Hair styling apparatus

Abstract

A hair styling apparatus comprising a styling surface, a hair gripping portion 160 and a longitudinally extending raised surface 120 with a plurality of fluid outlets. The raised surfaces may be uniformly spaced with the gripping portions on them. The grip may be provided by hair styling portions which are tapered teeth or bristles positioned in offset rows. They may also have fluid pathways in them. Alternatively a clamp may be used to grip hair utilising a pivoting levered arm. The styling surface may be convex or cylindrical and there may be four raised surfaces. Channels without fluid outlets may be provided and auxiliary fluid outlets on the raised surfaces may discharge air across the styling surface.

Description

BACKGROUND Hair crimping is a common hair styling technique that is often applied to long, straight hair to introduce waves to the hair, typically in a sawtooth or zig-zag fashion, referred to as a crimped style. In order to achieve a crimped style, users often require a dedicated hair crimping device, which may take the form of a conventional hair straightener with ridged heating plates or a multi-barrel styling tool. In either case, the user is required to move the hair crimping device in consistently accurate discrete movements along the length of the hair being styled in order to achieve a consistent crimped style. This is both difficult and arduous for a user to do. SUMMARY According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a hair styling apparatus comprising: a styling surface; at least one hair gripping portion provided on the styling surface and adapted to grip a section of a user’s hair to constrain the movement of the gripped section on the styling surface; one or more longitudinally extending raised surfaces projecting from the styling surface; and a plurality of fluid outlets provided on each of the raised surfaces to discharge fluid outwardly from the one or more raised surfaces. The first aspect of invention provides an apparatus for styling a user’s hair, for example into a crimped style, by holding the user’s hair over the styling surface such that it lies over the one or more raised surfaces and the, relatively lower, styling surface. The change in height of the styling surface over which the hair is held causes differing tensions to be imparted to different portions of the hair. As the hair dries in this state, by way of the discharged fluid from the fluid outlets, the differing tensions along the hair will impart a crimped or wavy style to the hair. In other words, there is provided a means of achieving a crimped style on a user’s hair by holding and drying the hair in an arrangement such that different areas of the hair are held under different tensions. Put another way, by imparting more tension to some sections of a user’s hair, and imparting less, or no, tension to other sections of the user’s hair whilst it is drying, a crimped style may be achieved. The hair styling apparatus may be in the form of an attachment for a hair styling device configured to supply a fluid flow to the attachment, the attachment comprising a mounting portion for releasable mounting to the hair styling device. The hair styling device may comprise a base unit adapted to releasably attach to several different types of hair styling apparatus, including the hair styling apparatus described herein. The hair styling device may include device circuitry such as a heater assembly, a fluid flow generator, a controller and the like. Alternatively, the hair styling apparatus may be in the form of a fully integrated hair styling device. The styling surface may take any suitable form for supporting the one or more raised surfaces, the at least one gripping portion and a portion of the hair of the user For example, the styling surface may have a curved surface, and in particular a curved outer surface for contacting the hair of the user. In other words, the styling surface may be curved, such that the user’s hair is held against an outer surface of a curve. In a particular example, the styling surface may be convex. In a further example, the styling surface may be cylindrical in shape. In this case, the entire length of the user’s hair may be wrapped continuously around the styling surface to impart the crimped style to any length of hair without requiring the user to move the apparatus along the length of the hair. The longitudinally extending raised surfaces may extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical styling surface. As described above, the variation in tension along the length of the hair held against the styling surface results in a crimped style being imparted on the hair. This may be achieved using any number of raised surfaces projecting from the styling surface. The greater the number of raised surfaces provided on the styling surface, and correspondingly the smaller the spacing in between each raised surface, the higher the frequency of high-tension portions along the hair. Therefore, a greater number of raised surfaces with smaller spacing in between each raised surface will result in a tighter crimp, meaning that the wave pattern applied to the hair will have a higher frequency. In the case where the one or more raised surfaces comprise a plurality of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending raised surfaces projecting from the styling surface, the plurality of raised surfaces may comprise four or more raised surfaces. The plurality of raised surfaces may be uniformly spaced about the styling surface in order to impart a uniform crimped style to the hair of the user. Alternatively, the plurality of raised surfaces may be irregularly spaced about the styling surface in order to impart a non-uniform crimped style to the hair of the user. The position of the one or more raised surfaces on the styling surface may be adjustable or may be fixed. For example, the styling surface may include a means of releasably securing the one or more raised surfaces to the styling surface, such as a sliding rail arrangement or a latch arrangement. The one or more longitudinally extending raised surfaces may project from the styling surface by any height suitable for imparting tension across portions of the user’s hair held against the styling surface Tn an embodiment, the height may be at least 1mm Tn an embodiment, the height may be less than 5mm. A projection height of the one or more raised surfaces may be adjustable or may be fixed. For example, the apparatus may include a mechanism for raising and / or lowering the one or more raised surfaces relative to the styling surface, such as a gear and rack arrangement. Each of the one or more raised surfaces may have the same projection height or a different projection height. In an example, adjusting the height of one raised surface may cause a corresponding adjustment to occur for the remaining raised surfaces. Alternatively, the height of each raised surface may be adjusted independently. In the case where the raised surfaces can be selectively removed and replaced on the styling surface, adjusting the height of the raised surface on the styling surface may include removing a given raised surface and replacing it with a raised surface having a different height. As stated above, the one or more raised surfaces comprise a plurality of fluid outlets to discharge fluid outwardly from the one or more raised surfaces. In this way, hair held against the one or more raised surfaces experience a drying effect when held in a high-tension (or higher tension) state. Further, the one or more raised surfaces may also comprise an auxiliary fluid outlet between the raised surface and the styling surface to discharge fluid across the styling surface. In this way, the hair that is against the styling surface between the one or more raised surfaces, i.e., hair that is in a low-tension (or lower tension) state, may also experience a drying effect, such that all of the hair held by the apparatus may be dried evenly. As stated above, the apparatus may include a plurality of raised surfaces that extend longitudinally along the styling surface and are transversely spaced around said styling surface. In addition, the styling surface may comprise a plurality of transversally spaced, longitudinally extending channels, each channel being disposed between a respective pair of raised surfaces, each channel being absent of fluid outlets arranged to discharge fluid outwardly from the channel. In other words, the plurality of raised sections may be separated from each other by channels that are lower than the raised sections and that do not include their own fluid outlets, such that fluid is only discharged from the raised sections of the apparatus. The channels may be the portions of the styling surface that do not include the raised surfaces The at least one hair gripping portion may be provided on one of the one or more raised surfaces. In this way, the hair may be gripped and held against the styling surface from a raised surface. Further, the hair styling apparatus may comprise a plurality of hair gripping portions, each of which may be provided on a different raised surface of a plurality of raised surfaces. Therefore, the hair may be gripped and held in place on each raised surface of the apparatus. By providing the gripping portions on the raised surfaces themselves, the tension imparted on the hair on the raised surfaces may be further increased, thereby accentuating the crimping effect of the apparatus. The at least one hair gripping portion may comprise a plurality of spaced hair styling projections, which may take the form of a comb tooth or brush bristle. Therefore, the hair gripping portion may grip the hair by way of the friction between the plurality of spaced hair styling projections and the hair. Each spaced hair styling projection may extend from a base, adjacent to a surface of the hair gripping portion, to a free end and taper inwardly in a direction from the base of the spaced hair styling projection to the free end of the spaced hair styling projection. Put another way, the plurality of hair styling projections may be wider at the base and narrower at the free end. Consequently, there will be less space between the plurality of hair styling projections at the base of the projections compared to at the free end of the projections. This may be enhanced by providing a curved raised surface. The taper of the hair styling projections, and the consequent difference in space between the hair styling projections at the base and at the free end, may result in the hair styling projections providing a stronger grip on the hair when the hair is close to the base of the projections compared to when the hair is closer to the free end of the projections. Put another way, the closer the hair is to the base of the hair styling projections, the stronger the hair will be gripped and the higher the tension imparted to the hair will be. Conversely, the closer the hair is to the free end of the hair styling projections, the weaker the hair will be gripped and the lower the tension imparted to the hair will be. The fluid outlets may be provided at the bases of the hair styling projections and the hair styling projections may comprise a fluid pathway to discharge fluid from the hair styling projections. In this way, the discharged fluid may be provided directly to the hair gripped by the hair styling projections The plurality of spaced hair styling projections on a hair gripping portion may be arranged in transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rows, the rows comprising first and second adjacent rows, wherein the spaced hair styling projections of the first row may be offset, in the longitudinal direction, from the projections of the second row. Put another way, each row of the hair styling projections may be offset from the row next to it such that the hair gripped by the hair gripping portion is forced into a winding or tortuous path, as opposed to a straight path, when provided to the hair styling projections. In this way, the tension imparted to the hair by way of the hair gripping portions may be increased further. Alternatively, the at least one hair gripping portion may be a clamp. For example, the clamp may take the form of a levered arm with a pivot at one end and adapted to move between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein the portion of the user’s hair to be gripped, or secured, is provided between the levered arm and the styling surface when the levered arm is in the raised position. The levered arm may then be lowered into the lowered position in order to constrain the movement of the hair. The clamp may be provided on one of the one or more raised surfaces. The levered arm may be biased towards the lowered position by way of a resilient member, such as a spring arrangement. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a hair styling apparatus comprising: a styling surface; and a plurality of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending hair gripping portions provided on the styling surface and adapted to grip a section of a user’s hair to constrain the movement of the gripped section on the styling surface, wherein each of the hair gripping portions comprises a plurality of spaced hair styling projections; and a plurality of fluid outlets provided on each of the hair gripping portions to discharge fluid outwardly from the hair gripping portions. The second aspect of invention provides an apparatus for styling a user’s hair, for example into a crimped style, by holding the user’s hair over the styling surface such that certain areas of the hair are gripped and other areas are not gripped. The gripping of the hair in certain regions causes a variation in tension applied to the hair over its length. Those portions of the hair gripped by the gripping portions will be under higher tension than the portions of the hair lying on the styling surface without being gripped. As the hair dries in this state, by way of the discharged fluid from the fluid outlets, the differing tensions along the hair will impart a crimped or wavy style to the hair. In other words, there is provided a means of achieving a crimped style on a user’s hair by holding and drying the hair in an arrangement such that different areas of the hair are held under different tensions. Put another way, by imparting more tension to some sections of a user’s hair, and imparting less, or no, tension to other sections of the user’s hair whilst it is drying, a crimped style may be achieved. The hair styling apparatus may further comprise a plurality of transversally spaced, longitudinally extending reduced-grip portions provided on the styling surface. Each reduced-grip portion may be disposed between a respective pair of hair gripping portions. The reduced-grip portions may comprise a plurality of reduced-grip hair styling projections to grip a portion of the user’s hair at a tension lower than that of the hair styling projections of the hair gripping portions. The reduced-grip hair styling projections may be smaller than the hair styling projections. The number of reduced-grip projections on the reduced-grip portion may be lower than the number of hair styling projections on the hair gripping portions. The spacing between the reduced-grip projections on the reduced-grip portion may be greater than the spacing between the hair styling projections on the hair gripping portions. Alternatively, the reduced-grip portion may be absent of means for gripping a section of a user’s hair which would constrain the movement of that hair on the styling surface. For example, each non-gripping portion may be substantially smooth so as to avoid gripping or constraining hair lying thereon. The hair styling apparatus may be in the form of an attachment for a hair styling device configured to supply a fluid flow to the attachment, the attachment comprising a mounting portion for releasable mounting to the hair styling device. The hair styling device may comprise a base unit adapted to releasably attach to several different types of hair styling apparatus, including the hair styling apparatus described herein. The hair styling device may include device circuitry such as a heater assembly, a fluid flow generator, a controller and the like. Alternatively, the hair styling apparatus may be in the form of a fully integrated hair styling device. Each of the plurality of hair gripping portions comprises a plurality of spaced hair styling projections, which may take the form of a comb tooth or brush bristle. Therefore, the hair gripping portion may grip the hair by way of the friction between the plurality of spaced hair styling projections and the hair. Each spaced hair styling projection may extend from a base, adjacent to a surface of the hair gripping portion, to a free end and taper inwardly in a direction from the base of the spaced hair styling projection to the free end of the spaced hair styling projection. Put another way, the plurality of hair styling projections may be wider at the base and narrower at the free end. Consequently, there will be less space between the plurality of hair styling projections at the base of the projections compared to at the free end of the projections. The taper of the hair styling projections, and the consequent difference in space between the hair styling projections at the base and at the free end, may result in the hair styling projections providing a stronger grip on the hair when the hair is close to the base of the projections compared to when the hair is closer to the free end of the projections. Put another way, the closer the hair is to the base of the hair styling projections, the stronger the hair will be gripped and the higher the tension imparted to the hair will be. Conversely, the closer the hair is to the free end of the hair styling projections, the weaker the hair will be gripped and the lower the tension imparted to the hair will be. The fluid outlets may be provided at the bases of the hair styling projections and the hair styling projections may comprise a fluid pathway to discharge fluid from the hair styling projections. In this way, the discharged fluid may be provided directly to the hair gripped by the hair styling projections. The plurality of spaced hair styling projections on a hair gripping portion may be arranged in transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rows, the rows comprising first and second adjacent rows, wherein the spaced hair styling projections of the first row may be offset, in the longitudinal direction, from the projections of the second row. Put another way, each row of the hair styling projections may be offset from the row next to it such that the hair gripped by the hair gripping portion is forced into a winding or tortuous path, as opposed to a straight path, when provided to the hair styling projections. In this way, the tension imparted to the hair by way of the hair gripping portions may be increased further. The plurality of hair gripping portions may be uniformly spaced about the styling surface in order to impart a uniform crimped style to the hair of the user. Alternatively, the plurality of hair gripping portions may be irregularly spaced about the styling surface in order to impart a non-uniform crimped style to the hair of the user The position of the hair gripping portions on the styling surface may be adjustable or may be fixed. For example, the hair gripping portions may include a means of releasably securing the one or more hair gripping portions to the styling surface, such as a sliding rail arrangement or a latch arrangement. The plurality of hair gripping portions may include four or more hair gripping portions. In a particular example, the styling surface may be convex. In a further example, the styling surface may be cylindrical in shape. In this case, the entire length of the user’s hair may be wrapped continuously around the styling surface to impart the crimped style to any length of hair without requiring the user to move the apparatus along the length of the hair. The longitudinally extending hair gripping portions may extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical styling surface. The hair styling apparatus may further comprise a plurality of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending raised sections projecting from the styling surface. The change in height of the styling surface over which the hair is held causes differing tensions to be imparted to different portions of the hair. The differing tensions along the hair, caused by the differences in height of the styling surface as well as the grip tension of the hair gripping portions, will impart a crimped or wavy style to the hair as it dries. Each of the hair gripping portions may be provided on a different raised surface of the plurality of raised surfaces. In this way, the tension generated in the hair at a given point will be amplified by a combination of the height different between the raised surface and the styling surface and the grip tension of the hair gripping portion. The one or more longitudinally extending raised surfaces may project from the styling surface by any height suitable for imparting tension across portions of the user’s hair held against the styling surface. A projection height of the one or more raised surfaces may be adjustable or may be fixed. For example, the apparatus may include a mechanism for raising and / or lowering the one or more raised surfaces relative to the styling surface, such as a gear and rack arrangement. Each of the one or more raised surfaces may have the same projection height or a different projection height. In an example, adjusting the height of one raised surface may cause a corresponding adjustment to occur for the remaining raised surfaces. Alternatively, the height of each raised surface may be adjusted independently In the case where the raised surfaces and hair gripping portions can be selectively removed and replaced on the styling surface, adjusting the height of the raised surface on the styling surface may include removing a given raised surface and replacing it with a raised surface having a different height. As stated above, the apparatus may include a plurality of hair gripping portions that extend longitudinally along the styling surface and are transversely spaced around said styling surface. In addition, the styling surface may comprise a plurality of transversally spaced, longitudinally extending channels, each channel being disposed between a respective pair of hair gripping portions, each channel being absent of fluid outlets arranged to discharge fluid outwardly from the channel. In other words, the plurality of hair gripping portions may be separated from each other by channels that do not include their own fluid outlets, and that may be lower than the raised sections, such that fluid is only discharged from the hair gripping portions of the apparatus. The channels may be the portions of the styling surface that do not include the hair gripping portions. As stated above, the plurality of hair gripping portions comprise a plurality of fluid outlets to discharge fluid outwardly from the plurality of hair gripping portions. In this way, hair held by the hair gripping portions experience a drying effect when held in a high tension state. Further, the plurality of hair gripping portions may also comprise an auxiliary fluid outlet between the hair gripping portion and the styling surface to discharge fluid across the styling surface. In this way, the hair that is against the styling surface between the hair gripping portions, i.e., hair that is in a low tension state, may also experience a drying effect, such that all of the hair held by the apparatus may be dried evenly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows an elevation view of a hair styling apparatus having a plurality of raised surfaces; Figure 2 shows an elevation view of a hair styling apparatus having a plurality of raised surfaces; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a hair styling apparatus having a plurality of raised surfaces and a hair gripping portion; Figure 4A shows an elevation view of a hair styling apparatus having a plurality of hair gripping portions provided on raised surfaces; Figure 4B shows an elevation view of a hair styling apparatus having a plurality of hair gripping portions; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a hair styling apparatus having a plurality of hair gripping portions provided on raised surfaces; Figure 6A shows an elevation view of a hair gripping portion; Figure 6B shows a perspective view of hair gripping portion; and Figure 7 shows a hair styling device according to an aspect of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figures 1 and 2 show a hair styling apparatus 100 according to an aspect of the invention. In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the hair styling apparatus 100 comprises a styling surface 110 and a plurality of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending raised surfaces 120 projecting from the styling surface. In the specific example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus comprises four raised surfaces uniformly spaced around a cylindrical styling surface. Each of the raised surfaces 120 are separated by a longitudinally extending channel 130. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the styling surface 110 comprises a plurality of transversally spaced, longitudinally extending channels 130, each channel being disposed between a respective pair of raised surfaces 120. The channels may be defined as the portion of the styling surface between a pair of raised surfaces. Figure 2 shows a plurality of fluid outlets 140 provided on a raised surface 120 of the hair styling apparatus 100. Each raised surface 120 is provided with a plurality of fluid outlets 120 to discharge fluid 150 outwardly from the one or more raised surfaces. Each longitudinally extending channel 130 is absent of fluid outlets arranged to discharge fluid outwardly from the channel. Accordingly, fluid, such as a heated airflow, is discharged only from the raised surfaces 120 and not from the longitudinally extending channels 130 or the remainder of the styling surface that is not in contact with the raised surfaces. The projection height 125 of the raised surfaces 120, and their position on the styling surface 110, may be adjustable. The projection height of the raised surfaces 120 may be adjustable by any suitable mechanical arrangement, such as a lever arrangement, a rack and pinion arrangement, a cam arrangement, and the like. The position of the raised surfaces 120 may be adjusted by releasably attaching the raised surfaces to the styling surface 110. For example, the styling surface may comprise a number of beds provided around the styling surface that extend longitudinally along the styling surface. The beds may include a plurality of fluid outlets to discharge fluid outwardly. Each bed may be provided with a receiving projection adapted to slidably receive a raised surface insert, which projects from the styling surface and includes a plurality of fluid outlets to permit passage of the discharging fluid, or a channel insert, which blocks the fluid outlets of the bed. The user may then select which inserts may be provided to which beds in order to position the raised surfaces in the desired arrangement. The raised surface inserts may be of different heights, which can also be selected by the user to achieve the desired projection height and raised surface positioning. Further, the hair styling apparatus 100 of Figures 1 and 2 comprises a hair gripping portion in the form of a clamp 155 provided on one of the raised surfaces 120. In the example shown in Figure 2, the clamp 155 comprises a levered arm with a pivot 156 at one end. The levered arm is adapted to move between a raised position (shown in Figure 2) and a lowered position (shown in Figure 1). The levered arm may be biased towards the lowered position by way of a resilient member, such as a spring arrangement. In use of the hair styling apparatus 100 of Figures 1 and 2, the section of the user’s hair to be gripped, or secured, is provided between the levered arm and the styling surface when the levered arm is in the raised position. The levered arm is then lowered into the lowered position in order to constrain the movement of the hair. The user would then wrap a length of hair around the styling surface 110 such that the hair is held over the raised surfaces 120. The change in height of the surface over which the hair is held causes differing tensions to be imparted to different portions of the hair. The hair in contact with the raised surfaces 120 will be at a higher tension than the hair suspended over the channels 130 between the raised surfaces Fluid, such as an air flow or a heated air flow, is then discharged from the fluid outlets 140 on the raised surfaces 120 and through the hair held around the apparatus. As the hair dries, the differing tensions along the hair will impart a crimped or wavy style to the hair. It will be appreciated that the hair styling apparatus 100 does not require the user to move and adjust the apparatus multiple times, or to position the apparatus with any great accuracy, in order to achieve a crimped style along the entire length of hair. The user is only required to wrap the desired length of hair around the styling surface and allow the hair to dry before releasing it. Figure 3 shows an embodiment of a hair styling apparatus 200 according to an aspect of the invention. The hair styling apparatus 200 includes all of the features described above with respect to Figures 1 and 2 apart from the clamp, which is absent. In addition, the hair styling apparatus shown in Figure 3 comprises a hair gripping portion 160 provided on one of the raised surfaces 120, but which could also have been provided on the styling surface 110. The hair gripping portion 160 is adapted to grip a section of a user’s hair to constrain the movement of the gripped section on the styling surface. The form and function of the hair gripping portion shown in Figure 3 is described in further detail below with reference to Figures 6A and 6B. Further, as shown in Figure 3, the raised surfaces 120 further comprise an auxiliary fluid outlet 170 between the raised surface and the styling surface 110 to discharge fluid 180across the styling surface, and in particular across the longitudinally extending channel 130. This feature may also be incorporated into the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2. In use, when the user’s hair is wrapped around the apparatus, the fluid 180 discharged from the auxiliary fluid outlet 170 will flow through the hair held over the longitudinally extending channel. Therefore, the hair held on the raised surfaces 120 and the hair held over the longitudinally extending channels 130 will receive the discharged fluid, meaning that the entire length of hair may dry equally. Figures 4A and 5 show a hair styling apparatus 300 according to a further aspect of the invention The hair styling apparatus of Figures 4A and 5 include many of the same features as described above with respect to Figures 1 to 3, which are labelled with the same reference numerals. In the example shown in Figures 4A and 5, the hair styling apparatus 300 comprises a styling surface 110 and a plurality of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending hair gripping portions 160 provided on the styling surface and adapted to grip a section of a user’s hair to constrain the movement of the gripped section on the styling surface. Each of the hair gripping portions 160 comprises a plurality of spaced hair styling projections 190, which are described in further detail below with respect to Figures 6a and 6B. In the specific example shown in Figures 4A and 5, the apparatus comprises four hair gripping portions 160 uniformly spaced around a cylindrical styling surface. Further, in the example shown in Figures 4A and 5, the hair gripping portions 160 are provided on raised surfaces 120. The raised surfaces may be the same as those described above with respect to Figures 1 to 3. Each of the hair gripping portions 160 are separated by a longitudinally extending channel 130. As shown in Figures 4A and 5, the styling surface 110 comprises a plurality of transversally spaced, longitudinally extending channels 130, each channel being disposed between a respective pair of hair gripping portions 160. The channels may be defined as the portion of the styling surface between a pair of hair gripping portions. Although not shown in Figures 4A and 5, a plurality of fluid outlets is provided on each hair gripping portion 160 of the hair styling apparatus 300. Each hair gripping portion is provided with a plurality of fluid outlets to discharge fluid 150 outwardly from the hair gripping portions. The positioning of the fluid outlets on the hair gripping portions is described in further detail below with respect to Figures 6A and 6B. Each longitudinally extending channel 130 is absent of fluid outlets arranged to discharge fluid outwardly from the channel. Accordingly, fluid, such as a heated airflow, is discharged only from the hair gripping portions 160 and not from the longitudinally extending channels 130 or the remainder of the styling surface that is not in contact with the raised surfaces. The position of the hair gripping portions 160 on the styling surface 110 may be adjustable. For example, the position of the hair gripping portions 160 may be adjusted by releasably attaching the hair gripping portions to the styling surface 110 For example, the styling surface may comprise a number of beds provided around the styling surface that extend longitudinally along the styling surface. The beds may include a plurality of fluid outlets to discharge fluid outwardly. Each bed may be provided with a receiving projection adapted to slidably receive a hair gripping portion insert, which includes a plurality of fluid outlets to permit passage of the discharging fluid, or a channel insert, which blocks the fluid outlets of the bed. The user may then select which inserts may be provided to which beds in order to position the hair gripping portions in the desired arrangement. The hair gripping portion inserts may be combined with the raised surface inserts described above. The raised surface inserts may be of different heights, which can also be selected by the user to achieve the desired projection height and raised surface / hair gripping portion positioning. In use of the hair styling apparatus 300 of Figures 4A and 5, the user would wrap a length of hair around the styling surface 110 such that the hair is held by the hair gripping portions 160 and over the raised surfaces 120. The grip tension of the hair gripping portions, as well as the change in height of the surface over which the hair is held, causes differing tensions to be imparted to different portions of the hair. The hair gripped by the hair gripping portions 160 will be at a higher tension than the hair suspended over the channels 130 between the hair gripping portions, which is not being actively gripped. Fluid, such as an air flow or a heated air flow, is then discharged from the fluid outlets on the hair gripping portions and through the hair held around the apparatus. As the hair dries, the differing tensions along the hair will impart a crimped or wavy style to the hair. It will be appreciated that the hair styling apparatus 300 does not require the user to move and adjust the apparatus multiple times, or to position the apparatus with any great accuracy, in order to achieve a crimped style along the entire length of hair. The user is only required to wrap the desired length of hair around the styling surface and allow the hair to dry before releasing it. Figure 4B shows an alternative embodiment 300’ of the hair styling apparatus of Figure 4A that is absent of raised surfaces. All other aspects of the hair styling apparatus 300’ Figure 4B are the same as the hair styling apparatus 300 of Figure 4A. Further, as shown in Figure 5, the hair gripping portions 160 further comprise an auxiliary fluid outlet 310 between the hair gripping portion and the styling surface 110 to discharge fluid 320 across the styling surface, and in particular across the longitudinally extending channel 130. This feature may also be incorporated into the embodiment shown in Figure 4. In use, when the user’s hair is wrapped around the apparatus, the fluid 320 discharged from the auxiliary fluid outlet 170 will flow through the hair held over the longitudinally extending channel. Therefore, the hair held by the hair gripping portions and the hair held over the longitudinally extending channels 130 will receive the discharged fluid, meaning that the entire length of hair may dry equally. Figures 6A and 6B show a hair gripping portion 160 adapted to grip a section of a user’s hair to constrain the movement of the gripped section on the styling surface according to an aspect of the invention. The hair gripping portion 160 shown in Figures 6A and 6B includes a plurality of spaced hair styling projections 190. The plurality of spaced hair styling projections 190 are in the form of a brush bristle. As is apparent from Figure 6B in particular, the hair styling projections 190 are arranged in transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rows. In particular, the hair styling projections are arranged in first, second, third and fourth transversely spaced apart rows, each of which extends longitudinally along the support surface 350, which may for part of the raised surfaces 120 described above. The shape of each projection 190 is apparent from the example shown in Figure 6A. Each projection 190 tapers inwardly in a direction from a base 360 of the projection (adjacent to the support surface 350) to a free end 370. Thus, each projection 190 is wider (in the longitudinal direction) at its base 360 than at its free end 370. Consequently, the spacing between neighbouring projections 190 in the same row is greater at their free ends 370 than at the support surface 350. The greater spacing at their free ends 370 provides improved hair penetration (i.e., facilitates insertion of the projections 190 into a tress of hair), whilst the reduction in spacing towards the support surface 350 increases the tension that can be applied to a portion of hair held by the hair gripping portion 160. A similar varied spacing is provided between adjacent pairs of rows of projections 190. Each projection 190 projects from the support surface 350 in a direction that is approximately normal to the support surface 350. As a result of this, and because the support surface 350 is convex in the example shown in Figures 6A and 6R, the rows of projections 190 flare outwardly (i.e., diverge) from one another. That is, the transverse spacing between neighbouring rows of projections 190 increases in a direction moving away from the support surface 350. Accordingly, there is greater transverse spacing between neighbouring rows at the free ends 370 of the projections 190 than at their bases 360. Again, this can improve the tension applied to a portion of hair held towards the bases 360 of the projections 190 while maintaining effective hair penetration. In the example shown in Figures 6A and 6B the fluid outlets may be provided at the bases of the hair styling projections 190, extending through the support surface 350. The hair styling projections 190 may further comprise a fluid pathway to discharge fluid from the hair styling projections. While desirable for providing hair tension, closely spaced projections 190 can be disruptive to fluid flow. To allow for the more closely spaced projections 190 of the present apparatus (while still maintaining the ability to control a user’s hair) each projection 190 may include a fluid pathway 380 extending therethrough. Each pathway 370 is provided at a base 360 of the projection 190 in which it is formed. The fluid pathway 380 may be in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. Alternatively, the support surface 350 may define a lower boundary of the fluid pathway 380. The fluid pathway has a cross-sectional shape (taken perpendicular to the direction of extension of the fluid pathway 380) that is elongate in a direction of extension of the projection 190. Further, each fluid pathway 380 is oriented so as to extend through a respective projection 190 in the transverse direction, which means the fluid pathways 280 are orthogonal to the flow of fluid discharged from the fluid outlets. Fluid discharged from the fluid outlets is able to flow through the fluid flow channels 380 rather than being obstructed (and diverted) by the projections 190. To further increase the tension applied by the projections 190 to the hair of the user, the rows of projections 190 are arranged in a staggered pattern. Thus, for example, the projections 190 of a first row are offset in the longitudinal direction from the projections 190 of a second (adjacent) row. Likewise, the projections 190 of a third row are longitudinally offset from those of the (adjacent) second row (but are aligned with the projections 190 of the first row). Finally, the projections 190 of a fourth row are longitudinally offset from the (adjacent) third row but are aligned with the projections 190 of the second row 25b A consequence of this configuration is that the hair held by the hair gripping portion 160 will be held in along an undulating path described by the base circumferences of the projections 190. This increases the surface area of contact between the hair and the projections, thereby increasing the grip tension of the hair gripping portion and increasing the tension applied to the hair in order to achieve the crimping effect. A further consequence of this configuration is that each fluid pathway 380 is arranged to direct fluid into gaps formed between neighbouring projections 190 in the subsequent row of projections 190. Figure 7 shows the hair styling apparatus 300 illustrated in Figures 4A and 5 in the form of an attachment for mounting to a hair styling device 400 that is configured to supply a flow of fluid (in this case, air) to the apparatus 300. A body of the device 400, in the form of a handle 410, houses an air mover (in the form of a fan) that moves air from a device inlet 420 to a device outlet (not shown). The device outlet is surrounded by a device mounting portion 430 of the device 400 which allows mounting of the apparatus 300 thereto. Operation of the air mover is controlled by a user interface in the form of a switch 440. To allow mounting of the apparatus 300 to the device 400 (which is held by a user in use), the apparatus 300 may comprises a mounting portion that includes circumferentially spaced lugs (that engage with corresponding features of the hair styling device 400). The apparatus 300 also includes a fluid inlet for receipt of fluid (i.e., an 5 airflow) from the hair styling device 400 when mounted thereto. An internal passage extends from the inlet into the interior of the apparatus 300 to permit the flow of fluid for discharge form the fluid outlets.

Claims

1. A hair styling apparatus comprising:a styling surface;at least one hair gripping portion provided on the styling surface and adapted to grip a section of a user’s hair to constrain the movement of the gripped section on the styling surface;one or more longitudinally extending raised surfaces projecting from the styling surface; anda plurality of fluid outlets provided on each of the raised surfaces to discharge fluid outwardly from the one or more raised surfaces.

2. The hair styling apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more raised surfaces comprise a plurality of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending raised surfaces projecting from the styling surface3. The hair styling apparatus of claim 2, wherein the raised surfaces of the plurality of raised surfaces are uniformly spaced about the styling surface.

4. The hair styling apparatus claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one hair gripping portion is provided on one of the one or more raised surfaces.

5. The hair styling apparatus claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the hair styling apparatus comprises a plurality of hair gripping portions, and wherein each of the hair gripping portions are provided on a different raised surface of the plurality of raised surfaces.

6. The hair styling apparatus claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one hair gripping portion comprises a plurality of spaced hair styling projections.

7. The hair styling apparatus claimed in claim 6, wherein each spaced hair styling projection extends from a base, adjacent to a surface of the hair gripping portion, to a free end.

8. The hair styling apparatus claimed in claim 7, wherein each spaced hair styling projection tapers inwardly in a direction from the base of the spaced hair styling projection to the free end of the spaced hair styling projection.

9. The hair styling apparatus claimed in any of claims 7 to 8, wherein the fluid outlets are provided at the bases of the hair styling projections, and wherein the hair styling projections comprise a fluid pathway to discharge fluid from the hair styling projections.

10. The hair styling apparatus claimed in any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the plurality of spaced hair styling projections on a hair gripping portion is arranged in transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rows, the rows comprising first and second adjacent rows.

11. The hair styling apparatus claimed in claim 10, wherein the spaced hair styling projections of the first row are offset, in the longitudinal direction, from the projections of the second row.

12. The hair styling apparatus claimed in any of claims 6 to 11, wherein each spaced hair styling projection of the plurality of spaced hair styling projections is in the form of a comb tooth or brush bristle.

13. The hair styling apparatus claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one hair gripping portion comprises a clamp.

14. The hair styling apparatus claimed in claim 13, wherein the clamp comprises a levered arm having a pivot at one end, wherein the levered arm is adapted to move between a raised position, for receiving the section of the user’s hair, and a lowered position for constraining movement of the gripped section of the user’s hair.

15. The hair styling apparatus claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the styling surface is convex.

16. The hair styling apparatus claimed in claim 15, wherein the styling surface is cylindrical.

17. The hair styling apparatus claimed in any of claims 2 to 16, wherein the plurality of raised surfaces comprises four or more raised surfaces.

18. The hair styling apparatus claimed in any of claims 2 to 17, wherein the styling surface comprises a plurality of transversally spaced, longitudinally extending channels, each channel being disposed between a respective pair of raised surfaces, each channel being absent of fluid outlets arranged to discharge fluid outwardly from the channel.

19. The hair styling apparatus claimed in any preceding claim wherein a projection height of the one or more raised surfaces is adjustable20. The hair styling apparatus claimed in any preceding claim wherein the one or more raised surfaces further comprise an auxiliary fluid outlet between the raised surface and the styling surface to discharge fluid across the styling surface.

21. The hair styling apparatus claimed in any preceding claim wherein a position of the one or more raised surfaces on the styling surface is adjustable.

22. A hair styling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims that is in the form of an attachment for a hair styling device configured to supply a fluid flow to the attachment, the attachment comprising a mounting portion for releasable mounting to the hair styling device.

Images