Attachment for a haircare appliance

Abstract

Disclosed is an attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment comprising: an air inlet for receiving an airflow, a barrel, a plurality of air outlets disposed around a periphery of the barrel, and a helical hair guide extending at least partially around the barrel.

Description

[0001] ATTACHMENT FOR A HAIRCARE APPLIANCE

[0002] BACKGROUND

[0003] A haircare appliance may comprise an attachment around which hair is wrapped to create curls. Air may be discharged from the attachment in order to encourage the hair to wrap around the attachment.

[0004] SUMMARY

[0005] A first aspect of the present invention provides an attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment comprising: an air inlet for receiving an airflow, a barrel, a plurality of air outlets disposed around a periphery of the barrel, and a helical hair guide extending at least partially around the barrel.

[0006] In use of the attachment, hair is wrapped around the barrel, then styled into curls by air emitted from the air outlets. The helical hair guide acts to guide the hair both around and along the barrel in a helical fashion, and may help to prevent the hair from wrapping over itself. This may help to provide a repeatable curl in the hair.

[0007] The helical hair guide forms one of a right-handed helix and a left-handed helix.

[0008] The helical hair guide may form at least one full turn around the barrel. This may help to form a longer repeatable curl in the hair compared to a helical hair guide that does not form at least one full turn around the barrel.

[0009] The helical hair guide may form at least two full turns around the barrel. This may help to form a longer repeatable curl in the hair compared to a helical hair guide that forms less than two full turns around the barrel.

[0010] The helical hair guide may be defined by at least one surface and the at least one surface may be continuous. For example, the at least one surface may be substantially free of any apertures. This may help to ensure that airflow travels along, rather than through, the at least one surface, in use. The helical hair guide may be co-axial with the barrel. This may help to provide even curls and a space-efficient attachment.

[0011] The helical hair guide may have an outer radius that is greater than an outer radius of the barrel by at least 2mm. More particularly, the helical hair guide may have an outer radius that is greater than an outer radius of the barrel by at least 10mm, for example around 15mm. This may help to ensure that the helical hair guide is wide enough to guide hair in helical fashion around the barrel, whilst keeping the attachment to an ergonomic size.

[0012] The helical hair guide may have an outer radius that is no more than 30mm greater than an outer radius of the barrel. This may help to provide a relatively compact arrangement.

[0013] The helical hair guide may comprise only one helical surface. This may help to provide a smoother styling outcome compared to a helical hair guide comprising a plurality of surfaces.

[0014] The helical surface may have a constant pitch along its length. Accordingly, the attachment may help to provide a consistent curl along hair that is curled by the attachment.

[0015] The helical surface may be a helicoid.

[0016] The attachment may comprise a retention member configured to selectively hold a portion of the helical hair guide closed such that the portion is not available to guide hair around the barrel. The attachment may be operable in a first configuration, in which the retention member does not hold a portion of the helical hair guide closed and all of the helical hair guide is available to guide hair around the barrel, and a second configuration, in which the retention member holds the portion of the helical hair guide closed and a remainder of the helical hair guide is available to guide hair around the barrel.

[0017] Holding a portion of the helical hair guide closed may change a pitch of the remainder of the helical hair guide that is not held closed by the retention member, if a length of the helical hair guide remains constant irrespective of use of the retention member. For example, opposing ends of the helical hair guide may be fixed to the barrel and the portion of the helical hair guide may be held closed by the retention member. In this example, the pitch of the remainder of the helical hair guide that is not held closed by the retention member may increase. This then may permit different curl types to be styled by the attachment, depending on a size of the portion of the helical hair guide that is held closed by the retention member.

[0018] Additionally, or alternatively, holding a portion of the helical hair guide closed may change a length of the helical hair guide, in a direction along the barrel. For example, one end of the helical hair guide may be slidable along the barrel in response a change in a size of the portion held closed by the retention member. This then may provide further styling configurations.

[0019] The portion of the helical hair guide that is held closed by the retention member has a pitch that is substantially zero, and is not available to guide hair around the barrel in use.

[0020] The retention member may hold the portion of the helical hair guide closed at an end of the helical hair guide. This may help to provide a consistent curl along hair wrapped around the barrel by the helical hair guide, even with the retention member in use.

[0021] Each outlet of the plurality of air outlets may comprise a slot that extends substantially along the full length of the barrel, and the helical hair guide extends along the full length of the slots. The helical hair guide may therefore guide hair to wrap around the barrel in a helical fashion along a full length of the slots, which may help to provide a more uniform curl in the hair. The helical hair guide may also encourage the hair towards an end of the barrel. If the hair is longer than a length of the helical hair guide, a tip end of the hair may not wrap around the barrel, such that the tip end of the hair is not curled by the attachment. This may provide a ‘beach wave’ style, in which a main part of the hair is curled and the tips are comparatively straight. The attachment may comprise a blocking wall disposed at a first end of the barrel and extending away from the barrel, the blocking wall configured to inhibit hair from wrapping around the barrel at the first end of the barrel. Inhibiting hair from wrapping around the barrel at the first end of the barrel may help to achieve a beach wave style.

[0022] The attachment may comprise a base surface disposed at a first end of the barrel. The base surface may extend away from the barrel and may be generally orthogonal to a central axis of the barrel. The base surface may, with the blocking wall, help to guide hair away from the barrel in a repeatable way, which may provide a more repeatable styling result.

[0023] The base surface may be contiguous with the helical hair guide, which may help to ensure that hair guided by the helical hair guide around and along the barrel continues along the base surface and / or the blocking wall in a direction away from the barrel at the first end of the barrel.

[0024] The blocking wall may comprise a wall outlet, the wall outlet in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of air outlets. Air emitted from one of the plurality of air outlets of the barrel is directed to, and emitted from, the wall outlet. Air emitted from the wall outlet may help to style hair that is inhibited from being wrapped around the barrel by the blocking wall.

[0025] The helical hair guide may be integral to the barrel. This may help to provide reliable styling results, since a position of the helical hair guide relative to the barrel is fixed.

[0026] The helical hair guide may be selectively attachable to the barrel. This may allow selective use of the helical hair guide, which may provide multifunctionality of the attachment.

[0027] The helical hair guide may be slidable onto the barrel in a direction generally parallel to the central axis of the barrel.

[0028] The helical hair guide may be magnetically attachable to the barrel. For example, the helical hair guide may comprise a first magnet at a first end of the helical hair guide, and a second magnet at a second end of the helical hair guide. The first magnet may be configured to removably attach the first end of the helical hair guide to a magnetic portion at the first end of the barrel, and the second magnet may be configured to removably attach the second end of the helical hair guide to a magnetic portion at a second end of the barrel, the second ends opposite the respective first ends.

[0029] The blocking wall and the base surface may be fixed to the helical hair guide so that the blocking wall and base surface are also selectively attachable to the barrel.

[0030] The helical hair guide may be collapsible when detached from the barrel. This may reduce a space required to store the helical hair guide when not in use. When the helical hair guide is in a collapsed state, the first and second magnets may attract one another to keep the helical hair guide in the collapsed state.

[0031] In the collapsed state, adjacent turns of the helical hair guide may abut one another such that a pitch of each turn of the helical hair guide is substantially equal to a thickness of a helical portion of the helical hair guide.

[0032] The blocking wall may be formed from a deformable material. This may allow the blocking wall to be selectively collapsed upon collapse to the helical hair guide. Alternatively, the blocking wall may be pivotably fixed to the helical hair guide, and configured to lie generally parallel to the helical hair guide when the helical hair guide is in the collapsed state. This may reduce a space required to store the helical hair guide when not in use.

[0033] An inner edge of the helical hair guide may be shaped to inhibit relative rotation of the barrel and the helical hair guide. For example, the helical hair guide may attach to the barrel with an interference fit. For example, an outer cross-sectional shape of the barrel may be non-circular, and an inner edge of the helical hair guide may conform to the outer cross-sectional shape of the barrel. The helical hair guide may be rotatable about the barrel when the helical hair guide is attached to the barrel. This may allow a user to better align the helical hair guide to the hair, which may provide a curl in the desired location along the hair.

[0034] An inner edge of the helical hair guide may comprise a compressible material. This may provide a degree of tolerance, compared to a non-compressible material, at points of contact between the inner edge of the helical hair guide and the barrel when the helical hair guide is attached to the barrel. This may allow the helical hair guide to be used on barrels with different diameters. This may allow the helical hair guide to be held at different positions relative to the barrel, for example when the retention member is holding at least one of the helical segments closed.

[0035] The attachment may comprise a further helical hair guide selectively attachable to the barrel, wherein the helical hair guide is one of a right-handed helix and a left-handed helix, and the further helical hair guide is the other of a right-handed helix and a left-handed helix. This may provide functionality for a user to style curls in different directions, depending on which of the helical hair guide and the further helical hair guide is attached to the barrel.

[0036] The further helical hair guide may have any of the features of the helical hair guide described herein.

[0037] Each of the plurality of air outlets may be configured to emit air in a direction around the barrel. The helical hair guide may therefore cause air emitted from the air outlets to spiral along and around the barrel. This may encourage the hair to wrap around and along the barrel in use, which may help to reduce the need for manual wrapping of the hair around the barrel. This may also cause the air to travel along a length of hair in use, which may provide a smoother hair style outcome compared to an attachment in which the air outlets are configured to emit air in a radial direction. The barrel may be shaped such that the airflow is subject to the Coanda effect and thus is directed around the barrel. The airflow may entrain hair to cause the hair to wrap around the barrel.

[0038] The plurality of outlets may comprise first outlets through which the airflow is discharged in a clockwise direction around the barrel, and second outlets through which the airflow is discharged in an anti -clockwise direction around the barrel; and the attachment may comprise a valve assembly movable between a first position, in which the second outlets are occluded, and a second position in which the first outlets are occluded. Accordingly, depending on a position of the valve assembly, air may travel in different directions around the barrel, and thus in different directions along the helical hair guide. This may provide additional functionality to a user compared to an attachment in which air is directed in only one direction from the plurality of air outlets.

[0039] The attachment may comprise an actuator. Actuation of the actuator may cause the valve position to move between the first and second positions. The helical hair guide may be configured to actuate the actuator to one of the first position or the second position as the helical hair guide is attached to the barrel. This may help to ensure that the valve assembly is in the correct position for use of the attachment with the helical hair guide attached to the barrel.

[0040] A second aspect of the present invention provides an attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment comprising: an air inlet for receiving an airflow, a barrel, a plurality of air outlets disposed around a periphery of the barrel, and a ramp disposed at an end of the barrel, the ramp comprising a blocking wall extending in a direction radially outward from the barrel, wherein the blocking wall is configured to inhibit hair wrapping around the barrel at the end of the barrel.

[0041] In use of the attachment, hair is wrapped around the barrel and dried by air emitted from the air outlets. The hair is thus styled into curls. The ramp, specifically the blocking wall, inhibits hair from being wrapped around the end of the barrel. Accordingly, a tip end of the hair may not wrap around barrel, and thus may not be curled in use of the attachment. This may help to provide a beach wave style.

[0042] The end of the barrel may be an end of the barrel at which the air inlet is located.

[0043] The blocking wall may extend from the end of the barrel in a direction along the central axis of the barrel by a distance that is substantially equal to a pitch of a turn of the helical hair guide closest to the end of the barrel. This may help to ensure that all of a tress of hair that is wrapped around the barrel is blocked by the blocking wall.

[0044] Each outlet of the plurality of air outlets may comprise a slot that extends substantially along the full length of the barrel. The blocking wall may longitudinally overlap a portion of the slots at the end of the barrel. This may ensure that hair that would otherwise be wrapped around the barrel in use is blocked by the blocking wall.

[0045] Each of the plurality of air outlets may be configured to emit air along a curved airflow path around the barrel. This may encourage the hair to wrap around and along the barrel in use, which may help to reduce the need for manual wrapping of the hair around the barrel. This may also cause the air to travel along the blocking wall, which may encourage hair along the blocking wall. The barrel may be shaped such that the airflow is subject to the Coanda effect and thus is directed around the barrel. The airflow may entrain hair to cause the hair to wrap around the barrel. The blocking wall may intersect the curved airflow path at the end of the barrel. This may ensure that hair that would otherwise be wrapped around the barrel in use is blocked by the blocking wall.

[0046] The ramp may comprise a base surface extending away from the barrel in the same direction as the blocking wall, and being generally orthogonal to the central axis of the barrel. The base surface may be contiguous with the blocking wall. The base surface may further help to guide hair away from the barrel to provide the desired styling effect at the tip end of the hair. The blocking wall may have a length in a direction away from the barrel that is at least equal to a radius of the barrel. This may help to prevent hair from wrapping around an end of the blocking wall that is distal to the barrel, which may result in an unwanted kink in the hair.

[0047] The blocking wall may have a length in the direction away from the barrel of at least 30mm. This may help to ensure that hair is guided away from the barrel by the blocking wall. The blocking wall may have a length of no more than 100mm. This may help to ensure that the attachment is of an ergonomic size.

[0048] The ramp may comprise a channel in fluid communication at a first end with at least one of the plurality of air outlets, and at a second end with an aperture defined the blocking wall. Accordingly, in use of the attachment, air may be emitted from the aperture, which may help to dry the tip end of the hair that is not wrapped around the barrel. This may help to provide more uniform drying along the length of the hair.

[0049] The blocking wall may define one or more additional apertures distributed along a length of the blocking wall, and the channel may be in fluid communication with each of the one or more additional apertures. Alternatively, the ramp may comprise one or more additional channels, each in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of air outlets and a respective one of the one or more additional apertures. This may provide more uniform drying along the length of the hair, compared to the blocking wall defining only one aperture.

[0050] The ramp may be removably attached to the barrel. This may provide additional functionality to the attachment.

[0051] A third aspect of the present invention provides an attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment comprising; an air inlet for receiving an airflow, a barrel, a plurality of air outlets disposed around a periphery of the barrel, and a hair guiding member removably attachable to the barrel and comprising one or more hair guide channels, wherein, in use, air discharged from the air outlets causes hair to wrap around the barrel, and the hair guiding channels modify how hair wraps around the barrel when the hair guiding member is attached to the barrel.

[0052] Such an attachment may provide multifunctionality compared to an attachment without the hair guiding member. The attachment may thus be used to provide multiple styling outcomes.

[0053] The hair guiding member may be slidable over the barrel to attach and detach the hair guiding member to the barrel. This may provide a simple and intuitive arrangement.

[0054] Each of the plurality of air outlets may be configured to emit air along a curved airflow path around the barrel in use. This may encourage the hair to wrap around and along the barrel in use, which may help to reduce the need for manual wrapping of the hair around the barrel. This may also cause the air to travel along a length of hair in use, which may provide a smoother hair style outcome compared to an attachment in which the air outlets are configured to emit air in a radial direction

[0055] The barrel may be shaped such that the airflow is subject to the Coanda effect and thus is directed around the barrel. The airflow may entrain hair to cause the hair to wrap around the barrel.

[0056] Air may travel along a curved airflow path regardless of whether the hair guiding member is attached to the barrel. With the hair guiding member attached to the barrel, a pitch and / or radius of the curved airflow path may be altered compared to when the hair guiding member is not attached to the barrel, which may result in a different styling outcome.

[0057] A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a helical hair guide for selective attachment to a haircare appliance, the helical hair guide comprising a central bore for receiving a barrel of the haircare appliance, and a helical wall that wraps around the central bore. Positioning the helical hair guide around the barrel portion of the haircare appliance may provide a hair channel around the barrel along which a user may wrap hair. This may provide a more repeatable, uniform curl in the hair, in use of the haircare appliance with the helical hair guide attached, compared to use of the haircare appliance without the helical hair guide attached.

[0058] The helical wall may be moveable (e.g., collapsible) to adjust a height and a pitch of the helical wall. This may increase the functionality of the helical hair guide compared to a fixed helical wall.

[0059] The helical wall may be movable to a closed configuration in which the helical wall is substantially flat. In the closed configuration, there may be little or no space between adjacent turns of the helical wall.

[0060] The helical hair guide may comprise any of the features of the helical hair guide described with reference to the first aspect. The helical hair guide may comprise the blocking wall and / or the base surface described with reference to the first aspect.

[0061] A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a haircare appliance comprising an attachment or a helical hair guide according to any one of the preceding paragraphs.

[0062] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] Figure l is a schematic view of a haircare appliance according to an example;

[0064] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a handle unit of the haircare appliance of Figure 1;

[0065] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first attachment according to an example, the first attachment for releasable attachment to the handle unit of Figure 2;

[0066] Figure 4 is a slice view of the first attachment of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a partially exploded view of a second attachment according to an example, the second attachment for releasable attachment to the handle unit of Figure 2;

[0067] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the second attachment of Figure 5, with the second attachment in use in a first configuration;

[0068] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the second attachment of Figure 5, with the second attachment in use in the first configuration;

[0069] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the second attachment of Figure 5, with the second attachment in use in a second configuration;

[0070] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the second attachment of Figure 5, with the second attachment in use in the second configuration;

[0071] Figure 10 is a view of a hair guide according to an example, the hair guide in a partially closed configuration;

[0072] Figure 11 is a view of the hair guide of Figure 10, the hair guide in a closed configuration; and

[0073] Figure 12 is a view of a third attachment according to an example, the third attachment for releasable attachment to the handle unit of Figure 2.

[0074] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0075] A haircare appliance 10 according to an example is shown schematically in Figure 1. The haircare appliance 10 comprises a handle unit 12, and an attachment 100 removably attachable to the handle unit 12.

[0076] 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. 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.

[0077] The control unit 20 comprises electronic circuitry for a user interface 32 and a control module 34. 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). In the example of Figure 1, the user interface comprises a plurality of sliding switches, but other forms of user interface 32, for example buttons, dials or touchscreens, are also envisaged.

[0078] 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.

[0079] The attachment 100 is shown in side view in Figure 3 and in cross-section in Figure 4, along the line A-A of Figure 3. The attachment 100 comprises a barrel 110 and a helical hair guide 120 which is integral with, and wraps around, the barrel 110. The attachment has a central axis 102.

[0080] The barrel 110 is generally cylindrical in shape and has a length extending from an open end 110a to a closed end 110b. The barrel 110 is tapered, having a greater diameter at the open end 110a compared to the closed end 110b. The open end 110a serves as an inlet 111 to an interior bore of the barrel 110. The open end 110a forms a connection portion having a number of projections 114 disposed around a periphery of the barrel 110, and which are receivable within corresponding recesses (not shown) formed on the handle unit 12 to ensure correct connection and alignment between the handle unit 12 and the attachment 100.

[0081] The barrel 110 defines a plurality of air outlets 116. Each of the air outlets 116 is in the form of a slot extending along the length of the barrel 110. As can be seen in Figure 4, each air outlet 116 extends through the barrel 110 in the same non-radial direction such that, in use, air emitted from the plurality of air outlets 116 is emitted in an anti-clockwise direction around the barrel 110 (as viewed in Figure 4). An outer surface of the barrel 110 is generally curved about the central axis 102 and is free of any step-changes in profile.

[0082] The helical hair guide 120 comprises a helical wall 122 and a ramp 124. The helical wall 122 projects radially outward from the barrel 110 by a distance of around 15mm, has a constant thickness of around 1mm, and has a constant pitch along the length of the barrel 110. The helical wall 122 thus has a radius around 15mm greater than an outer radius of the barrel 110. The helical wall 122 is coaxial with the central axis 102 and, in this example is a left-handed helix. The helical wall 122 extends from the closed end 110b of the barrel 110 towards the open end 110a. The helical wall 122 makes three complete turns around the barrel 110 in this example, defining a helical channel 123 that wraps around and along the barrel 110 between the open and closed ends 110a, 110b of the barrel 110. Opposing sides of the helical wall 122 form continuous helical surfaces defining walls of the helical channel 123.

[0083] The ramp 124 is disposed towards the open end 110a of the barrel 110 and comprises a base wall 126 and a side wall 128. The base wall 126 and the side wall 128 extend in a direction away from the barrel 110, rather than wrapping around the barrel 110 as the helical wall 122 does. The base wall 126 defines a base surface that is contiguous with the helical wall 122 at the open end 110a of the barrel 110 and extends away from the barrel 110 by around 40mm. The side wall 128 is upstanding from the base wall 128 and has a height that extends between two adjacent turns of the helical wall 122 at the open end 110a of the barrel 110. The side wall 128 has a length that is equal to a length of the base wall 126. In use of the haircare appliance 10, when the attachment 100 is attached to the handle unit 12, the airflow generator 16 generates an airflow draws air into the handle unit 12 via the air inlet 22 and airflow is emitted from the handle unit 12 via the air outlet 24. The heater 18 selectively heats the airflow before the airflow is emitted from the handle unit 12. The airflow enters the interior bore of the barrel 110 via the inlet 111 of the attachment 100 and is emitted from the barrel 110 via the air outlets 116. The airflow is emitted in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4 and travels along the helical channel 123 of the helical hair guide 120, towards the open end 110a of the barrel 110. The curved outer surface of the barrel 110 causes the airflow to attach to, and thus curve around, the barrel 110 due to the Coanda effect. When the airflow reaches the open end 110a of the barrel 110, the side wall 128 acts as a blocking wall to inhibit further travel of the airflow around the barrel 110 and direct the airflow away from the barrel 110 along the side wall 128 and the base wall 126 of the ramp 124.

[0084] With the airflow generator 16 in operation, the attachment 100 is held close to a tress of hair. The airflow along the helical channel 123 entrains the hair, causing the hair to wrap around and along the barrel 110 from the closed end 110b towards the open end 110a. Hair that is in the helical channel 123 may be styled into curls, whereas a region towards the tip of the hair, which is blocked from wrapping around the barrel 110 by the side wall 128, and so extends along or beyond the ramp, is not styled into curls.

[0085] It will be appreciated that, in other examples, the helical hair guide may wrap around the barrel 110 in an opposite direction and the air outlets may be configured to direct airflow in an opposite direction around the barrel 110. In still other example, the air outlets may be configured to direct air radially outward from the barrel, and a user may be required to manually wrap hair along the helical channel 123.

[0086] The haircare appliance 10 may be provided as a kit of parts comprising the attachment 100 and a further attachment, which is similar to the attachment 100 but configured to wrap hair in an opposite direction to the attachment 100. Figures 5 to 11 show various views of another attachment 200 for use with the handle unit 12 of Figures 1 and 2. The attachment 200 comprises a barrel 210 and first and second helical hair guides 220a, 220b. The attachment 200 has a central axis 202.

[0087] The barrel 210 comprises is generally cylindrical in shape and has a length extending from an open end 210a to a closed end 210b. The barrel 210 is tapered, having a greater diameter at the open end 210a compared to the closed end 210b. The open end 210a serves as an inlet 211 to an interior bore 212 of the barrel 210. The open end 210a forms a connection portion having a number of projections 214 disposed around a periphery of the barrel 210, and which are receivable within corresponding recesses (not shown) formed on the handle unit 12 to ensure correct connection and alignment between the handle unit 12 and the attachment 200.

[0088] The barrel 210 is generally constructed as described in GB2598924A. The barrel 210 defines a plurality of pairs 217 of air outlets 216a, 216b. Each of the air outlets 216a, 216b is in the form of a slot extending along the length of the barrel 210. Each pair 217 of air outlets 216a, 126b comprises a first air outlet 216a configured to emit air in an anticlockwise direction around the barrel 210 (as best shown in Figure 7) and a second air outlet 216b configured to emit air in a clockwise direction around the barrel 210 (as best shown in Figure 9). The barrel 110 comprises a valve 218 disposed in the interior bore 212 and movable between a first position (as shown in Figure 7), in which the valve 218 occludes each of the second air outlets 216b and does not obstruct each of the first air outlets 126a, and a second position (as shown in Figure 9), in which the valve 218 occludes each of the first air outlets 216a and does not obstruct each of the second air outlets 216b.

[0089] The valve 218 is movable between the first and second positions via a dial 250 disposed at the closed end 210b of the barrel 110. The dial 250 is rotatable within the interior bore 212 about the central axis 202 to move the valve 218 between the first and second positions.

[0090] The first and second helical hair guides 220a, 220b are each removably attachable to the barrel 210 and spiral in opposite directions to one another but are otherwise identical in this example. The first and second helical hair guides 220a, 220b are generally referred to as the hair guides 220 in the following description. It will be appreciated that any reference to a particular spiral direction may be reversed for the other helical hair guide.

[0091] The helical hair guides 220 each comprise a first end wall 222, a helical wall 224, a retention mechanism 226, and a ramp 230.

[0092] The first end wall 222 is annular and defines a central aperture 221 configured to fit around the dial 250. The first end wall 222 comprises an annular magnetic element 223 that is magnetically attracted to a corresponding magnetic element (not shown) at the closed end 210b of the barrel 210 when the helical hair guide 220 is attached to the barrel 210.

[0093] The helical wall 224 depends from the first end wall 222 and forms three complete turns. The helical wall 224 has an inner radius that is around 0.5. mm greater than a radius of the barrel 110, a width of around 15mm and a thickness of around 1mm. When the helical hair guide 220 is attached to the barrel 210, the helical wall 224 wraps around and along the barrel 210. The helical wall 224 of the first helical hair guide 220a forms a left-handed helix, and the helical wall 224 of the second helical hair guide 220b forms a right-handed helix.

[0094] The ramp 230 is disposed at an opposite end of the helical wall 224 to the first end wall 222. The ramp 230 comprises a second end wall 232, an intermediate wall 234 and a side wall 236 disposed between the second end wall 232 and the intermediate wall 234.

[0095] The second end wall 232 is generally annular and defines an aperture 238 configured to fit around the open end 210a of the barrel 210. The second end wall 232 comprises a lobe 240 that protrudes radially outward from the aperture 283 by around 40mm. The lobe 240 defines a base surface that is contiguous with the helical wall 224 at an opposite end of the helical wall 224 to the first end wall 222.

[0096] The intermediate wall 234 is in the form of a lobe protruding radially from the helical wall 224 one turn of the helical wall 223 away from the lobe 240. The intermediate wall 234 is identical in shape to the lobe 240. The side wall 232 connects the intermediate wall 234 to the lobe 240 and extends in a generally radial direction away from the aperture 238 defined in the second end wall 232. The side wall 232 has an inner edge 242 defining an opening, and defines a plurality of channels fluidly connecting the opening to a plurality of corresponding respective wall outlets 248. The plurality of wall outlets 248 are at different distances from the inner edge 242 to one another.

[0097] The second end wall 232 comprises an annular magnetic element (not shown) that is magnetically attracted to a corresponding magnetic element (not shown) at the open end 210a of the barrel.

[0098] An inner edge of each of the central aperture of the first end wall 222, the helical wall 224 and the second end wall 232 is formed from a more compressible material of a remainder of the first end wall 222, the helical wall 224 and the second end wall 232. An outer surface 210c of the barrel 210 is generally curved about the central axis 202 and is generally flower-shaped in cross-section. The inner edge of the helical wall 224 is generally shaped to conform to the flower-shape of the outer surface 210c of the barrel 210. In other examples, the inner edge of the helical wall 224 is generally circular.

[0099] The height of each of the helical hair guides 220 may be adjustable. In particular, the helical wall 224 may be compressed or stretched (i.e., moved) along the central axis, in a similar way to that of a helical spring. Adjusting the height in this way in turn adjusts the pitch of the helical wall 224. In some examples, the helical hair guide 220 may be moved between a closed configuration, an open configuration, and a number of intermediate configurations. Figure 11 shows the first helical hair guide 220a in the closed configuration. Figure 6 shows the first helical hair guide 220a in the open position and attached to the barrel 210. Figure 10 shows the first helical hair guide 220a in one of the intermediate configurations. To facilitate movement of the helical hair guide 220, the helical wall 224 and the side wall 236 are each formed from a flexible, deformable material. In the closed configuration of either of the helical hair guides 220, the helical wall 224 has a pitch that is substantially equal to the thickness of the helical wall 224 such that all adjacent turns of the helical wall 224 contact one another. A turn of the helical wall 224 that is adjacent to the first end wall 222 lies against the first end wall 222 in the closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the side wall 236 is compressed between the intermediate wall 234 and the lobe 240. The annular magnetic element of the second end wall 232 is attracted to the annular magnetic element 223 of the first end wall 222 to help retain the helical hair guide 220 in the closed configuration.

[0100] The retention mechanism 226 in this example is a clip 226 that is attached at a first end of the clip 226 to the first end wall 222. A second end of the clip 226, opposite the first end, is selectively attachable to the second end wall 232 when the helical hair guide 220 is in the closed configuration to retain the helical hair guide 22 in the closed configuration.

[0101] In the open configuration, a distance between the first end wall 222 and the second end wall 232 is substantially equal to a distance between the open and closed ends 110a, 110b of the barrel 110. In the open configuration, the helical wall 224 has a constant pitch and defines a hair guide channel 225 between adjacent turns. Opposing sides of the helical wall 224 form continuous helical surfaces defining walls of the hair guide channel 225. The side wall 236 is upstanding between the second end wall 232 and the intermediate wall 234. The intermediate wall 234, the lobe 240 and the side wall 236 define an exit channel 239 therebetween, the exit channel 239 being contiguous with the hair guide channel 225.

[0102] In the intermediate configurations, a distance between the first end wall 222 and the second end wall 232 is substantially equal to a distance between the open and closed ends 110a, 110b of the barrel 110, as with the open configuration. In contrast to the open configuration, in the intermediate configurations, the second end of the clip 226 is attached to an outer edge of the helical wall 224. A portion of the helical wall 224 between the first end wall 222 and the second end of the clip 226 is held closed by the clip 226. In turn, a remaining portion of the helical wall 224 has a greater pitch than when in the open configuration and defines the hair guide channel 225 between adjacent turns of the remaining portion of the helical wall 224. In the intermediate configurations, the side wall 236 is upstanding between the second end wall 232 and the intermediate wall 234. The intermediate wall 234, the lobe 240 and the side wall 236 define an exit channel 239therebetween, the exit channel 239 being contiguous with the hair guide channel 225.

[0103] Prior to use of the haircare appliance 10, with the barrel 210 attached to the handle unit 12, as user rotates the dial 250 to move the valve 218 to the one of the first or second position that is required for the styling operation to be performed, and attaches the one of the first or second helical hair guide 220 suitable for the position of the valve 218 by sliding the helical hair guide 220 over the barrel 210 in a direction parallel to the central axis 202. The second end wall 232 is magnetically attached to the open end 210a of the barrel 210 and the first end wall 222 is magnetically attached to the closed end 210b of the barrel 210 so that the helical hair guide 220 is in the open configuration. The helical hair guide 220 is rotatable relative to the barrel 210 about the central axis 202 when the helical hair guide 220 is attached to the barrel 210.

[0104] The user then, optionally, attaches the second end of the clip 226 to the outer edge of the helical wall 224 to hold a portion of the helical wall 224 closed and place the helical hair guid 220 in one of the intermediate configurations. A remaining portion of the helical wall 224 remains open and defines the hair guide channel 225. The opening 244 of the side wall 236 is in fluid communication with a pair 217 of the air outlets 216a, 216b of the barrel 210.

[0105] In use of the haircare appliance 10, when the attachment 200 is attached to the handle unit 12 and the one of the helical hair guides 220 is attached to the barrel 210, the airflow generator 16 generates an airflow draws air into the handle unit 12 via the air inlet 22 and airflow is emitted from the handle unit 12 via the air outlet 24. The heater 18 selectively heats the airflow before the airflow is emitted from the handle unit 12. The airflow enters the interior bore 212 of the barrel 210 via the inlet 211 of the attachment 200 and is emitted from the barrel 210 via one of the air outlets 216a, 216b of each of the pairs 217 of air outlets 216a, 216b, depending on the position of the valve 218. With the valve 218 in the first position, the airflow is emitted from the first air outlets 216a and thus in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in Figure 7. With the valve 218 in the second position, the airflow is emitted from the second air outlets 216b and thus in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 9. The airflow travels along the helical channel 225 of the helical hair guide 220, towards either the open end 210a or the closed end 210b of the barrel 210, depending on which of the helical hair guides 220 is attached to the barrel 210. The curved outer surface of the barrel 210 causes the airflow to attach to, and thus curve around, the barrel 210 due to the Coanda effect.

[0106] In use, with the helical hair guide 220 that directs the airflow along the helical channel 225 towards the open end 210a of the barrel attached to the barrel, when the airflow reaches the open end 210a of the barrel 210, the side wall 236 acts as a blocking wall to inhibit further travel of the airflow around the barrel 210 and direct the airflow away from the barrel 210 along the exit channel 239. Airflow that is emitted from the barrel 210 and directed through the opening 244 of the side wall 236 passes through the plurality of channels 246 and is emitted from the plurality of wall outlets 248 in the side wall 236. The plurality of wall outlets 248 are configured to direct airflow along the exit channel 239 in a direction away from the barrel 210.

[0107] With the airflow generator 16 in operation, the attachment 200 is held close to a tress of hair. The airflow along the helical channel 225 entrains the hair, causing the hair to wrap around and along the barrel 210. Hair that is in the helical channel 225 is styled into curls corresponding to the pitch of the helical hair guide 220, whereas a region of the hair that is not in the helical channel 225 is not styled into curls.

[0108] Although in this example the inner edge of the helical hair guide 220 is circular, in other examples the inner edge may be contoured and match an outer profile of the barrel 210, which may inhibit rotation of the helical hair guide 220 relative to the barrel 210.

[0109] In other examples, the ramp 230 is omitted.

[0110] In other examples, the dial 250 is configured to move the valve 218 to the first position in response to the first helical hair guide being attached to the barrel 210, and to move the valve 218 to the second position in response to the second helical hair guide being attached to the barrel 210.

[0111] Figure 12 shows another attachment 300 for use with the handle unit 12 of Figures 1 and 2. The attachment comprises a barrel 310 and a hair guide 320 releasably attachable to the barrel 310. The barrel 310 is substantially identical to the barrel 110 of the attachment 100 described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 and will not be described again for brevity. Like features of the barrels 110, 310 have the same reference number, but increased by 200.

[0112] The hair guide 320 in this example is similar to the ramp 230 of the attachment 200 described with reference to Figures 5 to 11. The hair guide 320 comprises a first end wall 322, a second end wall 324 and a side wall 326. The first end wall 322 is generally parallel to second end wall 324 and the side wall 326 extends between the first and second end walls 322, 324. Together, the first end wall 322, second send wall 324 and side wall 326 define an exit channel 338 that extends radially outward from the barrel 310.

[0113] The first end wall 322 and the second end wall 324 are generally annular and define respective apertures 328, 330 configured to fit around the barrel 310. The first and second end walls 322, 324 each comprise respective first and second lobes 332, 334 that protrudes radially outwardly from the respective aperture 328, 330. The first and second lobes 332, 334 each have a length, in this example around 60mm, extending in a direction radially outward from the respective aperture 328, 330. An inner edge of each of the first and second walls 322, 324 defining the respective aperture 328, 330 is formed from a more compressible material of a remainder of the first and second end walls 322, 324.

[0114] The hair guide 320 fits over the barrel 310 and is attached to the barrel by a friction fit, enabled by the more compressible material at an edge of each of the first and second walls 322, 324 defining the respective aperture 328, 330. The hair guide 320 is positionable at a position along the length of the barrel 310 and with either the first end wall 322 or the second end wall 324 closest to the open end 310a of the barrel 310. Prior to use of the haircare appliance 10, with the barrel 310 attached to the handle unit 12, a user slides the hair guide 320 over the barrel 310 in a direction along the central axis 302.

[0115] In use of the haircare appliance 10, when the attachment 300 is attached to the handle unit 12 and the hair guide 320 is attached to the barrel 310, the airflow generator 16 generates an airflow draws air into the handle unit 12 via the air inlet 22 and airflow is emitted from the handle unit 12 via the air outlet 24. The heater 18 selectively heats the airflow before the airflow is emitted from the handle unit 12. The airflow enters the interior bore of the barrel 310 via the inlet 311 of the attachment 300 and is emitted from the barrel 310 via the air outlets 316 in an anti-clockwise direction. The airflow either travels around the barrel 310 or along the exit channel 338, depending on where it is emitted from the barrel 310. The curved outer surface of the barrel 310 causes the airflow to attach to, and thus curve around, the barrel 310 due to the Coanda effect. The side wall 326 then acts as a blocking wall to inhibit travel of the airflow around the barrel 310 and direct the airflow away from the barrel 310 along the exit channel 338.

[0116] With the airflow generator 16 in operation, the attachment 300 is held close to a tress of hair. The airflow around the barrel 310 entrains the hair, causing the hair to wrap around and along the barrel 310. A tip of the hair may be manually moved into the exit channel 338 by a user. Hair that is wrapped around the barrel 310 is styled into curls corresponding to a diameter of the barrel 310, whereas a region of the hair that is in the exit channel 338 is not styled into curls.

[0117] The invention is not limited to the detailed description given above. Variations will be apparent to the person skilled in the art. Features described with any of the given examples may be provided in any of the other examples.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment comprising: an air inlet for receiving an airflow; a barrel; a plurality of air outlets disposed around a periphery of the barrel; and a helical hair guide extending at least partially around the barrel.

2. An attachment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the helical hair guide has an outer radius that is greater than an outer radius of the barrel by at least 2mm, and optionally by at least 10mm.

3. An attachment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the helical hair guide has an outer radius that is no more than 30mm greater than an outer radius of the barrel.

4. An attachment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment comprises a retention member configured to selectively hold a portion of the helical hair guide closed such that the portion is not available to guide hair around the barrel, and the attachment is operable in a first configuration, in which the retention member does not hold a portion of the helical hair guide closed and all of the helical hair guide is available to guide hair around the barrel, and a second configuration, in which the retention member holds the portion of the helical hair guide closed and a remainder of the helical hair guide is available to guide hair around the barrel.

5. An attachment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each outlet of the plurality of air outlets comprises a slot that extends substantially along the full length of the barrel, and the helical hair guide extends along the full length of the slots.

6. An attachment according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a blocking wall disposed at a first end of the barrel and extending away from the barrel, the blocking wall configured to inhibit hair from wrapping around the barrel at the first end of the barrel.

7. An attachment according to claim 6, wherein the blocking wall comprises a wall outlet, the wall outlet in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of air outlets.

8. An attachment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the helical hair guide is selectively attachable to the barrel.

9. An attachment according to claim 8, comprising a further helical hair guide selectively attachable to the barrel, wherein the helical hair guide is one of a right-handed helix and a left-handed helix, and the further helical hair guide is the other of a right-handed helix and a left-handed helix.

10. An attachment according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the plurality of air outlets is configured to emit air in a direction around the barrel.

11. An attachment according to claim 10, wherein: the plurality of outlets comprises first outlets through which the airflow is discharged in a clockwise direction around the barrel, and second outlets through which the airflow is discharged in an anti-clockwise direction around the barrel; and the attachment comprises a valve assembly movable between a first position, in which the second outlets are occluded, and a second position in which the first outlets are occluded.

12. An attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment comprising: an air inlet for receiving an airflow; a barrel;a plurality of air outlets disposed around a periphery of the barrel; and a ramp disposed at an end of the barrel, the ramp comprising a blocking wall extending in a direction radially outward from the barrel, wherein the blocking wall is configured to inhibit hair wrapping around the barrel at the end of the barrel.

13. An attachment according to claim 12, wherein the blocking wall has a length in a direction away from the barrel that is at least equal to a radius of the barrel.

14. An attachment according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the ramp comprises a channel in fluid communication at a first end with at least one of the plurality of air outlets, and at a second end with an aperture defined by the blocking wall.

15. An attachment according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the ramp is removably attached to the barrel.

16. An attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment comprising; an air inlet for receiving an airflow; a barrel; a plurality of air outlets disposed around a periphery of the barrel; and a hair guiding member removably attachable to the barrel and comprising one or more hair guide channels, wherein, in use, air discharged from the air outlets causes hair to wrap around the barrel, and the hair guiding channels modify how the hair wraps around the barrel when the hair guiding member is attached to the barrel.

17. A helical hair guide for selective attachment to a haircare appliance, the helical hair guide comprising a central bore for receiving a barrel of the haircare appliance, and a helical wall that wraps around the central bore.

18. A helical hair guide according to claim 17, wherein the helical wall is moveable to adjust a height and a pitch of the helical wall.

19. A helical hair guide according to claim 18, wherein the helical wall is moveable to a closed configuration in which the helical wall is substantially flat.

20. A haircare appliance comprising an attachment or a helical hair guide according to any one of the preceding claims.

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