A haircare appliance

Abstract

A haircare appliance 10 includes first and second arms 24,26 spaced apart to define a hair receiving channel 66 therebetween. The first arm is movably mounted relative to the second arm to vary a width of the hair receiving channel. The haircare appliance includes an airflow generator 20 configured to generate an airflow within the haircare appliance. The first arm includes an airflow path 48, 56 configured to receive the airflow from the airflow generator, and an air outlet 58 for emitting airflow from the airflow path into the hair receiving channel in a first direction. The haircare appliance includes a bleed flowpath 84 configured to receive at least a portion of airflow from the hair receiving channel, and to carry the at least a portion of the airflow in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to a bleed outlet 94. An attachment for releasably attaching to a first arm of a haircare appliance is also disclosed.

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 in a first direction; and a bleed flowpath configured to receive at least a portion of airflow from the hair receiving channel, and to carry the at least a portion of the airflow in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to a bleed outlet. By emitting airflow from the air outlet into the hair receiving channel in the first direction, airflow in the first direction may be used to treat and / or style hair received within the hair receiving channel. By providing the bleed flowpath configured to receive at least a portion of airflow from the hair receiving channel, and to carry the at least a portion of the airflow in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to a bleed outlet, 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 in the second direction, away from a user in the second direction, and / or to an alternative location that may provide increased flexibility in styling operations. 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. The bleed flowpath may comprise a first portion that extends generally in the first direction, for example generally in the first direction away from the hair receiving channel. The bleed flowpath may comprise a second portion, in fluid communication with the first portion, that extends generally in the second direction. The first direction may be orthogonal to a length of the first arm, and the second direction may be orthogonal to the length of the first arm. The first direction may be parallel to a height of the hair receiving channel, and the second direction may be parallel to the height of the hair receiving channel. This may provide for an arrangement where airflow is directed generally downwardly within the hair receiving channel in an orientation where the air outlet is located at an upper region of the hair receiving channel, before being directed generally upwardly along the bleed flowpath. This may allow provision of airflow in two opposing directions along a tress of hair in use, and may, for example, enable airflow to be provided in the first direction to straighten hair received within the hair receiving channel, whilst enabling airflow in the second direction to leave via the bleed outlet in a direction towards roots of the tress of hair. The haircare appliance may comprise a valve member for selectively opening and closing the bleed outlet. This may enable the airflow in the second direction to be selectively provided, which may enable enhanced control over styling operations, for example with a reduced risk of disruption to an intended styling operation, and / or may enable enhanced user comfort. The valve member may be biased to close the bleed outlet. This may enable enhanced control over styling operations, for example with a reduced risk of disruption to an intended styling operation, and / or may enable enhanced user comfort, in comparison to an arrangement in which the bleed outlet is always open. The valve member may be positioned such that at least a portion of the valve member is located externally of the bleed flowpath. This may facilitate operation of the valve member by a user of the haircare appliance, and may, for example, provide for improved user safety by removing the at least a portion of the valve member from airflow within the bleed flowpath, where the airflow may be a heated airflow. The valve member may be movable in response to contact with the at least a portion of the valve member by a user in use. The valve member may be movable to open the bleed outlet in response to contact of the valve member with hair of a user in use. This may provide a simple valve opening mechanism that may not require a user of the haircare appliance to utilise two hands to operate the haircare appliance and / or may enable the bleed outlet to be opened in a region immediately adjacent to hair in use. The valve member may be pivotally mounted, which may provide a relatively simple mounting mechanism. The bleed flowpath may be located at a periphery of the first arm. This may enable the bleed flowpath to be located at a position away from the airflow path within the first arm, and may provide a relatively simple airflow arrangement. The bleed flowpath may be located at the periphery of the first arm at an opposite side of the first arm to the hair receiving channel. The hair receiving channel may extend from a first side of the haircare appliance to a second, opposite, side of the haircare appliance, the air outlet may be located at the first side of the haircare appliance, and a bleed inlet of the bleed flowpath may be located at the second side of the haircare appliance. This may enable airflow to flow along the hair receiving channel, and to be utilised to treat and / or style hair received within the hair receiving channel, before passing into the bleed flowpath. 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 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 or 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 may be divided into a plurality of sub-inlets. The bleed outlet may be located at the first side of the haircare appliance. This may enable airflow to flow along the hair receiving channel, and to be utilised to treat and / or style hair received within the hair receiving channel, before passing into the bleed flowpath, and subsequently passing out of the bleed outlet at the first side of the haircare appliance. The bleed outlet may be configured to pass airflow from the bleed outlet path in the second direction, for example generally away from the first side of the haircare appliance. The bleed outlet may extend along a length that is at least 80% of a length of the hair receiving channel. This may enable the airflow from the bleed outlet to be provided along at least 80% of the length of the hair receiving channel, which may provide increased flexibility in locating a tress of hair along the length of the hair receiving channel whilst still being able to utilise the airflow from the bleed outlet. The bleed outlet may extend along a length that is at least 90% of a length of the hair receiving channel. 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 bleed flowpath may wrap around 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 flowpath may wrap around an external surface of 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 be located at an upper region of 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 flowpath may extend around a tip of the first arm The haircare appliance may comprise a main unit comprising the first and second arms. The haircare appliance may comprise an attachment comprising the bleed flowpath and the bleed outlet, the attachment releasably attachable to the main unit. This may enable the functionality of the bleed flowpath, and the bleed outlet, 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 is located at the first 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 attachment may comprise a sleeve locatable about the first arm, with the sleeve comprising a hollow body defining the bleed flowpath and the bleed outlet. The sleeve may fit over substantially the entirety of the first arm. The bleed inlet may be located at a first end of the hollow body, and the bleed outlet may be located at a second, opposite, end of the hollow body. The bleed flowpath may extend from the first end of the hollow body to the second end of the hollow body. The bleed outlet may have a length that is at least 80% of a length of a region of the first arm that defines the hair receiving channel. This may enable the airflow from the bleed outlet to be provided along at least 80% of the length of the region of the first arm that defines the hair receiving channel, which may provide increased flexibility in locating a tress of hair along the length of the first arm whilst still being able to utilise the airflow from the bleed outlet. The bleed outlet may extend along a length that is at least 90% of a length of the region of the first arm that defines the hair receiving channel. 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, and to carry the at least a further portion of the airflow in the second direction to a further bleed outlet. This may enable the bleed 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, and the further bleed outlet. The further bleed outlet may comprise substantially the same features as the bleed outlet, but described with relation to the second arm, and the further bleed flowpath. The haircare appliance may comprise a further bleed inlet in fluid communication with then further bleed flowpath. The haircare appliance may comprise a further valve member for selectively opening and closing the further bleed outlet. The further valve member may be biased to close the further bleed outlet. The further valve member may be positioned such that at least a portion of the further valve member is located externally of the further bleed flowpath. The further valve member may be movable in response to contact with the at least a portion of the further valve member by a user in use. The further valve member may be movable to open the further bleed outlet in response to contact of the further valve member with hair of a user in use. The further valve member may be pivotally mounted, which may provide a relatively simple mounting mechanism. The haircare appliance may comprise a main unit comprising the first and second arms. The haircare appliance may comprise a further attachment comprising the further bleed flowpath and the further bleed outlet. This may enable the functionality of the further bleed flowpath, and the further bleed outlet 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 is located at the first 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 first and second 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. The further attachment may comprise a further sleeve locatable about the second arm, with the further sleeve comprising a further hollow body defining the further bleed flowpath and the further bleed outlet. The further sleeve may fit over substantially the entirety of the second arm. The further bleed inlet may be located at a first end of the hollow body, and the further bleed outlet may be located at a second, opposite, end of the further hollow body. The further bleed flowpath may extend from the first end of the further hollow body to the second end of the further hollow body. 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 a first side for location about a first side of the first arm, and a second side for location about a second, opposite, side of the first arm, the body comprises an air inlet, an air outlet, and an internal flowpath extending between the air inlet and the air outlet, wherein the internal flowpath extends from the second side of the body to the first side of the body. The internal flowpath may comprise a first portion that extends generally in a first direction from the first side of the body to the second side of the body. The internal flowpath may comprise a second portion, in fluid communication with the first portion, that extends generally in a second, opposite, direction from the second side of the body to the first side of the body. The attachment may comprise a valve member for selectively opening and closing the air outlet. The valve member may be biased to close the air outlet. The valve member may be positioned such that at least a portion of the valve member is located externally of the internal flowpath. The valve member may be movable in response to contact between a user during use and the at least a portion of the valve member. The valve member may be movable to open the air outlet in response to contact of the valve member with hair of a user in use. The valve member may be pivotally mounted. 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 i; Figure 5 is a second schematic view of the first attachment of the haircare appliance of Figure 1; and Figure 6 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, and a user interface 30. 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 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 is 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 100 of a second end 70 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 68 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 is integrally formed as part of a moulding process, and has a first end 68 and a second end 70. The first attachment 14 comprises a channel portion 72, a side wall portion 74, and an end wall 76. Collectively, the channel portion 72, the side wall portion 74, and the end wall 76 define a sleeve that overlies the first arm 24, whilst leaving the inner wall 25 of the first arm 24 that defines the hair receiving channel 66 exposed. The channel portion 72 is elongate in form between the first 68 and second 70 ends of the first attachment 14, and has an inner wall 73 and an outer wall 75 that collectively define a substantially v shaped cross-sectional shape, as seen in Figure 7. A trough 78 of the inner wall 73 of the channel portion 72 defines a lip that is shaped and dimensioned to sit about a lower edge of the first arm 24. The channel portion 72 comprises a bleed inlet 80, and defines a first portion 83 of a bleed flowpath 84. The bleed inlet 80 comprises a row of first apertures 86 disposed along a length of the channel portion 72. Wall sections between each first aperture 86 can be considered vanes herein, and the first apertures 86 can be considered as sub-inlets. There are ten first apertures 86 that define a total open cross-sectional area of around 350mm2 for the bleed inlet 80. It will be appreciated that other numbers of first apertures 86 and other total open cross-sectional areas are also envisaged. The side wall portion 74 extends from, and is integrally formed with, the outer wall 75 of the channel portion 72. The side wall portion 74 is curved from a proximal end 88 proximal to the channel portion 72, to a distal end 90 distal to the channel portion 72. The distal end 90 is spaced from the bleed inlet 80 of the channel portion 72 by a height substantially corresponding to a height of the first arm 24. The form of the side wall portion 74 is such that, when the trough 78 of the inner wall 73 of the channel portion 72 sits about the lower edge of the first arm 24, the side wall portion 74 and an outer wall 23 of the first arm 24 define a second portion 92 of the bleed flowpath 84. A bleed outlet 94 is located at the distal end 90 of the side wall portion 74. The bleed outlet 94 has the form of a slot extending along the length of the side wall portion 74. A valve member 96 is pivotally mounted to the side wall portion 74 such that the valve member 96 can selectively open and close the bleed outlet 94. The valve member 96 is sprung to its closed position by a spring or the like. The bleed outlet 94 has a total open cross-sectional area of around 350mm2 when the valve member 96 is in a fully open position. The valve member 96 comprises an upstanding portion 98 that sticks out above the side wall portion 74. Interaction with the upstanding portion 98 of the valve member 96 causes pivoting of the valve member 96 to open and close the bleed outlet 94, as will be discussed in more detail hereinafter. It will be appreciated that the bleed inlet 80 can be considered to be an air inlet of the first attachment 14, and that the bleed outlet 94 can be considered to be an air outlet of the first attachment 14. The end wall 76 of the first attachment 14 is upstanding from the channel portion 72 at the second end 70 of the first attachment 14. The end wall 74 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 74 of the first attachment 14 comprises a magnetic connection portion 100 that is configured to releasably engage with the magnetic connection portion 60 of the first arm 24. With the first attachment 14 attached to the first arm 24, the trough 78 of the inner wall 73 of the channel portion 72 sits about a lower edge of the first arm 24, such that the bleed inlet 80 is located adjacent to the first arm 24 below the hair receiving channel 66 in the orientation shown in Figure 7. The magnetic connection portion 100 of the first attachment 14 engages with the magnetic connection portion 60 of the first arm 24, and the clip projection 82 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 80 extends across a length corresponding to the length of the air outlet 58, as does the bleed outlet 94. The bleed outlet 94 overlies the first arm 24. In such a manner, the air outlet 58 and the bleed outlet 94 are located at a first, upper, side of the haircare appliance 10, and the bleed inlet 80 is located at a second, opposite, lower side of the haircare appliance 10. The side wall portion 74 and the outer wall 23 of the first arm 24 define the second portion 92 of the bleed flowpath 84, and the second portion 92 of the bleed flowpath 84 can be thought of as being located about a periphery 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 first direction FD, along the height, of the hair receiving channel 66, as shown schematically in Figures 6 and 7. As airflow passes down the hair receiving channel 66, airflow passes into the bleed inlets 80 of the first 14 and second 16 attachments. The airflow is turned by the respective first portions 83 of the bleed flowpaths from the first direction FD to flow through the respective second portions 92 of the bleed flowpaths 84, toward the respective bleed outlets 94. In the absence of an applied force to the upstanding portions 98 of the respective valve members 96, the valve members 96 close the bleed outlets 84 of the first 14 and second 16 attachments. In such a case, airflow can exit the hair receiving channel along the length of the tress of hair, between the channel portion 72 of the first 14 and second 16 attachments, as shown in Figure 6. The user can move the haircare appliance 10 along the length of the tress of hair in a manner similar to that of known hair straighteners, with the airflow within the hair receiving channel 66 acting to straighten the tress of hair. If the user wishes to open one of the bleed outlets 94, the user can tilt the haircare appliance 10 so that a portion of the tress of hair located outside of the hair receiving channel 66 contacts the upstanding portion 98 of the relevant valve member 96. This causes the valve member 96 to pivot to open the relevant bleed outlet 94. Airflow can then exit the bleed outlet 94, generally in the second direction SD as illustrated in Figure 7. This may enable airflow to be directed, for example, toward the roots of the user’s hair, enabling drying and or styling of the roots. 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 comprising an alternative form of bleed flowpath. Whilst described above with the valve member 96, examples in which the valve member 96 is omitted, such that the bleed outlet 94 is always open, are also envisaged. Furthermore, although actuation of the valve member 96 is described as being in relation to contact with hair, it will be appreciated that the valve member 96 can be manually opened by a user, if desired, with an extent to which the valve member 96 is opened being controlled by a force applied to the valve member 96 by a user. Examples are also envisaged in which the bleed outlet 94 is located somewhere between the first and second sides of the haircare appliance 10, as well as examples in which the bleed outlet 94 directs airflow generally orthogonally relative to the second direction SD. Although described above in relation to a haircare appliance with attachments, haircare appliances with integrated bleed flowpath(s) and bristles are also envisaged. In such cases, for example, first and / or second arm can comprise the bleed inlet, and the bleed flowpath can extend about an internal periphery of the respective first and / or second arm.

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 in a first direction; anda bleed flowpath configured to receive at least a portion of airflow from the hair receiving channel, and to carry the at least a portion of the airflow in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to a bleed outlet.

2. A haircare appliance as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the first direction is orthogonal to a length of the first arm and parallel to a height of the hair receiving channel, and the second direction is orthogonal to the length of the first arm and parallel to the height of the hair receiving channel.

3. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the haircare appliance comprises a valve member for selectively opening and closing the bleed outlet.

4. A haircare appliance as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the valve member is biased to close the bleed outlet.

5. A haircare appliance as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the valve member is positioned such that at least a portion of the valve member is located externally of the bleed flowpath.

6. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5, wherein the valve member is movable to open the bleed outlet in response to contact of the valve member with hair of a user in use.

7. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bleed flowpath is located at a periphery of the first arm.

8. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hair receiving channel extends from a first side of the haircare appliance to a second, opposite, side of the haircare appliance, the air outlet is located at the first side of the haircare appliance, and a bleed inlet of the bleed flowpath is located at the second side of the haircare appliance.

9. A haircare appliance as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the bleed outlet is located at the first side of the haircare appliance.

10. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bleed outlet extends along a length that is at least 80% of a length of the hair receiving channel.

11. 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.

12. 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 and the bleed outlet, wherein the attachment is releasably attachable to the main unit.

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

14. A haircare appliance as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the bleed outlet has a length that is at least 80% of a length of a region of the first arm that defines the hair receiving channel.

15. 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, and to carry the at least a further portion of the airflow in the second direction to a further bleed outlet.

16. A haircare appliance as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the haircare appliance comprises a main unit comprising the first and second arms, and a further attachment comprising the further bleed flowpath and the further bleed outlet.

17. A haircare appliance as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the further attachment is releasably attachable to the second arm.

18. 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 a first side for location about a first side of the first arm, and a second side for location about a second, opposite, side of the first arm, the body comprises an air inlet, an air outlet, and an internal flowpath extending between the air inlet and the air outlet, wherein the internal flowpath extends from the second side of the body to the first side of the body.

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