A haircare appliance

Abstract

Disclosed is an attachment (100) for a haircare appliance (10), the attachment (100) comprising an annular portion (101) and a dome shaped portion 102 removably attached to the annular portion (101). The annular portion (101) comprises an air flow passage (104) extending through the annular portion (101) and an air outlet (114) arranged to direct air into the air flow passage (104). The dome shaped portion (102) at least partially restricts the flow of air exiting the air flow passage (104) when the dome shaped portion (102) is attached to the annular portion (101).

Description

[0001] A HAIRCARE APPLIANCE

[0002] Background

[0003] Haircare appliances are generally used to treat or style hair, and some haircare appliances may treat or style hair using airflow.

[0004] Summary

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment comprising an annular portion and a dome shaped portion removably attached to the annular portion. The annular portion comprises an air flow passage extending through the annular portion and an air outlet arranged to direct air into the air flow passage. The dome shaped portion at least partially restricts the flow of air exiting the air flow passage when the dome shaped portion is attached to the annular portion.

[0006] The attachment of the present invention may advantageously be readily converted between two distinct modes of use. In a first mode of use, when the dome shaped portion is detached from the annular portion, the attachment may be used as a blow dryer. In the first mode of use, airflow may be directed from the air flow passage of the annular portion directly towards a user’ s hair.

[0007] In a second mode of use, when the dome shaped portion is attached to the annular portion, the attachment may be used as a diffuser. In the second mode of use, a user may pass their hair through the air flow passage of the annular portion into the dome shaped portion. In this way, the dome shaped portion may conveniently hold the user’s hair in place, such that the style of the user’s hair is less likely to be disrupted by the airflow from the air outlet of the annular portion. When the attachment is not in use, the dome shaped portion may conveniently be nested within the annular portion in a stowage configuration, in order to make the attachment more compact for storage.

[0008] The air outlet may be located in the air flow passage. Airflow emitted from the air outlet into the air flow passage may advantageously cause a secondary airflow to be generated by the entrainment of air from the external environment, specifically from the region around the air flow passage external to the attachment. This secondary airflow may be drawn into the air flow passage and combine with the airflow emitted from the air outlet, resulting in an increased total airflow being projected through the air flow passage, which may increase the efficiency and / or speed of drying a user’s hair.

[0009] The air outlet may be generally annular. For example, the air outlet may extend annularly around the air flow passage. This may improve the entrainment of air from the external environment, specifically from the region around the air flow passage external to the attachment, to generate a secondary airflow.

[0010] The air flow passage may be generally circular or oval shaped. This may improve the entrainment of air from the external environment, specifically from the region around the air flow passage external to the attachment, to generate a secondary airflow.

[0011] The annular portion may comprise an inner wall and an outer wall. The air flow passage may be bounded by the inner wall. The inner wall and outer wall may define a conduit therebetween for directing air to the air outlet.

[0012] The air outlet may be configured to direct airflow along a surface of the inner wall. The surface of the inner wall may be shaped to further direct the airflow in use. For example, the surface of the inner wall may be generally curved. Thus, the airflow may be directed to generally follow the curve of the surface. This may cause the airflow to remain in contact with the surface of the inner wall and be further directed away from the air outlet. The air outlet may be defined by a gap between the inner and outer walls.

[0013] The air outlet may extend along at least a portion of the circumference of the inner wall. For example, the air outlet may extend in a continuous loop along a circumference of the inner wall.

[0014] The annular portion may comprise an air inlet in fluid connection with the outlet. The air inlet may be arranged in the outer wall. The inner and outer walls may define a conduit therebetween for fluidly connecting the air inlet with the air outlet.

[0015] The air flow passage may comprise a plurality of air outlets. In such embodiments, the inner and outer walls may define a conduit therebetween for fluidly connecting the air inlet with the plurality of air outlets.

[0016] The air flow passage may extend through the annular portion from a first side of the annular portion to a second side of the annular portion. The first side of the annular portion may be generally opposite the second side of the annular portion.

[0017] Air directed into the air flow passage may move in a direction from the first side to the second side. The diameter of the air flow passage at the second side may be greater than the diameter of the air flow passage at the first side. This may help to produce a more diffuse air flow in the air flow passage towards the second side.

[0018] The second side of the annular portion may comprise a connector for removably attaching the dome shaped portion to the annular portion.

[0019] The connector may comprise a magnetic connector. For example, the second side of the annular portion may comprise a magnet and the dome shaped portion may comprise a magnetic material arranged to engage the magnet. Alternatively, the dome shaped portion may comprise a magnet and the second side of the annular portion may comprise a magnetic material arranged to engage the magnet. In some embodiments, the second side of the annular portion may comprise a first magnet and the dome shaped portion may comprise a second magnet arranged to engage the first magnet.

[0020] The second side of the annular portion may comprise a recess configured to form a snap fit connection with the dome shaped portion. For example, the dome shaped portion may comprise a protrusion arranged to engage with the recess. In some embodiments, the protrusion may be arranged to form an interference fit with the recess. One or both of the recess and protrusion may be generally annular.

[0021] Alternatively, the dome shaped portion may comprise a recess configured to form a snap fit connection with the second side of the annular portion. For example, the second side of the annular portion may comprise a protrusion arranged to engage with the recess. In some embodiments, the protrusion may be arranged to form an interference fit with the recess. One or both of the recess and protrusion may be generally annular.

[0022] The air outlet may be configured to direct air towards the second side of the annular portion. In this way, when the dome shaped portion is attached to the second side of the annular portion, airflow may be directed into the dome shaped portion to dry a user’s hair in the second mode of use.

[0023] The air outlet may be located at or towards the first side. This may increase the length of the flow path along which the airflow travels from the air outlet to the dome shaped portion when the dome shaped portion is attached to the annular portion in use, thereby increasing the efficiency and / or speed of drying a user’s hair in the second mode of use.

[0024] The dome shaped portion may comprise a one or more apertures. The one or more apertures may be formed in a wall of the dome shaped portion. The one or more apertures may be formed in the wall such that air flows out of an interior of the dome shaped portion through the one or more apertures in use. For example, the one or more apertures may be configured to enable airflow to escape from the interior of the dome shaped portion. The presence of one or more apertures may help to provide a more diffuse air flow from the dome shaped portion in use.

[0025] For example, there may be at least two, or at least four, or at least six, or at least eight, or at least ten, or at least 100, or at least 1000 or even at least 10,000 apertures. The one or more apertures may be spaced about a wall or surface of the dome shaped portion. For example, the one or more apertures may be generally equally or evenly spaced about a wall or surface of the dome shaped portion.

[0026] In some embodiments, the dome shaped portion, for example a wall or surface of the dome shaped portion, may comprise a porous material. The porous material may comprise the one or more apertures. The porous material may suitably comprise a mesh. The porous material may be air permeable such that air can flow through the porous material. The porous material may help to hold the user’s hair in place, whilst also providing a more diffuse air flow from the dome shaped portion in use. As such, air in the dome shaped portion may heat to higher temperatures to increase the efficiency and / or speed of drying the user's hair.

[0027] The dome shaped portion may project outwardly from the airflow passage when the dome shaped portion is attached to the annular portion in a use position, for example in the second mode of use. In this way, the dome shaped portion may provide a chamber for receiving a user’s hair that has been inserted into the air flow passage of the annular portion in the second mode of use.

[0028] The dome shaped portion may project inwardly into the airflow passage when the dome shaped portion is attached to the annular portion in a stowage position. In this way, when the dome shaped portion is detached from the annular portion, the dome shaped portion may conveniently be orientated such that it sits or nests within the airflow passage of the annular portion. This may advantageously enable easier storage of the attachment when not in use, by making the attachment more compact. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a haircare appliance comprising an airflow generator and an attachment according to any preceding claim.

[0029] The haircare appliance may comprise a handle unit. The handle unit may house the airflow generator. The attachment may be configured for removable attachment to the handle unit. For example, the annular portion may be configured for removable attachment to the handle unit.

[0030] The haircare appliance may be configured such that air flows through the haircare appliance along an air flow path. Suitably, the attachment may be located downstream of the airflow generator in the air flow path.

[0031] The attachment may be removably attached to the haircare appliance. For example, the annular portion of the attachment may be removably attached to the haircare appliance. In some embodiments, the air inlet of the annular portion may be removably attached to the haircare appliance. The air inlet may be arranged to receive airflow from the airflow generator when the attachment is attached to the haircare appliance in use.

[0032] The attachment may be removably attached to the haircare appliance by a bayonet coupling. For example, the attachment and haircare appliance may each comprise bayonet mounts provided with claws or pins. The claws or pins may releasably interlock when the mounts on both attachment and the haircare appliance are engaged and rotated relative to each other in a first direction of rotation. The claws or pins may disengage when the mounts on both the attachment and the haircare appliance are rotated in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation.

[0033] The attachment may communicate with the haircare appliance to modify operation of the haircare appliance. For example, the attachment may communicate with the airflow generator to modify the airflow provided to the attachment. The attachment may communicate with the haircare appliance to transfer information indicative of a desired air flow rate. The airflow generator may be operated on the basis of the information to provide the desired air flow rate.

[0034] The attachment may comprise an RFID tag which includes information indicative of the air flow rate desired for the attachment. This information may be read from the RFID tag and transmitted to the airflow generator to cause the airflow generator to generate airflow with the desired flow rate. Alternatively or additionally, the attachment may communicate with the haircare appliance by Bluetooth™ or other suitable wireless communication standard, and / or by a wired connection.

[0035] Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", mean "including but not limited to", and do not exclude other components, integers or steps. Moreover the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires: in particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

[0036] Preferred features of each aspect of the invention may be as described in connection with any of the other aspects. Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and / or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and / or combination, unless such features are incompatible.

[0037] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0038] Figure 1 illustrates a haircare appliance;

[0039] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a handle unit of the haircare appliance of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of an attachment of the haircare appliance of Figure 1 having annular and dome shaped portions in an attached configuration;

[0040] Figure 4 illustrates a cross sectional view of the annular portion of the attachment of the haircare appliance of Figure 3 in a detached configuration;

[0041] Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of the attachment of Figure 3 having annular and dome shaped portions in a detached configuration;

[0042] Figure 6(a) illustrates a perspective view of the attachment of Figure 3 having annular and dome shaped portions in a stowage configuration;

[0043] Figure 6(b) illustrates an alternative perspective view of the attachment of Figure 6(a);

[0044] Figure 7 illustrates a cross sectional view of an alternative attachment having annular and dome shaped portions in an attached configuration;

[0045] Figure 8 illustrates a cross sectional view of the annular portion of the attachment of Figure 7 in a detached configuration;

[0046] Figure 9 illustrates a perspective view of the attachment of Figure 7 having annular and dome shaped portions in a detached configuration; and

[0047] Figure 10 illustrates a perspective view of the attachment of Figure 7 having annular and dome shaped portions in a stowage configuration. Detailed Description

[0048] Figure 1 shows a haircare appliance 10 comprising a handle unit 12, and an attachment 100 removably attachable to the handle unit 10. The attachment 100 comprises an annular portion 101 and a dome shaped portion 102 removably attachable to the annular portion 101.

[0049] The handle unit 12 comprises a housing 14, an airflow generator 16, a heater 18, and a control unit 20, as can be seen schematically in Figure 2.

[0050] The housing 14 is tubular in shape and comprises an air inlet 22 through which an airflow is drawn into the housing 14 by the airflow generator 16, and an air outlet 24 through which the airflow is discharged from the housing 14. The airflow generator 16 is housed within the housing 14 and comprises an impeller 26 driven by an electric motor 28. The heater 18 is also housed within the housing 14 and comprises heating elements 30 to optionally heat the airflow.

[0051] The control unit 20 comprises electronic circuitry for a user interface 32, a control module 34 and an RFID reader 25. The user interface 32 is provided on an outer surface of the housing 14 and is used to power on and off the haircare appliance 10, to select a flow rate (for example high, medium and low), and to select an airflow temperature (for example hot, medium or cold).

[0052] In this example, the user interface 32 comprises a plurality of sliding switches. However, it is envisaged that the user interface 32 may additionally or alternatively comprise buttons, dials and / or touchscreens. The RFID reader 25 is used to interrogate an RFID tag 136 included in the annular portion 101 (shown in Figures 3 and 4). Although RFID has been discussed here, it is envisaged that other forms of wireless or wired communication may be used. The control module 34 is responsible for controlling the airflow generator 16, and the heater 18 in response to inputs from the user interface 32. For example, in response to inputs from the user interface 32, the control module 34 may control the power or the speed of the airflow generator 16 in order to adjust the airflow rate of the airflow, and the power of the heater 18 in order to adjust the temperature of the airflow.

[0053] A cross sectional view of the attachment 100 is shown in Figure 3. The attachment 100 comprises an annular portion 101 and a dome shaped portion 102 removably attached to the annular portion 101. The annular portion 101 comprises a generally circular air flow passage 104 bounded by a curved inner wall 106. The annular portion 101 also comprises an outer wall 107 that, together with the curved inner wall 106, forms a conduit 108 that surrounds the air flow passage 104.

[0054] The annular portion 101 has a first side 110 and a second side 112 opposite the first side 110. The air flow passage 104 extends through the annular portion 101 from the first side 110 to the second side 112. The second side 112 of the annular portion 101 includes an annual recess 126a, for removably attaching the annular portion 101 to the dome shaped portion 102, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0055] An air outlet 114 is located in the air flow passage 104 towards the first side 110 of the of the annular portion 101. The air outlet 114 is defined by a gap between the curved inner wall 106 and outer wall 107. The air outlet 114 extends about the entire periphery 116 of the air flow passage 104. In some examples, a width of the air outlet 114 may vary about the periphery 116 of the air flow passage 104. This may enable the flow rate of air exiting the air outlet 114 to remain consistent about the entire air outlet 114, irrespective of distance from the airflow generator 16.

[0056] An air inlet 118 for receiving airflow from the airflow generator 16 is located in the outer wall 107 of the annular portion 110. The air inlet 118 includes a bayonet mount 119 for attachment to the air outlet 24 of the handle unit 12 and provides an air flow path 121 from the housing 14 of the handle unit 12 to the conduit 108 of the annular portion 101. The dome shaped portion 102 defines a generally bowl shaped chamber 128 into which a user’s hair may be received through the air flow passage 104 of the annular portion 101.

[0057] The chamber 128 comprises a wall 130, along which a flow of air from the air outlet 114 is directed as shown by arrow 132. The wall 130 of the chamber 128 comprises a plurality of evenly spaced apart apertures 134 through which airflow entering the chamber 128 from the air outlet 114 subsequently exits the chamber 128. The dome shaped portion 102 also comprises an annular protrusion 126b, which forms a snap connection with the annular recess 126a of the annular portion 101, thereby allowing removable attachment of the dome shaped portion 102 to the annular portion 101.

[0058] The annular portion 101 includes a sensor 136 configured to output a signal indicative of a property of hair within the chamber 128 in use. In this example, the sensor 136 is a moisture sensor. In other examples, the sensor 136 may be a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor. The signal output by the sensor 136 is received by the control module 34 in the handle unit 12, which is configured to control the haircare appliance 10 in response to the signal from the sensor 136. In some examples, the sensor 136 may comprise an RFID tag to transmit information via RFID to the RFID reader 25. In some examples, it is envisaged that other forms of communication, including, for example Bluetooth™ or near-field communication (NFC), may be utilised.

[0059] Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view of the annular portion 101 detached from the dome shaped portion 102.

[0060] In a first mode of use, the dome shaped portion 102 is detached from the annular portion 101 as shown in Figure 5, and the air inlet 118 of the annular portion 101 is attached to the air outlet 24 of the handle unit 12 via bayonet mount 119. The air outlet 24 and the air inlet 118 together form an air flow path from the airflow generator 16 of the handle unit 12 to the conduit 108 of the annular portion 101. The airflow generator 16 directs an airflow into the conduit 108, whereby it exits the conduit 108 through the air outlet 114. When the dome shaped portion 102 is detached from the annular portion 101, the exiting airflow flows along the curved inner wall 106 (as shown by arrow 132 in Figure 4) and is emitted from the air flow passage 104 at the second side 112 of the annular portion 101. The airflow emitted from the air flow passage 104 may be used to directly dry a user’s hair.

[0061] The airflow emitted from the air flow passage 104 at the second side 112 of the air annular portion 101 causes a secondary airflow to be generated by the entrainment of air from the first side 110 of the annular portion 101. This secondary airflow is drawn into the air flow passage 104 and combines with the airflow emitted from the air outlet 114 to provide an increased total airflow to be projected out from the second side 112 of the annular portion 101. This increased total airflow may advantageously increase the speed of drying a user’ s hair in the first mode of use.

[0062] The haircare appliance 10 may be readily converted for a second mode of use by attaching the dome shaped portion 102 to the annular portion 101 by engaging the annular protrusion 126b of the dome shaped portion 102 with the annular recess 126a of the annular portion 101 to form a snap connection between the annular portion 101 and dome shaped portion 102.

[0063] In the second mode of use, the airflow generator 16 directs an airflow into the conduit 108, whereby the airflow exits the conduit 108 through the air outlet 114. The exiting airflow flows along the curved inner wall 106 (as shown by arrow 132 in Figure 3) and into the chamber 128 of the dome shaped portion 102. The airflow then flows along the wall 130 of the chamber 128 and exits the chamber 128 through the plurality of evenly spaced apart apertures 134.

[0064] In the second mode of use, a user’s hair is inserted through the air flow passage 104 of the annular portion 101 into the chamber 128 of the dome shaped portion 102. The user’s hair may suitably be held in place in the chamber 128, such that the user’s hair is less likely to be disrupted by the airflow exiting the air outlet 114 of the annular portion 101. As such, relatively high air flow rates may be used without significantly disrupting the user’s hair, which may increase the efficiency and / or speed of drying the user’s hair in the second mode of use. Moreover, when warm or hot airflow heated by the heater 18 passes into the chamber 128, the ambient temperature within the chamber 128 rises, which can help dry the hair of the user.

[0065] When the haircare appliance 10 is not in use, the dome shaped portion 102 may be detached from the annular portion 101 as shown in Figure 5, flipped around by 180° and inserted into the air flow passage 104 of the annular portion 101 such that the dome shaped portion 102 nests within the air flow passage 104 of the annular portion 101 in a stowage configuration, as shown in Figures 6(a) and 6(b). This makes the attachment 100 more compact, thereby enabling easier storage of the attachment 100.

[0066] Figures 7 to 10 illustrate an alternative attachment 200. The attachment 200 has all the same features as the attachment 100 described above and illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, the only difference being that the dome shaped portion 202 is flat-bottomed, thereby defining a generally pan shaped chamber 128. In Figures 7 to 10, like reference numerals in the 200s are used to denote like features with respect to the attachment 100.

[0067] Examples are also envisaged where, rather than the haircare appliance 10 comprising a handle unit 12 and an attachment 100, 200 the haircare appliance 10 is a single-piece unit, for example taking the form of the combined handle unit 12 and attachment 100, 200 described above.

Claims

Claims1. An attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment comprising an annular portion and a dome shaped portion removably attached to the annular portion, wherein the annular portion comprises: an air flow passage extending through the annular portion; and an air outlet arranged to direct air into the air flow passage; wherein the dome shaped portion at least partially restricts the flow of air exiting the air flow passage when the dome shaped portion is attached to the annular portion.

2. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the air outlet is located in the air flow passage.

3. The attachment of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the air outlet is annular.

4. The attachment of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air flow passage is circular or oval shaped.

5. The attachment of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the annular portion comprises an inner wall and an outer wall, the air flow passage being bounded by the inner wall.

6. The attachment of claim 5, wherein the air outlet is configured to direct airflow along a surface of the inner wall.

7. The attachment of claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the air outlet is defined by a gap between the inner and outer walls.

8. The attachment of any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the air outlet extends along at least a portion of the circumference of the inner wall.

9. The attachment of any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the annular portion comprises an air inlet, and the inner and outer walls define a conduit therebetween for fluidly connecting the air inlet to the air outlet.

10. The attachment of any preceding claim, wherein the air flow passage extends through the annular portion from a first side to a second side.

11. The attachment of claim 10, wherein air directed into the air flow passage moves in a direction from the first side to the second side, and wherein the diameter of the air flow passage at the second side is greater than the diameter of the air flow passage at the first side.

12. The attachment of claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the second side comprises a connector for removably attaching the dome shaped portion to the annular portion.

13. The attachment of claim 12, wherein the connector comprises a magnetic connector.

14. The attachment of any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the second side comprises a recess configured to form a snap fit connection with the dome shaped portion.

15. The attachment of any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the air outlet is configured to direct air towards the second side.

16. The attachment of any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the air outlet is located at or towards the first side.

17. The attachment of any preceding claim, wherein the dome shaped portion comprises a plurality of apertures.

18. The attachment of any preceding claim, wherein the dome shaped portion projects outwardly from the airflow passage when the dome shaped portion is attached to the annular portion in a use position.

19. The attachment of any preceding claim, wherein the dome shaped portion projects inwardly into the airflow passage when the dome shaped portion is attached to the annular portion in a stowage position.

20. A haircare appliance comprising an airflow generator and an attachment according to any preceding claim.

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