Hair Curling Device V-Shaped Slot Guide Means

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hair curling appliances with automated winding mechanisms are complex, ergonomically challenging, and often damage hair due to excessive tension or jamming, failing to effectively curl hair over its entire length without risking scalp burns.

Innovation Solution

The design integrates guide means directly into the casing, forming a V-shaped slot with ribs or undulations to facilitate easy hair insertion and reduce friction, combined with a hollow winder that wraps hair around both the mandrel and itself, allowing for smooth, tension-free curling and easy release.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If guide means are integrated directly into the casing forming a V-shaped slot, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of hair insertionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide means are merged directly into the casing structure, forming an integrated V-shaped slot with ribs or undulations. This eliminates the need for separate guide components, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining ease of hair insertion and guidance functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the winder wraps hair around both the mandrel and itself, then curling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurling effectivenessVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hollow winder is designed to wrap hair around the mandrel while simultaneously wrapping around itself, creating a nested winding structure. This nested configuration ensures the hair is held close to the mandrel for proper curl formation without requiring additional complex mechanisms, achieving reliable curling effectiveness with a simple structural design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of operation

If the slot has ribs or undulations to reduce friction, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing complexity is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of hair insertionVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The ribs or undulations are applied locally to specific regions of the V-shaped slot where hair insertion and guidance occur. This localized feature enhancement provides friction reduction and improved hair flow in critical areas without requiring complex manufacturing processes for the entire device, balancing ease of operation with manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3331397B1Hair curling device having an insertion slot provided with guiding means
Publication Date: 2020.09.16 SEB SA
  • EP3331397B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3331397B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3331397B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a hairstyling device (1) for curling hair, comprising a housing (2) which comprises a rolling chamber (8), an introduction slot (7) which extends over the length of the housing and which opens into the rolling chamber, and an extraction opening (9) arranged on a side end (2a) of the housing onto which the rolling chamber opens. The device comprises a mandrel (10) which extends into the rolling chamber, and a roller (11) arranged in the rolling chamber and configured to roll the strand of hair around the mandrel, during rotation thereof. The introduction slot comprises two walls (22a, 22b) which extend longitudinally and which cross the thickness of the housing, said side walls comprising guiding means configured to promote the penetration of the strand of hair into the rolling chamber.