Hair Styling Projections With Flow Channels for Fluid Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hair styling apparatuses using fluid flow face disruptions due to projections and bleed flows, which affect the control and direction of hair styling, especially when projections are closely spaced or when fluid outlets are closed.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates fluid flow channels through projections and bleed outlets on projections to minimize disruption, allowing for closely spaced projections and controlled fluid flow, while also featuring a support surface that promotes the Coanda effect for enhanced hair control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If projections are provided in the hair styling apparatus to style hair, then hair styling capability is improved, but fluid flow control is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The projection is designed with an internal fluid flow channel that allows fluid to pass through it. This porous-like structure enables the projection to maintain its hair styling function while simultaneously allowing fluid flow to continue uninterrupted through the projection, thus resolving the contradiction between hair styling capability and fluid flow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid flow channel acts as an intermediary element within the projection. It mediates between the conflicting requirements by providing a dedicated pathway for fluid flow that coexists with the projection's hair styling function, allowing both functions to operate effectively without mutual disruption.
2Force
If projections are closely spaced to increase hair tension, then hair tension is improved, but fluid flow disruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By incorporating fluid flow channels within closely spaced projections, the system maintains high hair tension through close projection spacing while the channels ensure fluid can pass through the dense array of projections with minimal disruption, resolving the contradiction between hair tension and fluid flow control.
3Ease of operation
If fluid outlets are closed to control fluid flow direction, then fluid flow control is improved, but fluid pressure builds up
Solution Approach 1:
The bleed outlet extracts excess fluid pressure from the system by providing a dedicated escape path for fluid to leave the passage. This separates the pressure relief function from the main fluid outlet, allowing the main outlet to be closed for directional control while the bleed outlet maintains pressure equilibrium.
Solution Approach 2:
The bleed outlet serves as an intermediary pressure relief mechanism that works in conjunction with the closeable fluid outlet. It mediates between the need to close the main outlet for directional control and the need to prevent pressure buildup, providing a subtle pressure release path that doesn't interfere with primary fluid flow control.
4Stress or pressure
If bleed outlets are provided to prevent fluid pressure buildup, then pressure control is improved, but hair styling control is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The bleed outlet is positioned locally on the projection rather than on the main support surface. This localized placement ensures that bleed flow occurs at a specific location away from the main fluid discharge area, minimizing disruption to hair styling control while still achieving pressure control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures minimal disruption to fluid flow, enabling wider or more closely spaced projections for increased hair tension and improved styling control, while preventing fluid pressure buildup.
Implementation Method 1
The support surface may be configured to promote the Coanda effect (i.e. for fluid discharged from the fluid outlet). The support surface may be convex. Such a surface may promote the Coanda effect such that fluid discharged from the fluid outlet attaches (and remains attached) to the support surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A hair styling apparatus is provided and can include a support surface, a fluid outlet for discharging fluid across the support surface, and a plurality of spaced hair styling projections. The plurality of spaced hair styling projections project from the support surface for styling a user's hair. The apparatus can also include a plurality of fluid flow channels. Each channel extends through a respective projection of the plurality of projections for passage of fluid discharged from the fluid outlet.