Hair care device

Abstract

The brush or comb has an articulated body 11 with a first side 13 from which bristles 12 project. The body comprises pivotably joined segments 15 permitting bending of the body about a longitudinal be

Description

BACKGROUND Hair care devices such as hairbrushes or combs are used for styling hair. Such hair care devices may be used on their own or may be used in combination with a hair care appliance, such as a hair dryer, for example. Hair care devices often include a plurality of projections that engage a user’s hair (typically referred to as “bristles” on a brush, and “teeth” on a comb). The teeth and bristles extend from a support (on a brush, for example, this support is often referred to as a “bristle bed”). Conventional brushes and combs also include a handle that allows a user to grip and move the brush or comb to style hair. SUMMARY In a first aspect, there is disclosed a hair care device comprising an articulated body having a first side from which a plurality of hair engaging projections project, and an opposite second side, the articulated body comprising a plurality of pivotably joined segments permitting bending of the articulated body about a longitudinal bending axis between: a storage configuration in which the first side of the articulated body is inwardly facing to at least partly extend about the plurality of projections; and a deployed configuration in which the first side is outwardly facing such that the projections are exposed for use, and wherein in the deployed configuration the segments of the articulated body abut one another to resist bending of the articulated body about the bending axis in a direction away from the storage configuration. The provision of an articulated body that can move between a storage configuration and a deployed configuration provides a hair device that is convenient for storage and transportation (for example in a bag or pocket of a user, or in a carrying case for a hair care appliance). That the articulated body is able to extend at least partly about the projections in the storage configuration may allow the articulated body to protect the projections from damage during such storage and transportation. Further, the arrangement of the segments such that they abut in the deployed configuration to resist bending away from the storage configuration allows a user to retain the articulated body in the deployed configuration by applying a force that would otherwise cause such bending (i.e. if not for the abutment of the segments). In other words, a user can apply a force that retains the segments in abutment so as to maintain the hair care device in the deployed configuration. Such a force may, for example, be provided by pressing opposite transverse ends of the articulated body towards one another (the transverse ends being opposite ends of the articulated body on an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction). In practice, such a force can be applied by squeezing the ends towards one another (e.g. between a user’s thumb and fingers). The ability to maintain the deployed configuration in this manner means the user can ensure the articulated body remains stable (i.e. deployed) while using the projections to style their hair. That this can be performed between a user’s thumb and fingers, means that the user’s hand may be in a natural position for e.g. brushing / combing while using the hair care device in the deployed position. Moreover, the arrangement of the segments means that movement from the storage configuration to the deployed configuration (and vice-versa) is fast and simple. A user simply needs to bend the articulated body in a first direction to form the storage configuration and in a second opposite direction to deploy the projections for use. Optional features of the first aspect will now be set out. These are applicable singly or in any combination with any aspect. The articulated body may form an arch in the deployed configuration (i.e. the segments may be configured to form an arch in the deployed configuration). The segments of the body may abut one another to resist inward collapse of the arch. Thus, for example, the segments may abut one another to resist a compressive force applied to the transverse ends of the arch (i.e. a force urging the ends of the arch towards one another). An arch form may provide a particularly stable shape. There are at least two reasons for this. Firstly, an arch shape means that the transverse ends of the articulated body extend away from a central portion of the body (i.e. which provides the apex of the arch). This means that pressing the ends towards one another provides a force that urges the articulated body to bend away from the storage position (i.e. urges the segments into abutment) to provide stability in the deployed configuration. Likewise, because the ends extend away from the central portion, applying a force to the ends provides a mechanical advantage that aids in providing stability, especially at the apex of the arch. Secondly, an arch shape can be particularly good at resisting (by distributing) forces that are directed towards the outer side of the apex of the arch. In the context of the hair care device, this can be advantageous because such forces are likely to be experienced by the articulated body due to the projections contacting a user’s scalp during use. Thus, the arch form of the articulated body in the deployed configuration may facilitate maintenance of the deployed configuration in use. The arch may have a substantially curved profile. The arch may be such that the first side of the articulated body is convex when the articulated body is in the deployed configuration. The arch may have a radius of curvature between 100 mm and 800 mm, or e.g. between 200 mm and 400 mm. In other embodiments, the arch may have a substantially non-curved profile. For example, the articulated body may form a square arch when in the deployed configuration. Each pair of neighbouring segments in the plurality of segments may comprise a pivotable connection therebetween configured to provide pivoting movement between the neighbouring segments about a respective longitudinal pivot axis. Each pivotable connection may be located at (or near to) the first side of the articulated body. Each pivotable connection may comprise a flexible joint connecting the respective pair of neighbouring elements. Each flexible joint may form a portion of a flexible layer extending across the first side of the articulated body. The hair care device may comprise a plurality of flexible layers. Each flexible layer may extend across (at least partly) a respective pair of neighbouring segments. In some embodiments, each flexible layer may extend across a plurality of pairs of neighbouring segments. In other embodiments, the hair care device may comprise a single flexible layer that provides all of the flexible joints (i.e. extends across all of the segments). The use of a flexible layer may provide a durable and easily assembled means for pivotably connecting the segments. The flexible layer may be formed of a sheet material. For example, the flexible layer may be formed of a fabric. The flexible layer may be mounted to the segments by e.g. adhesive. Instead of, or in addition to, a flexible joint, each pivotable connection may comprise a mechanical joint such as, for example, a pin provided on one segment that is rotatable in a recess of a neighbouring segment. Each pair of neighbouring segments may comprise abutment surfaces arranged to bear against one another in the deployed configuration to resist bending of the articulated body about the bending axis in a direction away from the storage configuration (or to resist inward collapse of the arch when the articulated body forms an arch in the deployed configuration). The abutment surfaces of each pair of neighbouring elements may be arranged between the pivotable connection connecting the pair of neighbouring elements and the second side of the articulated body. Each abutment surface may extend from the pivotable connection to the second side of the articulated body. Thus, when the articulated body is moved (i.e. bent) toward the storage configuration, the abutment surfaces pivot away from one another (e.g. so that wedge-shaped gaps are formed between the abutment surfaces). When the articulated body is then moved (i.e. bent) in the other direction to the deployed configuration, the wedge shape gaps narrow until the abutment surfaces come into contact (i.e. so that there is no gap between the abutment surfaces). The abutment surfaces may be transversely-facing side surfaces of the articulated body segments. Each abutment surface may extend for substantially the entire length of the respective segment on which it is formed. One or more of the articulated body segments may taper inwardly in a direction from the first side to the second side of the articulated body. Each segment may have a width dimension in the transverse direction (i.e. perpendicular to the longitudinal direction). One or more of the segments may be wider at the first side than at the second side. Each of the one or more segment(s) may narrow gradually in width from the first side to the second side. As above, each articulated body segment may comprise opposite transverse side surfaces (which extend longitudinally). The opposite transverse side surfaces of at least one of the segments may be non-parallel (i.e. may be sloped relative to one another). As may be appreciated, an angle formed between the transverse side surfaces may define the overall form of the articulated body when in the deployed configuration, especially when the transverse side walls of a plurality of the segments are arranged in this way. When the articulated body forms an arch, the radius of curvature of the arch form may be dictated by the angle defined between the opposite transverse side surfaces of the segments. A greater angle between the transverse side surfaces will mean a smaller radius of curvature of the arch form. One or more (e.g. all) of the articulated body segments may have a substantially constant cross-sectional shape for their entire length. One or more of the articulated body segments may have a substantially trapezoidal transverse cross-sectional shape. Each of a plurality of the articulated body segments may have a substantially trapezoidal transverse cross-sectional shape. One or more (e.g. all) of the articulated body segments may be elongate in the longitudinal direction. One or more (e.g. all) of the articulated body segments may extend for the substantially the entire length of the hair care device (the length being taken in the longitudinal direction). The articulated body segments may be substantially parallel to one another. The articulated body segments may be arranged side-by side. The articulated body may comprise from three to eighteen segments, e.g. from three to twelve segments, e.g. four, five or six segments. The hair care device may comprise means for maintaining the articulated body in the deployed configuration (i.e. without the need for a user to manually apply a force to maintain the deployed configuration). The hair care device may comprise, for example, a connector connectable between the transverse ends of the articulated body in the deployed configuration to restrict movement of the transverse ends away from one another. In this way, the connector may maintain the articulated body in the deployed configuration. The connector may extend across the second side of the articulated body when connected between the transverse ends. The connector may be flexible. The connector may be resilient. The connector may be, for example, an elastic cord, or an elastic fabric. The connector may be biased to urge the transverse ends towards one another. The connector may be releasably connectable to at least one of the transverse ends. Hence, in use, a user may move the articulated body to the deployed configuration and then connect the connector between the transverse ends of the articulated body (so as to extend across the second side of the articulated body) in order to maintain the articulated body in the deployed configuration (e.g. in an arch shape). The distance between the transverse ends (i.e. the distance between outwardly facing surfaces of the transverse ends) when in the deployed configuration may be greater than 40 mm, e.g. greater than 50 mm, e.g. greater than 60 mm. As may be appreciated, when the articulated body forms an arch in the deployed configuration, this distance may be referred to as a chord distance. The distance between the transverse ends (e.g. chord distance) may be less than 150 mm, e.g. less than 140 mm, e.g. less than 130 mm. The transverse ends of the articulated body (e.g. respective segments provided at the transverse ends) may be enlarged (i.e. with respect to an intermediate portion of the articulated body) to permit gripping by a user in the deployed configuration. The first side of the articulated body may be concave in the storage configuration. The first side of the articulated body may define a cavity in which the projections are received when in the storage configuration. The articulated body may substantially fully wrap about the projections when in the storage configuration. This may prevent damage to the projections when stored. In the storage configuration, the articulated body may fully extend about the projections so that transverse ends of the articulated body are in contact with one another. The hair care device may comprise a retaining arrangement for releasably securing the transverse ends (e.g. transverse end segments) to one another when in the storage configuration. The retaining arrangement may comprise, for example, a magnetic connection (e.g. each transverse end may be provided with a magnet). The transverse ends (e.g. transverse end segments) may be configured to sit flat against one another when the articulated body is in the storage configuration. To facilitate this, each transverse end may comprise a substantially planar end surface. The hair care device may comprise longitudinal end walls arranged to at least partly enclose longitudinal ends of the cavity (defined by the first side) in which the projections are received when in the storage configuration. The longitudinal end walls may substantially fully cover at least one longitudinal end of the cavity. Each longitudinal end wall may be upstanding from (e.g. a longitudinal end of) a respective articulated body segment. Each longitudinal end wall may have a proximal end connected to the respective articulated body segment and an opposite free distal end. Each longitudinal end wall may taper inwardly in a direction from the proximal end to the distal end. The plurality of projections may comprise a first set of projections on a first segment of the plurality of segments and a second set of projections on a second segment of the plurality of segments. The first set of projections may be offset longitudinally with respect to the second set of projections. In this way, the projections of the first set of projections may be interposed between the projections of the second set of projections when the articulated body is in the storage configuration. This may allow a more compact storage configuration. As may be appreciated, various arrangements of projections may be provided. For example, the plurality of projections may be provided on a single segment (which may be wider than other segments). Alternatively, the plurality of projections may be dispersed across more than one segment. The plurality of projections may extend from a support element (e.g. a bristle bed). The support element may be flexible. The support element may extend across more than one segment of the plurality of segments. In a second aspect there is provided a hair care system comprising a hair care device according to the first aspect and an apparatus on which the hair care device is mountable when in the storage configuration, the apparatus comprising an external convex surface provided between spaced apart engagement portions, the engagement portions configured to engage transverse ends of the articulated body in the storage configuration such that the articulated body extends across the convex surface, and wherein the convex surface further comprises a recess arranged to accommodate the projections of the hair care device. The apparatus may, for example, comprise a container or case for storing e.g. accessories for styling hair. The apparatus may be, for example, hair styling appliance such as e.g. a hair dryer, curler, etc. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1A is a section view of a hair care device according to a first embodiment in a deployed configuration; Figure IB is a section view of the hair care device according to the first embodiment in a storage configuration; Figure 2A is a perspective view of a hair care device according to a second embodiment in a deployed configuration; Figure 2B is a perspective view of the hair care device according the second embodiment in a storage configuration; Figure 3 is a section view of a hair care device according to a third embodiment; and Figure 4 is a section view of a hair care system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figures 1A and IB illustrate a hair care device 100 comprising an articulated body 11 from which a plurality of projections 12, in the form of brush bristles, project. In particular, the projections 12 project from a first side 13 of the body 11, which is opposite to a second side 14 of the body 11 (the first 13 and second 14 sides represent major surfaces of the articulated body 11). The articulated body 11 comprises a plurality of segments 15 (in this case a total of nine segments 15) that are pivotably joined to one another. This allows bending of the articulated body 11 about a longitudinal bending axis (extending into the page as illustrated) between a storage configuration (shown in Figure IB) and a deployed configuration (shown in Figure 1 A). The plurality of segments 15 include two opposite transverse end segments 16 (provided at respective transverse ends of the articulated body 11) and a central segment 17 from which the projections 12 project. The end segments 16 are connected to the central segment 17 by a plurality of intermediate segments 18. The segments 15 are elongate in a longitudinal direction (into the page as illustrated) and are arranged side-by-side. Each neighbouring pair of segments 15 includes a pair of cooperating abutment surfaces 19 (one provided on each segment 15 of the pair), which bear against one another in the deployed configuration (Figure 1A). These abutment surface 19 are provided by transversely-facing side surfaces of the segments 15. The intermediate segments 18 each have a generally trapezoidal cross-sectional shape, so as to taper inwardly in a direction from the first side 13 to the second side 14. Thus, each intermediate segment 18 has opposite transversely-facing side surfaces (which act as the abutment surfaces 19) that are non-parallel (i.e. the two opposite surfaces of each intermediate segment slope towards one another in the direction from the first side 13 to the second side 14). One result of this is that when the abutment surfaces 19 are brought together in the deployed configuration, the articulated body 11 is arch-shaped (i.e. has an arch shaped transverse cross-sectional shape as is evident from Figure 1 A). The central segment 17 is wider (i.e. width being taken in the transverse direction) than the intermediate segments 18. The projections 12 extend from the central segment 17 so as to be normal to an upper surface 20 of the central segment (i.e. at the first side 13 of the articulated body 11). Each transverse end segment 16 of the articulated body 11 includes an enlarged (or bulbous) portion 21. As will be described in more detail below, a user my grip these enlarged portions 21 in use (i.e. when styling hair) and the enlarged nature of the enlarged portions 21 makes it easier, and more comfortable, for the user to grip the hair care device 100. The segments 15 (i.e. the end segments 16, central segment 17 and intermediate segments 18) are connected by two flexible layers 22 provided at the first side 13 of the articulated body 11. Each flexible layer 22 extends from a respective transverse side of the central segment 17 to a respective end segment 16, across respective intermediate segments 18. The flexible nature of the flexible layers 22 means that they provide pivotable connections between each pair of neighbouring segments 15 (i.e. at the first side 13 of the articulated body 11). Each pivotable connection is such that neighbouring segments 15 are able to pivot relative to one another about a respective longitudinal pivot axis. It is the combination of these pivotable connections that provides the articulated nature of the articulated body 11 and allows the articulated body 11 to move between the storage configuration (Figure IB) and the deployed configuration (Figure 1 A). In use, a user can deploy the hair care device 100 by bending the articulated body 11 about the longitudinal axis in a first direction until the abutment surfaces 19 come into contact with one another. In this position the projections 12 are exposed so that a user is able to use the projections 12 to style their hair (or, of course, someone else’s hair). As noted previously, the articulated body 11 has an arch form in this configuration. Thus, the first side 13 faces outwardly and is convex. It is, of course, desirable that the articulated body 11 remains in the deployed configuration while using the hair care device 100. To achieve this, a user can apply a force (as dictated by arrows in Figure 1A) that urges the transverse end segments 16 towards one another. Such a force would cause further bending of the articulated body 11 away from the storage configuration if not for the presence and cooperation of the abutment surfaces 19 which restrict such movement. In other words, urging the transverse end segments 16 together in this way urges the abutment surfaces 19 together and helps to ensure stability of the articulated body 11 in the deployed configuration. A user is able to apply such a force by squeezing the transverse end segments 16 between their fingers and thumb of a single hand. Beneficially, this represents the way in which the hair care device 100 is intended to be held in use (i.e. when styling hair). In other words, simply gripping the hair care device 100 in the intended manner for use acts to maintain the articulated body 11 in the deployed configuration. To further aid in maintaining the articulated body 11 in the deployed configuration, the hair care device 100 includes a connector 23 in the form of an elastic fabric that extends between and connects the transverse end segments 16 in the deployed configuration. The elastic nature of the connector 23 means that it urges the transverse end segments 16 towards one another, thereby urging the abutment surfaces 19 together to maintain the articulated body 11 in the deployed configuration. Once a user has finished styling their hair, they can bend the articulated body 11 in a second direction (opposite to the first direction) to move the articulated body 11 to the storage configuration as shown in Figure IB. Bending the articulated body 11 in this way pivots neighbouring segments 15 relative to one another and causes adjacent abutment surfaces 19 to pivot away from one another. In the storage configuration, the articulated body 11 wraps around the projections 12 such that the first side 13 of the articulated body 11 is concave and faces inwardly towards the projections 12. In this way, the projections 12 are protected by the articulated body 11. Likewise, as should be apparent from Figure IB, in the storage configuration the hair care device 100 is more compact than in the deployed configuration. This makes the hair care device 100 easier to store and transport. To retain the articulated body 11 in the storage configuration, the hair care device 100 further includes a retaining arrangement comprising a pair of magnets 24, each provided on a respective transverse end segment 16 of the articulated body 11. In the storage configuration, because the articulated body 11 fully wraps about the projections 12, the transverse end segments 16 are brought together. The magnets 24 are located such that when in this position they come into contact to retain the transverse end segments 16 against one another. As is apparent from Figure IB, in the storage configuration the connector 23 extends about the (outwardly facing) second side 14 of the articulated body 11. In this way the connector 23 acts as an outer cover in the storage configuration 23. As may be appreciated, the magnets 24 are configured such the closure force provided by the magnets 24 overcomes the force (due to the elastic nature of the connector 23) of the connector 23 urging the transverse end segments 16 apart. Figures 2A and 2B illustrate a hair care device 200 that is a variation of the hair care device 100 discussed above. This hair care device 200 includes many of the features already discussed above that have been give the same reference numerals in Figures 2A and 2B. For brevity, these will not be discussed again in detail. Like the previously described hair care device 100, the hair care device 200 of Figures 2A and 2B includes an articulated body 11 formed of pivotably connected segments 15 that allow the articulated body 11 to be moved between a deployed configuration (Figure 2A) and a storage configuration (Figure 2B). In this case, the articulated body 11 includes four segments 15: two transverse end segments 16 and two intermediate segments 18 connected between the transverse end segments 16. The segments 15 are joined by a single flexible fabric layer 22 that extends across the first side 13 of the articulated body 11. The projections 12, which are in the form of bristles, extend from the two intermediate segments 18. In this respect, the projections 12 are arranged in first 25 and second 26 sets of projections 12, each set of projections 25, 26 is provided on one of the intermediate segments 18. The sets of projections 25, 26 are arranged such that the first set of projections 25 is offset longitudinally from the second set of projections 26. This ensures that when the articulated body 11 is in the storage configuration (Figure 2B), the projections 12 of the first set of projections 25 do not collide with the projections 12 of the second set of projections 26. This allows the articulated body 11 to be more compact in the storage configuration (as per Figure 2B). Each set of projections 25, 26 includes three longitudinally extending, transversely spaced rows of projections 12. The three rows of projections 12 of each set of projections 25, 26 vary in height such that the projections 12 of the row closest to the centre of the hair care device 200 are longer (i.e. extend further from the articulated body 11) than the row closest the respective transverse end segment 16. This ensures that when the articulated body 11 is in the storage configuration, the projections 12 do not collide with the transverse end segments 16. The hair care device 200 also differs from that previously described in that it includes four longitudinal end walls 27. Each transverse end segment 16 includes two longitudinal end walls 27 upstanding therefrom. Each longitudinal end wall 27 is triangular-shaped, so as to taper inwardly in the direction of extension of the end wall 27 from the articulated body 11. As is apparent from Figure 2B in particular, when the articulated body 11 is in the storage configuration, the longitudinal end walls 27 fit together so as to substantially enclose longitudinal ends of the internal cavity formed by the articulated body 11. This helps to protect the projections 12. Figure 3 illustrates a further hair care device 300 in the deployed configuration. In this variation, the articulated body 11, when in the deployed configuration, has a shape that is in the form of a square arch. To form this shape, each transverse end segment 18 includes a body portion 28 and a handle portion 29 that extends from the body portion 28 in an opposite direction to the projections 12. The intermediate segments 18 (in the deployed configuration) are arranged linearly between the transverse end segments 16. To achieve this, each intermediate segment 28 has a substantially rectangular (rather than e.g. trapezoidal) cross-sectional shape. Figure 4 illustrates a hair care system that includes a hair care device 400 (which is similar to that shown in Figures 1A and IB) and an apparatus 30 in the form of a container for storing hair care accessories. The apparatus 30 includes an external convex surface 31 provided between spaced apart engagement portions 32, in the form of concave recesses. The hair care device 400 is configured such that in the storage configuration (as shown) transverse end segments 16 of the hair care device 400 engage in the engagement portions 32 of the apparatus 30 (so as to be retained therein). When in this position, the first side 13 of the articulated body 11 of the hair care device 400 extends across the convex surface 31 of the apparatus 30. The apparatus 30 further includes a central recess 33 that is shaped to accommodate the projections 12 of the hair device 400. In this way, the projections 12 are protected by the apparatus 30 when the hair care device 400 is in the storage configuration. To use the hair care device 400 a user can disengage the transverse end segments 16 from the engagement portions 32 and bend the articulated body 11 to a deployed configuration that is similar to that illustrated in Figure 1 A. The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining the disclosed results, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof. While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For the avoidance of any doubt, any theoretical explanations provided herein are provided for the purposes of improving the understanding of a reader. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations. Any section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described. Throughout this specification, including the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” and “include”, and variations such as “comprises”, “comprising”, and “including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular 5 forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and / or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and / or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by the use of the antecedent “about,” it will be 10 understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term “about” in relation to a numerical value is optional and means for example + / - 10%. 22 09 25

Claims

1. A hair care device comprising an articulated body having a first side from which a plurality of hair engaging projections project, and an opposite second side, the articulated 5 body comprising a plurality of pivotably joined segments permitting bending of the articulated body about a longitudinal bending axis between:a storage position in which the first side of the articulated body is inwardly facing to at least partly extend about the plurality of projections; anda deployed position in which the articulated body is outwardly facing such that the 10 projections are exposed for use, and wherein in the deployed configuration thesegments of the articulated body abut one another to resist bending of the articulated body about the bending axis in a direction away from the storage configuration;wherein the articulated body forms an arch having a substantially curved profile in the 15 deployed configuration and wherein in the deployed configuration the segments of the articulated body abut one another to resist inward collapse of the arch.

2. A hair care device according to claim 1 wherein the arch is such that the first side of the articulated body is convex when the articulated body is in the deployed configuration.

203. A hair care device according to any preceding claim wherein the arch has a substantially non-curved profile.

4. A hair care device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first side of 25 the articulated body is concave in the storage configuration.

5. A hair care device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each pair of neighbouring segments in the plurality of segments comprises a pivotable connection therebetween configured to provide pivoting movement between the neighbouring 30 segments about a respective longitudinal pivot axis.22 09 256. A hair care device according to claim 5 wherein each pivotable connection is located at the first side of the articulated body.

7. A hair care device according to claim 6 wherein each pivotable connection comprises a 5 flexible joint connecting the respective pair of neighbouring elements.

8. A hair care device according to claim 7 wherein each flexible joint forms a portion of a flexible layer extending across the first side of the articulated body.10 9. A hair care device according to any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein each pair ofneighbouring segments comprises abutment surfaces arranged to bear against one another in the deployed configuration.

10. A hair care device according to claim 9 wherein the abutment surfaces of each pair of 15 neighbouring elements are arranged between the pivotable connection connecting the pair of neighbouring elements and the second side of the articulated body.

11. A hair care device according claim 9 or 10 wherein the abutment surfaces are transversely facing side surfaces of the articulated body segments.2012. A hair care device according to claim 11 wherein one or more of the articulated body segments taper inwardly in a direction from the first side to the second side of the articulated body.25 13. A hair care device according to claim 11 or 12 wherein the one or more of thearticulated body segments have a substantially trapezoidal transverse cross-sectional shape.

14. A hair care device according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a connector connectable between transverse ends of the articulated body in the deployed 30 configuration to restrict movement of the transverse ends away from one another, thereby maintaining the arch of the articulated body.22 09 2515. A hair care device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein transverse ends of the articulated body are enlarged to permit gripping by a user in the deployed configuration.5 16. A hair care device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein in the storageconfiguration the articulated body fully extends about the projections so that transverse ends of the articulated body are in contact with one another.

17. A hair care device according to claim 16 comprising a retaining arrangement for 10 releasably securing the transverse ends to one another when in the storage configuration.

18. A hair care device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the plurality of projections comprises a first set of projections on a first segment of the plurality of segments and a second set of projections on a second segment of the plurality of segments, 15 and wherein the first set of projections are offset longitudinally with respect to the second set of projections.

19. A hair care system comprising a hair care device according to any one of the preceding claims and an apparatus on which the hair care device is mountable when in the storage 20 configuration, the apparatus comprising an external convex surface provided between spaced apart engagement portions, the engagement portions configured to engage transverse ends of the articulated body in the storage configuration such that the articulated body extends across the convex surface, and wherein the convex surface further comprises a recess arranged to accommodate the projections of the hair care device.

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