Peristaltic pump for household appliances, especially for hair styling appliances that diffuse steam such as a hairbrush.

Abstract

Peristaltic Pump for Household Appliances The present invention relates to a household appliance, preferably a hair styling appliance, comprising a peristaltic pump including a head inside which is arranged a flexible tube for the circulation of a fluid to be pumped. The peristaltic pump is characterized in that the flexible tube forms, at a fluid inlet and / or a fluid outlet, a bend ensuring the redirection of said tube from its peripheral direction to the rotor in a direction of redirection forming, with an axis of rotation of said rotor, an angle of less than 45°. Figure for the abstract: Fig 5

Description

Title of the invention: Peristaltic pump for household appliances, in particular for hairdressing appliances diffusing steam such as a hair brush.

[0001] The present invention relates to a peristaltic pump with deformable tube as well as to a household appliance using such a pump.

[0002] The term household appliances means devices and tools using electricity and intended to meet domestic needs, as opposed to industrial tools and machines.

[0003] More particularly, the invention relates to a portable household appliance capable of diffusing steam for shaping or styling hair.

[0004] More particularly still, the present invention relates to a hair brush capable of diffusing steam onto hair.

[0005] Many types of hairdressing appliances are known for styling hair, in particular by straightening, curling or crimping. Examples include straightening or curling irons or hairbrushes. These appliances may include one or more heated or heating treatment surfaces. The general structure of such appliances is well known.

[0006] In order to improve treatment, certain devices have long provided for the distribution of steam towards the surface to be treated, in particular a lock of hair or the hair in the case of hairdressing devices.

[0007] Thus, document US2880299A, for example, describes a curling iron capable of distributing steam onto a lock of hair pinched between two articulated arms and wrapped around said arms.

[0008] Documents US20040000319A1 and US2009188516A describe devices of the hair straightener type also capable of distributing steam onto a strand of hair pinched between two arms, each equipped with a heating plate.

[0009] Finally, we can also cite brushes and combs, heated or not, capable of distributing steam during their use through hair. As an example, we can refer to documents KR20030085159A and DE19822718A1.

[0010] Typically, steam is generated by a steam generator consisting essentially of a chamber supplied with liquid water and heated to a temperature sufficient to cause its evaporation. The steam thus generated is then brought into or near the treatment surface where it is distributed through one or more nozzles.

[0011] The supply of liquid water to the vaporization chamber is carried out conventionally from a reservoir, preferably integrated into the device, in particular by means of a pump (see EP2209396B1), preferably also integrated into the device, or from a porous element conducting liquid water by capillarity (see WO2004002262 for example).

[0012] It is known from documents EP2449910 and WO2020083736 to use a peristaltic pump in such a hairdressing appliance so as to ensure a certain regulation of the liquid supply flow rate of the steam generator, and this, in particular in an appliance integrating all the steam production elements (liquid water tank, pump and steam generator).

[0013] By peristaltic pump is meant primarily a rotary peristaltic pump, although the invention described below is applicable to a linear type peristaltic pump.

[0014] Generally, such a peristaltic pump comprises a head inside which is arranged a flexible tube forming a pump body and intended for the circulation of a fluid to be pumped from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet. The flexible tube is arranged in a fixed manner around a rotor carrying one or more pressure rollers configured to compress the tube in a sealed manner and cause the displacement of a quantity of fluid to be pumped during the rotation of the rotor and the rollers along the tube. For a general description of a rotary peristaltic pump, reference may be made, for example, to documents US2009129944A1 and EP1664537B1. By pressure rollers, it is meant to include the other means making it possible to locally and periodically compress the tube so as to obtain the desired fluid displacement. It may therefore also be, for example, a rotary eccentric.

[0015] In the case of household appliances for hair treatment, the fluid is mainly water, although the latter may be supplemented with cosmetic products or ingredients. The pump is chosen so as to be able to ensure a liquid supply flow rate of between 0.5 and 10 g / min (water at 25°C), preferably less than 5 g / min.

[0016] As mentioned above, the use of a peristaltic pump in such household appliances, and in particular in hair steam treatment devices, has many advantages, one of which in particular is the relatively limited form factor and size.

[0017] However, it should be noted that generally, the fluid inlet and outlet of a peristaltic pump are located on a lateral face of a casing forming the pump head, and more precisely substantially in a plane of the flexible tube surrounding the rotor and the pressure rollers.

[0018] However, in the household appliances mentioned and in particular in portable devices, the various steam generating elements must be housed in a relatively narrow longitudinal space formed by a handle or gripping part.

[0019] It is therefore common to want to reorient the fluid inlet and outlet from a lateral face of the pump in a direction of elongation of the housing formed by the handle.

[0020] To do this, the aforementioned documents EP2449910 and WO2020083736 describe the use of 90° connectors allowing for a fluid inlet and / or outlet on the front, or frontal, and / or rear faces of the pump head.

[0021] As a supplement, document CN211900937U is also known, which provides that the liquid connectors are arranged opposite corresponding openings in the flexible tube. In any event, the liquid inlet and outlet remain located on a lateral face of the pump head and no reorientation is provided on the front or in a rear face.

[0022] In the context of the development of new tools, and in particular for the development of hairbrushes delivering steam as described in application FR21 / 07945 of July 22, 2021 not yet published, it is desirable to be able to further reduce the size of such a peristaltic pump in order to gain additional space, in particular on the width of the handle that can be implemented. Alternatively, with the same handle width, this could make it possible to use a wider pump to deliver a greater flow rate if the intended application so required.

[0023] By "brush" is meant a hair treatment device comprising a single arm carrying a plurality of teeth between which the hair is received when the brush passes over the hair. The brush may comprise a single row of teeth, and is then otherwise called a comb, or preferably comprises a plurality of rows of teeth.

[0024] An aim of the present invention is thus to further improve the form factor of a peristaltic pump in order to facilitate its integration into a household appliance, in particular into a hair treatment appliance distributing steam.

[0025] To do this, the present invention provides a peristaltic pump comprising the generic characteristics previously mentioned and characterized in that the flexible tube forms, at the fluid inlet and / or the fluid outlet, an elbow ensuring a return of said tube from its peripheral direction to the rotor in a return direction forming, with an axis of rotation of said rotor, an angle of less than 45°.

[0026] Thus, by providing that the compressible tube of the peristaltic pump itself and directly makes the bends necessary for its redirection towards the front and / or rear faces, it is no longer necessary to use an additional elbow connector which occupies some space on the side of the pump. In addition, the bending and redirection of the flexible tube can be carried out as close as possible to the rotor and the pressure roller(s), which allows for a slight gain in space if necessary.

[0027] Preferably the return direction is substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of the rotor.

[0028] According to a particular embodiment, the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are located on the same face of the pump head, in particular on a front face.

[0029] Such a configuration makes it possible to arrange the reservoir and the steam chamber on the same side of the pump. This results in more arrangement possibilities. Furthermore, in the case of integration into the handle of a household appliance, the pump and its motor can be located at one end of the handle, the reservoir and the steam chamber can thus be arranged between the handle and the treatment head of the appliance. Such an arrangement makes it possible to optimize the position of the various constituent elements of the appliance relative to each other, which results in greater design flexibility, in particular for the arrangement of a printed control circuit.

[0030] Alternatively, the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are located on opposite faces of the pump head. In such a configuration, the pump will preferably be arranged between the reservoir and the vapor chamber along the handle.

[0031] Advantageously, the flexible tube is continuous between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. More precisely, there is no interruption of the flexible tube between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, that is to say that any inlet and discharge connection connectors are located respectively before and after the inlet and outlet elbow portions, the terms "before" and "after" being understood in relation to a direction of circulation of the fluid to be pumped. In this way, the inlet and outlet connectors possibly used may be simple rectilinear connectors and it will not be necessary to resort to elbow connectors to ensure the change of direction of the liquid circulating at the inlet and outlet of the pump.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment, the head comprises a casing having at least one inlet duct and one outlet duct for the flexible tube, the inlet duct and / or the outlet duct forming a bending guide capable of giving the flexible tube its bent shape. The ducts forming a bending guide may be integrated into the casing or attached to the latter.

[0033] According to an alternative embodiment, the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet of the flexible tube are equipped with connectors for connection to a supply tube and a discharge tube respectively, the connectors being preferably fixed to the pump head. Taking into account the explanations given above on the reorientation of the flexible tube, the connectors used will preferably be rectilinear connectors. The connectors are preferably arranged on a front face and / or rear of the pump head. Alternatively, the connectors can be located away from the pump head, and in particular moved to a location that facilitates maintenance.

[0034] Obviously, depending on the desired arrangement, this does not prevent the use of angled connectors, particularly at 90° if the liquid flow must be redirected in such a direction. This still makes it possible to adjust the width of the handle of the device precisely to the width of the pump head and not to lose space laterally.

[0035] According to another embodiment, the flexible tube extends outside the pump head over a length capable of allowing direct connection to a source of fluid to be pumped and / or to a member to be supplied with pumped fluid from the fluid source. Thus, it is even possible to dispense with intermediate connectors or to arrange them at a distance from the pump head, for example, in a location that is more easily accessible in the event of maintenance being required.

[0036] Preferably, the fluid inlet and fluid outlet axes form with a rotor drive axis a sector of angle less than 45°, preferably less than 30°. Such a configuration allows an increased saving in terms of space requirement and limits any deformation of the flexible tube and / or crushing which could lead to a deterioration in the flow rate.

[0037] Preferably again, the pump head has a generally substantially cylindrical or quasi-cylindrical shape, the front and opposite faces having a generally at least quasi-circular shape.

[0038] The present invention also relates to a household hairdressing appliance, comprising a peristaltic pump according to the invention.

[0039] Preferably, the household appliance is a steam diffusion appliance, the peristaltic pump being connected, at the inlet, to a water tank, and, at the outlet, to a steam generator capable of being supplied with water by said pump.

[0040] Preferably, the peristaltic pump is arranged inside a handle of the household appliance. Preferably again, a distance between a lateral face of the peristaltic head and a wall of the handle is less than 5 mm; preferably less than 1 mm, or even almost zero in the case where the surfaces are in contact or flush.

[0041] Advantageously, the device is portable, a fluid reservoir being integrated into the device, in particular in a handle.

[0042] Advantageously, the household appliance comprises a handle, the peristaltic pump being arranged in this handle, in particular at a free end of said handle opposite a treatment end.

[0043] According to a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is a hairbrush or a hair straightener.

[0044] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0045] 1. is a schematic representation of a hair brush capable of delivering steam to the hair. 2. is a schematic representation in longitudinal section of the brush of [Fig.l] showing a handle housing a water supply assembly implementing a peristaltic pump according to the present application. 3. is a schematic representation in exploded view of a peristaltic pump according to the present application. 4. is a longitudinal sectional representation of the peristaltic pump of [Fig.3], 5. is an overall schematic representation of the peristaltic pump of [Fig.3] highlighting the flexible fluid circulation tube.

[0046] Figures 1 and 2 are schematic representations of a hair brush 100 capable of distributing steam to the hair.

[0047] Although illustrated by way of example by a hair brush, the present application may also relate to other household appliances distributing a fluid, and in particular other household hair treatment appliances capable of distributing a fluid on the hair, in particular steam. An example of another appliance is a hair straightener as described in particular in document FR2967018A1.

[0048] The hair brush 100 comprises a gripping handle 110 and a treatment head 120. The head 120 comprises a set of teeth 121 arranged on a support plate 122 in a plurality of rows. The rows of teeth 121 extend substantially along a longitudinal axis of the brush X. As indicated previously, the brush may comprise a single row of teeth, and it is then otherwise called a comb.

[0049] In the example shown, the support plate 122 is substantially flat and has a substantially rectangular shape extending in the extension of the gripping handle 122. It is obviously possible to have a curved support plate, the teeth 123 then being preferentially located on a concave surface of the support plate, or even a substantially semi-cylindrical or cylindrical support plate.

[0050] In a particular embodiment, the support plate 122 and / or the teeth 123 may be heated. Preferably, only the teeth 123 are heated.

[0051] The head 120 also comprises a plurality of steam outlets 130 emerging from the support plate 122. The steam outlets or nozzles 130 may be located between teeth 123 of one or more rows or be distinct and in particular arranged along of one edge of the support plate 122.

[0052] Alternatively, the steam outlets 130 can be made in the teeth 123, and in particular open onto one side of these.

[0053] According to the embodiment shown, the steam nozzles 130 open between the teeth of the same row, in this case between the teeth of a middle row, thus forming a row of steam outlets 130 extending substantially in the extension of the handle 110.

[0054] The steam is conveyed to the steam outlets from a vaporization chamber (not visible) integrated into the device 100 through one or more diffusion channels passing through the support plate 122, and the teeth 123 if applicable. According to the example shown, the vaporization chamber is integrated into the support plate 122. Such elements are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0055] The vaporization chamber is itself supplied with liquid water from a reservoir 300 by a peristaltic pump 200 according to the present application, as shown in Figures 3 to 5. Preferably, the reservoir 300 is integrated into the device 100, in particular into the handle 110. It can advantageously be removable so that it can be easily filled. Otherwise, a filling orifice 301 can be provided in a wall of the handle 110. The filling orifice 301 can be equipped with a valve or flap to prevent any leakage of the liquid from the reservoir 300.

[0056] The peristaltic pump 200 comprises a frame 201, forming a pump head, on which is fixed a motor 202 whose axis drives in rotation a cage or rotor 203 comprising a plurality of rollers 204. The rollers 204 are in contact with a deformable tube 205 which they crush until sealing. The angular displacement of the sealing point causes, behind the crushed zone, a depression in the deformable tube 205 immediately filling with the liquid to be pumped (water).

[0057] The quantity of liquid trapped in the deformable tube 205 between two rollers 204 is then pulsed towards an outlet of the pump. A liquid, pumped at an open end 205i of the deformable tube 205, called the fluid inlet or intake end, is thus discharged to the other end of the deformable tube, called the fluid outlet or discharge end 205e.

[0058] A large majority of peristaltic pumps comprise a casing having an internal cylindrical face 20Ip, called the bearing surface, against which the tube is crushed by the rollers to ensure the sealing of the deformable tube. The envelope swept by the trajectories of the external faces of the rollers is called the raceway. The casing is in the form of a cover 201c, preferably removable, closing the frame 201 on a front or frontal face of the pump head (the frame 201 and the motor 202 being at the rear). Where appropriate, the frame 201 may comprise all or part of the bearing surface.

[0059] According to the example shown, the pump head has a generally substantially cylindrical or quasi-cylindrical shape, the front and opposite (rear) faces having a generally at least quasi-circular shape. Obviously, other shapes are possible.

[0060] The main element of a peristaltic pump is its pump body tube generally made of an elastomer material.

[0061] In accordance with the present application, the peristaltic pump 200 is characterized in that the deformable pipe 205 forms, at the fluid inlet 205i and the fluid outlet 205e, an elbow ensuring a return of said tube from its peripheral direction to the rotor 203 in a return direction forming, with an axis of rotation of said rotor, an angle of less than 45°. In this case, in the example shown, the return direction is substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of the rotor.

[0062] Thus, the fluid inlet 205i and the fluid outlet 205e are located on the same face of the pump head, in particular on a front face, in the cover 201c of the casing.

[0063] More particularly, the deformable tube 205 is continuous between the inlet 205i and the fluid outlet 205e and is flush with or even projects from the casing and its cover 201c outside the pump head. Advantageously, it can thus be directly connected to the reservoir 300 and to the vaporization chamber without interruption by return connectors or other intermediate connectors.

[0064] According to the embodiment shown, the casing, in particular its cover 201c, has an inlet duct 201i and an outlet duct 201e of the flexible tube 205, the inlet duct 201i and outlet duct 201e forming a curvature guide capable of imparting its bent shape to the flexible tube 205.

[0065] More specifically, the inlet 201i and outlet 201e conduits have a first orifice 201r opening into the bearing surface and a second opposite orifice 201o opening outside the pump head. The conduits 201i, 201e are configured so as to have a curvature allowing the deformable tube 205 to be bent progressively. Advantageously, the radius of curvature is substantially constant between the inlet and the outlet of the conduit. Furthermore, the curvature is preferably identical for the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit.

[0066] Thus, the deformable tube 205 enters through the orifice 201o of the fluid inlet duct 201i located on the front face of the casing, into the cover 201c, before being curved to open into the bearing surface through the orifice 201r and follow the rolling path around the rotor 203 between the bearing surface 201p and the rollers 204. It then joins the orifice 201r of the outlet duct 201e opening into the bearing surface before being curved again by the outlet duct 201e towards the outlet orifice 201r on the front face of the casing, in the cover 201c.

[0067] The flexible tube 205 can thus be directly connected to the vapor chamber to be supplied with liquid.

[0068] According to the example shown, the fluid inlet and fluid outlet axes form with a drive axis of the rotor a sector of angle less than 45°, preferably less than 30°.

[0069] As indicated previously, an inner wall of the handle of the device can thus be located as close as possible to the pump head. In particular, a distance between a lateral face of the pump head and a wall of the handle is less than 5 mm; preferably less than 1 mm, or even almost zero, the wall being in the latter case flush.

[0070] As shown in [Fig.2], the peristaltic pump 200 can thus be arranged at a free end of the handle 110, opposite the treatment end 120, the motor 202 being located completely at the rear of the device.

Claims

Claims

1. Household appliance, preferably forming a hairdressing appliance (100), comprising a peristaltic pump (200) comprising a head (201) inside which is arranged a flexible tube (205) intended for the circulation of a fluid to be pumped from a fluid inlet (205i) to a fluid outlet (205e), said tube being arranged in a fixed manner around a rotor (203) carrying at least one pressure roller (204) configured to compress the tube in a sealed manner and cause the displacement of a quantity of fluid to be pumped when driving the rotor, said peristaltic pump being characterized in that the flexible tube forms, at the fluid inlet and / or the fluid outlet, an elbow ensuring a return of said tube from its peripheral direction to the rotor in a return direction forming, with an axis of rotation of said rotor, an angle of less than 45°.

2. Household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the return direction is substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of the rotor (203).

3. Household appliance according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the fluid inlet (205i) and the fluid outlet (205e) are located on the same face of the pump head (201), in particular on a front face.

4. Household appliance according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the fluid inlet (205i) and the fluid outlet (205e) are located on opposite faces of the pump head (201).

5. Household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the flexible tube (205) is continuous between the fluid inlet (205i) and the fluid outlet (205e).

6. Household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the head (201) comprises a casing having at least one inlet duct (201i) and one outlet duct (201e) of the flexible tube, the inlet duct and / or the outlet duct forming a curvature guide capable of giving the flexible tube (205) its bent shape.

7. Household appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid inlet (205i) and the fluid outlet (205e) of the flexible tube (205) are equipped with connectors for connection respectively to a supply tube and a discharge tube, the connectors being preferably fixed on the head of pump.

8. Household appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that the connection connectors are arranged on an opposite front and / or rear face of the pump head (201) and are preferably rectilinear.

9. Household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the flexible tube (205) extends outside the pump head (201) over a length capable of allowing direct connection to a source of fluid to be pumped and / or to a member to be supplied with fluid pumped from the source of fluid.

10. Household appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid inlet and fluid outlet axes form with a rotor drive axis (203) a sector of angle less than 45°, preferably less than 30°.

11. Household appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pump head (201) has a generally substantially cylindrical or quasi-cylindrical shape, the front and opposite faces having a generally at least quasi-circular shape.

12. Household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the household appliance (100) is a steam diffusion appliance, the peristaltic pump (200) being connected, at the inlet, to a water tank (300), preferably integrated into the appliance, and, at the outlet, to a steam generator capable of being supplied with water by said pump.

13. Household appliance (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the peristaltic pump (200) is arranged inside a handle (110) of the household appliance, a distance between a lateral face of the pump head (201) and a wall of the handle being preferably less than 5 mm; preferably less than 1 mm, or even almost zero.

14. Household appliance (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it is portable, a fluid reservoir (300) being integrated into the appliance, in particular in a handle (110).

15. Household appliance (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it comprises a handle (110), the peristaltic pump (200) being arranged in said handle, in particular at a free end of the handle, opposite one end of treatment (120).

16. Household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the appliance is a hairbrush (100) or a hair straightener.

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