Hair appliance with ion generator

Abstract

A hair iron having an ion generator (20) that generates ions is provided with slot nozzles (22, 122) that are in communication with the ion generator (20) to generate an ion curtain that protrudes from at least one side of a body (10, 11) of the hair iron and are aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges of the heating elements (15, 16, 17, 18, 115, 116, 117, 118) that come into contact with hair (31) when in use. [Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Hong Kong Application No. 18107340.2, filed June 5, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. [Technical Field]

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to hair styling appliances, such as curling or straightening irons, that incorporate an ion generator. [Background technology]

[0003] In hair styling, particularly hair straightening, where the appliance is pulled along the hair, static electricity can be a problem as it can result in either hair sticking out from the head or hair clinging. To counter this problem and achieve smooth styling, the hair appliance can include an ion generator. Typical prior art hair styling irons with ion generators are described, for example, in EP 1208766 B1, EP 1672965 B1, and EP 1396208 B1.

[0004] While these older ion generator-type devices have addressed this problem of static electricity on hair during styling to some extent, there remains a need for improvements in the technology to ensure smooth styling is achieved for a range of different hair types and in different ambient conditions. The present invention aims to address this need, and more generally to provide a device with an improved ion generator. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, A main body having a hair care part; At least one elongated heating element disposed in the hair care portion, the heating element having a hair contact surface that contacts the hair during use; an ion generator that generates ions; a slot nozzle in the hair care portion in communication with the ion generator, the slot nozzle communicating with the ion generator and substantially parallel to a longitudinal edge of the heating element, the slot nozzle generating an ion curtain projecting from at least one side of the body; A hair iron comprising:

[0006] The present invention provides a hair appliance that is effective and efficient to operate and ensures smoother styling for a range of hair types and in different ambient conditions due to the resulting distribution of ions applied to the hair, particularly compared to appliances that effectively irradiate ions directly onto the hair from a point source. Furthermore, this device can be easily adapted for both straightening and curling hair irons. In some types of straightening irons, the hair-contacting surface can be substantially flat, and in hinged straightening irons, a pair of hinged arms can support opposing heating elements, each with a substantially flat hair-contacting surface. In curling irons, a barrel-shaped or convex hair-contacting surface is provided, and optionally, the hinged variant can further include a heating element with a concave surface complementary to the convex surface. In either curling or straightening comb-type irons, each hair-contacting surface can further include an array of protruding tines or bristles.

[0007] Preferably, at least one elongated heating element comprises a pair of substantially parallel elongated heating elements of the same shape, and a slotted nozzle is disposed between each adjacent longitudinal edge of the heating elements. For example, the shape of the hair-contacting surfaces of the pair of heating elements is either flat or concave (with or without protruding teeth). By configuring the slotted nozzle between the pair of heating elements in this manner, a uniform ion treatment is provided regardless of the direction of pulling along the hair when the appliance is used with bidirectional movement and convenient left- and right-handed operation before the heat styling treatment is applied.

[0008] Alternatively, in a curling tool with a single elongated heating element, typically barrel shaped, the slot nozzle can be positioned between two longitudinal edges of the single quasi-annular heating element.

[0009] Preferably, the main body is elongate with a hair care portion located at one longitudinal end and a grip portion located at the opposite longitudinal end, which is gripped by a user when using the hair iron. Alternatively, the grip portion may comprise a separate housing connected to the main body.

[0010] Preferably, the ion generator is disposed within the body, the body further comprising a feed passage connecting the ion generator to at least one longitudinal end of the slot nozzle. This arrangement is particularly compact and space efficient. In other embodiments, a pair of feed passages may be provided, each connecting opposite longitudinal ends of the slot nozzle to the ion generator, or separate ion generators.

[0011] Preferably, the ion generator generates anions.

[0012] Preferably, the hair contact surface is formed on an electrical conductor, in particular a metal plate, and the hair iron comprises a charging circuit connected to the electrical conductor for charging the conductor to attract the ion curtain. Alternatively, the electrical conductor may be electrically grounded.

[0013] Preferably, the slot nozzle is integrated with the hair care portion and has a through-type outlet so that the ion curtain extends from opposite sides of the hair care portion. This through-type arrangement is also advantageous for hygienic reasons, as the slot nozzle is easy to clean. Of course, the slot nozzle may have only a single outlet so that the ion curtain protrudes from only one side of the body.

[0014] Preferably, the through-type outlet is of substantially constant cross-sectional area throughout its length. Preferably, the through-type outlet has opposing longitudinal sides that are substantially parallel. Alternatively, the opposing longitudinal sides of the outlet may be angled relative to one another so that the opening tapers and diverges towards an outlet adjacent a longitudinal edge of the heating element.

[0015] Preferably, the body defines the boundary of the slot nozzle. Alternatively, the heating element may define the boundary of the slot nozzle.

[0016] Preferably, the at least one elongated heating element further comprises a plurality of identically shaped teeth projecting from the plane of the at least one elongated heating element and arranged in a longitudinally spaced linear array, each of the teeth tapering toward its tip and opposite lateral ends and extending laterally across the majority of the width of each of the at least one elongated heating element.

[0017] Preferably, the supply passage includes a discharge electrode connected to the ion generator, the discharge electrode being arranged at a longitudinal end of the slot nozzle. Preferably, the supply passage includes at least two discharge electrodes connected to the ion generator, the at least two discharge electrodes being arranged at two longitudinal ends of the slot nozzle and coaxial with the supply passage.

[0018] Preferably, the feed channel is coaxial with the ion generator and the axis of the feed channel is strongly inclined relative to the plane of the at least one elongated heating element such that the ion flow is conveyed to the slot nozzle with a small transverse velocity component and a large longitudinal component. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] Preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a hair iron according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is the diagram of 2-2 shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of 3-3 shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 2 in use when setting a lock of hair. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a partial schematic plan view of a second embodiment of the hair iron of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the second embodiment of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of a third embodiment of the hair iron of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of a fourth embodiment of the hair iron of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of a hair iron according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of a sixth embodiment of the hair iron of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of a seventh embodiment of the hair iron of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view of an eighth embodiment of the hair iron of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] 1 to 3, a first embodiment of a hair iron according to the present invention may be of the tong type with elongated bodies 10, 11 or jaws connected together at their proximal ends by a hinge 12 and configured to straighten hair held between the bodies 10, 11. Each body 10, 11 comprises a hair care portion 13, 14 at its distal end to which a radiant heating element 15, 16 is attached. Intermediately between the hinge 12 and the hair care portion 13, 14, the body has a grip portion 19, which is narrower than the hair care portion 13, 14 and by which the appliance is grasped and manipulated. The bodies 10, 11 thus form the structural frame of the hair iron and a housing for its components.

[0021] The heating elements 15, 16 may each have the same elongated shape, such as a rectangular perimeter, and may be arranged parallel to and spaced apart from each other inside the hair care portion 13, while a single heating element 17 is arranged inside the hair care portion 14. The heating element 17 may have a rectangular perimeter, extend over substantially the same length as each of the heating elements 15, 16, and have a width substantially the same as the horizontal spacing between the outer longitudinal edges of the heating elements 15, 16. In the illustrated straightening iron, each of the heating elements 15, 16, 17 may be substantially planar and have a respective metal hair-contacting surface 15a, 16a, 17a that contacts and presses against the hair during use.

[0022] Although preferred embodiments include an anion generator 20 of a well-known type, such as a corona discharge device, as described below, the hair iron of the present invention may alternatively include a cation generator, or a generator of both anions and cations. The anion generator 20 may be mounted within the main body 10 near the inner ends of the heating elements 15, 16 and connected by an ion supply channel 21 to the hair care region 13 between the heating elements 15, 16 at one longitudinal end of a slot nozzle 22 integrally formed with the main body 10. The axis of the ion supply channel 21 may be coaxial with the axis 28 of the anion generator 20 or the discharge electrode of the anion generator 20 (as shown in FIG. 12). As best seen in FIG. 1, the axis 28 of the ion supply channel 21 may be inclined very strongly inward 26 relative to the planes 15a, 16a so that the ion flow is supplied to the slot nozzle 22 with a small transverse velocity component and a large longitudinal component.

[0023] The slot nozzle 22 can have opposing longitudinal sides 23, 24 that are substantially coextensive with and substantially parallel to the heating elements 15, 16 and extend through the hair care portion 13 of the body 10 between the heating elements 15, 16 to opposing outlets, one on the outer side 25 and one on the inner side.

[0024] The conductive metal surface 17a of the heating element 17 can be connected to a charging circuit 30 for positively charging it to attract the released anions. In this manner, operation of the anion generator 20 produces an ion curtain that protrudes from the interior 26 of the hair care portion 13 aligned with and substantially parallel to the adjacent interior longitudinal edges of the heating elements 15, 16.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 4, during use, hair strands 31 typically extend laterally across the heating elements and across the slot defined by slot nozzle 22. An even distribution of anions is generated over a larger area of ​​hair 31 by the inner ion curtain and directed toward hair 31. When the iron is drawn upward along hair 31, the ion curtain leads heating element 15 (and the opposite half of heating element 17), providing pre-treatment before styling. Similarly, when the iron is drawn downward along hair 31, the ion curtain leads heating element 16 (and the opposite half of heating element 17). Thus, regardless of the direction the iron is drawn along the hair, even ion pre-treatment is achieved, providing convenient left- and right-handed operation. When applied to the hair, water collected in slot nozzle 22 is exposed to high temperatures, readily evaporates, and is released to the outside 25, while the perforated design allows slot nozzle 22 to be easily cleaned.

[0026] Numerous variations of the first embodiment can produce similarly satisfactory styling performance, some of which will be described with reference to the remaining Figures 5-11. Figures 5 and 6 show a comb-type hair straightening iron with a single elongated body 10, wherein each of the heating elements 115, 116 further comprises teeth 32 that can protrude from their flat surfaces 115a, 116a and can be arranged in a linear array spaced apart in the vertical direction. Each tooth 32 can have a similar shape that tapers to a tip and is elongated laterally to span most of the width of each heating element 115, 116.

[0027] 5 and 6 also show a charging circuit 130 in which the heating elements 115, 116 are electrically grounded through high electrical resistance connections. In a tong-type hair iron having a charging circuit 130 connected to a pair of heating elements in one of the main bodies, the other main body may not have a charging circuit 30.

[0028] In an embodiment of the present invention, a slot nozzle 122 may have only a single outlet, and such a slot nozzle 122 is illustrated in FIG. 7, where opposite its opening, the slot nozzle 122 has a closed, concave surface 36 extending longitudinally to maintain a substantially constant cross-sectional area throughout its length.

[0029] In a tong-style hair iron, both hinged bodies 10, 11 can have integral slotted nozzles 22, 122, and each body 10, 11 can carry a respective anion generator. As shown in Figure 8, the ion supply passage 21 is preferably located at the longitudinal end of the slotted nozzle 22 and is evenly spaced laterally from the heating elements 15-18. Since the preferably small transverse velocity component is not essential, the axis 28 of the anion generator can also extend generally longitudinally, as shown in Figure 8.

[0030] In the first embodiment, as best seen in Figure 3, the longitudinal sides 23, 24 of the slot nozzle 22 are preferably spaced laterally from the opposing inner ends 38, 39 of the heating elements 15, 16 to provide a small internal deployment space 40 between the inner opening 41 and the inner ends 38, 39 of the slot nozzle 22, which will typically be wider than the inner opening 41. However, this deployment space 40 is not essential, and as shown in Figure 9, the inner ends 38, 39 can be substantially aligned with the longitudinal sides 23, 24 of the slot nozzle 22 such that the slot nozzle 22 is bounded by the heating elements 15, 16 rather than the body 10.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2 , the slot nozzle 22 preferably extends longitudinally between the two heating elements (or between the opposing edges of a single quasi-annular heating element (not shown)), while it is not essential that the slot nozzle 22 be present between the heating elements 15, 16 (or between the edges of a single heating element). The inventors have discovered that improved styling performance compared to conventional ionic hair styling irons can also be achieved with a slot nozzle 22 that extends longitudinally across the hair care portion 13 but is positioned parallel to only one longitudinal edge of the heating element 117. This embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 10 , where the hair care portion 13 comprises only a single heating element 117 and a separate, single slot nozzle 22 adjacent to and parallel to the outer edge 45 of the hair care portion 13, and parallel and spaced apart along the long edge of the substantially rectangular outer edge of the heating element 117.

[0032] 11 shows a further embodiment of the present invention in which a pair of slot nozzles 22 are formed in the hair care portion 13 of the main body, flanking each of the opposing longitudinal edges of the hair care portion 13, each adjacent to a respective longitudinal edge of a single heating element 117. The slot nozzles 22 can be provided with one anion generator 20 or each ion generator 20 (not shown in FIG. 11 ). Similar to the structure of FIG. 9 , the opposing outer edges 138, 139 of the heating element 117 can be substantially flush with one of the longitudinal sides 23, 24 of each slot nozzle 22, such that the inner edge of each slot nozzle 22 is bounded by the heating element 117. This embodiment with a pair of slot nozzles 22 also has the advantages already identified for the first embodiment, such as the ionic pre-treatment preceding the styling treatment of the hair, regardless of the direction in which the tool is drawn along the hair.

[0033] Figure 12 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which, similar to the embodiment of Figure 10, the hair care portion 13 comprises a single heating element 117 and a separate single slot nozzle 22 adjacent to and parallel to the outer edge 45 of the hair care portion 13 and spaced parallel to the long edge of the substantially rectangular outer edge of the heating element 117. The supply channel 21 of the slot nozzle 22 comprises two discharge electrodes 47 that connect to an anion generator 20 (not shown), the two discharge electrodes 47 being located at two longitudinal ends of the slot nozzle 22 and coaxial with the supply channel 21. Alternatively, the supply channel 21 of the slot nozzle 22 can comprise only one discharge electrode 47 that connects to the anion generator 20 and is located at a longitudinal end of the slot nozzle 22.

[0034] Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only, and it should be understood that modifications and additions can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Two opposing main bodies, each with a hair care section; At least one elongated heating element having a hair contact surface that contacts the hair during use and disposed on at least one side of the hair care portion; an ion generator that generates ions; a slot nozzle in the hair care portion that communicates with the ion generator and is aligned with and substantially parallel to a longitudinal edge of the heating element, the slot nozzle generating an ion curtain projecting from both sides of the body; Equipped with The hair iron is provided with a through-type air outlet, in which the slot nozzle is integrated with the hair care portion and the ion curtain spreads from each side of the hair care portion.

2. 2. The hair iron according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated heating element comprises a pair of substantially parallel elongated heating elements of the same shape, and the slot nozzle is disposed between adjacent longitudinal edges of each of the heating elements.

3. 3. The hair iron according to claim 1, wherein the main body is elongated, the hair care portion is disposed at one longitudinal end, and a grip portion to be held by a user when using the hair iron is disposed at the opposite longitudinal end.

4. The hair iron according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ion generator is disposed within the main body, and the main body further comprises a supply channel connecting the ion generator to at least one longitudinal end of the slot nozzle.

5. The hair iron according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ion generator generates anions.

6. The hair iron according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the hair contact surface is formed on an electrical conductor, in particular a metal plate, and the hair iron comprises a charging circuit connected to the electrical conductor, which charges the electrical conductor to attract the ion curtain.

7. 7. The hair iron according to claim 6, wherein the conductor is electrically grounded.

8. The hair iron according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the through-type air outlet has a substantially constant cross-sectional area throughout the length of the through-type air outlet.

9. The hair iron according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the through-type air outlet has opposing vertical sides that are substantially parallel to each other.

10. The hair iron according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the body forms a boundary of the slot nozzle.

11. 3. The hair iron of claim 2, wherein the at least one elongated heating element further comprises a plurality of identically shaped teeth protruding from a plane of the at least one elongated heating element and arranged in a linear array spaced apart in a longitudinal direction, each of the teeth tapering toward a tip and opposite lateral ends thereof and extending laterally across a majority of the width of each of the at least one elongated heating element.

12. The hair iron according to claim 4 , wherein the supply path includes a discharge electrode connected to the ion generator, the discharge electrode being disposed at a longitudinal end of the slot nozzle.

13. 13. The hair iron according to claim 12, wherein the supply passage comprises at least two discharge electrodes connected to the ion generator, the at least two discharge electrodes being disposed at two longitudinal ends of the slot nozzle and coaxial with the supply passage.

14. 5. The hair iron according to claim 4, wherein the supply channel is coaxial with the ion generator, and the axis of the supply channel is strongly inclined with respect to the plane of the at least one heating element so that the ion flow is conveyed to the slot nozzle with a small transverse velocity component and a large longitudinal component.

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