Hair Styling Device Cooling Surface Feedback Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hair styling devices often suffer from inefficiencies due to improper operation, where hair is not sufficiently wound over the cooling surface, leading to inadequate cooling and shaping of hair, which counteracts the desired styling result.

Innovation Solution

A hair styling device with determination and control means to ensure correct use of the cooling surface, featuring a cooling device with adjustable cooling air passage openings and a blower that varies airflow based on hair coverage, and optional suction for enhanced cooling efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the cooling surface is made larger to improve cooling efficiency, then the cooling effect is enhanced, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase due to improper hair winding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectVSAvoidoperation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback through sensors that detect whether hair is properly wound around the cooling surface. Based on this detection, the system automatically adjusts cooling air passage openings to ensure optimal cooling only when hair is correctly positioned, preventing waste and ensuring reliable operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling air passage openings are made dynamically adjustable based on hair coverage detection. The system transitions from a static cooling design to a dynamic one where the cooling effect is modulated in real-time according to the actual hair positioning, resolving the contradiction between cooling efficiency and operational reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Temperature

If active cooling with a blower is added to enhance cooling efficiency, then the cooling effect is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blower and cooling system are designed to activate automatically based on sensor detection of hair positioning. The system serves itself by using detected hair coverage to control cooling activation, eliminating the need for complex manual control mechanisms while maintaining high cooling efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses pneumatic principles with a blower to deliver controlled cooling air through adjustable passage openings. This pneumatic approach provides efficient cooling with relatively simple device structure, avoiding the need for complex mechanical cooling systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Temperature

If cooling air passage openings are provided to improve cooling, then the cooling effect is enhanced, but energy is wasted when hair is not properly positioned

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectVSAvoidenergy waste
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Sensor feedback mechanisms detect whether hair is properly wound around the cooling surface and use this information to control the opening of cooling air passages. This ensures cooling air is delivered only when needed, eliminating energy waste while maintaining effective cooling when hair is correctly positioned

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling air passage openings are dynamically controlled based on real-time detection of hair positioning. The system adjusts the cooling air flow state according to actual operational conditions, preventing energy waste during improper operation while ensuring adequate cooling during proper use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 device ensures efficient and permanent hair styling by adapting device functions to the extent of hair coverage, providing targeted cooling that enhances shaping and freezing of hair styles.

Implementation Method 1

a preferably roughly rod-shaped heating part with at least one heating surface for heating the hair

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a cooling part with at least one cooling surface for cooling the shaped hair

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

blow cooling air through the rod-shaped cooling part by means of a fan

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3178347B1Hair forming device
Publication Date: 2021.10.20 BRAUN GMBH
  • EP3178347B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3178347B1 patent drawingFigure 3~8

AI summary

The present invention relates to a hair shaping device (1) comprising a handle (2), a preferably rod-shaped heating element (3) with a heating surface for heating the hair, shaping means (5) for shaping the heated hair, and a cooling element (6) with a cooling surface (7) for cooling the shaped hair. According to the invention, the hair shaping device (1) is characterized by determining means (8) for determining the extent to which the hair to be cooled encircles and/or covers the cooling surface (7), and by control means (9) for controlling at least one device function depending on the determined extent to which the hair encircles and/or covers the cooling surface (7).