair styling appliance 1. This variant particularly has the advantages of making the hair styling appliance 1 more compact and more aesthetically pleasing, and reducing the risk of damage to the buttons 29, 29', 29" in the event that the hair styling appliance 1 is dropped or struck. In any case, the control mechanism is preferably designed and configured such that when the buttons 29, 29', 29" evolve towards their pressed positions under the action of a push applied by the user to switch the hair styling appliance 1 from one blowing mode to another, the contact portions 31, 31', 31" of the buttons 29, 29', 29" are arranged below the outer surface (or at least the outer geometric envelope) of the housing 6 of the hair styling appliance 1 (i.e., such that the buttons 29, 29', 29" are completely hidden and retracted inside the hair styling appliance 1). Thus, the risk of inadvertently changing the blowing mode through the interaction of the buttons 29, 29', 29" with the user or environmental elements is advantageously limited.

[0083] Different kinematics of the air guiding member 17 can be envisaged. However, in particular in order to simplify the design of the hair styling appliance 1 and to increase its compactness, the air guiding member 17 is preferably mounted so as to be rotatable and pivotable about a rotation axis C-C' between at least a first and a second air guiding configuration, as shown in the illustrated embodiment. A push-button 29, 29', 29'' type control mechanism then controls the switching of the air guiding member 17 from one of the first and second air guiding configurations to the other by rotating the air guiding member 17 about said rotation axis C-C' by a predetermined rotation angle. Even more preferably, the air guiding member 17 is mounted so as to be rotatable relative to the handle 7 of the hair styling appliance 1, the rotation axis C-C' of the air guiding member 17 preferably being parallel to the longitudinal extension axis A-A' of the handle 7 or even more preferably coinciding with the longitudinal extension axis A-A' of the handle 7.

[0084] Thus, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the air guiding member 17 is arranged in the blow head 10. Advantageously, the air guiding duct formed by the air guiding member 17 may include a generally frustoconical hollow tube (as described above), the axis of rotation of which is advantageously formed by the longitudinal extension axis of the air guiding member 17. Here, the longitudinal extension axis of the air guiding member 17 advantageously coincides with the average extension axis B - B' of the blow head 10. The respective longitudinal extension axes of the blow head 10 and the air guiding member 17 advantageously are collinear with the average longitudinal extension axis A - A' of the handle 7. The air guiding duct extends through the large bottom of the frustoconical tube to form the guiding channel 14 inside the handle 7, and the air inlet 19 of the air guiding duct is arranged at this bottom. Thus, the effective cross - section of the air flow F inside the tube decreases in the direction away from the handle 7 along the longitudinal extension axis of the air guiding duct. The air guiding duct advantageously includes a single air guiding outlet 18, which is formed through the side wall of the hollow tube. The air guiding outlet 18 is in the form of, for example, an oblong pore, which extends longitudinally in the plane carrying the longitudinal extension axis of the air guiding duct. The generally frustoconical shape of the tube of the air guiding duct advantageously allows the homogenization of the curve of the air flow F circulating inside the tube. The air guiding outlet 18 is advantageously provided with fins for straightening the air flow F, so as to optimally direct the air flow F towards the first blowing outlet 3 or the second blowing outlet 5 according to the selected blowing mode. In turn, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, the blow head 10 advantageously includes a first duct portion 32A and a second duct portion 32B. The first duct portion 32A is designed to ensure the air communication between the air guiding outlet 18 of the air guiding member 17 and the first blowing outlet 3 when the air guiding member 17 is in the first air guiding configuration, and the second duct portion 32B is designed to ensure the air communication between the air guiding outlet 18 of the air guiding member 17 and the second blowing outlet 5 when the air guiding member 17 is in the second air guiding configuration. As shown, the first and second duct portions 32A, 32B may advantageously be defined by an internal duct device 33, and the internal duct device thus constitutes a "two - way" internal duct device (or "two - way distributor"). The internal duct device 33 housed inside the blow head 10 is advantageously immovably connected to the handle 7 of the hair styling appliance 1. Thus, when the air guiding member 17 is in the first air guiding configuration (the first blowing mode, especially Figure 6 , Figure 12 and Figure 14 ), the air guiding outlet 18 of the air guiding member 17 is in air communication with the first duct portion 32A and thus in air communication with the first blowing outlet 3. On the other hand, the tube wall of the air guiding member 17 then closes the second duct portion 32B of the internal duct device 33. Conversely, when the air guiding member 17 is in the second air guiding configuration (the second blowing mode, especially Figure 7 , Figure 13 and Figure 15) When this occurs, the air guide outlet 18 of the air guide member 17 is in air communication with the second blowing outlet 5. The pipe wall of the air guide member 17 then closes the first pipe portion 32A of the internal pipe device 33.

[0085] As described above, in order to ensure the mechanical connection between the buttons 29, 29', 29" of the control mechanism and the air guiding component 17, and thus transmit the mechanical pushing force applied by the user to the buttons 29, 29', 29" to the air guiding component 17, the control mechanism preferably includes a rotating coupling part 34, which forms a cam and is mechanically connected to the air guiding component 17 on the one hand, and is preferably mechanically connected to the buttons 29, 29', 29" on the other hand. The buttons 29, 29', 29" of the push-button 29, 29', 29" type control mechanism are advantageously fixed to at least one pin 35 (or small roller) forming a follower, which cooperates with the cam so that each push applied to the buttons 29, 29', 29" drives the rotating coupling part 34 to rotate around the rotation axis, and drives the air guiding component 17 to rotate accordingly around its rotation axis C-C'. Preferably, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the button 29, 29', 29" of the push-push button 29, 29', 29" type control mechanism is mounted to perform a purely linear translation along the translation axis DD' relative to the rest of the hairdressing appliance 1, in particular relative to its handle 7, between an unpressed position (or released position) as described above and a pressed position. In this way, the movement of the button 29, 29', 29" under the action of the push exerted by the user is a pure linear translation movement, i.e., according to the linear sliding connection, has the same average direction as the push exerted by the user. Therefore, regardless of the position and orientation of the button 29, 29', 29" relative to the user when using the hairdressing appliance 1, the manipulation of the button 29, 29', 29" is particularly easy and intuitive for the user. Alternatively, although less advantageous in terms of simplicity and size of design, and also less advantageous in terms of ergonomics, the button can be, for example, mounted so as to be rotatable or pivotable or toggleable, and constructed and arranged so that the contact portion of the button describes a curved trajectory in the shape of an arc under the action of the push exerted by the user. Even more preferably, the button 29, 29', 29" is arranged relative to the rotational coupling part 34 so that the button The linear translation axis D-D' of the buttons 29, 29', 29" coincides with the rotation axis of the rotational coupling part 34. Therefore, each push exerted by the user on the buttons 29, 29', 29" drives the linear translation displacement of the buttons 29, 29', 29", and preferably directly drives the rotational coupling part 34 to rotate around the translation axis D-D' of the buttons 29, 29', 29". Since there are preferably no intermediate parts between the buttons 29, 29', 29" and the rotational coupling part 34, its design is particularly simple and compact. Alternatively, the linear translation axis D-D' of the button can be set to be parallel to the rotation axis of the rotational coupling part 34 and offset relative to the rotation axis of the rotational coupling part 34, or to be set to be inclined to or orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotational coupling part 34, which is however not conducive to the simplicity and compactness of the design of the control mechanism.

[0086] Advantageously, the rotary coupling part 34 is fixed against rotation relative to the air guiding part 17, and the axis of rotation of the rotary coupling part 34 coincides with the corresponding axis of rotation C-C' of the air guiding part 17. Thus, each movement of the buttons 29, 29', 29" under the action of the push exerted by the user drives the rotary coupling part 34 and the air guiding part 17 to rotate together about the common axis of rotation by the said predetermined angle of rotation. This contributes to the simplicity and reliability of the design and operation of the hair styling appliance 1. For example, as shown in the figures, the rotary coupling part 34 and the air guiding part 17 can be assembled together in a complementary shape manner and are fixed together by a threaded connection (or by clamping / snapping or gluing). Alternatively, the rotary coupling part 34 and the air guiding part 17 may possibly form an integral part together.

[0087] Preferably, as shown in the attached exemplary embodiment, the rotary coupling part 34 more specifically forms a grooved barrel cam. Thus, the rotary coupling part 34 includes at least one rotating cylindrical part provided with a groove 36 forming a cam track, which cam track is defined by two opposite side walls of the groove 36 and is intended to be penetrated by a pin 35 forming a transmission part and fixed to the buttons 29, 29', 29". Thus, the pin 35 is captured inside the groove 36, which helps to ensure a reliable mechanical connection between the buttons 29, 29', 29" and the rotary coupling part 34. Even more preferably, the groove 36 is an outer peripheral groove extending around the entire perimeter of the rotating cylindrical part and being self-closed. In this way, each time the control of the blowing mode change occurs, the rotation of the rotary coupling part 34 about its axis of rotation can be carried out along the same rotational direction.

[0088] For example, in the embodiment shown in the figures, the buttons 29, 29', 29'' are mounted so as to be able to perform a pure rectilinear translation along their rectilinear translation axis D-D', which axis D-D' coincides with the rotation axis of the rotary coupling part 34. Preferably, the rectilinear translation axis D-D' is parallel or coincides with the mean extension axis B-B' of the blowing head 10, which mean extension axis B-B' itself advantageously is parallel or coincides with the rotation axis C-C' of the air guiding part 17, which rotation axis C-C' itself advantageously is parallel or coincides with the mean longitudinal extension axis A-A' of the handle 7. Thus, advantageously, especially when the four aforesaid axes A-A', B-B', C-C', D-D' coincide, a particularly simple construction and a particularly compact hair styling appliance 1 are obtained. The buttons 29, 29', 29'' advantageously include lateral skirts 37, 37', 37'' with a circular cross-section, which rotate along the rectilinear translation axis D-D' and are arranged parallel to the rotating cylindrical part of the rotary coupling part 34 and at least partly cover said cylindrical part. The buttons 29, 29', 29'' are not connected to a single pin 35, but to two pins 35 forming followers, which two pins 35 are arranged on both sides of the rectilinear translation axis D-D' so as to make the mechanical connection between the buttons 29, 29', 29'' and the rotary coupling part 34 more reliable. The free end of each pin 35 is received in a recess 36 of the grooved barrel cam formed here by the rotary coupling part 34. In order to ensure stopping the buttons 29, 29', 29'' so that they do not rotate relative to the rest of the hair styling appliance 1, especially relative to the handle 7 of the hair styling appliance 1, and in order to guide the translational displacement of the buttons 29, 29', 29'' along the rectilinear translation axis D-D', a part of each pin 35 is received inside a corresponding oblong guiding aperture 38, which guiding aperture 38 is formed in a part immovable relative to the handle 7. In order to facilitate the assembly of the hair styling appliance 1, once the buttons 29, 29', 29'' have been assembled so as to cover the rotating cylindrical part of the rotary coupling part 35, each pin 35 can be defined by a cylindrical pin, which cylindrical pin is press-fitted into an orifice formed through the wall of the lateral skirts 37, 37', 37'' of the buttons 29, 29', 29'', so that the pin part defining such a pin 35 forming a follower extends radially inside the buttons 29, 29', 29''. Optionally, as Figure 16 and Figure 17 exemplified, the opposite part of the pin can extend radially outside the buttons 29', 29'' and be trapped in one of the oblong guiding apertures 38. In the Figures 1 to 7 embodiment, a similar configuration of the recess, the pins and the guiding apertures (not shown) is advantageously implemented, except that the opposite part of the pin is advantageously trapped in the lateral skirt 37.

[0089] Advantageously, the push-button type control mechanisms 29, 29', 29'' include an elastic return member 30, such as, as described above, a compression spring for example. The elastic return member 30 is configured and arranged to automatically return the buttons 29, 29', 29'' to their stable release position (non-pressed position) when the push applied by the user on the buttons 29, 29', 29'' stops. As shown, the compression spring may be arranged between the inner surface of the buttons 29, 29', 29'' and the surface of the rotary coupling part 34. The cam formed by the rotary coupling part 34 is preferably constructed and configured in a specific manner such that the air guiding member 17 is rotated by the predetermined rotation angle as follows, which rotation allows the hair styling appliance 1 to switch from one blowing mode to another by a corresponding switching of the air guiding member 17 from one air guiding configuration to another:

[0090] - Only for the first part of the predetermined rotation angle, by the movement of the buttons 29, 29', 29'' under the action of the push applied by the user on the buttons 29, 29', 29'' of the push-button type control mechanism,

[0091] - Then, for the remaining part of the predetermined rotation angle, when the push applied by the user stops, under the combined action of the elastic return member 30 and the cam, by the oppositely directed movement of the buttons 29, 29', 29''.

[0092] In this way, as mentioned previously as a preferred variant, the change of the blowing mode is only initiated by the push applied by the user on the buttons 29, 29', 29'', and after the user has stopped pushing on the buttons 29, 29', 29'' of the control mechanism, the change of the blowing mode is automatically completed by the control mechanism. Thus, the user advantageously only needs to provide a part of the force required to rotate the air guiding member 17 by the predetermined rotation angle to switch the air guiding member 17 from one of its air guiding configurations to another. As described above, this particularly allows the user to change the blowing mode more easily, intuitively and quickly. Even more preferably, the cam is constructed and configured in a specific manner such that for 50% or less of the predetermined rotation angle (i.e., at most 50%, for example only 30%, 40% or 50%), the rotation of the air guiding member 17 by the predetermined rotation angle is achieved by the movement of the buttons 29, 29', 29'' of the control mechanism under the action of the push applied on the buttons 29, 29', 29'', and then, for the remaining part of the predetermined rotation angle (i.e., 50% or more, for example 50%, 60% or 70%), when the applied push stops, the rotation of the air guiding member 17 by the predetermined rotation angle is achieved by the oppositely directed movement of the buttons 29, 29', 29'' under the combined action of the elastic return member 30 and the cam.

[0093] For example, this feature can be implemented in the following manner: by adjusting the curve of the cam path defined by the groove 36 of the above-mentioned grooved drum cam to define at least two consecutive cam path portions forming inclined planes with opposite slopes, wherein the travel of the pin 35 forming the follower drives the air guiding member 17 to rotate by a predetermined rotation angle in the following manner. First, when the user applies a push on the buttons 29, 29', 29'' to move them from the release position (unpressed position) to the pressed position, the pin 35 travels along the first portion of the cam path and slides against one side wall of the groove 36 forming the first inclined plane, thereby driving the rotary coupling part 34 to rotate by a first rotation angle. Then, when the user stops pushing on the buttons 29, 29', 29'', the elastic return member 30 automatically returns the buttons 29, 29', 29'' to their release position (unpressed position), and then the pin 35 passes through the second portion of the cam path. This time, it slides against the other side wall of the groove 36 forming the second inclined plane (whose slope is opposite to that of the first inclined plane). The pin 35 is pressed against the second inclined plane under the action of the elastic return member 30, thereby forcing the rotary coupling part 34 to rotate by a second rotation angle in the same direction. The slope of the first inclined plane is selected to be equal to or greater and more distinct than the slope of the second inclined plane, such that the first rotation angle is thus smaller than the second rotation angle, and the sum of the first and second rotation angles corresponds to the predetermined rotation angle. In this way, the first rotation angle corresponds to the movement initiated by the user's push, while the second rotation angle corresponds to the above-mentioned automatic complementary movement.

[0094] For example, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the switching of the air guiding member 17 from one of the first and second air guiding configurations to the other is achieved by rotating the air guiding member 17 by a predetermined rotation angle of 180° about its rotation axis C-C'. Therefore, by rotating 360° about its rotation axis C-C' under the action of two consecutive pushes applied on the buttons 29, 29', 29'', the air guiding member 17 can advantageously change the angular configuration twice, alternating between the first and second air guiding configurations. Then, the grooved drum cam can be advantageously constructed and configured such that the rotation of the air guiding member 17 by the predetermined rotation angle is implemented as follows:

[0095] - Only for 90° (the first rotation angle) (i.e., 50%), under the action of the push applied by the user on the buttons 29, 29', 29'', through the pure linear translational movement of the buttons 29, 29', 29'' from their release (stable) position to their pressed (unstable) position,

[0096] - Then, for the remaining 90°, when the push applied by the user stops, under the combined action of the elastic return member 30 and the grooved drum cam, through the pure linear translational movement of the buttons 29, 29', 29'' in the opposite direction from their pressed (unstable) position to their release (stable) position.

[0097] Advantageously, as shown in the illustrated embodiments and Examples 1, 2A and 2B, which will be described in more detail below in conjunction with Figure 6 and Figure 7 、 Figure 12 and Figure 13 、 Figure 14 and Figure 15 respectively, the support parts 25, 25', 25'' carrying the visual selection marks 21, 21', 21'' are mechanically connected to the air guiding part 17 by means of a rotary coupling part 34 and are fixed non-rotatably relative to the air guiding part 17, so that when the air guiding part 17 is switched from one of the first and second air guiding configurations to the other, the rotary coupling part 34 and the air guiding part 17 rotate together with the rotationally driven support parts 25, 25', 25''.

[0098] As Figure 6 and Figure 7 (Example 1) illustrates, the support part 25 may advantageously comprise a tubular part 25A and an upper part 25B, the tubular part 25A being mounted so as to be linearly translatable along the linear translation axis D-D' of the button 29 inside the rotary coupling part 34, the upper part 25B being, for example, in the form of a hemispherical shell which extends the tubular part 25A and is received in the free space 26 formed inside the button 29 (manual control part 22).

[0099] The upper part 25B is then advantageously mechanically rotationally connected to the button 29 and has an outer surface which is oriented so as to face the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the button 29 which delimits the free space 26 and is locally provided with a coloured marking which forms the visual selection mark 21. An elastic return member 30, such as, for example, a compression spring, can advantageously be received inside the tubular part 25A of the support part 25 and the rotary coupling part 34 in order to exert, via the support part 25, an automatic return force which returns the button 29 to its release position (unpressed position).

[0100] As previously mentioned, the peripheral wall of the button 29 advantageously has a first opening 23A formed through a first part 24A of the peripheral wall and a second opening 23B formed through a second part 24B of the peripheral wall, the first opening 23A being visible from the outside of the hair styling appliance 1 on the side of the first face 2 of the hair styling appliance 1, and the second opening 23B being visible from the outside of the hair styling appliance 1 on the side of the second face 4 of the hair styling appliance 1. Thus, for example, when the first blowing mode is initially selected, the support part 25 is in a first position ( Figure 6 ), in which the visual selection mark 21 (coloured marking) carried by the upper part 25B of the support part 25 is arranged so as to face the first opening 23A, so that when the user is advantageously perpendicular to the first face 2 ( Figure 5On the left side and Figure 6 ) When viewing the first face 2 of the hair styling appliance 1, the visual selection marker 21 is thus visible to the user through the first opening 23A. Then, when the user pushes on the button 29 to switch the button from its released position (non-pressed position) to its pressed position and then releases their pushing force to control the switching from the first blowing mode to the second blowing mode, the support part 25, the rotary coupling part 34, and the air guiding member 17 rotate together about the rotation axis C-C' of the air guiding member 17 by the predetermined rotation angle (for example equal to 180°). The support part 25 is thus driven to be in the second position ( Figure 7 ), in which second position the visual selection marker 21 is then arranged to face the second opening 23B such that when the user advantageously views the second face 4 of the hair styling appliance 1 perpendicularly to the second face 4 ( Figure 5 On the right side and Figure 7 ) the visual selection marker 21 is thus visible to the user through the second opening 23B.

[0101] Alternatively, as Figure 12 and Figure 13 (Example 2A) and Figure 14 and Figure 15(Example 2B) As an example, the support parts 25', 25" may advantageously include tubular parts 25A', 25A" and upper parts 25B', 25B". The tubular parts 25A', 25A" are mounted to linearly translate and slide inside the rotary coupling part 34 along the linear translation axis C-C' of the buttons 29', 29". The upper parts 25B', 25B" extend the tubular parts 25A', 25A" and are received in the free spaces 26', 26" formed inside the buttons 29', 29" (manual control parts 22). The upper parts 25B', 25B" are then advantageously mechanically and rotationally connected to the buttons 29', 29". An elastic return member 30, such as a compression spring for example, may advantageously be received inside the tubular parts 25A', 25A" of the support parts 25', 25" and the rotary coupling part 34, so as to apply an automatic return force through the support parts 25', 25" to return the buttons 29', 29" to their release position (unpressed position). The side skirts 37', 37" of the buttons 29', 29" are advantageously provided with first pores 39A', 39A" and second pores 39B', 39B". In these Examples 2A and 2B, as described above, the indicator system advantageously includes a first opening 27A formed through the first cover part 28A of the hair styling appliance 1 and a second opening 27B formed through the second cover part 28B of the hair styling appliance 1. The first pores 39A', 39A" and second pores 39B', 39B" of the buttons 29', 29" are advantageously designed and configured to be arranged facing the first opening 27A of the first cover part 28A and the second opening 27B of the second cover part 28B respectively.

[0102] As Figure 12 and Figure 13 As an example (Example 2A), the tubular part 25A' of the support part 25' may advantageously have an outer surface that is oriented to face the inner surface of the side skirt 37' of the button 29', and the outer surface is locally provided with a color mark that forms the visual selection mark 21'. Alternatively, as Figure 14 and Figure 15 As an example (Example 2B), the upper part 25B" of the support part 25" may include a pair of curved arms, each curved arm having an outer surface that is oriented to face the inner surface of the side skirt 37" of the button 29", and only the outer surface of one of the arms is locally provided with a color mark that forms the visual selection mark 21" (it should be noted here that it is clearly conceivable that the upper part 25B" of the support part 25" includes only one and only one curved arm having an outer surface locally provided with a color mark).

[0103] Thus, when, for example, the first blowing mode is initially selected, the support parts 25', 25" are in the first position ( Figure 12 andFigure 14 ), in this position, the visual selection markers 21', 21" (color signs) carried by the arm of the tubular part 25A' of the support part 25'( Figure 12 ) or the upper part 25B" of the support part 25"( Figure 14 ) are arranged to face the first opening 27A formed through the first cover part 28A, so that when the user advantageously views the first face 2 of the hair styling appliance 1 perpendicularly to the first face 2( Figure 12 and Figure 14 ), the visual selection markers 21', 21" are thus visible to the user on the one hand through the first opening 27A and on the other hand through the first pores 39A', 39A".

[0104] Then, when the user pushes on the buttons 29', 29" to switch them from their release position (non-pressed position) to their pressed position and then releases the pushing force to control the switching from the first blowing mode to the second blowing mode, the support parts 25', 25", the rotary coupling part 34 and the air guiding part 17 rotate together about the rotation axis C-C' of the air guiding part 17 by the predetermined rotation angle (for example equal to 180°). The support parts 25', 25" are thus brought to a second position( Figure 13 and Figure 15 ), in this position, the visual selection markers 21', 21" are this time arranged to face the second opening 27B formed through the second cover part 28B, so that when the user advantageously views the second face 4 of the hair styling appliance 1 perpendicularly to the second face 4( Figure 13 and Figure 15 ), the visual selection markers 21', 21" are thus visible to the user on the one hand from the second opening 27B and on the other hand from the second pores 39B', 39B".

[0105] In the particular case where the hair styling appliance 1 is designed with an indicator system according to Example 1 above in combination with at least a control system design, as described above, the control system 20 is a push-push button 29 type control mechanism, the button 29 of which is mounted to be able to perform a pure linear translation along a linear translation axis D-D' between a non-pressed position and a pressed position, as Figures 1 to 7 illustrated by way of example, it is advantageous to provide that:

[0106] - when the button 29 is in the non-pressed position, at least part of the peripheral wall of the button 29 forming the manual control member 22 is arranged in the housing 6 of the hair styling appliance 1, and

[0107] - the housing 6 of the hair styling appliance 1 has at least one first notch 40A and at least one second notch 40B, when the button 29 is in the non-pressed position( Figure 3, left and right), the first opening 27A formed through the first part 28A of the peripheral wall is arranged to face the first notch 40A, and when the button 29 is in the non-pressed position ( Figure 4 , left and right), the second opening 27B formed through the second part 28B of the peripheral wall is arranged to face the second notch 40B.

[0108] In other words, the first face 2 of the hair styling appliance 1 thus bears the first notch 40A, while the second face 4 of the hair styling appliance 1 bears the second notch 40B. As Figures 1 to 7 shown in the example embodiment illustrated, when both the button 29 of the push-button type control mechanism and the indicator system are arranged at the blow head 10 of the hair styling appliance 1 (i.e., borne by or belonging to the blow head 10), the first notch 40A is thus advantageously borne by the part of the housing 6 that defines the first face of the blow head 10. Conversely, the second notch 40B is thus advantageously borne by the part of the housing 6 that defines the second face of the blow head 10. This particular design particularly advantageously allows the hair styling appliance 1 to have a particularly compact feature by allowing the button 29 to be arranged as far as possible inside the housing 6, while still ensuring good visibility of the visual selection marker 21.

[0109] Furthermore, when the button 29 of the push-button type control mechanism is also arranged substantially along an axis parallel or coincident with the average extension axis B-B' of the blow head 10, as shown in the figure, the first and second notches 40A, 40B advantageously each have an opening directed towards the upper (free) end of the blow head 10. Then, the first and second notches 40A, 40B and their respective openings can be advantageously constructed and dimensioned to allow at least one finger of the user to enter the opening when the user applies a pushing force to the button 29 to control the change of the blowing mode. This makes the operation of the control system by the user easier and more practical, especially when the contact part 31 of the button 29 is advantageously arranged to be aligned or almost flush with the outer surface (or at least the external geometric envelope) of the housing 6 of the hair styling appliance 1 without a push being applied to the button 29.

[0110] Industrial application possibilities

[0111] The present invention has industrial applications in the design and manufacture of hair styling appliances, for example for household use, and more specifically, portable hair styling appliances designed to blow an air flow for drying and / or facilitating hair styling.

Claims

1. A portable hair styling appliance (1) comprising an air flow generating member for generating an air flow (F) according to at least two different blowing modes, said appliance (1) having a first face (2) and a second face (4), said first face carrying a first blowing outlet (3) for blowing the air flow (F) out of the appliance (1) in a first blowing mode among said blowing modes, said second face carrying a second blowing outlet (5) for blowing the air flow (F) out of the appliance (1) in a second blowing mode among said blowing modes, said appliance (1) comprising - a control system (20) for allowing a user to alternately select one blowing mode or the other among said blowing modes, and - an indicator system for providing the user with visual information as to which one of said blowing modes has thus been selected, said indicator system comprising visual selection marks (21, 21’, 21”) which are alternately visible on the side of that one of the first and second faces (2, 4) which carries the blowing outlet (3, 5) corresponding to the selected blowing mode.

2. The apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The first and second blowing outlets (3, 5) are arranged opposite each other on either side of a plane (P1) inscribed in the average extension direction of the appliance (1).

3. The appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The control system (20) comprises a movable manual control member (22), such as a button or a wheel, for allowing the user to actuate the control system (20).

4. The appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, comprising a handle (7) for manual grasping and a blow head (10) connected to the handle (7), said blow head (10) carrying the first and second blowing outlets (3, 5), and said manual control member (22) being preferably arranged at the blow head (10).

5. The appliance (1) according to any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein The indicator system comprises at least one opening (23A, 23B) formed through a part (24A, 24B) of the peripheral wall of the manual control member (22), said opening being visible from the outside of the appliance (1), and a support part (25) carrying the visual selection mark (21) and at least partially received in a free space (26) formed inside the manual control member (22) such that the visual selection mark is arranged to face the opening (23A, 23B) according to the selected blowing mode.

6. The appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The indicator system comprises: - a first opening (23A) formed through a first part (24A) of the peripheral wall and visible from the outside of the appliance (1) on the side of the first face (2) of the appliance (1), and - a second opening (23B) formed through a second part (24B) of the peripheral wall and visible from the outside of the appliance (1) on the side of the second face (4) of the appliance (1), The support part (25) is mounted so as to be movable in the free space (26) formed inside the manual control part (22) between a first position and a second position. In the first position, when the first blowing mode is selected, the visual selection mark (21) is arranged to face the first opening (23A). In the second position, when the second blowing mode is selected, the visual selection mark (21) is arranged to face the second opening (23B).

7. The appliance (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The indicator system comprises: - On the one hand, a first opening (27A) formed through a first cover part (28A) of the appliance, the outer surface of which defines at least a part of the first face (2) of the appliance (1), and a second opening (27B) formed through a second cover part (28B) of the appliance (1), the outer surface of which defines at least a part of the second face (4) of the appliance (1), and - On the other hand, support parts (25’, 25”) which carry the visual selection marks (21’, 21”), the visual selection marks being received in internal recesses (26’, 26”) defined by the first and second cover parts (28A, 28B) and being mounted so as to be movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, when the first blowing mode is selected, the visual selection marks (21’, 21”) are arranged to face the first opening (27A). In the second position, when the second blowing mode is selected, the visual selection marks (21’, 21”) are arranged to face the second opening (27B).

8. The appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The air flow generating member comprises a blower module (12) for starting the air flow (F) and an air guiding member (17), the air guiding member being mounted so as to be movable at least between: - A first air guiding configuration in which the air guiding member (17) guides the started air flow (F) towards the first blowing outlet (3) according to the first blowing mode, and - A second air guiding configuration in which the air guiding member (17) guides the started air flow (F) towards the second blowing outlet (5) according to the second blowing mode, The control system (20) is connected to the air guiding member (17) to control each switching of the air guiding member (17) from one air guiding configuration to the other among the first and second air guiding configurations.

9. The apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The control system (20) is a push - push button (29, 29’, 29”) type control mechanism.

10. The apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The buttons (29, 29’, 29”) of the push - push button type control mechanism are mechanically connected to the air guiding member (17) to mechanically convert each movement of the buttons (29, 29’, 29”) under the action of a push applied to the buttons (29, 29’, 29”) into a movement of the air guiding member (17) from one air guiding configuration to the other among the first and second air guiding configurations.

11. The appliance (1) according to any one of claims 9 and 10, wherein The air guiding member (17) is mounted for rotation about a rotation axis (C-C') between at least a first and a second air guiding configuration, and a push-button (29, 29', 29") type control mechanism controls the switching of the air guiding member from one air guiding configuration to the other air guiding configuration among the first and the second air guiding configurations by rotating the air guiding member (17) by a predetermined rotation angle.

12. The appliance (1) according to claims 10 and 11, wherein, The push-button (29, 29', 29") type control mechanism includes a rotary coupling part (34), the rotary coupling part (34) forms a cam and is mechanically connected to the air guiding member (17), the button (29, 29', 29") is fixed to at least one pin (35) forming a follower, and the pin cooperates with the cam such that each push applied to the button (29, 29', 29") drives the rotary coupling part (34) to rotate about the rotation axis and the corresponding rotation of the air guiding member (17).

13. The appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The push-button type control mechanism includes an elastic reset member (30), and the cam is constructed and configured such that the rotation of the air guiding member (17) by the predetermined rotation angle is achieved as follows: - Only for a first part of the predetermined rotation angle, preferably for 50% or less of the predetermined rotation angle, by the movement of the button (29, 29', 29") under the action of the push applied to the button (29, 29', 29"), - Then, for the remaining part of the predetermined rotation angle, by the movement of the button (29, 29', 29") in the opposite direction under the combined action of the elastic reset member (30) and the cam.

14. The appliance (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein, The button (29, 29', 29") is mounted for pure linear translation along a linear translation axis (D-D') between a non-pressed position and a pressed position.

15. The appliance (1) according to claims 6 and 14, comprising a housing (6), an outer surface of the housing defining at least a part of the first and second faces (2, 4) of the appliance (1), the button (29) forming the manual control member (22), when the button (29) is in the non-pressed position, a peripheral wall of the manual control member is at least partially arranged in the housing (6), the housing (6) has a first notch (40A) and a second notch (40B), when the button (29) is in the non-pressed position, the first opening (27A) is arranged to face the first notch (40A), and when the button (29) is in the non-pressed position, the second opening (27B) is arranged to face the second notch (40B).