Handheld haircare appliance

Abstract

The handheld haircare appliance has an air inlet 30; an air outlet 32; an airflow generator 36 to generate an airflow between the air inlet and the air outlet; an intermediate air outlet 58; an interm

Description

BACKGROUND There is a general desire to increase the efficiency of handheld haircare appliances. There is a limit to how much power can be drawn from a plug or battery for powering handheld haircare appliances, which in turn limits the flow rate of air that can be generated by the handheld haircare appliance and / or the temperature at which the handheld haircare appliance may operate. SUMMARY The present invention provides a handheld haircare appliance comprising: an air inlet; an air outlet; an airflow generator configured to generate an airflow between the air inlet and the air outlet; an intermediate air outlet and an intermediate air inlet, wherein the intermediate air outlet and the intermediate air inlet are downstream of the air inlet, upstream of the air outlet, and separated from one another by a hair-receiving gap, and wherein the intermediate air inlet is configured to receive airflow emitted from the intermediate air outlet; a heater configured to heat airflow upstream of the intermediate air outlet; and a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat energy from airflow between the intermediate air inlet and the air outlet to airflow between the air inlet and the intermediate air outlet. A handheld haircare appliance according to the invention may provide a reduction in energy consumption, for comparable haircare performance, compared to a handheld haircare appliance that does not comprise a heat exchanger. This is achieved by the heat exchanger recovering heat energy from airflow that is between the intermediate air inlet and the air outlet, that is, downstream of the hair-receiving gap, and has therefore interacted with hair in the hair-receiving gap, and transferring the recovered heat energy to airflow that is between the air inlet and the intermediate air outlet, that is, upstream of the hair-receiving gap, and is therefore yet to interact with the hair in the hair-receiving gap. Accordingly, an amount of heating required by the heater to heat airflow upstream of the intermediate air outlet may be reduced to reach a desired airflow temperature. Some handheld haircare appliances reduce a moisture-content of hair, in use, resulting in moisture-laden air. A handheld haircare appliance according to the invention permits discharge of moisture-laden air from the handheld haircare appliance, via the air outlet. This may inhibit a build-up of moisture-laden air within the handheld haircare appliance which may occur in a handheld haircare appliance that recirculates airflow to increase energy efficiency. The heat exchanger may be a counter flow heat exchanger. A counter flow, or counter current, heat exchanger may help to increase heat transfer between fluids, since such heat exchangers create a larger temperature differential compared to other types of heat exchangers when used under otherwise similar conditions. The heat exchanger may comprise a first flow path upstream of the hair-receiving gap and a second flow path downstream of the hair-receiving gap. The heater may be downstream of the first flow path. The heater may therefore only heat the airflow when required, for example when the airflow does not recover sufficient heat energy as it passes along the first flow path, which may reduce energy consumption by the handheld haircare appliance. Heating, by the heater, airflow downstream of the first flow path may increase efficiency of the heat exchanger because a difference in temperature of airflow passing along the first flow path and airflow passing along the second flow path may be greater compared to a handheld haircare appliance in which the heater is upstream of the first flow path. In turn, heating, by the heater, of airflow that has passed through the first flow path of the heat exchanger may require less power compared to a heater that is upstream of the first flow path, to reach the same temperature of the airflow. The first flow path and the second flow path of the heat exchanger may be fluidly separate from one another. This may improve the efficiency of heat exchange between the airflow in the first and second flow paths. The handheld haircare appliance may comprise a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of airflow between the heater and the intermediate air outlet. The heater may be configured to selectively heat airflow based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. Accordingly, airflow discharged from the intermediate air outlet into the hair-receiving gap may be discharged at a desired temperature. Additionally, the heater may be employed to selectively heat the airflow as required to provide a desired air temperature in the hair-receiving gap. The airflow generator may be upstream of the intermediate air outlet. The handheld haircare appliance may reduce a moisture-content of hair in the hair-receiving gap, in use, resulting in relatively moisture-laden air being drawn into the handheld haircare appliance via the intermediate air inlet compared to a moisture content of air in a surrounding environment of the handheld haircare appliance. Locating the airflow generator upstream of the intermediate air outlet may result in relatively dry, as opposed to relatively moistureladen, air passing over the airflow generator, which may increase a lifespan of the airflow generator. The airflow generator may be upstream of the heater and the heat exchanger. Accordingly, the airflow generator may be cooled by relatively cool airflow drawn through air inlet. This may, for example, allow the airflow generator to operate at higher speeds. The air inlet and the air outlet may be towards a first end of the handheld haircare appliance, and each of the intermediate air inlet and the intermediate air outlet are towards a second end of the handheld haircare appliance, the second end opposite the first end. Accordingly, air drawn into the air inlet and air discharged from the air outlet may be less likely to interact with hair in the hair-receiving gap, which may, in turn, improve haircare performance of the handheld haircare appliance. The handheld haircare appliance may define an air flow path configured to guide the airflow from the air inlet to the intermediate air outlet in a first direction towards the first end, across the hair-receiving gap, and from the intermediate air inlet to the air outlet in a second, opposite, direction towards the second end. The airflow generator may be disposed towards the first end of the handheld haircare appliance. Accordingly, the airflow generator may be in close proximity to cooler air compared to being in close proximity to heated air that passes across the hair-receiving gap. The air outlet may be configured to discharge airflow in a direction away from the hairreceiving gap. Accordingly, air discharged from the air outlet may be less likely to interact with hair in the hair-receiving gap, which may, in turn, improve haircare performance of the handheld haircare appliance. The handheld haircare appliance may comprise first and second arms that define the hairreceiving gap therebetween, wherein the intermediate air outlet and the intermediate air inlet are each disposed on a respective one of the first and second arms. The first and second arms may be movable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position to vary a width of the hair-receiving gap. Increasing a width of the hair-receiving gap may enable easier insertion of hair into the hair-receiving gap. In the closed position, the pair of arms may form a seal with one another around a periphery of the hair-receiving gap. This may help to hold hair within the hair-receiving gap. This may also inhibit escape of air from the handheld haircare appliance across the hair-receiving gap, which in turn may increase an amount of air that is received at the intermediate air inlet from the intermediate air outlet. In turn, this may increase efficiency of the handheld haircare appliance because a temperature of air drawn into the intermediate air outlet may be increased. The intermediate air outlet may be configured to discharge air into the hair-receiving gap in a direction that has a component along a height of the hair-receiving gap. This may provide better haircare performance compared to the intermediate air outlet being configured to discharge air into the hair-receiving gap in a direction that does not have a component along the height of the hair-receiving gap. The intermediate air outlet may be slot-shaped. Such a shape has been found to provide a higher velocity of air discharged from the intermediate air outlet, compared to an air outlet that has a height that is substantially equal to its width, which may increase an amount of air that is received at the intermediate air inlet from the intermediate air outlet. In turn, this may increase efficiency of the handheld haircare appliance because a temperature of air drawn into the intermediate air inlet may be increased. The intermediate air outlet may have a length and a height, wherein the length is at least 10 times greater than the height. This may increase a speed of airflow discharged from the intermediate air outlet, compared to a smaller ratio between the length and the height. In turn, this may improve haircare performance of the handheld haircare appliance. The intermediate air outlet may have a length that is at least 80% of a length of the hairreceiving gap. The intermediate air outlet may have a height of no more than 2 mm. A height of the intermediate air inlet may be greater than a height of the intermediate air outlet. This may increase the efficiency of airflow from the intermediate air outlet into the intermediate air inlet. The intermediate air outlet may slope towards the intermediate air inlet. This may allow the air exiting from the intermediate air outlet to flow more easily into the intermediate air inlet. The handheld haircare appliance may include a handheld hair straightener device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a handheld haircare appliance according to an example; Figure 2 is a schematic longitudinal slice of the handheld haircare appliance of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic view of a hair-facing surface of a first arm of the handheld haircare appliance of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic view of a hair-facing surface of a second arm of the handheld haircare appliance of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic transverse slice of the handheld haircare appliance of Figure 1, taken along the line A-A of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the handheld haircare appliance of Figure 1, showing the handheld haircare appliance in use. DETAILED DESCRIPTION A haircare appliance 10, in the form of a handheld hair straightener device, is illustrated in Figure 1. The haircare appliance 10 comprises a handle portion 12, a first arm 14, a second arm 16, a mains power connection 18, a user interface 20, a heater 60 and a temperature sensor 62. The haircare appliance 10 has a longitudinal axis 22 that extends through a centre of the handle portion 12 from a first end 24 of the haircare appliance 10 to a second end 26 of the haircare appliance 10. The handle portion 12 is generally cylindrical in shape and comprises a housing 28 that defines an inner chamber 29, an air inlet 30, and air outlet 32. The air inlet 30 and the air outlet 32 each extend circumferentially around the housing 28 and are disposed towards the first end 24 of the haircare appliance 10. The air inlet 30 is closer to the first end 24 of the haircare appliance 10 than the air outlet 32. An airflow generator 36, a control unit 38 and a heat exchanger 40 are disposed in the inner chamber 29, as best shown in Figure 2. The heat exchanger 40 has a first end 41a and a second end 41b. The first end 41a is closer to the first end 24 of the haircare appliance 10 than the second end 41b. The heat exchanger 40 is a counterflow heat exchanger, and comprises a first flow path that fluidly connects the air inlet 30 to the first arm 14, and a second flow path that fluidly connects the second arm 16 to the air outlet 32. The first and second flow paths are fluidly separate from one another such that fluid cannot pass between the first and second flow paths whilst within the heat exchanger 40. The first and second flow paths each define a respective path between the first and second ends 41a, 41b of the heat exchanger 40. The first arm 14 and the second arm 16 are disposed at an end of the handle portion 12 closest to the second end 26 of the haircare appliance. Each arm 14, 16 is generally elongate and of substantially equal length to the other arm 14, 16. The first arm 14 comprises a first hair-facing surface 42, and the second arm 26 comprises a second hair-facing surface 44, which generally opposes the first hair-facing surface 42. The first and second hair-facing surfaces 42, 44 define a hair-receiving gap 46 therebetween. The hair-receiving gap 46 in this example has a length of around 90 mm and a height of around 40 mm. The length is in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 22. The height is normal to the longitudinal axis and generally parallel to the first and second hair-facing surfaces 42, 44. The first arm 14 and the second arm 16 each comprise a respective one of a pair of conformable members 48. The pair of conformable members 48 protrude from the respective hair-facing surface 42, 44 in a direction towards the other one of the first arm and the second arm 14, 16, and extend around a complete periphery of the hair-receiving gap 46. The pair of conformable members 48 are elastically deformable. The first hair-facing surface 42 has opposing first and second edges 50, 52, which each extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis 22. The second hair-facing surface 44 has opposing third and fourth edges 54, 56, which each extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis 22. The first and third edges 50, 54 are generally aligned with one another across the hair-receiving gap 46, and the second and fourth edges 52, 56 are generally aligned with one another across the hair-receiving gap 46. The first arm 14 comprises a wall 57 that defines the first hair-facing surface 42, and through which extends an intermediate air outlet 58, as best shown in Figures 3 and 5. At the hair-facing surface 42, the intermediate air outlet 58 is a slot having a length of around 80 mm, which extends generally parallel to the first and second edges 50, 52, and a height of around 2 mm, which extends generally normal to, the first and second edges 50, 52. The intermediate air outlet 58 extends through the wall 57 at an angle of around 45 degrees to the first hair-facing surface 42 and slopes towards the hair-receiving gap 46 such that the intermediate air outlet 58 is closer to the second edge 52 at the first hair-facing surface 42 than at an opposing surface of the wall 57. The intermediate air outlet 58 is disposed closer to the first edge 50 than the second edge 52. The second arm 16 comprises an intermediate air inlet 66 in the second hair-facing surface 44, as best shown in Figures 4 and 5. The intermediate air inlet 66 is generally rectangular, having a length of around 80mm, which extends generally parallel to the third and fourth edges 54, 56, and a height that is greater than the height of the intermediate air outlet 58, in this example around 10mm. The height extends generally normal to the third and fourth edges 54, 56. A distance between the intermediate air inlet 66 and the third edge 54 is greater than a distance between the intermediate air outlet 58 and the first edge 50. Hence, the intermediate air outlet 58 slopes towards the intermediate air inlet 66, allowing air to flow more easily from the intermediate air outlet 58 into the intermediate air inlet 66. The second arm 16 comprises a mesh 68 that extends across a complete area of the intermediate air inlet 66 and forms part of the hair-facing surface 44. The handle portion 12 is fixed relative to the first arm 14, which houses the heater 60 and the temperature sensor 62. The second arm 16 is movably attached to the handle portion 12 and is movable between a closed position, as shown in solid lines in Figure 2, and an open position, as shown in dashed lines in Figure 2. A distance between the first hairfacing surface 42 and the second hair-facing surface 44 is a width of the hair-receiving gap 46, and is greater when the second arm 16 is in the open position than when in the closed position. In the open position, the pair of conformable members 48 are not in contact with one another. In the closed position, the pair of conformable members 48 contact one another to form a seal around a complete periphery of the hair-receiving gap 46. In the closed position, the first and second hair-facing surfaces 42, 44 are generally parallel to one another and to the longitudinal axis 22, and the hair-receiving gap 46 has a width of around 6mm. Operation of the haircare appliance 10 is initiated by a user operating the user interface 20. In response, the control unit 32 initiates operation of the airflow generator 36 and the heater 60. In use, the airflow generator 36 draws ambient air into the haircare appliance 10 at the air inlet 30 to generate an airflow that enters the inner chamber 29 of the handle portion 12 in a generally longitudinal direction, and travels through the haircare appliance 10 along a flow path, before being discharged from the air outlet 32. The airflow travels along the flow path from the air inlet 30 in a direction towards the second end 26, passing and cooling the control unit 38 and the airflow generator 36. The airflow then enters the heat exchanger 40 at the first end 41a, passes through the first flow path of the heat exchanger 40 and exits the heat exchanger 40 at the second end 41b. The first flow path is upstream of the hair-receiving gap 46. The airflow then travels along the first arm 14 in a direction towards the second end 26 and passes across the heater 60, where heat energy is transferred to the airflow by the heater 60, and across the temperature sensor 62, where a temperature of the airflow is sensed by the temperature sensor 62. The airflow is then discharged from the intermediate air outlet 58 across the hair-receiving gap 46 towards the intermediate air inlet 66. The airflow is discharged across the hair-receiving gap 46 in a direction that has a component along a height of the hair-receiving gap, towards the second and fourth edges 52, 56, as denoted by the arrow B in Figure 5. The airflow then passes through the mesh 68 at the intermediate air inlet 66, and travels along the second arm 16 in a direction towards the first end 24 of the haircare appliance 10 to the handle portion 12. The airflow then re-enters the heat exchanger 40, this time at the second end 41b, passes through the second flow path of the heat exchanger 40, where heat energy is transferred to cooler airflow that is simultaneously travelling through the first flow path of the heat exchanger 40, and exits the heat exchanger 40 at the first end 41a. Upon exiting the heat exchanger 40, the airflow travels along the handle portion 12 in a direction towards the first end 24, before being discharged from the air outlet 32 in a generally radial direction of the handle portion 12. The passage of airflow in operation of the haircare appliance 10 is best shown schematically in Figure 6 and is denoted by block arrows. Airflow upstream of the intermediate air outlet 58 is shown with a white background, whereas air flow downstream of the intermediate air outlet 58 is denoted by a dotted background. The airflow generated by the airflow generator 36 is generally unheated as it enters the first flow path of the heat exchanger 40, and thus at a temperature substantially equal to a temperature of an ambient environment surrounding the haircare appliance 10. The airflow receives heat energy upstream of the hair-receiving gap 46, first by passing through the first flow path of the heat exchanger 40 where heat energy is received from airflow travelling through the second flow path of the heat exchanger 40, and then by passing over the heater 60, such that a heated airflow is discharged into the hair-receiving gap 46 from the intermediate air outlet 58. The temperature sensor 62 detects a temperature of the heated airflow downstream of the heater 60 and upstream of the intermediate air outlet 58. Based on the sensed temperature, the control unit 38 controls a heat output of the heater 60 to achieve a desired airflow temperature at the temperature sensor 62. Since the heat exchanger 40 transfers heat energy from the heated airflow as the heated airflow passes through the second flow path, to airflow that is simultaneously passing through the first flow path, airflow discharged from the air outlet 32 is cooler than airflow that enters the second flow path of the heat exchanger 40. The shape and size of the intermediate air outlet 58 causes the airflow to be discharged at a relatively high velocity compared to a velocity at which the airflow is discharged from the air outlet 30, because the intermediate air outlet 58 has a smaller cross-sectional area than the air outlet 30. Use of the haircare appliance 10 to perform a haircare operation will now be described, with particular reference to Figure 6. The second arm 16 is placed in the open position and a tress of hair 100 is placed between the first arm 14 and the second arm 16 in the hairreceiving gap 46. The tress of hair 100 is positioned such that strands of the tress of hair 100 generally extend in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis 22 and parallel to the first and second hair-facing surfaces 42, 44. The second arm 16 is then moved to the closed position such that the pair of conformable members 48 contact one another and conform around the tress of hair 100 at locations where the tress of hair 100 enters and / or exits the hair-receiving gap 46. The conformable members 48 exert tension on the tress of hair 100 as the haircare appliance 10 is then drawn down the tress of hair 100 towards a tip of the tress of hair 100. The haircare appliance 10 is drawn along the tress of hair 100 by a user during operation of the haircare appliance, to style and / or dry the tress of hair 100 along its length. The haircare appliance 10 is drawn along the tress of hair 100 with the first edge 50 and the third edge 54 trailing the second edge 52 and the fourth edge 56, as denoted by the arrow C in Figure 5. With reference to Figure 6, the direction in which the haircare appliance 10 is drawn along the tress of hair 100 would be out of the page. Accordingly, the airflow discharged from the intermediate air outlet 58 into the hair-receiving gap 46 is discharged in a direction that has a component towards the tip of the tress of hair 100. The heated airflow discharged from the intermediate air outlet 58 passes through the tress of hair 100, between individual strands of the tress of hair 100 and imparts heat energy to the tress of hair 100. The relatively high velocity of the airflow discharged from the intermediate air outlet 58 helps the airflow to permeate the tress of hair 100. The seal formed by the pair of conformable members 48 around the periphery of the hair-receiving gap 46 inhibits the airflow from escaping from the hair-receiving gap 46. Accordingly, the heated airflow is received at the intermediate air inlet 66. The mesh 68 inhibits strands of the tress of hair 100 from being drawn through the intermediate air inlet 66. The mesh 68 also acts as a filter and inhibits contaminants, for example product that is on the tress of hair 100 from passing through the intermediate air inlet 66. The airflow passes through the mesh 68 into the second arm 16 before giving up heat energy whilst travelling through the second flow path of the heat exchanger 40 and then being discharged from the air outlet 32. In some instances, the tress of hair 100 has a higher moisture content than a moisture content of ambient air surrounding the haircare appliance 10. In such instances, use of the haircare appliance 10 on the tress of hair 100 reduces a moisture content of the tress of hair 100, such that moisture-laden air is drawn into the second arm 16 and passes through the second flow path of the heat exchanger 40 before being discharged from the air outlet 32. Provision of the heat exchanger 40 reduces an amount of heating of the airflow that is required by the heater 60, which in turn reduces the power consumption of the haircare appliance 10, to reach the same airflow temperature across the hair-receiving gap 46. In addition, use of the heat exchanger 40 allows recovery of heat energy from airflow downstream of the hair-receiving gap 46 whilst permitting discharge of moisture-laden air from the haircare appliance 10, which may otherwise become saturated and / or inhibit performance of the haircare appliance 10 in performing a haircare operation. Positioning the heater 60 downstream of the first flow path of the heat exchanger 40 may increase the efficiency of the heat exchanger 40, by providing a greater difference in temperature between airflow travelling along the first flow path and airflow travelling along the second flow path, which may increase heat energy transfer between the respective airflows. Movement of the second arm 16 from the closed position to the open position releases the seal formed by the pair of conformable members 48, to facilitate insertion of the tress of hair 100 into the hair-receiving gap 46. It will be appreciated that in other examples, the first arm may comprise a further intermediate air inlet in the first hair-facing surface and the second arm may comprise a further intermediate air outlet in the second hair-facing surface, wherein the further intermediate air outlet and the further intermediate air inlet are downstream of the air inlet and upstream of the air outlet, and wherein the further intermediate air inlet is configured to receive airflow emitted from the further intermediate air outlet. In such examples, two airflows travel simultaneously across the hair-receiving gap in opposing directions to one another, in use of the haircare appliance. It will be appreciated that other examples are envisaged, examples of which are given here. The arms of the haircare appliance may not be movable relative to one another, with the width of the hair-receiving gap being fixed. The first arm, or both of the arms, may be movable relative to the handle portion. The heat exchanger may be a cross flow or parallel flow heat exchanger, rather than a counter flow heat exchanger. The heater may be positioned upstream of the heat exchanger. The haircare appliance may be battery powered. The haircare appliance may be remotely operated, such as from a separate smart device. The pair of conformable members may extend around only a portion of a 5 periphery of the hair-receiving gap, or may be omitted.

Claims

1. A handheld haircare appliance comprising:an air inlet;an air outlet;an airflow generator configured to generate an airflow between the air inlet and the air outlet;an intermediate air outlet and an intermediate air inlet, wherein the intermediate air outlet and the intermediate air inlet are downstream of the air inlet, upstream of the air outlet, and separated from one another by a hair-receiving gap, and wherein the intermediate air inlet is configured to receive airflow emitted from the intermediate air outlet;a heater configured to heat airflow upstream of the intermediate air outlet; anda heat exchanger configured to transfer heat energy from airflow between the intermediate air inlet and the air outlet to airflow between the air inlet and the intermediate air outlet.

2. The handheld haircare appliance of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is a counter flow heat exchanger.

3. The handheld haircare appliance of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a first flow path upstream of the hair-receiving gap and a second flow path downstream of the hair-receiving gap, and wherein the heater is downstream of the first flow path.

4. The handheld haircare appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a first flow path upstream of the hair-receiving gap and a second flow path downstream of the hair-receiving gap, and wherein the first flow path and the second flow path are fluidly separate from one another.

5. The handheld appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of airflow between the heater and the intermediate air outlet.

6. The handheld appliance according to claim 5, wherein the heater is configured to selectively heat airflow based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

7. The handheld haircare appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the airflow generator is upstream of the intermediate air outlet.

8. The handheld haircare appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the airflow generator is upstream of the heater and the heat exchanger.

9. The handheld haircare appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air inlet and the air outlet are towards a first end of the handheld haircare appliance, and each of the intermediate air inlet and the intermediate air outlet are towards a second end of the handheld haircare appliance, the second end opposite the first end.

10. The handheld haircare appliance according to claim 9, wherein the airflow generator is disposed towards the first end of the handheld haircare appliance.

11. The handheld haircare appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising first and second arms that define the hair-receiving gap therebetween, wherein the intermediate air outlet and the intermediate air inlet are each disposed on a respective one of the first and second arms.

12. The handheld haircare appliance according to claim 11, wherein the first and second arms are movable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position to vary a width of the hair-receiving gap.

13. The handheld haircare appliance according to claim 12, wherein, in the closed position, the pair of arms form a seal with one another around a periphery of the hairreceiving gap.

14. The handheld haircare appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the intermediate air outlet is configured to discharge air into the hair-receiving gap in a direction that has a component along a height of the hair-receiving gap.

15. The handheld haircare appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the intermediate air outlet is slot-shaped.

16. The handheld haircare appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a length of the intermediate air outlet is at least 10 times greater than a height of the intermediate air outlet.

17. The handheld haircare appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a length of the intermediate air outlet is at least 80% of a length of the hairreceiving gap.

18. The handheld haircare appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a height of the intermediate air inlet is greater than a height of the intermediate air outlet.

19. The handheld haircare appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the intermediate air outlet slopes towards the intermediate air inlet.

20. The handheld haircare appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handheld haircare appliance comprises a handheld hair straightener device.

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