hair curlers

Abstract

The hair curler has a heating barrel with an adjustable size. The heater of the heating barrel is controlled based on the selected size of the heating barrel, so that the heating temperature and / or heating time applied to hair wrapped around the heating barrel is inversely related to the size of the barrel. Thus, the type of heating is adapted to the curl size selected by the user.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to hair curlers, and in particular to hair curlers in which hair is wound around a drum, and which have an adjustable drum size. [Background technology]

[0002] To meet different consumer needs, some consumer products may have user adjustable features. This adjustable feature can be achieved, for example, by providing modifiable elements, such that the size, shape, or other configuration of a particular element of the product can be changed.

[0003] For example, a hair curler is a portable electronic device used to curl hair. Its main components are a handle and a heating element. The heating element is generally in the form of a heating barrel having a cylindrical shape. The heating barrel is, for example, a tourmaline ceramic panel. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is known to provide curlers that allow a user to achieve different hair curl styles by including a changeable heating element, particularly a changeable heating barrel size. For example, if a user wants to change the curl style between larger and smaller curls, the user typically operates a manual user interface, such as a slider knob, to activate a barrel size adjustment mechanism. The barrel size then changes accordingly.

[0005] Typically, control of the heated barrel is independent of the size of the barrel selected, and indeed the barrel size adjustment mechanism may, for example, be purely mechanical, so that there are no control or sensing signals associated with different barrel sizes.

[0006] It is desirable to give the user more functionality to tailor the curl characteristics they desire. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The invention is defined by the claims.

[0008] According to an example according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hair curler comprising: a heated barrel around which the hair is wrapped, the heated barrel including a heater; a heated barrel resizing mechanism configured to change the size of the heated barrel based on user input; and a controller configured to control the heater based on the selected size of the heating barrel such that the heating temperature and / or heating time applied to hair wrapped around the heating barrel is inversely related to the size of the barrel.

[0009] The present invention aims to realize heating control based on the curl size selected by the user when using an adjustable-size curler. The invention is based on the insight that users generally prefer a loose curl effect when selecting a large curl size and a tight curl effect when selecting a small curl size. Using this insight and the knowledge that loose curls require less heat energy (particularly lower temperature and / or shorter heating time) and tight curls require more heat energy (particularly higher temperature and / or longer heating time), the present invention proposes heating control based on curl size, and in particular uses lower heating energy (lower temperature and / or shorter heating time) for large curls than for small curls.

[0010] It should be noted that the heating temperature may not be constant over time. In such cases, the heating temperature may be the average heating temperature over the heating time period. The heating time period is the time that heat is applied to a particular section of hair while the hair is being curled (rather than the time for the entire curling process, which of course depends on the amount of hair and length of hair the user is curling). The section of hair being curled is the hair that is rotated around the heating barrel at a given time to apply the curling function.

[0011] The heated barrel is an element with a changeable state, in particular a changeable size, and the barrel resizing mechanism is therefore a state-changing unit for changing the state of the element. The barrel resizing mechanism includes a user-operated unit and is movable, for example, along a path between operating positions. The barrel resizing mechanism changes the state of the element (heated barrel) based on a user operating a user-operated unit (selector).

[0012] The controller may be configured, for example, to control the heater such that the heating temperature is inversely related to the barrel size. Thus, a temperature control loop may be used to control the heater. The hair curler may have a plurality of selectable heating barrel sizes, each with an associated temperature setting.

[0013] The controller may additionally or alternatively be configured to control the heater such that the heating time is inversely related to the barrel size. Thus, the same temperature may be applied for a shorter time, or a lower temperature may be applied for a shorter time (for larger curls). The hair curler may have multiple selectable heating barrel sizes, each with an associated heating time.

[0014] Each heating barrel size can be associated with a particular combination of heating temperature and heating time for each curling operation.

[0015] The hair curler may have a sensor for detecting the selected size of the heated barrel to provide the selected size information to the controller.

[0016] The sensor can be located anywhere in the barrel size changing mechanism where the barrel size can be sensed, such as, for example, anywhere along the drive chain between (i) a selector (i.e., a user-operated unit) that receives user input to change the heated barrel size and (ii) the heated barrel. For example, there may be a gear to drive the barrel to different sizes, and a sensor can be associated with the gear to detect the position of the gear.

[0017] Sensing can be based on electrical contacts (configuration changes when heated barrel size is changed), magnetic sensing (magnetic coupling changes when heated barrel size is changed), capacitive or resistive sensing (resistance or capacitance changes when heated barrel size is changed), or optical sensing (light path changes when heated barrel size is changed). Thus, any suitable characteristic indicative of the selected heated barrel size can be sensed.

[0018] The barrel size changing mechanism may, for example, have a manually operable selector having a plurality of operating positions, such that the heated barrel can be driven to different sizes using the manually operable selector based on user input, each different size being associated with one of the operating positions of the manually operable selector, and a sensor coupled to the manually operable selector for detecting the position of the manually operable selector and providing a signal indicative of the operating position of the manually operable selector to the controller.

[0019] In this example, the barrel size is adjustable by a user operating a manually operated selector. The selector operates a mechanical structure to change the barrel size via a mechanical coupling. Thus, the barrel size is adjusted by a mechanical mechanism actuated by the physical configuration of the selector. Therefore, control of the barrel size is purely mechanical, rather than using conversion of a user input into an electrical signal to control an electric actuator to change the barrel size. Therefore, this mechanical system does not provide any electrical sensing signals. The sensing unit provides appropriate electrical signals that allow the operation of the hair curler to be adapted based on the selected curl size. The sensing unit is associated with the manual selector to sense the configuration of the operating unit (e.g., linear or rotational position) instead of sensing the actual change in barrel size.

[0020] The manually operated selector may include, for example, a slider switch, a rotatable knob, or a push button.

[0021] Instead of detecting barrel size, the hair curler an electrical user interface for receiving user input and generating control signals; and an electric actuator for controlling the barrel sizing mechanism based on a control signal, wherein the control signal is provided to a controller for controlling the heater.

[0022] The curler may, for example, have a motor that drives a barrel size changing mechanism, and the motor control signal may also be used by the controller as a heating control signal.

[0023] For example, the heated barrel may have multiple segments that can be configured to form different sized shapes based on user input, such as closed or semi-closed cylindrical, elliptical cylindrical, or any other curved cylindrical shape, so that the heated barrel contracts or expands to a desired size.

[0024] The present invention includes, for example, a method of controlling a hair curler, the hair curler including a heated barrel around which hair is wrapped for curling, the heated barrel including a heater, and a barrel size changing mechanism configured to change the size of the heated barrel based on user input, the method comprising: The method includes controlling the heater based on the selected size of the heating barrel such that the heating temperature and / or heating time applied to hair wrapped around the heating barrel is inversely related to the size of the barrel.

[0025] The method can include controlling the heater such that the heating temperature is inversely related to the size of the barrel.

[0026] The method may additionally or alternatively include controlling the heater so that the heating time is inversely related to the size of the barrel.

[0027] The present invention also provides a computer program comprising computer program code means adapted to implement the method defined above when the computer program is executed on a computer.

[0028] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a type of hair curler to which the present invention can be applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a known mechanical barrel resizing mechanism. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the heating barrel, which is formed of three segments. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 shows a first realization of the sensor. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows a slider knob mounted on top of a Hall sensor to implement the sensor of FIG. 4. [Figure 6]FIG. 2 shows a second implementation of the sensor. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 shows a third realization of the sensor. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 illustrates signals from the sensors of FIG. 7 being provided to a controller. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 illustrates a method for controlling the hair curler described above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] For a better understanding of the present invention, and in order to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of example only, in which:

[0031] The present invention will now be described with reference to the figures.

[0032] It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the devices, systems, and methods, are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the devices, systems, and methods of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the figures are schematic only and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the figures to indicate the same or similar parts.

[0033] The present invention provides a hair curler with an adjustable size heating barrel. The heater of the heating barrel is controlled based on the selected size of the heating barrel such that the heating temperature and / or heating time applied to hair wrapped around the heating barrel is inversely related to the size of the barrel. Thus, the type of heating is adapted to the curl size selected by the user.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows an example of a type of hair curler 10 to which the present invention can be applied.

[0035] The hair curler 10 has a body 12 with a handle 14 and a hair curling head 16. The hair curling head has a central cylindrical heated barrel 18 around which a shroud 20 extends. The shroud has a side opening 22 through which hair can be received. The received hair is wound around the heated barrel 18 by a looper 24, a rotatable element such as a blade. The looper 24 is driven to rotate around the heated barrel, winding the hair around the heated barrel. The hair between the heated barrel 18 and the shroud 20 is heated while it is wound around it.

[0036] The heated barrel has an internal heater (not shown) for heating the outer surface of the barrel, which comes into contact with the hair wrapped around the barrel.

[0037] The hair curler has a controller 30 that controls the temperature of the heater, which can distribute heat evenly and circulate the heating process, improve the protein structure of the hair to create curls, and protect the hair during the curling process.

[0038] The present invention relates to a hair curler with an adjustable heating barrel size.

[0039] To this end, the hair curler has a heated barrel 18 around which hair is wrapped for curling, an internal heater (described above), and a barrel size change mechanism configured to change the size of the heated barrel based on user input. Figure 1 shows a selector 32 that allows a user to select the size of the heated barrel. As described below, in some examples, the selector 32 can provide a purely mechanical adjustment of the heated barrel configuration, while in other examples, an electrical actuation system can be used.

[0040] 2 shows an example of a known mechanical barrel size change mechanism. The size of the heated barrel 18 is changed by a rotary knob 40 that rotates a control disc 42. The control disc 42 engages the barrel and moves the barrel portions together and apart, thereby changing the outer diameter of the heated barrel, and consequently, the radius of the curl applied to the hair.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of a heated barrel, showing that it is formed of three segments 50, 52, and 54. They are slidably coupled so that the three segments can be in a contracted state shown in FIG. 3A, an intermediate state shown in FIG. 3B, or an expanded state shown in FIG. 3C. Each section has its own heater 50a, 52a, and 54a. Generally, a heated barrel has multiple segments that can be configured to form shapes of different sizes based on user input. Thus, the heated barrel contracts or expands to a desired size. The segments are driven together and apart by actuating drive pins 56. The example in FIG. 3 is taken from CN218527966U, which is incorporated by reference for further explanation.

[0042] However, any suitable expandable design of the heating barrel can be used.

[0043] 2 shows an adjustment knob. More generally, a state-changing unit is provided having a user-operated unit (functioning as a user interface) movable along a path. The heated barrel size-changing mechanism changes the heated barrel size based on a user operating the user interface. Instead of a rotary knob, the user-operated unit may be a slide button or a switch.

[0044] One aspect of the present disclosure is based on the recognition that in known designs, the same heating parameters are maintained for different heating barrel sizes during hair styling. This may result in overheating the hair or insufficient heating to achieve the desired hairstyle. Therefore, a first aspect of the present disclosure is to provide different heating times and / or temperatures for different heating barrel sizes during the hair curling process. Thus, the heating time and / or heating temperature of the heater are controlled based on the heating barrel size.

[0045] To this end, the controller is configured to control the heater based on the selected size of the heating barrel such that the heating temperature and / or heating time applied to hair wrapped around the heating barrel is inversely related to the size of the barrel.

[0046] This inverse correlation need not be linear. Typically, there is a set of heating barrel sizes, such as a fixed set of diameters from 25 mm to 35 mm. Each allowable barrel size can be associated with a specific heating temperature and a specific heating time.

[0047] The user is given feedback when the heating time (also known as the styling time) is over to alert the user to remove the curlers from the curls or to pull the curled hair out of the curlers, for example an audible signal such as a buzzer.

[0048] Users typically prefer a looser curl effect when selecting a larger curl size and a tighter curl effect when selecting a smaller curl size. Loose curls require less heat energy (particularly lower temperature and / or shorter heating time), and tight curls require more heat energy (particularly higher temperature and / or longer heating time). Thus, heating control is based on curl size, with larger curls using less heat energy (lower temperature and / or shorter heating time) than smaller curls.

[0049] The heating temperature may not be constant over time, in which case the heating temperature may be the average heating temperature over the heating time period.

[0050] The controller may control the heater such that, for a fixed heating time, only the heating temperature is inversely related to the barrel size. Thus, a temperature control loop can be used to control the heater. Each heating barrel size has an associated temperature setting.

[0051] Alternatively, the controller may control the heater at a fixed heating temperature, with only the heating time being inversely related to the barrel size, with each heating barrel size having an associated heating time.

[0052] The two control approaches can be combined, so that each heating barrel size can be associated with a specific combination of heating temperature and heating time for each curling operation, and one or both of the heating temperature and heating time can be varied between barrel sizes.

[0053] For example, the smallest barrel size, say 25 mm diameter, is associated with a temperature of 200°C and a time of 10 seconds. A medium barrel size, say 30 mm diameter, is associated with a temperature of 190°C and a time of 8 seconds. The largest barrel size, say 35 mm diameter, is associated with a temperature of 170°C and a time of 8 seconds.

[0054] In order to control the heating conditions based on the heating barrel size, the heating barrel size needs to be known. There are various ways to make this possible.

[0055] In one example, adjusting the heating barrel size can be achieved using an electric actuator (e.g., a motor). In this case, there is an electric user interface for receiving user input and generating a control signal for controlling the electric actuator (motor). In such a case, there is already an electric signal representing the heating barrel size. Thus, this signal can be provided to the controller to enable hair curler parameters such as heating time and / or temperature to be controlled. Thus, the motor control signal can also be used by the controller as a heating control signal.

[0056] In the absence of an appropriate electrical signal representative of the selected heated barrel size, a sensor can be used for this purpose. The sensor can be provided in any suitable location, have a configuration that can be sensed, and be associated with any element that represents the heated barrel size setting. For example, a drive chain exists between the user interface (e.g., a control knob, slider, switch) and the physical mechanism that adjusts the heated barrel size. This drive chain may include mechanical and / or electrical, or even hydraulic, elements. Any suitable element along the drive chain can be associated with a sensor, such as a position sensor or an electrical signal sensor, to detect the heated barrel size setting. For example, the drive chain may include a gear, and the gear position may represent the heated barrel size setting and be sensed.

[0057] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a particular design in which the barrel size change mechanism is a manually operated selector (with multiple operating positions, with each different size associated with one of the operating positions of the manually operated selector). The manually operated selector operates a mechanical structure to change the barrel size through a mechanical coupling. Thus, the barrel size is adjusted by a purely mechanical mechanism actuated by the physical shape of the selector. This presents a problem in that mechanical systems do not provide any electrical sensing signals.

[0058] Thus, this aspect of the disclosure provides a sensor coupled to the manually operated selector to sense the position of the manually operated selector and provide a signal to the controller indicative of the operated position of the manually operated selector. A sensing unit is associated with the manual selector to sense the configuration of the operating unit (e.g., the linear or rotational position of a slider switch, rotatable knob, or push button) instead of sensing an actual change in barrel size.

[0059] FIG. 4 shows a first realization of a sensor according to this aspect. It shows a manually operable selector in the form of a slider knob 60. The slider knob 60 is coupled to a sensing unit for detecting the position of the slider knob and generating a detection signal indicative of the operating position of the slider knob. In this example, the sensing unit is a magnetic sensor having a first part 62 in a fixed position relative to the body of the hair curler and a second part 64 movable with the slider knob. Thus, a different magnetic coupling between the first and second parts 62, 64 is achieved in each operating position. Therefore, the detected type of magnetic coupling is indicative of the operating position of the selector, and the nature of the magnetic coupling is considered to be a characteristic property of the operating position.

[0060] 4, the first portion 62 includes a Hall sensor mounted on a Hall sensor PCB 63, and the second portion 64 includes a permanent magnet. Thus, the slider knob carries the permanent magnet and the stationary body of the curler carries the Hall sensor. More generally, one of the first and second portions includes a detectable magnetic element and the other of the first and second portions is a magnetic sensor.

[0061] In the example with three size settings, there are three positions for the Hall sensor relative to the permanent magnet. The center position is shown in Figure 4, and the others are shown with dotted lines. The Hall sensor is placed in the middle of the sliding path in this example (in the case of a rotary control knob, it can be placed in the middle of the rotation path).

[0062] The positions of the magnetic element and Hall sensor are of course interchangeable, so that the magnetic sensor can instead be fixed to the user-controlled moving part of the selector (slide button or rotary knob) and the magnetic element is static and fixed in position along the path of the selector (the rotational path of a rotary knob or the linear path of a slide button).

[0063] Figure 5 shows slider knob 60 mounted on Hall sensor PCB 63 and Hall sensor 62. Arrow 70 indicates the direction of movement of the permanent magnet and slider knob. Figure 5 also shows schematically three possible sensor signals provided to controller 30 mounted on controller PCB 31.

[0064] 6 shows a second implementation of the sensor. In this example, the manually operated selector is in the form of a rotatable knob 80 that rotates (as indicated by arrow 82) about a pivot axis 84. Near the pivot axis, the rotatable knob 80 is coupled to an array of (NSNS) magnetic poles 86 that are alternately arranged along the direction of the rotatable knob. These alternating poles form a ring magnet. The magnetic poles thus form the second (moving) part of the magnetic sensor.

[0065] The Hall sensor 88 is statically mounted to the rotating shaft on a Hall sensor PCB 90. The Hall sensor thus forms the first (static) part of the magnetic sensor.

[0066] In this example, the Hall sensor is realized as a magnetic encoder that detects rotational position information, and the magnetic element and the magnetic encoder are disposed at a pivot position of the rotary knob, and the magnetic element and the magnetic encoder are rotatable relative to each other.

[0067] Instead of a magnetic sensor, another option is to use electrical contacts.

[0068] 7 shows an example of a sensing unit having a first set 102 of electrical contacts 102a, 102b, 102c that are in a fixed position relative to the body of the hair curler, and a second set of electrical contacts 106 that are movable with the manually operated selector 60. In this example, the first set has three contacts 102a, 102b, 102c, and the second set has a single contact 106. A characteristic electrical connection is made in each operating position between one of the contacts of the first set and a single contact of the second set.

[0069] A first set of electrical contacts 102 a , 102 b , 102 c are attached to PCB 100 and a second set of electrical contacts 106 are attached to PCB 104 .

[0070] The electrical contacts are, for example, spring elements formed of a conductive material. Each possible pair of connected spring elements corresponds to a different signal generated for the heating system. The spring contacts can take any suitable form, and any number of different positions can be realized.

[0071] The modified electrical connection path provides the appropriate signal to the controller 30 as shown in Figure 8. Thus, the signal is generated directly from the user when the user operates the manually operated selector. After receiving the signal, the processor 30 processes the signal and provides feedback to the heating system.

[0072] In the above example, the barrel heating temperature and / or heating time are controlled based on the heating barrel size setting. However, in other examples, other parameters, such as the rotational drive of the looper, can be controlled as well or instead.

[0073] FIG. 9 shows a method for controlling the hair curlers described above.

[0074] In step 110, the set size of the heated barrel is sensed, resulting in the generation of a signal indicative of the operating position of the manually operated selector.

[0075] In step 112, operating parameters of the hair curler are set based on the signal generated by the sensing unit.

[0076] According to one aspect of the invention, the heated barrel size is sensed using a sensor that senses the setting of a manually operated selector mechanically coupled to the barrel size changing mechanism.

[0077] According to another aspect of the invention, the operating parameters are the heating temperature and / or heating time of the heating barrel, one or both of which are inversely related to the size of the barrel.

[0078] The selector is described above as being "movable" or "mobile." In the context of this invention, this can refer to movement along a straight or curved path, and it can also mean rotation about an axis. If the Hall sensor is implemented as a magnetic encoder, the relative movement between the magnetic element and the magnetic sensor is rotation.

[0079] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprise" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

[0080] The functions performed by a processor or controller may be performed by a single processor or by multiple individual processing units which together may be considered to constitute a “processor.” Such processing units may, in some cases, be remote from each other and in wired or wireless communication with each other.

[0081] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0082] It should be noted that when the term "adapted to" is used in the claims or the specification, it is intended to be equivalent to the term "configured to." It should be noted that when the term "arrangement" is used in the claims or the specification, it is intended to be equivalent to the term "system," and vice versa.

[0083] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A hair curler, a heated barrel around which hair is wrapped for curling, the heated barrel including a heater; a heated barrel size change mechanism that changes the size of the heated barrel based on user input; and a controller that controls the heater based on the selected size of the heating barrel so that the heating temperature and / or heating time applied to hair wound around the heating barrel is inversely related to the size of the barrel.

2. The hair curler according to claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the heater so that the heating temperature is inversely related to the size of the barrel.

3. 3. The hair curler of claim 2, wherein the hair curler has a plurality of selectable heating barrel sizes, each with an associated temperature setting.

4. 4. A hair curler according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the heater so that heating time is inversely related to the size of the barrel.

5. 5. The hair curler of claim 4, wherein the hair curler has a plurality of selectable heating barrel sizes, each with an associated heating time.

6. 6. A hair curler according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a sensor for detecting a selected size of the heated barrel to provide selected size information to the controller.

7. 7. The hair curler of claim 6, further comprising a selector for receiving user input to change the heated barrel size, and wherein the sensor is positioned along a drive chain between the user-operated unit and the heated barrel.

8. the barrel size changing mechanism has a manually operable selector having a plurality of operating positions, and the heated barrel is driven to different sizes using the manually operable selector based on the user input, each different size being associated with one of the operating positions of the manually operable selector; 8. A hair curler according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the sensor is coupled to the manually operated selector for detecting the position of the manually operated selector and providing a signal to the controller indicative of the operating position of the manually operated selector.

9. 9. The hair curler of claim 8, wherein the manually operated selector comprises a slider switch, a rotatable knob, or a push button.

10. an electrical user interface for receiving the user input and generating control signals; 6. The hair curler according to claim 1, further comprising: an electric actuator for controlling the barrel size changing mechanism based on the control signal, the control signal being provided to the controller for controlling the heater.

11. 11. The hair curler of claim 1, wherein the heated barrel has a plurality of segments configurable to form shapes of different sizes based on the user input.

12. 1. A method of controlling a hair curler, the hair curler including a heated barrel around which hair is wrapped for curling, a heater, and a barrel size changing mechanism that changes the size of the heated barrel based on user input, the method comprising:

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the heater based on a selected size of the heating barrel, wherein the heating temperature and / or heating time applied to hair wrapped around the heating barrel is inversely related to the size of the barrel.

13. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising controlling the heater so that the heating temperature is inversely related to the size of the barrel.

14. 14. The method of claim 12 or 13, comprising controlling the heater so that heating time is inversely related to the size of the barrel.

15. A computer program having a computer program code configured to implement the method according to any one of claims 12 to 14 when the computer program is run on a computer.

Images