Attachment for a haircare appliance

Abstract

Disclosed is an attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment comprising an interface to removably attach the attachment to the haircare appliance and a heat transfer member comprising a heat pipe. The attachment defines a receiving portion for receiving an arm of the haircare appliance. The heat transfer member is configured to redistribute heat energy generated by the haircare appliance from a first side of the receiving portion to a second side of the receiving portion, the second side opposite the first side. Also disclosed is a haircare appliance comprising a heat transfer member comprising a heat pipe and configured to redistribute the heat energy from a first side of a hair heating zone of the haircare appliance to a second side, opposite the first side, of the hair heating zone.

Description

[0001] ATTACHMENT FOR A HAIRCARE APPLIANCE

[0002] BACKGROUND

[0003] Many haircare appliances use heat to dry and / or style hair. There is a desire to increase the efficiency of haircare appliances. Over time, hair can become damaged by repeated exposure to heat during drying and / or styling of the hair. There is a desire to reduce heat- related damage to hair.

[0004] SUMMARY

[0005] A first aspect of the present invention provides an attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment comprising an interface to removably attach the attachment to the haircare appliance and a heat transfer member comprising a heat pipe, wherein: the attachment comprises a receiving portion for receiving an arm of the haircare appliance; and the heat transfer member is configured to redistribute heat energy generated by the haircare appliance from a first side of the receiving portion to a second side of the receiving portion, the second side opposite the first side.

[0006] Provision of the heat transfer member may permit heat energy to be supplied, for example by the heat pipe, from one of the first and second sides of the receiving portion to the other of the first and second sides of the receiving portion, for example from a location at which the heat energy is not required to a location at which the heat energy may be utilised.

[0007] The heat transfer member may provide passive redistribution of the heat energy, such that no additional power may be required by the attachment and / or the haircare appliance to redistribute the heat energy.

[0008] The receiving portion may comprise an opening that corresponds to an area of the arm of the haircare appliance from which heat energy is emitted to heat hair, in use. The opening may lie in a heating plane. The opening may be generally rectangular in form, having a length and a width. The length and the width of the opening may lie in the heating plane. The attachment may comprise first and second outer walls, respectively disposed along the first and second sides of the receiving portion. Each of the first and second side walls may extend along a respective first and second plane, the first and second planes being parallel to one another and orthogonal to the heating plane. The first and second planes may extend in both a direction parallel to the length of the opening, and in a direction that is orthogonal to both the length and the width of the opening.

[0009] In use, hair may be drawn between the first and second planes across the receiving portion and generally parallel to the heating plane, such that the hair travels through a hair heating zone that is adjacent to the area of the arm of the haircare appliance from which heat energy is emitted to heat hair. The hair heating zone may be disposed to a first side of the heating plane. In the hair heating zone, the hair is heated by heat energy generated by haircare appliance. The heat transfer member may remove heat energy from hair at one of the first and second sides of the receiving portion after the hair has passed through the hair heating zone, and supply the heat energy to hair at the other of the first and second sides of the receiving portion before the hair has entered the hair heating zone. In this way, heat energy from the heat transfer member may pre-heat hair before the hair passes through the hair heating zone, which may increase efficiency of the haircare appliance. In addition, the heat transfer member may help to rapidly cool the hair after the hair has passed through the hair heating zone, which may reduce a risk to heat-related damage to the hair, for example by reducing moisture loss from the hair compared to the hair cooling more slowly, and may help to set a style of the hair. The heat transfer member may thus redistribute heat energy between hair at the first side of the receiving portion to hair at the second side of the receiving portion, acting as a thermal bridge between hair that has passed through the hair heating zone and hair that is yet to pass through the hair heating zone.

[0010] When the attachment is attached to the haircare appliance at the interface, the first side of the receiving portion may be disposed at a leading edge of the arm of the haircare appliance and the second side of the receiving portion may be disposed at a trailing edge of the arm. Heat energy may thus be removed from hair at the trailing edge of the arm after the hair has passed the hair heating zone, and supplied to hair at the leading edge of the arm before the hair passes the hair heating zone. The heat transfer member may extend around a periphery of the receiving portion. A length of the heat transfer member may thus be maximised, compared to the heat transfer member only extending across the receiving portion from the first side to the second side, which may increase efficiency of the heat transfer member. The heat transfer member may be disposed along the first and / or second side of the receiving portion parallel to the heating plane. The heat transfer member may not pass through the first and second planes, which may help to reduce an overall size of the attachment.

[0011] The receiving portion may have a depth that extends from a front side, across which hair is drawn in use, to a rear side, which interfaces with the arm of the haircare appliance when the attachment is attached to the haircare appliance. The depth is in a direction orthogonal to the heating plane. A portion of the heat transfer member may extend around the periphery of the receiving portion between the first and second sides of the receiving portion. The portion of the heat transfer member may be angled in a direction that extends away from the front side towards the rear side. The portion of the heat transfer member may be angled by from 20 to 60 degrees relative to the front side. This may increase a distance between the portion of the length of the heat transfer member that extends around the periphery of the receiving portion between the first and second sides of the receiving portion, and the hair heating zone, for a given length. In turn, this may help to increase a temperature differential within the heat transfer member between the first and second sides of the receiving potion, and thus increase efficiency of the heat transfer member. The portion of the length of the heat transfer member that extends around the periphery of the receiving portion between the first and second sides of the receiving portion may not extend through the first and second planes.

[0012] The front side of the receiving portion may lie in a front plane, which may be parallel to or co-planar with the heating plane, and the rear side of the receiving portion may be positioned on a side of the front plane. The side of the front plane may be an opposite side of the front plane to the hair heating zone. A portion of the heat transfer member may extend around the periphery of the receiving portion between the first and second sides of the receiving portion. The portion of the heat transfer member may be angled away from the front plane in a direction towards the same side of the front plane as the rear side. The portion of the heat transfer member may be angled by from 20 to 60 degrees away from the front plane. This may increase a distance between the portion of the length of the heat transfer member that extends around the periphery of the receiving portion between the first and second sides of the receiving portion, and the hair heating zone, for a given length. In turn, this may help to increase a temperature differential within the heat transfer member between the first and second sides of the receiving potion, and thus increase efficiency of the heat transfer member. The portion of the length of the heat transfer member that extends around the periphery of the receiving portion between the first and second sides of the receiving portion may not extend through the first and second planes.

[0013] The heat transfer member, in particular the heat pipe, may form an outward-facing surface of the attachment along at least a portion of a length of the heat transfer member. Outwardfacing surfaces of the attachment may be exposed when the attachment is attached to the haircare appliance at the interface. The outward-facing surfaces may thus be exposed to ambient air, heated air and / or hair.

[0014] Exposure of the heat pipe to ambient air along a portion of the length of the heat pipe may more rapidly reduce a temperature of the heat pipe between opposing ends of the heat pipe, compared to the portion of the heat pipe being closed off from ambient air. This may increase a temperature difference between the opposing ends of the heat pipe, which may increase a speed of redistribution of the heat energy by the heat pipe.

[0015] The portion of the length of the heat transfer member may be disposed along the first side of the receiving portion and / or along the second side of the receiving portion. This may permit heat energy to be supplied to and / or removed from the hair, via the heat transfer member, more rapidly than if the heat transfer member did not form an outward-facing surface of the attachment along the first and / or second side of the receiving portion.

[0016] The portion of the length of the heat transfer member may extend around a periphery of the receiving portion between the first side of the receiving portion and the second side of the receiving portion. Between the first and second sides of the receiving portion, the heat transfer member may thus be exposed to ambient air, which may be at a lower temperature than temperatures within the receiving portion, in use of the haircare appliance. The portion of the length of the heat transfer member may comprise a portion of a length of the heat pipe. The heat pipe may thus be exposed to ambient air, which may be at a lower temperature than temperatures within the receiving portion, in use of the haircare appliance. Accordingly, a speed of movement of coolant along the heat pipe may be increased.

[0017] The heat transfer member may be generally U-shaped in form, when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the heating plane. A trough of the U-shaped heat transfer member may extend around a periphery of the receiving portion between the first side of the receiving portion and the second side of the receiving portion. The heat pipe may form at least the trough of the U-shaped heat transfer member.

[0018] The heat pipe may be bent, for example at an angle between 20 and 60 degrees, in a direction out of the heating plane towards an opposite side of the heating plane to the hair heating zone, at the trough. Accordingly, part of the heat pipe, which forms arms of the U-shape may lie in the heating plane, and another part of the heat pipe, which forms the trough, is nonparallel with the heating plane. This may increase a distance between the heat pipe, at the trough, and the hair heating zone for a given length of the heat pipe. In turn, this may help to increase a temperature differential within the heat pipe between the first and second sides of the receiving potion, and thus a speed of movement of coolant along the heat pipe may be increased.

[0019] The attachment may comprise: a housing configured to support the heat transfer member and defining the receiving portion; and a resilient material between the heat transfer member and the housing. The resilient material may be disposed along the first side of the receiving portion and / or along the second side of the receiving portion between the heat transfer member and the housing. In use of the haircare appliance with the attachment attached to the haircare appliance at the interface, hair may be drawn across the heat transfer member. The resilient material may allow the heat transfer member to move relative to the housing under force applied to the heat transfer member as the hair is drawn across the heat transfer member, which may increase a surface area of the heat transfer member that contacts the hair. In turn, this may increase heat transfer between the hair and the heat transfer member. The heat transfer member may be biased away from the housing by the resilient material. The heat transfer member may thus be movable towards the housing upon application of force on the heat transfer member by hair, in use. The resilient material may comprise a spring, such as a leaf spring, and / or a resilient portion between the heat transfer member and the housing.

[0020] The heat pipe may comprise a first end and / or a second end comprising a respective heat pipe tip at which the heat pipe is shut, for example by a weld, to seal an interior of the heat pipe from a surrounding environment. The heat pipe may be bent at the first and / or second end to direct the respective heat pipe tip in a direction away from the outward-facing surface of the attachment. This may inhibit hair from catching around the first and / or second end of the heat pipe as hair is drawn across the attachment in use. The first and / or second end may comprise a joint line at which a heat pipe is shut. A joint line typically protrudes from an outer surface of the hear pipe and may be relatively rough compared to a remainder of the outer surface. Providing the bend in the first and / or second end may inhibit the joint line from catching on hair in use of the attachment. The heat pipe tip(s) may extend at least partially through the resilient material and the resilient material may grip the heat pipe tip(s). This may improve mechanical retention between the heat pipe and the resilient material. The heat pipe tip(s) may extend towards the receiving portion.

[0021] The heat pipe may have a substantially elliptical cross-section. In use of the haircare appliance with the attachment attached to the haircare appliance at the interface, hair may be drawn across a side of the heat pipe that has a greater radius of curvature than an adjacent side of the heat pipe. The elliptical cross-section may therefore increase a contact area between the heat pipe and the hair, which may increase heat transfer between the hair and the heat pipe compared to a heat pipe with a circular cross-section with an equivalent circumference.

[0022] The attachment may comprise a tip-receiving section configured to receive a tip of the arm of the haircare appliance and extending from the first side of the receiving portion to the second side of the receiving portion around a periphery of the receiving portion, wherein the heat pipe extends along the tip-receiving section from the first side of the receiving portion to the second side of the receiving portion. The tip of the arm may be cooler, in use of the haircare appliance, than other portions of the arm, such that the heat pipe may cool more rapidly along the tip-receiving section compared at other locations on the attachment. In turn, this may facilitate more rapid transfer of heat energy between the first and second sides of the receiving portion.

[0023] The portion of the length of the heat transfer member that forms an outward-facing surface of the attachment may comprise a portion of the heat pipe that extends along the tip-receiving section. Where the heat transfer member is generally U-shaped in form, the trough of the U-shape of the heat transfer member may extend along the tip-receiving section.

[0024] The tip-receiving section may be angled away from the heating plane towards an opposite side of the heating plane to the hair heating zone. This may help funnel hair towards the receiving portion, and thus the hair heating zone, in use. A portion of the heat pipe that extends along the tip-receiving section from the first side of the receiving portion to the second side of the receiving portion may extend away from the heating plane towards an opposite side of the heating plane to the hair heating zone at an angle that corresponds to an angle of the tip-receiving portion. This may increase a distance between the portion of the heat pipe that extends along the tip-receiving section, and the hair heating zone, for a given length of the heat transfer member.

[0025] The tip-receiving section may comprise a guide surface that is angled away from the heating plane towards an opposite side of the heating plane to the hair heating zone, the guide surface configured to guide hair towards the opening of the receiving portion. A portion of the heat pipe that extends along the tip-receiving section from the first side of the receiving portion to the second side of the receiving portion may be substantially parallel to the guide surface.

[0026] The heat pipe may have a substantially constant radius of curvature along the tip-receiving section from the first side of the receiving portion to the second side of the receiving portion. This may reduce resistance of flow of coolant in the heat pipe compared to a variable radius of curvature. The tip-receiving section may comprise a pair of guard members extending along the tipreceiving section on opposing sides of the heat pipe, and wherein the heat pipe is sunken relative to the guard members. The guard members may inhibit the heat pipe from contacting external objects, such as a user’s hand, in use.

[0027] The heat pipe may comprise a first section that extends along the first side of the receiving portion and a second section that extends along the tip-receiving portion from the first side of the receiving portion and the second side of the receiving portion. The heat pipe may be partially encased by a thermally insulating material, and the second section may be encased by the thermally insulating material to a greater extent than the first portion. This may inhibit the heat pipe from contacting external objects, such as a user’s hand or fingers, between the first and second sides of the receiving portion. The thermally insulating material may be a heat-resistant material. The thermally insulating material may increase an efficiency of the heat pipe by reducing thermal losses along the length of the heat pipe.

[0028] The heat pipe may be bent, for example at an angle between 20 and 60 degrees, at a junction between the first section and the second section, such that the second section is non-parallel to the first section. The first section may lie on, or be parallel to, the heating plane, and the second section of the heat pipe may extend away from the heating plane. The heat pipe may be bent such that the second section is angled away from the heating plane towards an opposite side of the heating plane to the hair heating zone. The second section pay be parallel to the guide surface.

[0029] Pressure in the heat pipe may be less than atmospheric pressure. Liquids typically turn to steam at lower temperatures at lower pressures. Accordingly, the coolant in the heat pipe may evaporate at lower temperatures than a heat pipe at atmospheric pressure or higher, which may facilitate the heat redistribution by the heat pipe at lower temperatures than a heat pipe at atmospheric pressure or higher.

[0030] The heat pipe may be a hollow tubular structure with closed ends. The heat pipe may comprise copper, aluminium, or titanium walls. The heat pipe is configured to retain a working fluid (otherwise known as a coolant) and the working fluid may be or comprise distilled water, ammonia, acetone, or methanol. In some examples, a heat pipe for a haircare appliance comprises copper walls and a working fluid that is at least 80% distilled water by weight.

[0031] The heat pipe may comprise a first material that defines a wall of the heat pipe, and a second material at least partly coating the wall of the heat pipe, the second material harder than the first material. The second material may help to protect the wall of the heat pipe against impact damage in use of the attachment. The wall of the heat pipe may delineate an internal volume of the heat pipe. The second material may define a hair-contacting surface of the heat pipe, the hair-contacting surface for contacting hair when the attachment is attached to the haircare appliance at the interface. The hair-contacting surface may be expected to experience more and / or larger impacts in use of the attachment than other parts of the heat pipe.

[0032] A second aspect of the present invention provides a haircare appliance comprising: a first arm and a second arm defining a hair heating zone therebetween, the first and second arms being movable relative to one another to vary a width of the hair heating zone; a heater configured to transfer heat energy to hair in the hair heating zone; and first and second attachments according to the first aspect, each of the first and second attachments removably attached to a respective one of the first arm and the second arm.

[0033] The haircare appliance may be more efficient than a haircare appliance that omits the first and / or second attachments, since more heat energy may be transferred by the first and second attachments in use of the haircare appliance.

[0034] The first and second sides of the receiving portion of each of the first and second attachments may be disposed at respective first and second sides of the hair heating zone. The haircare appliance may therefore reduce a risk of heat-related damage to hair by rapidly recovering heat from hair that has passed through the hair heating zone, compared to a haircare appliance that omits the first and / or second attachments. A third aspect of the present invention provides a haircare appliance comprising: a first arm and a second arm defining a hair heating zone therebetween, the first and second arms being movable relative to one another to vary a width of the hair heating zone; a heater configured to transfer heat energy to hair in the hair heating zone; and a heat transfer member comprising a heat pipe, the hair transfer member configured to redistribute the heat energy from a first side of the hair heating zone to a second side, opposite the first side, of the hair heating zone.

[0035] Provision of a heat transfer member in a haircare appliance may permit heat energy generated by the heater to be supplied, via the heat pipe, from one of the first and second sides of the hair heating zone to the other of the first and second sides of the hair heating zone, for example from a location at which the heat energy is not required to a location at which the heat energy may be utilised.

[0036] The heat transfer member may provide passive redistribution of the heat energy, such that no additional power may be required by the haircare appliance to redistribute the heat energy.

[0037] The heat transfer member may be attached to the first arm and the haircare appliance may comprise a resilient material between the first arm and the heat transfer member. The resilient material may allow the heat transfer member to move relative to the first arm under force applied to the heat transfer member as the hair is drawn across the heat transfer member, which may increase a surface area of the heat transfer member that contacts the hair. In turn, this may increase heat transfer between the hair and the heat transfer member.

[0038] The heat transfer member may be biased away from the first arm by the resilient material. The heat transfer member may thus be movable towards the first arm upon application of force on the heat transfer member by hair, in use. The resilient material may comprise a spring and / or a layer of resilient material between the heat transfer member and the first arm. An example spring may be a leaf spring. An example layer of resilient material may comprise silicone.

[0039] The heat pipe may extend around a tip of the first arm. The tip of the first arm may be cooler, in use of the haircare appliance, than other portions of the first arm, such that the heat pipe may cool more rapidly at the tip of the first arm compared at other locations on the first arm. In turn, this may facilitate more rapid transfer of heat energy between the first and second sides of the hair heating zone. The heat pipe may additionally extend along a first side of the first arm and / or along a second side, opposite the first side, of the first arm.

[0040] The haircare appliance may comprise a further heat pipe configured to redistribute the heat energy from the first side of the hair heating zone to the second side of the hair heating zone. Provision of the further heat pipe may increase an amount of heat energy that is redistributed from the first side of the hair heating zone to the second side of the hair heating zone.

[0041] The further heat pipe may extend around a tip of the second arm. Such an arrangement may enable more even redistribution of the heat energy, for example by transferring heat energy from and / or to opposing sides of a tress of hair that is in the hair heating zone. The heat pipe may additionally extend along a first side of the second arm and / or along a second side, opposite the first side, of the second arm.

[0042] Each of the first arm and the second arm may have a front side, which faces the hair heating zone and the other arm, and a rear side, which faces away from the hair heating zone and the other arm. The tip of the first and / or second arm may be angled, for example chamfered, in a direction away from the respective front side of the arm and towards the rear side. This may help to guide hair along the first and / or second arm towards the hair heating zone. The respective heat pipe or further heat pipe may be bent at the tip of the respective first or second arm in a direction away from the front side of the respective arm and towards the rear side. The heat pipe or further heat pipe may be bent to an angle that substantially corresponds to the angle of the tip. This may increase a distance between the heat pipe or further heat pipe at the tip, and the hair heating zone. The heat pipe or further heat pipe may be bent to an angle from 20 to 60 degrees.

[0043] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a haircare appliance according to an example, the haircare appliance comprising a pair of attachments; Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a hair-facing region of an arm of the haircare appliance of Figure 1, with the pair of attachments removed from the haircare appliance;

[0045] Figure 3 shows a schematic view of the hair-facing region of the arm of Figure 3, with the haircare appliance in use without the pair of attachments attached to the haircare appliance; Figure 4 shows one of the attachments of the haircare appliance of Figure 1;

[0046] Figure 5 shows another view of the attachment of Figure 4;

[0047] Figure 6 shows a schematic view of the hair-facing region of the arm of Figure 5, with the pair of attachments attached to the haircare appliance;

[0048] Figure 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of part of the attachment of Figure 4; Figure 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of part of the attachment of Figure 4;

[0049] Figure 9 shows a schematic view of the hair-facing region of the arm of Figure 5, with the haircare appliance in use with the pair of attachments attached to the haircare appliance;

[0050] Figure 10 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the part of the attachment shown in Figure 7, with the pair of attachments attached to the haircare appliance, and the haircare appliance in use;

[0051] Figure 11 shows a schematic view the hair-facing region of the arm of Figure 6, with the haircare appliance in use with the pair of attachments attached to the haircare appliance; and Figure 12 shows a schematic view of a hair-facing region of an arm of another haircare appliance according to an example.

[0052] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] A haircare appliance 10 is shown in Figure 1, and comprises a body 12, a first arm 14, a second arm 16, two heating plates 18and two attachments 100 each removably attachable to a respective one of the first arm 14 and the second arm 16.

[0054] The first arm 14 is fixedly attached to the body 12. The second arm 16 is pivotally attached to the body 12. The first and second arms 14, 16 are moveable relative to one another between an open position, shown in Figure 1, and a closed position, in which the first and second arms 14, 16 are substantially parallel to one another. The first and second arms 14, 16 are biased in the open position. A tip end 20 of each of the first and second arms 14,16 is chamfered in a direction away from the other of the first and second arms 14, 16. The two heating plates 18 are each disposed on a respective one of the first and second arms 14, 16 towards the tip end 20 of the respective first or second arm 14, 16. The two heating plates 18 are each disposed on an inward-facing side 22 of the respective first or second arm 14, 16 such that the heating plates 18 define a hair heating zone 24 therebetween and are substantially parallel to one another when the first and second arms 14, 16 are in the closed position.

[0055] As shown in Figure 2, the hair heating zone 24 has a height H that extends between a first side 26 and a second side 28 of the hair heating zone 24, a width defined by a distance between the two heating plates 18 at any given point along a length of the first and second arms 14, 16, and a length L that is equal to a length of the heating plates 18. The length L is in a direction along the first and second arms 14, 16. Moving the first and second arms 14, 16 between the open and closed positions varies the width of the hair heating zone 24. The first side 26 of the hair heating zone 24 extends along a length, from the body 12 towards the tip-end 20, of the first and second arms 14, 16 and is towards a first edge 30 of each of the first and second arms 14, 16. The second side 28 of the hair heating zone 24 also extends along a length of the first and second arms 14, 16 and is towards a second edge 32, opposite the first edge 30, of each of the first and second arms 14, 16.

[0056] The heating plates 18 are heatable by respective heating elements (not shown) encased within the respective first or second arm 14, 16. In response to a user input at user controls 33 disposed on the haircare appliance 10, the heating elements are heated to control a heat output of the heating plates 18 into the hair heating zone 24.

[0057] The attachments 100, which will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to Figures 4-10, may help to more rapidly cool hair 1 that is downstream of the hair heating zone 24. The two attachments 100 are identical and therefore any discussion of one attachment 100 is applicable to both attachments 100 unless otherwise stated.

[0058] As best shown in Figures 4-6, each attachment 100 comprises a housing 102 formed from a thermally insulating material, an interface 104 disposed on the housing 102 and provided for attaching the attachment 100 to the haircare appliance 10, and a heat transfer member 106 supported by the housing 102. The interface 104 comprises a magnet 105 that attracts to a magnetic element (not shown) of the haircare appliance 10 to removably attach the attachment 100 to the haircare appliance 10. It will be appreciated that other types of interface are envisaged, for example a releasable clip.

[0059] The housing 102 comprises a receiving portion 108 for receiving the respective first or second arm 14, 16 of the haircare appliance 10. The receiving portion 108 has a first side 110 and a second side 112, and a front side 108a and a rear side 108b. The first and second sides 110, 112 are opposite sides of the receiving portion 110 and, when the attachment 100 is attached to the haircare appliance 10 extend in a direction that is substantially parallel to the respective first and second sides 26, 28 of the hair heating zone 24. When the attachment 100 is attached to an arm 14, 16 the haircare appliance 10, the front side 108a of the receiving portion is adjacent to the hair heating zone 24 and faces an opposing arm 14, 16 of the haircare appliance 10, and the rear side 108b interfaces with the arm 14, 16 to which the attachment 100 is attached and faces away from the opposing arm 14, 16.

[0060] The receiving portion 108 comprises guide channels 113 extending parallel to the first and second sides 110, 112 and for receiving the respective first and second edges 30, 32 of the first or second arm 14, 16. The receiving portion 108 receives the respective first or second arm 14, 16 by placing the first and second edges 30, 32 of the first or second arm 14, 16 in the guide channels 113, at the tip end 20 of the first or second arm 14, 16, and then sliding the attachment 100 relative to the first or second arm 14, 16 in a length-wise direction of the first or second arm 14, 16 until the interface 104 attaches the attachment 100 to the first or second arm 14, 16.

[0061] The receiving portion 108 defines a rectangular aperture 114 between the first and second sides 110, 112. When attached to the haircare appliance 10, the receiving portion 108 extends around a periphery of the hair heating zone 24 and the heating plate 18 of the respective first or second arm 14, 16 is aligned with the rectangular aperture 114. The guide channels 113 extend along opposing sides of the rectangular aperture 114. The aperture 114 and the front side 108a lie in a heating plane 115, or front plane 115, which is substantially parallel to the heating plate 18 of the respective first or second arm 14, 16 when the attachment 100 is attached to the haircare appliance 10, and parallel to the front side 108a of the receiving portion 108. The hair heating zone 24 is to a first side of the heating plane 115 and the rear side 108a of the receiving portion 108 is to a second, opposite, side of the heating plane 115. The receiving portion 108 has first and second outer walls 110a, 112a that respectively extend along the first and second sides 110, 112 and lie in respective first and second planes (not shown). The first and second planes are parallel to one another and orthogonal to the heating plane 115.

[0062] The housing 102 also comprises a tip-receiving section 116 for receiving the tip end 20 of the respective first or second arm 14, 16. The tip-receiving section 116 extends from the first side 110 to the second side 112 of the receiving portion 108, at an end of the rectangular aperture 114 that is proximate the tip end 20 of the respective first or second arm 14, 16, when the attachment 100 is attached to the first or second arm 14, 16. The tip-receiving section 116 is chamfered away from the front side 108a of the receiving portion 108, at substantially the same angle as the tip end 20 of the first and second arms 14, 16, which in this example is at an angle of around 45 degrees. The tip-receiving section 116 is thus angled away from the heating plane 115 towards the second side of the heating plane 115. The tipreceiving portion 116 comprises a chamfered surface 117 that corresponds in shape to the tip ends 30 of the first and second arms 14, 16, and extends away from the heating plane 115 in a direction towards the rear side 108b of the receiving portion 108b. When the attachment 100 is attached to the first or second arm 14, 16, the chamfered surface 117 lies flush against the tip end 20 of the respective first or second arm 14, 16.

[0063] The tip-receiving section 116 comprises a pair of guard members 118 that extend around a periphery of the tip-receiving section 116 at an outward-facing surface of the tip-receiving section 116. The pair of guard members 118 define a sunken channel 120 therebetween. The sunken channel 120 extends around the periphery of the tip-receiving section 116 from the first side 110 to the second side 112 of the receiving portion 108. It will be appreciated that in other examples the guard members 118 may be omitted.

[0064] The tip-receiving section 116 comprises a guide surface 119, which is substantially parallel to the chamfered surface 117. The guide surface is angled relative to the heating plane 115 towards the second side of the heating plane 115, and thus in a direction towards the rear side 108b of the receiving portion. The guide surface serves to guide hair from the tipreceiving section towards the receiving portion. The pair of guard members 118 and the sunken channel 120 are angled at substantially the same angle as the chamfered surface 117. The tip receiving section does not extend through the first and second planes.

[0065] The attachment comprises a resilient portion 122, in this example comprising silicone, which extends along a complete length of the first and second sides 110, 112 of the receiving portion 108, as best shown schematically in Figure 7.

[0066] The heat transfer member 106 is a heat pipe 124 and forms a thermal bridge between the first and second sides 110, 112 of the receiving portion 108. The heat pipe 124 comprises a wall 126 that has a generally elliptical cross-section but with generally flattened sides, and a working fluid (not shown) within an inner chamber (not shown) of the wall 126. The generally flattened sides are diametrically opposed to one another. A pressure in the inner chamber of the wall 126 is less than atmospheric pressure.

[0067] The heat pipe 124 has a first section 130 that extends along a complete length of the first side 110 of the receiving portion 108, a second section 132 that extends along a complete length of the sunken channel 120 of the tip-receiving portion 116, and a third section 134 that extends along a complete length of the second side 112 of the receiving portion 108. Accordingly, the heat pipe 124 extends around a periphery of the receiving portion 108, in particular around a periphery of the aperture rectangular 114, and around the tip end 20 of the respective first or second arm 14, 16 of the haircare appliance 10 when the attachment 100 is attached to the haircare appliance 10. Due to the angle of the sunken channel 120 matching the angle of the tip-receiving portion 116, the second section 132 of the heat pipe 124 is angled relative to the first and second sections 130, 134 and extends in a direction towards the rear side 108b of the receiving portion 108, towards the second side of the heating plane 115.

[0068] A first generally flattened side of the wall 126 at the first and third sections 130, 134 of the heat pipe 124 lies on the resilient portion 122. A second, opposite, generally flattened side of the wall 126 at the first and third sections 130, 134 forms an outward-facing surface of the attachment 100. That is, when the attachment 100 is attached to the haircare appliance 10, the complete second generally flattened side of the first and third sections 130, 134 of the heat pipe 124 is exposed.

[0069] The second section 132 is partially encased by the guard members 118 and is exposed to a lesser extent than the first and third sections 130, 132. The second section 132 is sunken relative to the guard members 118, which may help to inhibit a user from contacting the second section 132 of the heat pipe 124.

[0070] The first and third sections 130, 134 of the heat pipe 124 have a coating 136 applied to an outer surface of the wall 126, as shown schematically in Figure 7. The coating 136 is harder than the wall 126 and is thermally conductive. The coating 136 may then help to protect the first and third sections 130, 134 from impact damage during use. It will be appreciated that in other examples the coating 136 may be omitted from one or both of the first and third sections 130, 134.

[0071] The heat pipe 124 comprises a first heat pipe tip at a free end of the first section 130, and a second heat pipe tip 142 at a free end of the third section 134. The first and second heat pipe tips 142 are at opposing ends of the heat pipe 124. The inner chamber of the heat pipe 124 is sealed from the surrounding environment at the first and second heat pipe tips 142 by a weld joint at each heat pipe tip 142. Each weld joint results in a relatively rough portion of an outer surface of the heat pipe 124. The free ends of the first and third sections 130, 134 are therefore bent in a direction away from the second generally flattened side of the wall 126 at the first and third sections 130, 134 that forms an outward-facing surface of the attachment 100. This is best shown in Figure 8, which shows part of the attachment 100 at the free end of the third section 134, in which the resilient portion 122 and the receiving portion 108 are shown in cross-section. The free end of the third section 134 is bent compared to a remainder of the third section 134, so that the second heat pipe tip 142 extends in a direction towards the receiving portion 108. The free end extends through an opening 144 in the resilient portion 122 by such an extent that the weld joint is surrounded by the resilient portion 122. The opening 144 is smaller than a size of the second heat pipe tip 142 such that the resilient portion 122, being resilient, grips the second heat pipe tip 142 to inhibit relative movement of the resilient portion 122 and the third section 134 of the heat pipe 124.

[0072] Use of the haircare appliance 10 without the attachments 100 attached to the first and second arms 14, 16 is shown in Figure 3. Use of the haircare appliance 10 with the attachments 100 attached to the first and second arms 14, 16 is shown in Figures 9-11. In Figure 11, the guard members 118 are omitted for clarity. In both cases, a section of hair 1 is received in the hair heating zone 24 between the first and second arms 14, 16. The first and second arms 14, 16 being biased to the open position helps when inserting the section of hair 1 between the first and second arms 14, 16. In particular, the hair 1 may be more easily gathered at a wider mouth of the first and second arms 14, 16, at the tip end 20, and then guided into a narrower section of the first and second arms 14, 16. When in the closed position, the first and second arms 14, 16 grip the section of hair 1 between the heating plates 18. When the attachments 100 are not attached to the first and second arms 14, 16, the heating plates 18 contact and grip the hair 1. When the attachments 100 are attached to the first and second arms 14, 16, the first and third sections 130, 134 of the heat pipe 124 also contact and grip the hair 1.

[0073] Upon moving the first and second arms 14, 16 to the closed position and clamping the first and second arms 14, 16 around the hair 1, the hair 1 may cause a non-uniform force, indicated by arrow B in Figure 10, to be applied along a length of the second generally flattened sides of the first and / or third sections 130, 134 of the heat pipe 124. This may result in elastic deformation of the resilient portion 122 beneath the first and third sections 130, 134 to facilitate bending of the first and / or third sections 130, 134 of the heat pipe 124. This may increase an area of the first and third sections 130, 134 of the heat pipe 124 that are in contact with the hair 1.

[0074] The user may then pull the appliance 10 away from a root end of the section of hair 1, in the direction indicated by arrow A in Figures 3 and 9, to create tension along a length of the section of hair 1. Depending on an orientation of the haircare appliance 10 relative to the hair during any given pass along the hair, the first edge 30 or the second edge 32 of the first and second arms 14, 16 is a leading edge of the haircare appliance 10, and the other of the first edge 30 and the second edge 32 is a trailing edge of the haircare appliance 10. In the example shown in Figures 3 and 9, the second edge 32 is the leading edge and the first edge 30 is the trailing edge. The hair 1 therefore enters the hair heating zone 24 at the second side 28 and exits the hair heating zone 24 at the first side 26. The bent first and second free ends of the heat pipe 124 help to prevent the hair 1 from catching on the heat pipe tips 142, particularly on the weld joints, as the appliance 10 is pulled along the section of hair 1.

[0075] The heating elements heat the heating plates 18, which impart heat energy to the hair 1 as the hair 1 is drawn through the hair heating zone 24. Hair 1 that is upstream of the hair heating zone 24 (that is, hair 1 that is further from the root end than the hair heating zone 24, and is below the first arm 14 in Figures 3 and 9) is yet to be heated during a pass of the haircare appliance 10 along the section of hair 1. Hair 1 that is downstream of the hair heating zone 24 (that is, hair 1 that is closer to the root end than the hair heating zone 24, and is above the first arm 14 in Figures 3 and 9) has been heated during a pass of the haircare appliance 10 along the section of hair 1. Accordingly, the downstream hair 1 is at a higher temperature than the upstream hair 1.

[0076] It has been found that rapidly cooling hair after it has been heated and / or styled may help to retain a higher moisture content in the hair and / or help to set a style of the hair. This is as opposed to allowing the hair to passively cool from a maximum temperature, usually experienced whilst the hair is in the hair heating zone 24, to ambient temperature. Retaining a higher moisture content in the hair may help to reduce a risk of heat-related damage being imparted on the hair through use of the haircare appliance 10.

[0077] With the attachments 100 attached to the first and second arms 14, 16, the heat transfer members 106 alter the temperature profile of the hair 1 as the haircare appliance 10 is drawn along the hair 1. Downstream of the hair heating zone 24, heated hair 1 passes over the second generally flattened side of the first section 130 of the heat pipe 124. Heat energy from the hair 1 is transferred through the coating 136 and the wall 126 to the working fluid within the heat pipe 124 and causes the working fluid to evaporate and become vapour. Since pressure in the inner chamber of the heat pipe 124 is less than atmospheric pressure, the working fluid vaporises more readily. For example, distilled water evaporates at a temperature below 100 degrees Celsius to become vapour. A temperature difference is created between the first and third sections 130, 134 of the heat pipe 124. The vapour passes along the second section 132 of the heat pipe 124, at the tip ends 20 of the first and second arms 14, 16, to the third section 134. The third section 134 is at a lower temperature than the first section 134 because hair 1 passing over the third section 134 is upstream of the hair heating zone 125. At the third section 134, the vapour condenses back to liquid and releases thermal energy through the wall 126 and the coating 136 of the heat pipe 124. The released thermal energy is transferred to hair 1 that is upstream of the hair heating zone 24 as the hair 1 passes over the second generally flattened side of the third section 134 of the heat pipe 124.

[0078] Evaporation and condensation of the working fluid causes a substantially continuous circulation of the working fluid within the inner chamber between the first and third sections 130, 134 of the heat pipe 124, during use of the haircare appliance 10 with the attachments 100 attached to the first and second arms 14, 16. This circulation is depicted schematically in Figure 11, in which the hair 1 is omitted for clarity. The passage of the vapour is denoted by the dashed arrows, and the passage of the condensate is denoted by the solid arrows. Accordingly, the hair 1 is pre-heated before passing through the hair heating zone 24, and is cooled after exiting the hair heating zone 24. The hair 1 is therefore heated more gradually and cooled more rapidly than in use of the haircare appliance 10 without the attachments 100.

[0079] It will be appreciated that the reverse occurs when the haircare appliance 10 being drawn along the hair 1 with the second edge 32 of the first and second arms 14, 16 as the trailing edge and the first edge 30 as the leading edge. That is, heated hair 1 passes over the second generally flattened side of the third section 134 of the heat pipe 124 and heat energy is transferred, via the second section 132 of the heat pipe, to the third section 134 of the heat pipe 124 at the second, trailing, edge 30 of the first and second arms 14, 16.

[0080] Figure 12 shows an arm of an alternative haircare appliance 210 according to an example. The alternative haircare appliance 210 is similar to the haircare appliance shown in Figures 1 and 2, except that the alternative haircare appliance 210 comprises an airflow generator (not shown) to generate an airflow and an airflow heater (not shown) to heat the airflow. Each arm 214 comprises an air outlet 216 configured to discharge the airflow, after being heated by the airflow heater, into the hair heating zone 224. The attachments 100 are attachable to the alternative haircare appliance 210 in the same way as described above with reference to the haircare appliance 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2. In some examples of attachments 100 for use with the alternative haircare appliance 210, the attachments 100 comprise an airflow outlet to permit discharge of airflow from the hair heating zone 224 via a different route through which the hair 1 enters or exits the hair heating zone. That is the airflow is not discharged from the hair heating zone between a heat pipes of one attachment 100 and a heat pipe of the other attachment 100.

[0081] It will be appreciated that other examples are envisaged. For example, the attachments 100 may be omitted, and the haircare appliance 10, 210 provided with the heat transfer member 106 attached to the first arm 14 and / or the second arm 16, the heat pipe 124 providing a thermal bridge between the first and second edges 30, 32 of the respective first or second arm 14, 16. It will be appreciated that in other examples, the heat transfer member 106 may instead comprise a first and / or second thermal mass, for example a metallic strip, that lies on the resilient portion 122 and extends along the first and / or second side 110, 112 of the receiving portion. In such examples, the heat pipe 124 extends around the tipreceiving section 116 in the sunken channel 120 and is thermally connected to the first and / or second thermal mass to transfer heat energy to / from the first and / or second thermal mass, and therefore between the first and second sides 110, 112 of the receiving portion. It will be appreciated that in other examples, the heat transfer member 106 may, additionally or alternatively, comprise a heat pipe that thermally bridges the first and second sides 110, 112 of the receiving portion 108 by extending around an outward- facing surface 23 of the first or second arm 14, 16 when the attachment 100 is attached to the haircare appliance 10, 210. It will be appreciated that a spring, such as a leaf spring, to bias the heat transfer member 106 away from the housing 102 may be provided, in addition or as an alternative to the resilient portion 122.

[0082] In addition to improved haircare performance, use of a haircare appliance 10, 210 with a heat transfer member 106 as disclosed may be more efficient than use without the heat transfer member 106. The pre-heating of the hair 1, with heat energy removed from hair 1 heated in the hair heating zone 24, 224, may reduce an amount of heating required by the heating plates 18, or the airflow heater, to reach a desired hair temperature in the hair heating zone 24, 224. The heat transfer member 106 facilitates re-use of the heat energy by passively redistributing heat energy from whichever of the first and second sides 110, 112 of the receiving portion 108, or the first and second edge 30, 32 of the first and second arms 14, 16, are downstream of the hair heating zone 24 to the other of the first and second sides 110, 112 or the first and second edge 30, 32.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment comprising an interface to removably attach the attachment to the haircare appliance and a heat transfer member comprising a heat pipe, wherein: the attachment comprises a receiving portion for receiving an arm of the haircare appliance; and the heat transfer member is configured to redistribute heat energy generated by the haircare appliance from a first side of the receiving portion to a second side of the receiving portion, the second side opposite the first side.

2. The attachment according to claim 1 , wherein, when the attachment is attached to the haircare appliance at the interface, the first side of the receiving portion is disposed at a leading edge of the arm of the haircare appliance and the second side of the receiving portion is disposed at a trailing edge of the arm.

3. The attachment according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the heat pipe extends around a periphery of the receiving portion.

4. The attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heat transfer member forms an outward-facing surface of the attachment along at least a portion of a length of the heat transfer member.

5. The attachment according to claim 4, wherein the portion of the length of the heat transfer member is disposed along the first side of the receiving portion and / or along the second side of the receiving portion.

6. The attachment according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the portion of the length of the heat transfer member extends around a periphery of the receiving portion between the first side of the receiving portion and the second side of the receiving portion.

7. The attachment according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein:the heat pipe comprises a first end and / or a second end comprising a respective heat pipe tip at which the heat pipe is shut to seal an interior of the heat pipe from a surrounding environment; and the first end and / or the second end is bent to direct the respective heat pipe tip in a direction away from the outward-facing surface of the attachment.

8. The attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising: a housing configured to support the heat transfer member and defining the receiving portion; and a resilient material between the heat transfer member and the housing.

9. The attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the heat pipe has a substantially elliptical cross-section.

10. The attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a tip-receiving section configured to receive a tip of the arm of the haircare appliance and extending from the first side of the receiving portion to the second side of the receiving portion around a periphery of the receiving portion, wherein the heat pipe extends along the tipreceiving section from the first side of the receiving portion to the second side of the receiving portion.

11. The attachment according to claim 10, wherein the tip-receiving section comprises a pair of guard members extending along the tip-receiving section on opposing sides of the heat pipe, and wherein the heat pipe is sunken relative to the guard members.

12. The attachment according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein: the heat pipe comprises a first section that extends along the first side of the receiving portion and a second section that extends along the tip-receiving portion from the first side of the receiving portion to the second side of the receiving portion; the heat pipe is partially encased by a thermally insulating material; and the second section is encased by the thermally insulating material to a greater extent than the first portion.

13. The attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein: the receiving portion comprises a front side, across which hair is drawn in use, and a rear side opposite the front side, which interfaces with the arm of the haircare appliance when the attachment is attached to the haircare appliance; the front side lies in a front plane, and the rear side is positioned on a side of the front plane; and a portion of the heat transfer member extends around the periphery of the receiving portion between the first and second sides of the receiving portion, and is angled away from the front plane in a direction towards the same side of the front plane as the rear side.

14. The attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein pressure in the heat pipe is less than atmospheric pressure.

15. The attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the heat pipe comprises a first material that defines a wall of the heat pipe, and a second material at least partly coating the wall of the heat pipe, the second material harder than the first material.

16. A haircare appliance comprising: a first arm and a second arm defining a hair heating zone therebetween, the first and second arms being movable relative to one another to vary a width of the hair heating zone; a heater configured to transfer heat energy to hair in the hair heating zone; and first and second attachments according to any one of the preceding claims, each of the first and second attachments removably attached to a respective one of the first arm and the second arm.

17. A haircare appliance comprising:a first arm and a second arm defining a hair heating zone therebetween, the first and second arms being movable relative to one another to vary a width of the hair heating zone; a heater configured to transfer heat energy to hair in the hair heating zone; and a heat transfer member comprising a heat pipe, the heat transfer member configured to redistribute the heat energy from a first side of the hair heating zone to a second side, opposite the first side, of the hair heating zone.

18. The haircare appliance according to claim 17, wherein the heat pipe extends around a tip of the first arm, from the first side of the hair heating zone to the second side of the hair heating zone.

19. The haircare appliance according to claim 17 or claim 18, comprising a further heat transfer member configured to redistribute the heat energy from the first side of the hair heating zone to the second side of the hair heating zone.

20. The haircare appliance according to claim 19, wherein the further heat transfer member is disposed on the second arm and the heat pipe extends around a tip of the second arm, from the first side of the hair heating zone to the second side of the hair heating zone.

Images