Segmented Sealing Structure for Steam Hair Styling Apparatus

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing steam hair styling devices face inefficiencies in steam diffusion due to cold steam orifices leading to condensation, complex construction, thermal losses, and safety concerns, which affect the effectiveness and reliability of hair treatment.

Innovation Solution

A steam hairdressing device with a heating treatment element and steam emission means featuring a liquid vaporization device, multiple steam ejection orifices, and sealing parts to ensure efficient steam propagation and thermal efficiency, while maintaining safety and simplicity in design and manufacture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single sealing piece is used to seal multiple vapor outlets, then the device construction is simpler, but steam leakage occurs between the vaporization device and heating element

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing structure complexityVSAvoidsteam sealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The single sealing piece is divided into multiple separate sealing pieces, with each sealing piece corresponding to one vapor outlet. This segmentation ensures that each outlet is independently sealed, preventing steam leakage while maintaining manageable construction complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If steam outlets are positioned close to the heating element, then steam treatment effectiveness is improved, but steam leakage inside the device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesteam treatment effectivenessVSAvoidinternal steam leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple separate sealing pieces are positioned at different locations corresponding to each vapor outlet, enabling effective sealing at each steam emission point while allowing the outlets to remain close to the heating element for effective steam treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each sealing piece provides localized sealing quality at its specific vapor outlet position, ensuring that steam is directed outward to the hair rather than leaking internally, while maintaining the proximity needed for effective steam treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If multiple separate sealing pieces are used, then steam sealing reliability is improved, but the device construction becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesteam sealing reliabilityVSAvoidsealing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing structure is segmented into multiple independent pieces, each responsible for sealing one vapor outlet. This segmentation improves reliability by ensuring each outlet is properly sealed, while the modular nature of separate pieces keeps construction complexity manageable through standardized components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If the vaporization chamber is heated to high temperature, then vapor generation efficiency is improved, but thermal losses to surrounding components increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevapor generation efficiencyVSAvoidthermal loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The heating system is segmented with the heating element positioned adjacent to the vaporization chamber, allowing efficient heat transfer for vapor generation while limiting thermal loss to specific localized areas rather than spreading throughout the entire device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 provides effective, reliable, and safe steam and heat treatment for hair, enhancing styling and care outcomes while minimizing thermal losses and manufacturing complexity.

Implementation Method 1

a liquid vaporization device for generating said vapor flow, said vaporization device comprising a vaporization chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

a heating element intended to come into contact with the hair

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

the vapor diffusion orifices remain relatively cold, which leads to immediate condensation of the vapor on contact with them

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentEP4458204A1Steam hair styling apparatus with multiple seals
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 SEB SA
  • EP4458204A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4458204A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4458204A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

- Steam hair styling device with multiple seals - The invention relates to a steam hair styling device comprising a heating element (4) intended to come into contact with the hair, and steam emission means for subjecting said hair in contact with the heating element to a steam flow, the latter comprising steam ejection ports (41), the steam emission means comprising - a liquid vaporization device (5) for generating the steam flow, comprising a vaporization chamber (50) and steam outlets (51), and - at least two separate and widely separated sealing pieces (8), each forming a seal between at least one of the steam outlets and at least one of the corresponding steam ejection ports of the heating element. - Hair styling devices.