Hair care appliance

Abstract

A hair care appliance for styling a user's hair is disclosed. A hair care appliance includes a body housing a drive motor and an airflow generator; and a sensor arrangement for sensing one or more of a hair parameter of the hair of the user and an ambient parameter of the ambient environment of the hair care appliance. The hair care appliance also includes an attachment releasably attached to the body. The accessory includes an air inlet for receiving the airflow from the airflow generator, an air outlet for emitting the airflow, and a movable member releasably connected to the drive motor. The hair care appliance includes a controller configured to control the drive motor to move the movable member between a first configuration to interact with the hair of the user and a different second configuration to interact with the hair of the user in response to one or more of the hair parameter and the ambient parameter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hair care appliance; an accessory for a hair care appliance; and a main body of a hair care appliance. Background Art

[0002] Traditionally, hair care appliances can include a variety of different styling attachments. These styling attachments can direct the airflow from the airflow generator in the main body to the outlet in a variety of ways. To effectively style their hair, the user must typically move the hair care appliance to control the direction of the airflow from the outlet. To adjust the characteristics of the airflow itself, the user can toggle switches to select the temperature and airflow speed, typically from preset options. In some cases, the user must guess at the appropriate time to make these changes. For example, they may need to guess when their hair is nearly dry to set the style using a cool spray (lower airflow) temperature. These issues, individually or in combination, can make styling hair difficult and frustrating for the user. The present invention aims to at least partially alleviate some of these problems. Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hair care appliance for styling a user's hair, the hair care appliance comprising: a main body housing a drive motor and an airflow generator; a sensor arrangement for sensing one or more of hair parameters of the user's hair and ambient parameters of an environment surrounding the hair care appliance; an attachment releasably attachable to the main body, the attachment comprising an air inlet for receiving an airflow from the airflow generator, an air outlet for emitting the airflow, and a movable member releasably connected to the drive motor; and a controller configured to control the drive motor to move the movable member between a first configuration for interacting with the user's hair and a second, different configuration for interacting with the user's hair in response to one or more of the hair parameters and the ambient parameters.

[0004] Providing releasable attachments can allow the user to interchange different attachments according to the desired styling effect, so this can provide the user with greater styling flexibility. In addition, removing the attachments after use can allow for easier and compact storage of the hair care appliance.

[0005] It will be appreciated that in some examples, the suitability of either the first configuration or the second configuration to interact with the user's hair may include directing airflow around the user's hair.

[0006] The drive motor can automatically change the movable member of the accessory between a first and a second configuration based on sensed parameters. These sensed parameters may include hair temperature, ambient humidity readings, hair tension, distance from the user's hair, and the like. Movement of the movable member may be directly responsive to one or more of the hair and ambient parameters, or may be responsive to parameters derived from one or more of the hair and ambient parameters. Thus, the hair care appliance can be adjusted to improve styling performance and reduce hair damage compared to known hair care appliances. Automation can make styling easier for the user. For parameters not readily visible to the user, this can have the added advantage of actuating changes without requiring the accessory to be removed from the user's hair (e.g., by lifting the diffuser bowl). For example, the sensor arrangement can determine that a hair parameter has moved above or below a predetermined limit and then automatically change the movable member between the first and second configurations based on the sensed parameter.

[0007] Using a sensor arrangement to determine one or more of hair parameters and ambient parameters and then, in response, driving a motor to drive the movable member between a first configuration and a second configuration can eliminate any need for user input while achieving improved styling results compared to prior art hair care appliances.

[0008] The sensor arrangement can consist of a single sensor or multiple sensors. In the case of multiple sensors, the sensors can be the same or different types. The sensors can be spaced apart on the body; attached; or a combination thereof. In some examples, one or more sensors can be within the body, for example, adjacent to a heater, to monitor the internal temperature of the hair care appliance. In some examples, one or more sensors can protrude from the exterior of the body. These sensors can avoid obstruction by the body when sensing external parameters. The sensor arrangement can communicate with the controller via a wired or wireless connection (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RF communication, etc.).

[0009] In some examples, the main body may include a first subassembly housing the airflow generator and a second subassembly housing the drive motor. For example, the second subassembly may be releasably attached to the first subassembly on a first side and to an accessory on a second, opposite side. This may advantageously allow the drive motor and accessory to be retrofitted to a hair care appliance. In these examples, the controller may be housed in either the second subassembly or the accessory.

[0010] In some examples, a hair care appliance may include a connection mechanism configured to selectively release the movable member from the drive motor when the accessory is attached to the body. The connection mechanism may include a clutch that releases the movable member. The connection mechanism may provide a protective mechanism for the drive motor and / or the movable member during use. In some examples, the connection mechanism may form part of the accessory and be fixed to the movable member while being releasably connected to the drive motor. In some examples, the connection mechanism may be fixed to the drive motor and releasably connected to the movable member. In some examples, both the hair care appliance and the accessory may include respective connection mechanisms that releasably connect together. For example, the drive motor may include a first clutch fixed thereto, and the movable member may include a second clutch fixed thereto; and the first and second clutches may be configured to engage with each other to provide a releasable connection.

[0011] The hair care appliance may have an idle mode. In idle mode, the hair care appliance may be turned on and operated, and the movable member may be maintained in a fixed configuration with the connecting mechanism in a released position. In other words, the movable member is disengaged and cannot move between positions. The hair care appliance may be used in this idle mode. The fixed configuration may include a first configuration or a second configuration. If a user physically manipulates the accessory, thereby manipulating the movable member, while in idle mode, the presence of the connecting mechanism may prevent the movable member from acting on the drive motor and thereby damaging the hair care appliance. The connecting mechanism may be biased to return the hair care appliance to idle mode.

[0012] The connection mechanism may be a clutch made of a material configured to reduce vibration and, in some cases, allow the drive motor to move the movable member even with some slippage. An example material may be silicone.

[0013] Control instructions to the drive motor (e.g., from a controller) may include a connection command causing the drive motor to engage the movable member via the connection mechanism, followed by a movement command causing the movable member to move between a first configuration and a second configuration. As an additional function, the controller may also control the connection mechanism to release the drive motor from the accessory. The controller may automate these functions and / or include a switch for a user to actively release and / or engage the connection mechanism.

[0014] The controller may include a user override function. The user override function may be configured to receive user input and control the drive motor to move the movable member between the first configuration and the second configuration regardless of one or more of the hair parameters and the ambient parameters.

[0015] Compared to hair care appliances with only an automatic mode, a user override function can improve the usability of the hair care appliance. In some cases, a user may wish to control the hair care appliance regardless of sensed hair or ambient parameters, which can be accommodated by a user override function within the controller. To this end, the controller can include a user interface, such as a switch or screen. The user interface can switch between an automatic mode, which depends on the sensor arrangement and the controller, or a manual mode that enables the override function. In the override function, the controller can disconnect or bypass the sensor arrangement. Thus, the user can manually change between the first and second configurations.

[0016] In some examples of user override functionality, a portion of the sensor arrangement can continue to operate and control parameters of the hair care appliance. For example, as the user directs the position of an attachment, the controller and temperature sensor can automatically adjust the temperature of the airflow.

[0017] The body of the hair care appliance may include an aperture. The drive motor may be centrally positioned within the aperture. This may reduce disruption to the airflow generated by the airflow generator and / or allow the body to be compact (instead of attaching the motor to the exterior of the body). Reducing the size of the body compared to known devices may make the hair care appliance easier for the user to manipulate.

[0018] In some examples, the main body and the accessory may each include an attachment surface. The attachment surfaces are configured to abut each other when the accessory is attached to the main body. Each corresponding attachment surface may include an electrical connector so that when the accessory is attached to the main body, the main body and the accessory are electrically connected. Providing an electrical connector between the main body and the accessory can facilitate communication between the electrical components when the accessory is connected to the main body. For example, the above-mentioned sensor arrangement and controller can communicate via the electrical connector. The attachment surface can form a method for attaching the accessory to the main body and can include one or more of the following: a magnet; a clip; or a threaded joint. In some examples, the main body and the accessory can additionally or alternatively communicate wirelessly. These communications can be Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RF communications (e.g., RFID).

[0019] Furthermore, an electrical connection to the accessory can mean that the accessory does not require its own power source. In this way, electrical components in or on the accessory (e.g., sensors, LEDs, additional motors) can be powered via the main body. This can reduce the charging requirements of the hair care appliance. In some examples, the accessory includes a rechargeable battery pack. In these examples, for example, the electrical connection can provide more stable communication between the sensor arrangement, the controller, and / or other components of the hair care appliance compared to relying on wireless communication.

[0020] In some examples, the sensor arrangement may include a moisture sensor, and at least one of the hair parameter and the ambient parameter may include a moisture level. In some examples, the moisture value may be humidity, wherein the moisture sensor includes a humidity sensor. Thus, the sensor arrangement and the controller may be able to determine how dry the user's hair is.

[0021] The controller can be configured to, in one or both of the first and second configurations and in response to the sensed humidity level, control at least one of: a heater in the main body to change the airflow temperature; or an airflow generator to change the airflow speed. This can allow the hair care appliance to personalize the airflow temperature and / or speed for each use of the hair care appliance. This can improve the user experience compared to previous hair care appliances.

[0022] The sensor arrangement may comprise a temperature sensor, and at least one of the hair parameter and the ambient parameter may comprise temperature.

[0023] The motor can move the movable member in response to a humidity parameter of the user's hair or the ambient air; or the temperature of the hair or the ambient air; or both. In this way, the interaction between the movable member and the user's hair can be modified to best suit the sensed humidity parameter and / or temperature. This can improve the styling process.

[0024] The controller may be configured to, in one or both of the first and second configurations and in response to the sensed temperature, control at least one of:

[0025] A heater, located in the main body, changes the temperature of the airflow; or an airflow generator changes the airflow velocity. Changing the airflow velocity and temperature can protect hair from damage. In some cases, a cold jet, where the airflow generator cools the airflow, can help set the style. Therefore, the controller can control the temperature to decrease for a predetermined period of time to deliver the cold jet.

[0026] In some examples, when the movable member is in a first configuration, airflow exits the air outlet in a first direction; and when the movable member is in a second configuration, airflow exits the air outlet in a second, different direction. Changing the direction of airflow based on moisture content and / or temperature can allow for improved styling compared to previous hair care appliances. For example, changing the direction of airflow during styling can improve smoothness or add additional volume to a user's hair.

[0027] The second direction can be opposite to the first direction. In this way, the controller can reverse the direction of the airflow. Reversing the direction of the airflow can allow the attachment to perform dual functions on opposite sides. For example, the first configuration can be used to primarily dry the user's hair, while the second configuration can then lift or add volume to the user's hair.

[0028] The attachment may include an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion may oppose the upper portion and define a hair-receiving space therebetween. The first direction may be toward the upper portion, and the second direction may be toward the lower portion. Placing hair between the two portions with varying airflow directions allows airflow to be directed toward the user's scalp for a root lift function (to provide improved volume), while also addressing the potential discomfort of heat on the user's scalp by directing airflow away from the user's scalp based on sensed temperature and / or humidity parameters. This improves the user's styling experience compared to previous hair care appliances.

[0029] In some examples, the attachment may include a diffuser bowl. In these examples, air may enter the diffuser bowl in a first direction and exit the diffuser bowl in a second direction. Compared to a nozzle, a diffuser bowl may allow for improved styling, for example by improving smoothness. Reversing the airflow direction by changing the movable member, particularly at the end of the drying process (which may be determined based on temperature and / or humidity parameters), may improve smoothness or aid in setting the style compared to a unidirectional airflow exiting the diffuser bowl.

[0030] In some examples, the drive motor can be configured to move the movable member from the first configuration to the second configuration when the humidity sensor determines that the hair has reached a predetermined humidity value. Using the predetermined humidity value to trigger the drive motor can reduce the processing requirements of the hair care appliance, for example by eliminating the need for a decision matrix. For example, as hair dries, the moisture content of the hair or the surrounding environment will decrease. Thus, the predetermined humidity value can be a threshold (e.g., a low humidity value indicating that the hair is mostly dry), and once this threshold is passed, the controller controls the drive motor to move the movable member between the first and second configurations. In some examples, the user can select the predetermined humidity value before styling, thereby increasing the customizability of the hair care appliance compared to previous hair care appliances.

[0031] In some examples, the sensor arrangement may include a position sensor configured to sense one or more of a position and an orientation of the external accessory relative to the accessory. The controller may be configured to control the drive motor to move the movable member between the first configuration and the second configuration in response to one or more of the position and the orientation of the external accessory.

[0032] Moving the movable member between the first configuration and the second configuration may include rotating the movable member between a first position in the first configuration and a second position in the second configuration, wherein in the first position, airflow is emitted from the outlet in a first direction, and wherein in the second position, airflow is emitted from the outlet in a second direction different from the first direction. Rotating the movable member can adapt the position of the air outlet and change the direction of the airflow exiting the air outlet. This may be particularly advantageous if the accessory includes a feature that focuses airflow. Changing the direction of the airflow exiting the outlet can allow the airflow to be directed, for example, toward an external accessory. This can allow the hair care appliance to be used in many different orientations and provide good styling results. It should be understood that the drive motor can be configured to rotate the movable member so that the airflow exiting the outlet can be changed by approximately 360°. The rotation can be a continuous movement between multiple positions, resulting in a continuous change in the direction of the airflow from the accessory.

[0033] Sensing the spatial position (spatial location) of external accessories can improve the usability of the hair care appliance relative to its surroundings, thereby providing improved styling capabilities compared to previous hair care appliances.

[0034] The motor can move the movable member between configurations to best match the spatial position of the external accessory. Compared to previous hair care appliances that typically have a static airflow direction or oscillate in some automated manner, this can reduce the burden on the user to correctly position or hold the hair care appliance relative to the external accessory.

[0035] The drive motor can additionally move the other movable member between a third position and a fourth position, wherein the third and fourth positions lie in a different plane than the first and second positions of the movable member. This can allow for greater flexibility in the direction of airflow in the hair care appliance compared to previous hair care appliances. Thus, the hair care appliance can be configured to change airflow direction along multiple axes. In some cases, this can improve tracking of airflow toward external accessories compared to single-plane tracking, which can further improve the usability of the device.

[0036] The sensor arrangement may include one or more of the following: a sensor comprising a magnetic flux sensor configured to interact with a magnetic field of an external accessory; or an electromagnetic detector configured to detect electromagnetic waves from the external accessory; or an orientation sensor configured to communicate with another orientation sensor in the external accessory to determine the orientation of the external accessory relative to the accessory; or a position sensor configured to communicate with another position sensor in the external accessory to determine the relative position of the external accessory and the accessory.

[0037] The sensor arrangement may include a tension-measuring sensor, such as a strain gauge, configured to determine the tension of the user's hair in the attachment. In this case, the controller may be configured to control the drive motor to move the movable member between a first configuration and a second configuration in response to the determined tension of the user's hair. Providing a strain gauge allows the movable member to change configuration to reduce undesirable strain on the hair or to increase strain to provide an improved styling experience, compared to previous hair care appliances. The tension-measuring sensor may allow the hair care appliance to automatically adjust tension. This can accelerate the reduction of tension compared to non-automated hair care appliances, thereby improving user comfort by more quickly reducing tug on the hair.

[0038] The accessory may include a plurality of fixed protrusions, and the movable member may include a plurality of movable protrusions spaced between the plurality of fixed protrusions. Moving the movable member between the first configuration and the second configuration may include moving the plurality of movable protrusions relative to the plurality of fixed protrusions to change the distance between each fixed protrusion and an adjacent movable protrusion. The fixed protrusions and the movable protrusions may give the accessory a comb-like appearance.

[0039] Varying the tension on the user's hair positioned within the attachment can allow for improved styling and user comfort compared to an unchangeable attachment. Varying the tension can also allow the attachment to be adapted to different hair types.

[0040] Changing the distance between adjacent protrusions can provide a change in tension. Furthermore, the visible movement of the protrusions can clearly indicate to the user that the tension is changing. Thus, this can allow the user to actively see the change, which can be informative (and in some cases reassuring) to the user.

[0041] In some cases, the movable member can be biased to a first configuration. That is, the movable member can automatically return from the second configuration to the first configuration in the absence of force applied by the drive motor. Biasing the movable member to the first configuration can eliminate the need for a driven return mechanism and, therefore, reduce motor power consumption compared to a motor driven to return the movable member to the first configuration. The first configuration can be a specific configuration for the aforementioned idle mode. In some examples, returning to the first configuration can expedite the setup of the hair care appliance during ongoing use. That is, the first configuration can be a standard configuration required for attachment, with the second configuration being a change required only when determined necessary by the sensor arrangement.

[0042] According to a second aspect of the present invention, an accessory for a hair care appliance is provided, comprising: an air inlet for receiving an air flow; an air outlet for emitting the air flow; and a movable member releasably connected to a drive motor for moving the movable member. The movable member is movable between a first configuration for interacting with a user's hair and a second configuration for interacting with the user's hair, wherein the second configuration is different from the first configuration. The movable member is movable in response to one or more of hair parameters of the user's hair and ambient parameters of an environment surrounding the hair care appliance, as sensed by a sensor arrangement on the hair care appliance.

[0043] The attachment may improve the adaptability of the hair care appliance, and therefore the overall styling capabilities, compared to previous hair care appliances.

[0044] The accessory may include a connection mechanism to release the movable member from the drive motor when the accessory is attached to the main body. The connection mechanism may be a clutch. Having a connection mechanism on the accessory protects the accessory from slipping between the drive motor (or its connection mechanism). The connection mechanism further facilitates releasable attachment of the movable member to the drive motor, independent of any attachment mechanism between the accessory and the main body. Thus, the accessory can be used with the main body without being driven between the first and second positions. In other words, the accessory can have an idle mode.

[0045] The connection mechanism may be a clutch made of a silicone material to reduce vibration and, in some cases, allow the drive motor to move the movable member even with some slippage therebetween.

[0046] The attachment may include at least one sensor of the sensor arrangement mounted thereon. Mounting at least some of the sensors of the sensor arrangement on the attachment means allows the sensors to be closer to the hair or ambient air they sense during use. This may improve the accuracy of readings compared to hair care appliances having sensors mounted solely on the main body or elsewhere.

[0047] Furthermore, interchangeable accessories may have different associated sensors. Thus, only installing the associated sensor on a particular accessory may mean that a body does not require multiple different sensor types to be compatible with multiple accessories.

[0048] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a body for a hair care appliance, the body comprising: a drive motor; an air inlet; an air outlet; an air flow generator for generating an air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet; a sensor arrangement for sensing one or more of hair parameters of a user's hair and ambient parameters of an environment surrounding the body; and a controller configured to control the drive motor in response to one or more of the hair parameters and the ambient parameters.

[0049] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.All features disclosed herein are considered combinable unless expressly stated otherwise or inherently incompatible. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a hair care appliance;

[0051] Figure 2a is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a hair care appliance;

[0052] Figure 2b yes Figure 2a A perspective view of an attachment of a hair care appliance;

[0053] Figure 3a is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a hair care appliance;

[0054] Figure 3b yes Figure 3a A schematic top plan view of a hair care appliance;

[0055] Figure 3c yes Figure 3a A schematic perspective view of an attachment of a hair care appliance;

[0056] Figure 4a is a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment of a hair care appliance;

[0057] Figure 4b yes Figure 4a a perspective view of an attachment of a hair care appliance; and

[0058] Figure 4c It passes through Figure 4b Schematic front cross-sectional view of the accessory. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] Figure 1 a schematically shows a first embodiment of a hair care appliance 10 and an external accessory 16. The hair care appliance 10 comprises a main body 12 and an accessory 14 releasably attachable to the main body 12.

[0060] The body 12 includes a handle portion 18 , a head 20 , an airflow generator 22 , a heater 24 , a user interface 26 , a controller 28 , a drive motor 30 , a clutch 32 , a light source 34 , and a sensor arrangement 36 .

[0061] The handle portion 18 is generally cylindrical and hollow in form and houses the air flow generator 22. The handle portion 18 has an air inlet 38 at a first end 40 of the handle portion 18 in the form of a plurality of perforations.

[0062] The head 20 is generally cylindrical and hollow in form and is disposed at the second end 42 of the handle portion 18, with the central axis of the head 20 being orthogonal to the central axis of the handle portion 18, such that the body 12 has a generally T-shaped form. The head 20 houses the heater 24, the controller 28, the drive motor 30, and the clutch 32. The head 20 includes a bore 44 through which air is entrained, and a flow path toward an air outlet 46. The air outlet 46 is generally annular around the periphery of the bore 44. The head 20 also includes an annular magnet (not shown) for releasably connecting the handle unit 12 to the accessory 14. The annular magnet is positioned around the circumference of the air outlet 46. The head 20 includes a protrusion 48 extending into the bore 44, with the drive motor 30 being centrally retained within the bore 44 by the protrusion 48.

[0063] A user interface 26 is provided on the handle portion 18 and includes an electronic interface having controls to turn the device on and off and to control one or both of the temperature and flow rate of the air flow.

[0064] The controller 28 is responsible for controlling the airflow generator 22, the heater 24, the drive motor 30, the light source 34, and the sensor arrangement 36. For example, in response to input from the user interface 26, the controller 28 is configured to power the airflow generator 22 and / or the heater 24 on and off. Furthermore, the controller 28 is configured to control the power or speed of the airflow generator 22 to change the flow rate of the airflow. Similarly, the controller 28 is configured to control the power of the heater 24 to change the temperature of the airflow. The controller 28 also controls the drive motor 30 and the clutch 32 in response to sensor information from the sensor arrangement 36, as will be discussed in more detail below.

[0065] The user interface 26 or head 20 may also include a control to instruct the controller 28 to enter a user override mode and not control any of the airflow generator 22, heater 24, and drive motor 30 in response to the sensor arrangement 36. In such a user override mode, the user may manually control features of the accessory 14, as will be discussed in more detail below.

[0066] The drive motor 30 is capable of driving a load at a rate within the range of 200 rpm. The drive motor 30 comprises any suitable motor for applying rotational force to the output of the drive motor 30. The clutch 32 extends substantially coaxially with the central longitudinal axis of the aperture 44. The clutch 32 is a connection mechanism that connects the drive motor 30 to the accessory 14. The clutch 32 is configured to selectively disconnect the drive motor 30 from the accessory 14 in response to a command from the controller 28, thereby protecting the drive motor 30.

[0067] The light source 34 comprises an LED which forms part of a position sensing system for the external accessory. The light source 34 is mounted on the head 20 at a position facing the outlet 42. The light source 34 is configured to emit light of a known wavelength towards the external accessory 16.

[0068] The sensor arrangement 36 includes a light sensor mounted on the head 20 of the main body 12 adjacent to the accessory 14. The sensor arrangement 36 is configured to sense wavelength values ​​and intensity values ​​of light from the light source 44 reflected by the target 68 on the external accessory 16. The sensor arrangement 36 communicates with the controller 28 (e.g., wirelessly, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RF communication, or wired communication) to transmit these sensed values.

[0069] Annex 14 is in Figure 1 The attachment 14 is a concentrator and comprises an inlet body 50 , a nozzle 52 , an outlet body 54 as well as a further drive motor 56 and a further sensor 58 .

[0070] The inlet body 50 is generally annular and includes a magnetic strip (not shown) to magnetically couple with the head 20 at the air outlet 46. The inlet body 50 includes an annular inlet that is fluidly connected to the air outlet 46 when the accessory is attached to the head 20.

[0071] The nozzle 52 is substantially hollow and tapers from the inlet body 50 at a first end toward the outlet end of the nozzle 52. The nozzle 52 is coupled to the inlet body 50 via a track, which allows the nozzle 52 to rotate relative to the concentrator body 50 about an axis of rotation R, which corresponds to the axis of rotation of the output of the drive motor 30. The nozzle 52 can thus rotate between a plurality of different configurations. Within the nozzle 52 is a temperature sensor 62. The temperature sensor takes temperature readings of the airflow within the nozzle and transmits these temperature readings to the controller 28 via wireless communication, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or RF communication.

[0072] The nozzle 52 has a rigid member 64 that extends rearwardly from the nozzle 52 and through the inlet body 50 such that the rigid member 64 protrudes rearwardly from the inlet body 50. The rigid member 64 has a length and a connecting member (not shown) that enables the rigid member to be releasably coupled to the clutch 32 (and therefore to the drive motor 30) when the accessory 14 is attached to the body 12.

[0073] The outlet end of the nozzle 52 includes an opening within which an outlet body 54 is located. The outlet body 54 is generally cylindrical and hollow in form and includes a first slot 60 and a second slot 66. The first slot 60 is in fluid communication with the nozzle 52 and is located generally opposite the second slot 66 on the outlet body 66, which defines the air outlet for the accessory 14. The outlet body 54 is rotatably mounted within the outlet end of the nozzle 52 via a rotary gear mechanism (not shown), wherein the outlet body 54 is rotatable about a rotation axis S that is orthogonal to the rotation axis R of the nozzle 52.

[0074] Another drive motor 56 is mounted inside the nozzle 52, and the output of the other drive motor 56 is coupled to a rotary gear mechanism so that the other drive motor 56 can cause the outlet body 54 to rotate relative to the nozzle 52. The other drive motor 56 communicates with the controller 28 through the presence of a sub-controller (not shown) that forms part of the other drive motor 56. The sub-controller communicates with the controller via wired or wireless means (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RF communication, etc.).

[0075] The external accessory 16 is a comb having attached thereto a target 68. The target 68 is formed of a light reflective material.

[0076] In use, when the hair care appliance 10 is activated (by a user inputting a command to the user interface 26), the controller 28 controls the air flow generator 22 to draw air through the handle portion 18 and into the head 20 through the air inlet 38. The air flow travels over the heater 24 and from the air outlet 46 into the attachment 14. The air flow then travels through the attachment 24 and exits the second slot 66.

[0077] While generating the airflow, the controller 28 controls the light source 34 to emit light of different wavelengths at different angles relative to the light source (for example, light in the red spectrum may be emitted between 45° and 90°, and light in the blue spectrum may be emitted between 91° and 135°). When the user manipulates the external accessory 16 relative to the hair care appliance 10, light of different wavelengths strikes the target 72 depending on the relative angle of the target and the light source 58, and the light is reflected by the target 68. The sensor arrangement 36 detects the wavelength and intensity of the received reflected light and transmits these values ​​to the controller 28.

[0078] The controller 28 then determines the angle of the outer fitting 16 relative to the light sensor based on the wavelength of the received reflected light. Using this determined angle, the controller instructs the drive motor 30 and the further drive motor 56 to rotate the nozzle 52 and the outlet body 54, respectively. In this way, the airflow through the second slot 66 is directed to the determined angle of the outer fitting 16.

[0079] Controller 28 also receives the intensity value of the reflected light. Controller 28 uses this value to calculate the distance between target 68 and sensor arrangement 36. Based on the calculated distance, controller 28 controls one or both of airflow generator 22 and heater 24 to change the airflow speed and / or temperature, respectively. For example, if controller 28 determines that the calculated distance is below a preset threshold distance, such as 15 cm, controller 28 reduces the temperature and air speed.

[0080] Instead of allowing the controller 28 to control the direction of the airflow from the accessory based on the sensor readings, the user can select a user override mode on the user interface 26. When the user override mode is selected, the controller 28 can instruct the clutch 32 to disengage from the rigid member 64 of the nozzle 52 and de-energize the light source 34 and the sensor arrangement 36. Alternatively, in the user override mode, the clutch 32 can remain engaged with the rigid member 64 of the nozzle 52, but the user can manually control the movement of the nozzle and / or the outlet body 54 via the user interface 26, rather than the controller 28 controlling the movement of the nozzle 52 and / or the outlet body 54. This can still allow for directional airflow, but here the direction is user-controlled rather than automatically controlled.

[0081] exist Figure 1 In the embodiments of 1a and 1b, either the nozzle 52 or the outlet body 54 can be considered a movable member that moves in response to the determined position and orientation of the external accessory 16. Other embodiments of the hair care appliance having an attachment having a movable member that is actuated in response to a sensed parameter are also contemplated.

[0082] Figure 2a A schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a hair care appliance 100 is shown. The hair care appliance 100 comprises a main body 101 and an attachment 103.

[0083] The body 101 is substantially similar to the body 12 of the first embodiment of the hair care appliance 10 described above, and differs only in that the light source 34 and the sensor arrangement 36 are absent.

[0084] Annex 103 Figure 2b The accessory 103 comprises an inlet body 102 , a connector 104 , a hair treatment bowl 106 , a first set of manifolds 108 , a second set of manifolds 110 and a sensor arrangement 112 .

[0085] The inlet body 102 is generally hollow and includes an annular air inlet 114. The inlet body 102 serves as a plenum chamber that receives airflow from the body 101 of the hair care appliance 100 during use. The inlet body 102 includes a valve arrangement 116 located within its hollow interior. The valve arrangement 116 can rotate within the inlet body 102 to direct airflow through the first set of manifolds 108 or the second set of manifolds 110, as will be discussed in greater detail below. A magnetic strip (not shown) extends annularly around the annular air inlet 114.

[0086] Connector 104 is generally cylindrical in form and extends generally rearwardly from inlet body 102, such that air inlet 114 is annular around the end of connector 104. The outer diameter of connector 104 substantially corresponds to the diameter of bore 44 of body 101. Connector 104 includes a rigid member 118 extending rearwardly and having a certain length, and a connecting member (not shown) that enables rigid member 118 to be releasably coupled to clutch 32 (and drive motor 30) when accessory 103 is attached to body 101. The end of rigid member 118 opposite the end coupled to clutch 32 extends into the inlet body and is connected to valve arrangement 116.

[0087] The first set of manifolds 108 extend away from the inlet body 102 toward an annular connecting portion 120 and are equally spaced about the inlet body 102. Each manifold in the first set of manifolds 108 is substantially hollow in form and is open at the end distal from the inlet body 102. The open end of each of the first set of manifolds 108 leads to the connecting portion 120, which is capped by an annular rim 122.

[0088] The hair treatment bowl 106 is concave and includes a wall 124 having a plurality of apertures 126 formed therein. The hair treatment bowl 106 depends from the inner edge of the connecting portion 120 and the annular rim 122 defines an opening 128 into the hair treatment bowl 106.

[0089] The second set of manifolds 110 extend away from the inlet body 120 toward the annular connecting portion 120, but have a height shorter than the corresponding height of the first set of manifolds 108, such that the second set of manifolds 110 do not reach the annular connecting portion 120. Each manifold in the second set of manifolds 110 is hollow in form and includes a plurality of holes 130 directed toward the wall 124 of the hair treatment bowl 106. The manifolds of the second set of manifolds 110 are equally spaced around the inlet body 120, and each manifold of the second set of manifolds 110 is located intermediate an adjacent manifold of the first set of manifolds 108.

[0090] A sensor arrangement 112 is located within the hair treatment bowl 106, protruding from the wall 124. The sensor arrangement 112 includes a humidity sensor, such as a moisture sensor, which is configured to determine, in use, a humidity value within the hair treatment bowl 106. The sensor arrangement 112 communicates wirelessly with the controller 28 via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or RFID to transmit the sensed humidity value to the controller 28.

[0091] During operation of the second embodiment of the hair care appliance 100, a user's hair is placed in the hair treatment bowl 106, and the airflow generator 22 generates an airflow through the body 101 and into the attachment 103. The controller 28 controls the drive motor 30 to place the valve arrangement 116 in a first configuration, in which the valve arrangement 116 directs the airflow into the first set of manifolds 108. The airflow flows through the first set of manifolds 108 in a direction away from the inlet body 102 and is then directed into the hair treatment bowl 106 by the annular connecting portion 120 and the annular rim 122. In the first configuration, the airflow is blocked from entering the second set of manifolds 110 by the valve arrangement 116. The airflow exits the hair treatment bowl 104 in a direction generally toward the inlet body 102, and thus exits the attachment 103, through the apertures 126 in the wall 124.

[0092] When the valve arrangement 116 is in the first configuration, the sensor arrangement 112 monitors the humidity level within the hair treatment bowl 106 and transmits a signal based on the monitored humidity level back to the controller 28 in the body 101 of the hair care appliance 100. The humidity level indicates the moisture content of the hair contained within the chamber. The controller 28 compares the humidity level to a predetermined threshold humidity level (e.g., 50% relative humidity). When the humidity level is above the threshold, the controller 28 controls the drive motor 30 to maintain the valve arrangement 116 in the first configuration. While a humidity sensor is described herein, it should be understood that other sensors capable of determining the moisture content of the user's hair are also contemplated.

[0093] Then, once the humidity level within the hair treatment bowl 104 drops below a predetermined threshold (indicating that the hair is mostly dry), the controller 28 controls the drive motor 30 to rotate the valve arrangement 116 to the second configuration.

[0094] In the second configuration, the airflow is directed into the second set of manifolds 110, but is blocked from entering the first set of manifolds 108. The airflow is thereby directed along the second set of manifolds 110 away from the inlet body 102 and exits the second set of manifolds 110 via the plurality of apertures 130 of the respective manifolds. The airflow enters the hair treatment bowl 104 through apertures 126 formed in the wall 124 and exits the hair treatment bowl 104 through openings 128 in a direction away from the inlet body 102. Thus, when the valve arrangement 116 is in its first and second configurations, the airflow exits the hair treatment chamber in opposite directions.

[0095] While instructing the drive motor 30 to move the valve arrangement 116 to the second configuration, the controller 28 also controls the heater 24 to reduce the air temperature of the airflow and deliver the cold spray and set the style. In some examples, the controller 28 can separate the instructions to the drive motor 30 and the instructions to the heater 24 by a set period of time, such as 30 seconds.

[0096] exist Figure 2a and Figure 2b In the illustrated second embodiment of the hair care appliance 100 , the valve arrangement 116 , or at least a portion thereof, may be considered to be a movable member that is movable in response to the output of the sensor arrangement 112 .

[0097] Now go to Figure 3a and Figure 3b , schematically shows a third embodiment of a hair care appliance 200 comprising a main body 201 and an attachment 203 . Figure 3b yes Figure 3a Floor plan. Figure 3c A perspective view of the accessory 203 in isolation is shown in FIG.

[0098] The body 201 is substantially similar to the body 101 of the second embodiment of the hair care appliance 100 described above.

[0099] The accessory 203 includes a connector 202 , a housing 204 , a plurality of fixed protrusions 206 , a plurality of movable protrusions 208 , and a sensor arrangement 210 .

[0100] The connector 202 is generally cylindrical in form and extends generally rearward from the housing 204. The outer diameter of the connector 202 substantially corresponds to the diameter of the bore 44 of the main body 201. The connector 202 includes a rigid member 212 extending rearward and having a certain length, and a connecting member (not shown) that enables the rigid member 212 to be releasably coupled to the clutch 32 (and therefore to the drive motor 30) when the accessory 203 is attached to the main body 201. The end of the rigid member 212 opposite the end coupled to the clutch 32 extends into the housing 204 and is connected to a transmission mechanism 214 for transmitting motion to the plurality of movable protrusions 208.

[0101] The housing 204 is generally hollow in form and includes an annular air inlet 216 that is annular around the end of the connector 202. The housing 204 functions as a plenum chamber that receives airflow from the body 201 of the hair care appliance 200 during use. A magnetic strip (not shown) extends annularly around the annular air inlet 216 and is used to releasably connect the accessory 203 to the body 201. An aperture (not shown) is formed in the opposite end of the housing 204 and defines an air outlet for the accessory 203.

[0102] The transmission mechanism 214 is located within the housing 204 and includes a gear ring 218, an arm 220, a pinion 222, and a rack 224. The gear ring 218 is annular and includes teeth that engage with teeth (not shown) on the end of the rigid member 212. The arm 220 engages with the teeth of the gear ring 218 at one end and engages with the pinion 222 at a second, opposite end. The pinion 222 meshes with the rack 224, and the rack 224 is connected to the plurality of movable protrusions 208, as will be discussed further below.

[0103] A plurality of securing projections 206 are spaced across the width of the housing 204 and extend outwardly away from the housing 204. Each of the plurality of securing projections 206 is substantially identical and tapers in height and width along its length, decreasing in height and width from a proximal end 226 of the housing 204 to a distal end 228 of the housing. This gives the attachment 214 a comb-like appearance. The apertures defining the air outlets 203 are located intermediate the plurality of securing projections 206, although examples are also contemplated in which the apertures are located within the plurality of securing projections 206 themselves.

[0104] A plurality of movable protrusions 208 are fixedly connected to the rack 224 and extend outwardly through the housing 204 within an aperture defining an air outlet for the accessory 203. The plurality of movable protrusions 208 are positioned such that each movable protrusion 208 is located between a pair of adjacent fixed protrusions 206, and each movable protrusion 208 has a length that is shorter than the length of the adjacent fixed protrusions 206.

[0105] The sensor arrangement 210 is located on the fixed protrusions 206 at the end of the row defined by the plurality of fixed protrusions 206. The sensor arrangement 210 includes a strain gauge configured to sense the tension of the user's hair when the user's hair is located between the plurality of fixed protrusions 206 and the plurality of movable protrusions 208 in the attachment 203. The sensor arrangement 210 is configured to transmit the sensed tension value to the controller 28 in the main body 201 via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or RFID communication. The sensor arrangement 210 may also include additional sensors, such as a temperature sensor in the flow housing 204, which is not shown in this example.

[0106] During operation of the hair care appliance 200, the plurality of fixed protrusions 206 and the plurality of movable protrusions 208 can be used to comb a user's hair. The controller 28 controls the airflow generator 22 to generate an airflow that passes through the body 201, enters the attachment 203, and exits through the aperture defining the air outlet of the attachment 203, thereby drying the hair during combing. During combing, the strain gauges of the sensor arrangement 210 transmit sensed tension values ​​to the controller 28. The controller 28 compares these measured values ​​with a predetermined tension value deemed comfortable by the user (this predetermined tension value can be pre-set by the user via the user interface 26). Based on this comparison, the controller 28 controls the drive motor 30 to rotate. The rotation of the drive motor 30 rotates the rigid member 212, which in turn drives the rotation of the gear ring 218. The rotation of the gear ring 118 drives the rotation of the arm 220, which in turn drives the rotation of the pinion 222. Rotation of the pinion 222 drives linear translation of the rack 224 , which in turn drives linear movement of the plurality of movable protrusions 208 .

[0107] In this manner, the drive motor 30 can vary the distance between a corresponding one of the plurality of fixed protrusions 206 and a corresponding one of the plurality of movable protrusions 208, which in turn can result in a change in tension as the accessory 203 is moved through the user's hair during use. Specifically, rotation of the drive motor 30 in a first direction increases the tension on the user's hair, and rotation of the drive motor 30 in an opposite, second direction decreases the tension on the user's hair. Thus, if the controller 28 determines that the sensed tension value is above or below a threshold, the controller 28 instructs the drive motor 30 to rotate in the appropriate direction to change the tension on the user's hair.

[0108] exist Figure 3a 、 Figure 3b and Figure 3c In the illustrated third embodiment of the hair care appliance 200 , the plurality of movable protrusions 208 can be considered as movable members that are movable in response to the output of the sensor arrangement 210 .

[0109] exist Figure 4a A fourth embodiment of a hair care appliance 300 is schematically shown in FIG. The hair care appliance 300 comprises a main body 301 and an attachment 303. The attachment 303 is Figure 4b (perspective view) and 4c (front view) are shown separately.

[0110] The body 301 is substantially similar to the body 101 of the second embodiment of the hair care appliance 100 described above.

[0111] The attachment 303 comprises a connector 302 , a housing 304 , a protrusion 306 , a hair receiving space 308 , a valve arrangement 310 and a sensor arrangement 312 .

[0112] The connector 302 is generally cylindrical in form and extends generally rearwardly from the housing 304. The outer diameter of the connector 302 substantially corresponds to the diameter of the bore 44 of the main body 301. The connector 302 includes a rigid member 314 extending rearwardly and having a certain length, and a connecting member (not shown) that enables the rigid member 314 to be releasably coupled to the clutch 32 (and therefore to the drive motor 30) when the accessory 303 is attached to the main body 301. The end of the rigid member 314 opposite the end coupled to the clutch 32 extends into the housing 304 and is connected to the valve arrangement 310.

[0113] The housing 304 is generally hollow and includes an annular air inlet 316 that is annular around the end of the connector 302. The housing 304 acts as a plenum that receives airflow from the body 301 of the hair care appliance 300 during use. A magnetic strip (not shown) extends annularly around the annular air inlet 316 and is used to releasably connect the accessory 303 to the body 301.

[0114] The end of the housing 304 distal from the annular air inlet 316 includes a plurality of hollow fingers 318 arranged in a row. Each of the hollow fingers 318 includes an upper internal flow path 320, an upper air outlet 322, a lower internal flow path 324, and a lower air outlet 326. The upper internal flow path 320 is in fluid communication with the upper air outlet 322, and the lower internal flow path 324 is in fluid communication with the lower air outlet 326. The upper air outlet is located on the upper surface of the hollow fingers 318 and fluidly connects the upper internal flow path 320 to the hair receiving space 308. The lower air outlet 326 is located on the lower portion of the side wall of the hollow fingers 318 and is shaped to direct airflow away from the hair receiving space 308.

[0115] The projection 306 is spaced apart from and connected to the housing 304 by a spacing element 328 at the end of the housing 304 adjacent the connector 302. The spacing element 328 extends away from the flow housing 304, and the projection and the hollow finger 318 define therebetween a hair receiving space 308. The projection 306 includes a hair receiving surface facing the housing 304 and a plurality of apertures to allow airflow therethrough.

[0116] The valve arrangement 310 is located within the housing 304 and includes a blocking member 334 fixedly connected to the rigid member 314. The blocking member 334 is shaped and sized to simultaneously cover the inlets of all upper internal flow paths 320, or to simultaneously cover the inlets of all lower internal flow paths 324. For example, the blocking members 334 can be asymmetrically distributed within the housing 304, such that rotation of the blocking member 334 within the housing 304 results in the upper side or the lower side of the end of the housing 304 being blocked.

[0117] The sensor arrangement 312 includes a first sensor 336 and a second sensor 338. The first sensor 336 is a humidity sensor and the second sensor 338 is a temperature sensor. The first sensor 336 is positioned facing the protrusion 306 on the upper surface of one of the hollow fingers 318.

[0118] The second sensor 338 is positioned on one of the hollow fingers 318 which faces in an opposite direction to the first sensor 338, away from the protrusion 306, so that it faces the user's scalp in use.

[0119] During operation, controller 28 controls airflow generator 22 to drive airflow through body 301 and into housing 304. Drive motor 30 positions blocking member 334 of valve arrangement 310 in a first configuration to block airflow through lower internal flow path 324 while enabling airflow through upper internal flow path 320. In this manner, airflow is inhibited through lower air outlet 326 while allowing airflow through upper air outlet 322 and, therefore, toward protrusion 306. Consequently, hair located within hair-receiving space 308 is blown from hollow finger 318 toward protrusion 306, the shape of which imparts a styled finish to the hair.

[0120] At the same time, controller 28 activates first sensor 336 and continuously receives a humidity value from first sensor 336. This value is compared with a predetermined threshold value. The predetermined threshold value indicates the humidity value at which the user's hair is considered to be almost dry and is preset. Thus, when controller 28 determines that the user's hair is almost dry, controller 28 controls heater 22 in main body 312 to reduce the temperature of the airflow.

[0121] Controller 28 also controls drive motor 30 to position blocking member 334 of valve arrangement 310 in a second configuration, thereby blocking airflow through upper internal flow path 320 while enabling airflow through lower internal flow path 324. In this manner, airflow is inhibited from passing through upper air outlet 322 while being allowed to pass through lower air outlet 326 and, therefore, away from protrusion 306 toward the user's scalp. This serves to dry and lift the roots of the user's hair.

[0122] When the blocking member 334 is in the second configuration (directing airflow toward the user's scalp), the controller controls the second sensor 338 to transmit a temperature value and, to conserve power, deactivates the first sensor 336. If the controller 28 determines that the temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold (e.g., 70°C) that would be considered uncomfortable for the user, the controller 28 controls the drive motor 30 to move the blocking member 334 back to the first configuration and reactivates the first sensor 336. The controller 28 also controls the heater 24 to lower the temperature. This reduces the risk of overheating or burning the user's scalp.

[0123] exist Figure 4a and 4b In the illustrated fourth embodiment of the hair care appliance 400 , the blocking member 334 of the valve arrangement 310 may be considered to be a movable member that is movable in response to the output of the sensor arrangement 312 .

[0124] The aforementioned accessories 14, 103, 203, 303 should be considered interchangeable on a single body. To this end, the body's clutch can be releasably connected to a plurality of different accessories. It should also be understood that alternatives to the first embodiment of the hair care appliance 10 are contemplated in which the sensor is provided on the accessory 14 rather than the body 12, and such an accessory can be used interchangeably with any of the bodies 101, 201, 301 of the second through fourth embodiments of the hair care appliances described herein.

[0125] The above-described embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention are envisaged.

[0126] The sensor arrangement may include any combination of sensors that may be located on the accessory, within an aperture in the main body, or on the exterior of the main body. These sensors are not limited to those described herein and may include additional sensors, including (but not limited to) proximity sensors and motion sensors. External accessories may also include sensors that communicate with the controller or sensors on the main body.

[0127] While the sensors described above as being arranged to communicate with the controller via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or RF communication (such as RFID), other communication options are contemplated. In some cases, the connection between the accessory and the main body may include electrical connections to facilitate communication between the accessory and the main body. Furthermore, these electrical connections may provide power to the electrical components of the accessory through the main body (which is typically connected to a power source or includes a battery).

[0128] Generally, the accessory has been described above as having rotating parts, however, it is contemplated that in some examples of the present invention, the accessory as a whole can rotate relative to the main body. In other words, the accessory as a whole can be considered the movable member. In some examples, the connection between the accessory and the main body can include anti-rotation features, such as dowel pins, keyways, or splines, to prevent the drive motor from rotating the entire accessory rather than the movable member.

[0129] It should be understood that any feature described with respect to any embodiment may be used alone or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other embodiment, or in any combination of any other embodiment. In addition, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A hair care appliance for styling a user's hair, the hair care appliance comprising: a main body, accommodating a drive motor and an airflow generator; a sensor arrangement for sensing one or more of hair parameters of a user's hair and ambient parameters of an environment surrounding said hair care appliance; an accessory releasably attachable to the body, the accessory comprising: an air inlet for receiving an air flow from the air flow generator, an air outlet for emitting the air flow, and a movable member releasably connected to the drive motor; and A controller is configured to control the drive motor to move the movable member between a first configuration for interacting with the user's hair and a second configuration for interacting with the user's hair in response to one or more of the hair parameter and the ambient parameter, the first configuration being different from the second configuration.

2. The hair care appliance of claim 1, wherein the hair care appliance includes a connection mechanism configured to selectively release the movable member from the drive motor when the accessory is attached to the body.

3. A hair care appliance according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the body comprises a bore, and wherein the drive motor is centrally located within the bore.

4. The hair care appliance of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller further comprises a user override function configured to receive user input and control the drive motor to move the movable member between the first configuration and the second configuration independently of one or more of the hair parameters and the ambient parameters.

5. A hair care appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main body and accessory each comprise an attachment surface configured to abut one another when the accessory is attached to the main body, and Each respective attachment surface includes an electrical connector such that when the accessory is attached to the main body, the main body and accessory are electrically connected.

6. A hair care appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a humidity sensor and at least one of the hair parameter and the ambient parameter comprises a humidity level.

7. The hair care appliance of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to, in one or both of the first and second configurations and in response to the sensed humidity level, control at least one of: a heater located in the body to change the airflow temperature, or Air flow generator to change the air flow speed.

8. A hair care appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a temperature sensor and at least one of the hair parameter and the ambient parameter comprises temperature.

9. The hair care appliance of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured, in one or both of the first and second configurations and in response to the sensed temperature, to control at least one of: a heater located in the body to change the airflow temperature, or Air flow generator to change the air flow speed.

10. The hair care appliance of any one of the preceding claims, wherein when the movable member is in the first configuration, the air flow exits the air outlet in a first direction, and wherein in the second configuration, the air flow exits the air outlet in a second direction, wherein the second direction is different from the first direction.

11. The hair care appliance of claim 10, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

12. The hair care appliance of claim 11, wherein the attachment comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion opposing the upper portion and defining a hair receiving space therebetween, wherein The first direction is toward the upper portion and the second direction is toward the lower portion.

13. The hair care appliance of claim 11, wherein the attachment comprises A diffuser bowl, and wherein the first direction enters the diffuser bowl, and wherein the second direction exits the diffuser bowl.

14. The hair care appliance of any one of claims 6 to 13, wherein the drive motor is configured to move the movable member from the first configuration to the second configuration when the moisture sensor determines that the hair has reached a predetermined moisture value.

15. A hair care appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The sensor arrangement includes a position sensor configured to sense one or more of a position and an orientation of an external accessory relative to the accessory, and Wherein the controller is configured to control the drive motor to move the movable member between the first configuration and the second configuration in response to one or more of a position and an orientation of the external accessory.

16. A hair care appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein Moving the movable member between the first configuration and the second configuration includes rotating the movable member between a first position in the first configuration and a second position in the second configuration, wherein the airflow is emitted from the outlet in a first direction in the first position, and wherein the airflow is emitted from the outlet in a second direction different from the first direction in the second position.

17. The hair care appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises one or more of the following: a sensor comprising a magnetic flux sensor configured to interact with a magnetic field of the external accessory; or an electromagnetic detector configured to detect electromagnetic waves from the external accessory; or an orientation sensor configured to communicate with another orientation sensor in the external accessory to determine an orientation of the external accessory relative to the attachment; or A position sensor is configured to communicate with another position sensor in the external accessory to determine a position of the external accessory relative to the attachment.

18. A hair care appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a tension measurement sensor configured to determine the tension of the user's hair in the attachment, and The controller is configured to control the drive motor to move the movable member between the first configuration and the second configuration in response to the determined tension of the user's hair.

19. The hair care appliance of claim 18, wherein The attachment includes a plurality of fixed protrusions, and the movable member includes a plurality of movable protrusions spaced between the plurality of fixed protrusions, Wherein moving the movable member between the first configuration and the second configuration includes moving the plurality of movable protrusions relative to the plurality of fixed protrusions to change a distance between each fixed protrusion and an adjacent movable protrusion.

20. The hair care appliance of any preceding claim, wherein the movable member is biased to the first configuration such that the movable member automatically returns to the first configuration from the second configuration in the absence of a force applied by the drive motor.

21. An attachment for a hair care appliance, comprising: an air inlet for receiving air flow; an air outlet for emitting an air flow; and a movable member releasably connected to a drive motor for moving the movable member, wherein the movable member is movable between a first configuration for interacting with the user's hair and a second configuration for interacting with the user's hair, wherein the second configuration is different from the first configuration, and Wherein the movable member is movable in response to one or more of hair parameters of a user's hair and ambient parameters of a surrounding environment of the hair care appliance sensed by a sensor arrangement on the hair care appliance.

22. The accessory of claim 21, wherein the accessory further comprises A connection mechanism is provided for releasing the movable member from the drive motor when the accessory is attached to the main body.

23. An accessory according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the accessory comprises at least one sensor of a sensor arrangement mounted thereon.

24. A body for a hair care appliance, the body comprising: Drive motor; Air inlet; Air outlet; an air flow generator for generating an air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet; a sensor arrangement for sensing one or more of hair parameters of a user's hair and ambient parameters of the subject's surroundings; and A controller is configured to control the drive motor in response to one or more of the hair parameter and the ambient parameter.

Images