A haircare appliance

Abstract

A haircare appliance 10 includes a first arm 24 and a second arm 26, the first arm and the second arm spaced apart to define a hair receiving channel 66 therebetween. The first arm is movably mounted

Description

B ACKGROUND Haircare appliances are generally used to treat or style hair, and some haircare appliances may treat or style hair using airflow and / or heat. SUMMARY According to a first aspect there is provided a haircare appliance comprising: a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm spaced apart to define a hair receiving channel therebetween, the first arm movably mounted relative to the second arm such that movement of the first arm relative to the second arm varies a width of the hair receiving channel; an airflow generator configured to generate an airflow within the haircare appliance, the first arm comprising an airflow path configured to receive the airflow from the airflow generator, and an air outlet for emitting airflow from the airflow path into the hair receiving channel; a bleed flowpath configured to receive at least a portion of airflow from the hair receiving channel; a bleed outlet in fluid communication with the bleed flowpath, the bleed outlet defined in an external surface of the haircare appliance; and a plurality of bristles protruding outwardly from the external surface of the haircare appliance. By providing airflow into the hair receiving channel, hair that is received within the hair receiving channel in use may be treated and / or styled using the airflow. By providing the bleed flowpath configured to receive at least a portion of airflow from the hair receiving channel, and the bleed outlet in fluid communication with the bleed flowpath, increased flexibility in styling operations and / or increased user comfort may be provided. For example, the bleed flowpath may enable airflow to be directed away from the hair receiving channel / away from a user, and / or to an alternative location that may provide increased flexibility in styling operations. By providing a plurality of bristles protruding outwardly from the external surface of the haircare appliance, for example from the same external surface in which the bleed outlet is defined, increased flexibility may be provided relative to arrangements absent the plurality of bristles. Overall the haircare appliance may comprise increased flexibility in styling operations and / or increased user comfort relative to known haircare appliances that comprise first and second arms, such as hair straighteners. The haircare appliance may comprise an air inlet through which the airflow generator is configured to draw the airflow from an ambient environment of the haircare appliance. The haircare appliance may comprise a heater configured to heat the airflow generated by the airflow generator. The heater may be located within the first arm, for example within the airflow path of the first arm. The first arm may be mounted for reciprocating motion relative to the second arm. A portion of the external surface of the haircare appliance may be curved in form. This may facilitate performance of styling operations that utilise a curved surface. For example, use of a curved surface may enable flicks and / or curls to be imparted to hair with greater ease than with use of a planar surface. The portion of the external surface of the haircare appliance may subtend an angle of at least 45 degrees. This may provide a sufficient extent of curved surface to enable styling operations to be performed. The portion of the external surface of the haircare appliance may subtend an angle of at least 60 degrees, at least 70 degrees, or at least 80 degrees. The portion of the external surface of the haircare appliance may subtend an angle of no greater than 180 degrees, for example no more than 150 degrees, no more than 120 degrees, or no more than 90 degrees. The portion of the external surface of the haircare appliance may have a constant radius of curvature. This may provide improved consistency of styling compared to, for example, a curved surface with a varying radius or curvature, such as a surface with discrete step changes in radius of curvature. The portion of the external surface of the haircare appliance may have a non-constant radius of curvature. This may provide improved and / or alternative styling results compared to a constant radius of curvature. The plurality of bristles may extend outwardly relative to the portion of the external surface of the haircare appliance. Providing the plurality of bristles extending outwardly from such a curved surface may enable the haircare appliance to be utilised in manner similar to, for example, a hairbrush comprising a curved surface, such as a round hairbrush. Providing this functionality integrally within the haircare appliance may reduce a need for a user of the haircare appliance to use another tool, such as a hairbrush, alongside the haircare appliance. The bleed outlet may be defined in the portion of the external surface of the haircare appliance. Providing the bleed outlet on such a curved surface may facilitate use of the haircare appliance to impart certain styling features, such as curls or flicks, to hair, with the combination of the curved surface and the airflow from the bleed outlet being utilised to style and set such styling features in the hair. The bleed outlet may be shaped to direct airflow along the portion of the external surface of the haircare appliance. The plurality of bristles may protrude outwardly relative to the external surface of the haircare appliance in a plurality of rows. The bleed outlet may comprise a plurality of apertures defined in the external surface of the haircare appliance. This may enable a relatively diffuse flow of air to be provided compared to, for example, arrangements where the bleed outlet comprises one or more slots or the like. Each of the plurality of bristles may extend through a corresponding one of the plurality of apertures. The plurality of apertures may be interspersed between the plurality of bristles, for example with each aperture located between adjacent bristles of a row of bristles. The plurality of apertures may comprise a total open cross-sectional area of between 150mm2 and 1600mm2, for example between 182mm2 and 1514mm2. The bleed outlet may comprise a plurality of slots defined in the external surface of the haircare appliance. Slots may enable provision of a relatively concentrated airflow in comparison to apertures. Each slot may extend between two adjacent rows of bristles. The plurality of slots may comprise a total open cross-sectional area of between 150mm2 and 1600mm2, for example between 182mm2 and 1514mm2. The bleed flowpath may comprise a bleed inlet, and the bleed inlet may have a length substantially corresponding to a length of the air outlet. This may ensure relatively consistent bleeding of airflow from the length of the air outlet. The length of the bleed inlet and the length of the air outlet may be measured in a direction substantially parallel to a length of at least one of the first arm and the second arm. The length of the bleed inlet and the length of the air outlet may be measured in a direction substantially parallel to a length of the hair receiving channel. The bleed inlet may comprise a plurality of vanes, for example such that the bleed inlet is divided into a plurality of sub-inlets. The air outlet may have a length that is at least 50% of the length of the hair receiving channel, for example at least 50% of the length of a portion of the first arm and / or a portion of the second arm that defines the hair receiving channel. The bleed inlet may have a length that is at least 50% of the length of the hair receiving channel, for example at least 50% of the length of a portion of the first arm and / or a portion of the second arm that defines the hair receiving channel. The air outlet may have a length that substantially corresponds to the length of the hair receiving channel, for example substantially corresponds to the length of the first arm and / or the second arm. The bleed inlet may have a length that substantially corresponds to the length of the hair receiving channel, for example substantially corresponds to the length of the first arm and / or the second arm. The haircare appliance may comprise a closed body defining the external surface of the haircare appliance, with the bleed inlet, the bleed outlet, and the bleed flowpath, formed in the closed body. The plurality of bristles may extend along a length that is at least 80% of a length of the hair receiving channel. This may enable a relatively wide tress of hair to be contacted by the plurality of bristles compared to if the bristles were to extend along less of the length of the hair receiving channel. The bleed outlet may extend along at a length that is at least 80% of a length of the hair receiving channel. This may enable airflow to be distributed along a larger extent of hair receiving channel compared to if the bleed outlet were to extend along less of the length of the hair receiving channel. The plurality of bristles may collectively subtend an angle of at least 45 degrees, at least 55 degrees, or at least 65 degrees, about the portion of the external surface of the haircare appliance that is curved. The bleed outlet may subtend an angle of at least 45 degrees, at least 55 degrees, or at least 65 degrees, about the portion of the external surface of the haircare appliance that is curved. The external surface of the haircare appliance may have a length corresponding to at least 50% of a length of the hair receiving channel, for example at least 50% of the length of a portion of the first arm and / or a portion of the second arm that defines the hair receiving channel. The external surface of the haircare appliance may comprise an external surface of the haircare appliance that overlies the hair receiving channel. The length of the external surface may be measured in a direction substantially parallel to a length of at least one of the first arm and the second arm. The length of the external surface may be measured in a direction substantially parallel to a length of the hair receiving channel. The external surface may have a length that substantially corresponds to the length of the hair receiving channel, for example substantially corresponds to the length of the first arm and / or the second arm. The air outlet may be located at a first side of the haircare appliance, and the external surface may be located at a second, opposite, side of the haircare appliance. This may facilitate performance of styling operations where hair received within the hair receiving channel can be straightened by airflow from the air outlet within the hair receiving channel, whilst also being styled by interaction with at least one of the bleed outlet and the plurality of bristles. The first side and the second side of the haircare appliance may be opposite sides of the haircare appliance along a height direction of the hair receiving channel. The plurality of bristles may be located at the second side of the haircare appliance. The bleed outlet may be located at the second side of the haircare appliance. The bleed flowpath may be located within, or adjacent to, the first arm. This may facilitate removal of airflow from the hair receiving channel into the bleed flowpath, by virtue of proximity to the hair receiving channel. The external surface may comprise an external surface of the first arm, or a discrete surface attached to an external surface of the first arm. The bleed flowpath may underlie the first arm, for example in an orientation where the air outlet is located at an upper region of the hair receiving channel. The bleed outlet may be located on, or adjacent to, the first arm. The bleed outlet may underlie the first arm, for example in an orientation where the air outlet is located at an upper region of the hair receiving channel. The plurality of bristles may be located on, or adjacent to, the first arm. The plurality of bristles may underlie the first arm, for example in an orientation where the air outlet is located at an upper region of the hair receiving channel. The haircare appliance may comprise a main unit comprising the first and second arms, and an attachment comprising the bleed flowpath, the external surface of the haircare appliance, the bleed outlet, and the plurality of bristles. The attachment may be releasably attachable to the main unit. This may enable the functionality of the bleed flowpath, the bleed outlet, and the plurality of bristles to be selectively provided to the haircare appliance, and may, for example, enable such functionality to be retrofitted to existing haircare appliances having a main unit comprising first and second arms. At least one of the airflow generator and the heater may be disposed in the main unit. The attachment may comprise the bleed inlet. The attachment may be releasably attachable to the first arm. This may provide a relatively simple arrangement, and may enable appropriate positioning of the bleed flowpath to receive airflow from the hair receiving channel. The attachment may be releasably attachable to the first arm such that the bleed outlet and the plurality of bristles are located at the second side of the haircare appliance. The attachment may be releasably attachable to the first arm such that an inner wall of the attachment extends substantially halfway across the hair receiving channel when the first and second arms are located such that the hair receiving channel has its minimal width. The attachment may be releasably attachable to the first arm such that an inner wall of the attachment is substantially contiguous with a wall of the first arm that defines the hair receiving channel. The attachment may comprise a first magnetic attachment member and the first arm may comprise a second magnetic attachment member for releasably engaging with the first magnetic attachment member. The attachment may comprise a projection or recess for releasably engaging with a corresponding recess or projection of the first arm. The attachment may comprise an end wall configured to overlie an arm end wall of the first arm when the attachment is releasably attached to the first arm. The second arm may comprise a further airflow path configured to receive the airflow from the airflow generator, and a further air outlet for emitting airflow from the further airflow path into the hair receiving channel. The haircare appliance may comprise a further bleed flowpath configured to receive at least a further portion of airflow from the hair receiving channel. The haircare appliance may comprise a further bleed outlet in fluid communication with the further bleed flowpath, the further bleed outlet defined in a further external surface of the haircare appliance. The haircare appliance may comprise a further plurality of bristles protruding outwardly from the further external surface of the haircare appliance. This may enable the bleed and bristle functionality to be provided at two discrete locations on the haircare appliance. The further bleed flowpath may comprise substantially the same features as the bleed flowpath, but described with relation to the second arm, the further bleed outlet, the further external surface, and the further plurality of bristles. The further bleed outlet may comprise substantially the same features as the bleed outlet, but described with relation to the second arm, the further bleed flowpath, the further external surface, and the further plurality of bristles. The further external surface may comprise substantially the same features as the external surface, but described with relation to the second arm, the further bleed outlet, the further bleed flowpath, and the further plurality of bristles. The further plurality of bristles may comprise substantially the same features as the plurality of bristles, but described with relation to the second arm, the further bleed outlet, the further external surface, and the further bleed flowpath. The haircare appliance may comprise a further bleed inlet in fluid communication with the further bleed flowpath. The haircare appliance may comprise a further attachment comprising the further bleed flowpath, the further external surface of the haircare appliance, the further bleed outlet, and the further plurality of bristles, the further attachment releasably attachable to the main unit. This may enable the functionality of the further bleed flowpath, the further bleed outlet, and the further plurality of bristles to be selectively provided to the haircare appliance, and may, for example, enable such functionality to be retrofitted to existing haircare appliances having a main unit comprising first and second arms. The further attachment may be releasably attachable to the second arm. This may provide a relatively simple arrangement, and may enable appropriate positioning of the further bleed flowpath to receive airflow from the hair receiving channel. The further attachment may be releasably attachable to the second arm such that the further bleed outlet and the further plurality of bristles are located at the second side of the haircare appliance. The further attachment may be releasably attachable to the second arm such that an inner wall of the further attachment extends substantially halfway across the hair receiving channel when the first and second arms are located such that the hair receiving channel has its minimal width. The further attachment may be releasably attachable to the second arm such that an inner wall of the further attachment is substantially contiguous with a wall of the second arm that defines the hair receiving channel. The inner wall of the further attachment may be located substantially opposite to the inner wall of the attachment when the further attachment and the attachment are attached to the respective second and first arms. The first arm may be movable relative to the second arm such that the inner wall of the attachment and the inner wall of the further attachment abut one another when the hair receiving channel has a minimal width. This may result in substantially all airflow from the hair receiving channel being diverted through the bleed flowpath and the further bleed flowpath. The further attachment may comprise a first magnetic attachment member and the second arm may comprise a second magnetic attachment member for releasably engaging with the first magnetic attachment member of the further attachment. The further attachment may comprise a projection or recess for releasably engaging with a corresponding recess or projection of the second arm. The further attachment may comprise an end wall configured to overlie an arm end wall of the second arm when the further attachment is releasably attached to the second arm. According to a second aspect there is provided an attachment for releasably attaching to a first arm of a haircare appliance comprising the first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm spaced apart to define a hair receiving channel therebetween, the first arm movably mounted relative to the second arm such that movement of the first arm relative to the second arm varies a width of the hair receiving channel, wherein the attachment comprises: a body having an air inlet, an air outlet, and an internal flowpath extending between the air inlet and the air outlet, the air outlet defined in an external surface of the body; and a plurality of bristles protruding outwardly from the external surface of the body. A portion of the external surface of the body may be curved in form. The portion of the external surface of the body may subtend an angle of at least 45 degrees. The portion of the external surface of the body may subtend an angle of at least 60 degrees, at least 70 degrees, or at least 80 degrees. The portion of the external surface of the body may subtend an angle of no greater than 180 degrees, for example no more than 150 degrees, no more than 120 degrees, or no more than 90 degrees. The plurality of bristles may extend outwardly relative to the portion of the external surface of the body. The portion of the external surface of the body may have a constant radius of curvature. The air outlet may be defined in the portion of the external surface of the body. The air outlet may be shaped to direct airflow along the portion of the external surface of the body. The air outlet may be located between adjacent ones of the plurality of bristles. The plurality of bristles may protrude outwardly relative to the external surface of the body in a plurality of rows. The plurality of bristles may collectively subtend an angle of at least 45 degrees, at least 55 degrees, or at least 65 degrees, about the portion of the external surface of the body. The air outlet may comprise a plurality of apertures, and each bristle may extend through a respective one of the plurality of apertures. Optional features of aspects may be equally applied to other aspects, where appropriate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure lisa schematic view of a haircare appliance; Figure 2 is a first schematic view of a main unit of the haircare appliance of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a second schematic view of the main unit of the haircare appliance of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a first schematic view of a first attachment of the haircare appliance of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic view of the first attachment and a second attachment; Figure 6 is a second schematic view of the first attachment of the haircare appliance of Figure 1; and Figure 7 is a schematic sectional view illustrating airflow through the haircare appliance of Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION A haircare appliance 10, in the form of a hair straightener device, is illustrated schematically in Figure 1. The haircare appliance 10 comprises a main unit 12, and first 14 and second 16 attachments. The main unit 12 is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, and comprises a body portion 18, an airflow generator 20, a heater 21, a bellows 22, and first 24 and second 26 arms. The body portion 18 is generally hollow and cylindrical in form, and comprises an air inlet 28, a user interface 30, and a locking member 32. The body portion 18 has a first end 34 and a second end 36 opposite to the first end 34. A power cable 38 extends into the body portion 18 at the first end 34. The air inlet 28 is located at the first end 34 of the body portion 18, and comprises a plurality of apertures formed in an external surface of the body portion 18. In some examples, the air inlet 28 is at least partly defined by a removable filter assembly that is removably attached to a remainder of the body portion 18. The user interface 30 comprises a display 40 located on an external surface of the body portion 18 at the second end 36 of the body portion 18, and a column of buttons 42 extending away from the display 40 along the external surface of the body portion 18. The locking member 32 is disposed on the external surface of the body portion 18 at an opposite side of the body portion 18 to the column of buttons 42. The locking member 32 is slidable along the external surface of the body portion 18 to selectively actuate an internal locking mechanism (not shown) to lock the first 24 and second 26 arms in place relative to one another. The airflow generator 20 comprises an electric motor 44 and an impeller 46 driven by the electric motor 44 to generate an airflow through the main unit 12. The airflow generator 20 is disposed within the body portion 18. The heater 21 is located downstream of the airflow generator 20. The bellows 22 is disposed within the body portion 18 downstream of the electric motor 20, and is positioned to receive airflow generated by the airflow generator 20 in use. The bellows 22 forks into first 48 and second 50 ducts, with each of the first 48 and second 50 ducts configured to direct airflow from the body portion 18 into a respective one of the first 24 and second 26 arms. Each of the first 24 and second 26 arms is substantially similar in form, albeit in mirror image to one another, and so only the features of the first arm 24 will be described here for the sake of brevity. The first arm 24 is elongate in form between a first end 52 and a second end 54, with the first arm 24 extending generally along a central longitudinal axis CL of the main unit 12. The first end 52 of the first arm 24 is pivotably mounted to the body portion 18, with the first arm 24 sprung toward an open position relative to the body portion 18. The first end 52 of the first arm 24 is shaped and dimensioned to correspond to the external surface of the body portion 18, with the shape of the first end 52 of the first arm 24 being such that the column of buttons 42 and the locking member 32 are accessible to a user when the first arm 24 is pivoted to a closed position. The first arm 24 comprises an internal plenum 56, an air outlet 58, a magnetic connection portion 60, and a clip receiving portion 62. The internal plenum 56 is in fluid communication with the first duct 48 of the bellows 22, and acts as an airflow path within the first arm 24. The internal plenum 56 begins approximately halfway along the first arm 24 between the first 52 and second 54 ends, and extends to the second end 54 of the first arm 24. The air outlet 58 takes the form of a linear slot that extends along an upper region of the first arm 24 in the orientation seen in Figure 2. The air outlet 58 is positioned to direct airflow downwardly in a height direction of the first arm 24 in the orientation shown in Figure 2. The magnetic connection portion 60 is located on an end wall 64 of the second end 54 of the first arm 24, and is configured to releasably engage with a magnetic connection portion 92 of a second end 71 of the first attachment 14, as will be discussed in further detail hereinafter. The clip receiving portion 62 is located on an external surface of the first arm 24, and comprises a recess shaped and dimensioned to releasably receive a clip projection 82 of a first end 69 of the first attachment 14, as will be discussed in further detail hereinafter. The second arm 26 is also pivotably mounted to the body portion 18, with the second arm 26 sprung toward an open position relative to the body portion 18. The first 24 and second 26 arms oppose one another, with portions 25 of the first 24 and second 26 arms that do not overlie the body portion 18 spaced apart from one another, and respective inner walls 27 of those portions 25 defining a hair receiving channel 66. Each of the first 14 and second 16 attachments is substantially similar in form, albeit in mirror image to one another, and so only the features of the first attachment 14 will be described here for the sake of brevity. Like reference numerals will be used for like components / features between the first 14 and second 16 attachments. The first attachment 14 is illustrated schematically in Figures 4 to 7. The first attachment 14 comprises a body 68 and a plurality of bristles 70, and has a first end 72 and a second end 74. The body 68 comprises a channel portion 76 and an end wall 78. The channel portion 76 is elongate between the first end 72 and the second end 74. The channel portion 76 is shaped and dimensioned to correspond to a lower region of the portion 25 of the first arm 24 that defines the hair receiving channel 66. The channel portion 76 is hollow and generally hemi-cylindrical in form, with an external surface 80 of the channel portion 76 being curved in form, and subtending an angle of from 45 to 90 degrees. It will be appreciated that the external surface 80 can be considered to be an external surface of the haircare appliance when the first attachment 14 is attached to the first arm 24. The external surface 80 has a constant radius of curvature, and a length that corresponds substantially to the length of the hair receiving channel 66 and the length of the air outlet 58. In other examples, the external surface 80 may have a non-constant radius of curvature. The channel portion 76 comprises a bleed inlet 82, and a bleed outlet 84, with the hollow interior of the channel portion 72 defining a bleed flowpath 86 between the bleed inlet 82 and the bleed outlet 84. It will be appreciated that the bleed inlet 82 can be considered to be an air inlet of the first attachment 14, and that the bleed outlet 84 can be considered to be an air outlet of the first attachment 14. The channel portion 76 also comprises a clip projection 88 located at the first end 72 of the first attachment 14. The clip projection 88 is shaped and dimensioned to be releasably received within the clip receiving portion 62 of the first arm 24, for example via a releasable press fit or the like. The bleed inlet 82 comprises a row of first apertures 90 disposed along a length of an inner wall 92 of the channel portion 76. Wall sections between each first aperture 90 can be considered vanes herein, and the first apertures 90 can be considered as sub-inlets. The inner wall 92 of the channel portion 76 comprises a planar section 93 that is substantially smooth and planar in form. The bleed outlet 84 comprises a plurality of second apertures 94 defined in the external surface 80 of the channel portion 76. The second apertures 94 can be considered as suboutlets herein. There are 84 second apertures 94 that define a total open cross-sectional area of between 182mm2 and 1514mm2for the bleed outlet 84. The second apertures 94 are arranged in circumferentially extending rows along the external surface 80 of the channel portion 76. The external surface 80 of the channel portion 76 comprises a mesh fixed to the remainder of the channel portion 76. In other examples, the channel portion 76 may be integrally formed, for example as part of a single moulding process. The end wall 78 of the first attachment 14 is upstanding from the channel portion 76 at the second end 74 of the first attachment 14. The end wall 78 is shaped and dimensioned to overlie the end wall 64 of the first arm 24 when the attachment 14 is connected to the first arm 24. An inner surface of the end wall 78 of the first attachment 14 comprises a magnetic connection portion 96 that is configured to releasably engage with the magnetic connection portion 60 of the first arm 24. The bristles 70 each extend through a respective one of the apertures 90, and each bristle has two spaced legs 95. There are eighty four bristles 70 having a length of around 18mm. The bristles 70 extend along around 90% of the length of the external surface 80 of the channel portion 76. With the first attachment 14 attached to the first arm 24, the channel portion 76 of the first attachment 14 underlies a lower region of the first arm 24 in the orientation shown in Figure 7. The magnetic connection portion 96 of the first attachment 14 engages with the magnetic connection portion 60 of the first arm 24, and the clip projection 88 of the first attachment 14 is received within the clip receiving portion 62 of the first arm 24, to retain the first attachment 14 relative to the first arm 24. The bleed inlet 82 is located adjacent to the first arm 24, underneath the hair receiving channel 66. The bleed inlet 82 extends across a length corresponding to the length of the air outlet 58, as does the bleed outlet 84 and the bristles 70. The bleed outlet 84 and the bristles 70 are positioned to underlie the first arm 24. In such a manner, the air outlet 58 is located at a first, upper, side of the haircare appliance 10, and the bleed outlet 84 and the bristles 70 are located at a second, opposite, lower side of the haircare appliance 10. The inner wall 92 of the channel portion 76 is misaligned with the inner wall 27 of the first arm 24. In use, with the first 14 and second 16 attachments attached to the respective first 24 and second 26 arms, a user operates one of the buttons 42 to turn on the haircare appliance 10, and in particular to turn on the electric motor 44. Either prior to this, or after this, a user can locate a tress of hair within the hair receiving channel 66, and can apply a force to the first 24 and second 26 arms to decrease a width of the hair receiving channel 66, in a manner similar to known hair straighteners, such that the first 24 and second 26 arms are positioned in a closed configuration. The electric motor 44 drives rotation of the impeller 46 to generate an airflow that passes through the air inlet 28 into the body portion 18. The airflow passes through the first 48 and second 50 ducts of the bellows 22, and into the respective internal plenums 56 of the first 24 and second 26 arms. Airflow exits the first 24 and second 26 arms via the respective air outlets 58, and is directed downwardly along a height direction of the hair receiving channel 66, as shown schematically in Figure 7. As airflow passes down the hair receiving channel 66, airflow passes into the bleed inlets 82 of the first 14 and second 16 attachments, and travels through the respective bleed flowpaths 86 to the bleed outlets 84, as illustrated in Figure 7. Here it can be seen that airflow generally flows along the hair receiving channel 66 in a first direction FD. The inner walls 92 of the channel portions 76 of the first 14 and second 16 attachments contact one another below the hair receiving channel 66 to inhibit airflow between the inner walls 92. Airflow then exits the bleed outlet 84 in a diffuse manner from between the bristles 70. As a user passes the haircare appliance over a length of the tress of hair located within the hair receiving channel 66, the bristles 70 can act to brush the tress of hair, and the user can use the curved nature of the external surfaces 80 of the channel portions 72 of the first 14 and second 16 attachments to style the tress of hair, for example by imparting a curl or flick to the hair. In an alternative mode of operation, the user can lock the first 24 and second 26 arms in a closed position, with the hair receiving channel 66 having minimal width, without a tress of hair located within the hair receiving channel 66. The user can then brush their hair using the bristles 70, and if desired can wrap their hair around the external surfaces 80 of the first 14 and second 16 attachments. Operation here is described with the first attachment 14 attached to the first arm 24 and the second attachment 16 attached to the second arm 26. In practice, the haircare appliance 10 can be utilised with only the first attachment 14 attached to the first arm 24, or only the second attachment 16 attached to the second arm 26. Similarly, an alternative attachment can be attached to the second arm 26 whilst the first attachment 14 is attached to the first arm 24, or vice versa, for example with such a further attachment also comprising a bleed 5 flowpath, but absent the bristles. It will be appreciated that alternatives to the configuration of the first attachment 14 described above are also envisaged. For example, greater or fewer bristles and greater or lesser open cross-sectional areas of bleed outlet 84 are envisaged. Although described 10 above in relation to a haircare appliance with attachments, haircare appliances with integrated bleed flowpath(s) and bristles are also envisaged.

Claims

1. A haircare appliance comprising:a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm spaced apart to define a hair receiving channel therebetween, the first arm movably mounted relative to the second arm such that movement of the first arm relative to the second arm varies a width of the hair receiving channel;an airflow generator configured to generate an airflow within the haircare appliance, the first arm comprising an airflow path configured to receive the airflow from the airflow generator, and an air outlet for emitting airflow from the airflow path into the hair receiving channel;a bleed flowpath configured to receive at least a portion of airflow from the hair receiving channel;a bleed outlet in fluid communication with the bleed flowpath, the bleed outlet defined in an external surface of the haircare appliance; anda plurality of bristles protruding outwardly from the external surface of the haircare appliance.

2. A haircare appliance as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a portion of the external surface of the haircare appliance is curved in form.

3. A haircare appliance as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the portion of the external surface of the haircare appliance subtends an angle of at least 45 degrees.

4. A haircare appliance as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 3, wherein the plurality of bristles extend outwardly relative to the portion of the external surface of the haircare appliance.

5. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the bleed outlet is defined in the portion of the external surface of the haircare appliance.

6. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bleed outlet comprises a plurality of apertures defined in the external surface of the haircare appliance, and each of the plurality of bristles extends through a corresponding one of the plurality of apertures.

7. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bleed flowpath comprises a bleed inlet, and the bleed inlet has a length corresponding to a length of the air outlet.

8. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of:the plurality of bristles extend along a length that is at least 80% of a length of the hair receiving channel; andthe bleed outlet extends along a length that is at least 80% of a length of the hair receiving channel.

9. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air outlet is located at a first side of the haircare appliance, and the external surface is located at a second, opposite, side of the haircare appliance.

10. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bleed flowpath is located within, or adjacent to, the first arm.

11. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the haircare appliance comprises a main unit comprising the first and second arms, and an attachment comprising the bleed flowpath, the external surface of the haircare appliance, the bleed outlet, and the plurality of bristles, wherein the attachment is releasably attachable to the main unit.

12. A haircare appliance as claimed in Claim 11, where the attachment is releasably attachable to the first arm.

13. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the haircare appliance comprises:a further bleed flowpath configured to receive at least a further portion of airflow from the hair receiving channel;a further bleed outlet in fluid communication with the further bleed flowpath, the further bleed outlet defined in a further external surface of the haircare appliance; anda further plurality of bristles protruding outwardly from the further external surface of the haircare appliance.

14. A haircare appliance as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the haircare appliance comprises a main unit comprising the first and second arms, and a further attachment comprising the further bleed flowpath, the further external surface of the haircare appliance, the further bleed outlet, and the further plurality of bristles, the further attachment releasably attachable to the main unit.15 . A haircare appliance as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the further attachment is releasably attachable to the second arm.

16. An attachment for releasably attaching to a first arm of a haircare appliance comprising the first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm spaced apart to define a hair receiving channel therebetween, the first arm movably mounted relative to the second arm such that movement of the first arm relative to the second arm varies a width of the hair receiving channel, wherein the attachment comprises:a body having an air inlet, an air outlet, and an internal flowpath extending between the air inlet and the air outlet, the air outlet defined in an external surface of the body; anda plurality of bristles protruding outwardly from the external surface of the body.

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