EP2269481A2

EP2269481A2 - Hair iron

Info

Publication number: EP2269481A2
Application number: EP10166158A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Takashi Nakagawa; Naofumi Kodama; Hiromitsu Miyata
Original assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Corp
Priority date: 2009-06-29
Filing date: 2010-06-16
Publication date: 2011-01-05
Also published as: CN101933703A; CN101933703B; EP2269481A3; JP2011005145A; RU2010126457A

Abstract

In a hair iron, potential holding means (10) is connected to a split clip portion (21) as one of a pair in a hair clip portion (2), and the hair clip portion (2) is held at a potential that facilitates ions emitted from an ion generation portion (4) to be adhered onto hair with respect to electric charges of the ions, whereby the ions can be efficiently adhered onto the hair.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application P2009-153498 filed on June 29,2009 ; the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hair iron.
Generally, a hair iron as a type of hair care apparatuses includes: a clip portion that clips hair; and a heating unit that is provided in the clip portion and heats the hair thus clipped, and is configured to be capable of giving desired styling such as curling and straightening the hair clipped in the clip portion.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-059622 (hereinafter, referred to as Patent Literature 1), as the hair care apparatus as described above, one is known, which has an ion generation portion provided therein and is configured to be capable of adhering, onto an object such as hair, ions generated by the ion generation portion, and in addition, has potential holding means provided therein, the potential holding means being for holding a potential of the object concerned at a predetermined potential, and is configured to be capable of continuously adhering the ions onto the object.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in Patent Literature 1 described above, though the potential holding means for holding the potential of the object so as to continuously adhere the ions onto the object (hair) is provided, any coping method with electrostatic charge of a member existing on a periphery of the object is not mentioned at all. Therefore, in the case where a hair iron is used as the hair care apparatus, at the time when the member existing on the periphery of the object, for example, a hair clip portion is electrically charged at the same polarity as that of the ions thus emitted, the electrostatic charge of the hair clip portion has not been able to be removed effectively. Therefore, it has been apprehended that the ions emitted from the ion generation portion may repel electric charges of the same polarity, which are charged to such a peripheral member of the object, resulting in insufficient distribution of the ions to the object.
In this connection, it is an object of the present invention to obtain a hair iron capable of efficiently adhering the ions to the hair.
In order to achieve the foregoing object, a hair iron is provided, which includes: a grip portion; a hair clip portion that is provided continuously with one end of the grip portion and clips hair; and an ion generation portion that generate ions, wherein a potential holding unit that holds a potential of the hair clip portion is connected to the hair clip portion.
In accordance with the present invention, the potential holding unit is provided in the hair clip portion, whereby the hair clip portion can be held at a potential that facilitates the ions emitted from the ion generation portion to be adhered onto the hair with respect to electric charges of the ions. Accordingly, it becomes possible to efficiently adhere the ions onto the hair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a hair iron according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the hair iron shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the hair iron shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hair iron shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line V-V in FIG. 3.
Fig. 6 is an explanatory view schematically showing a connection state of potential holding means and a hair clip portion.
FIG. 7 is a side view of a hair iron according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the hair iron shown in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the hair iron shown in FIG. 7.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the hair iron shown in FIG. 7.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XI-XI in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A description is made below in detail of embodiments of the present invention while referring to the drawings. Note that, in a plurality of the following embodiments, similar constituent components are included. Hence, in the following, common reference numerals are assigned to these similar constituent components, and a duplicate description thereof is omitted.

(First Embodiment)

In this embodiment, a case is illustrated, where the present invention is applied to a hair iron 1 capable of giving straight styling to hair and capable of giving curl styling to the hair.
As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, generally, the hair iron 1 includes: a hair clip portion 2 that gives the styling to the hair by clipping the hair; and a grip portion that holds the hair clip portion 2 by being gripped by a user. Then, in the hair iron 1 according to this embodiment, ion generation portions 4 (refer to FIG. 4) are provided, which generate ions, and in addition, emit the generated ions toward a bundle of the hair clipped into the hair clip portion 2.
The hair clip portion 2 is composed of: a pair of semicylindrical split clip portions 21 and 22, which has opposed and outer circumferential surfaces serving as heating surfaces, and clip the hair by freely approaching and departing from each other; and a pressing plate 23 that clips the hair by freely approaching and departing from the outer circumferential surface of the split clip portion 21 as one (upside in FIG. 1) of these split clip portions 21 and 22.
The split clip portions 21 and 22 are individually formed of metal (for example, copper) into a semicircular shape in cross section. Here, the metal is a conductive material having high thermal conductivity. In insides of the respective split clip portions 21 and 22, heaters 6 (refer to FIG. 5) which heat the opposed and outer circumferential surfaces of these split clip portions 21 and 22 are built.
Hence, the bundle of the hair is clipped between the opposed surfaces of the pair of split clip portions 21 and 22, whereby the hair thus clipped is heated and warmed by the opposed surfaces, and it becomes possible to give the straight styling to the hair. Moreover, on tip ends of the split clip portions 21 and 22, water tanks 24 are provided, and water reserved in the water tanks 24 is supplied to the heaters 6 and is evaporated thereby, whereby the water can be jetted as steam outward from the circumferential surfaces of the split clip portions 21 and 22.
The pressing plate 23 is formed into a circular arc shape in cross section, which goes along the outer circumferential surface of the split clip portion 21, and is then pivotally attached thereto so as to be capable of moving rotationally about a pivot point P1 taken as an axis. In this embodiment, the pressing plate 23 includes: a pressing surface portion 231 extending in a spatula shape in the tip end direction; and an operation portion 232 extended from a base end portion of the pressing surface portion 231 in a direction of the grip portion 3. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, a tip end side of the extended operation portion 232 is lifted obliquely upward so as to depart from the grip portion 3, and a base portion thereof is attached to the tip end portion of the grip portion 3 while interposing a spring 25 therebetween.
Moreover, in a natural state, in the pressing plate 23, the pressing surface portion 231 thereof is brought into elastic contact with the outer circumferential surface of the split clip portion 21 by urging force of the spring 25. Hence, the operation portion 232 is operated against the urging force of the spring 25 in a direction of pressing the operation portion 232 concerned in a direction of the split clip portion 21, whereby the pressing surface portion 231 is opened and departs from the split clip portion 21 about the pivot point P1 taken as a center. In this state, the bundle of the hair is inserted between the pressing surface portion 231 and the split clip portion 21, and the pressing force for the operation portion 232 is thereafter released. Then, by the urging force of the spring 25, the hair can be clipped between the pressing surface portion 231 and the outer circumferential surface of the split clip portion 21. In such a way, the hair clipped between the pressing surface portion 231 and the split clip portion 21 is heated and warmed from the outer circumferential surface of the split clip portion 21 that has become the heating surface, and curl styling can be given to the hair.
The grip portion 3 is composed of split grip portions 31 and 32 split so as to continue with the respective split clip portions 21 and 22, in which the split clip portion 21 as one of the pair is integrally protruded from a tip end of the split grip portion 31 as one of the pair, and the other split clip portion 22 is integrally protruded from a tip end of the other split grip portion 32.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, holding members 211 and 221 are coupled to base portions of the respective split clip portions 21 and 22. Then, the holding member 211 of the split clip portion 21 as one of the pair is detachably attached by a screw (not shown) to a tip end portion of the split grip portion 31 as one of the pair, and in detail, to a tip end portion of a housing 311 to be described later, and in a similar way, the holding member 221 of the other split clip portion 22 is detachably attached by a screw (not shown) to a tip end portion of the other split grip portion 32, and in detail, to a tip end portion of a housing 321 to be described later.
As described above, in this embodiment, the hair clip portion 2 can be detached from the grip portion 3 by detaching the screws, and it is made possible to replace the hair clip portion 2.
Then, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the split grip portion 31 and the split clip portion 21, which are integrated with each other, and the split grip portion 32 and the split clip portion 22, which are integrated with each other, are configured to be capable of mutually opening and closing (approaching and departing from each other). In other words, a base portion of the split grip portion 31 and a base portion of the split grip portion 32 are pivotally attached to each other while interposing a spring (not shown) therebetween so as to be capable of moving rotationally about a pivot point P2 taken as an axis. Note that the spring is urged in a direction of opening the split grip portions 31 and 32 by predetermined amounts, and both of the split grip portions 31 and 32 are tightly gripped, whereby the split body portions 21 and 22 are closed, whereby the hair can be clipped therebetween.
The respective split grip portions 31 and 32 are covered with synthetic resin-made housings 311 and 321 which form contours thereof, and as shown in FIG. 5, lead wires which connect to the respective heaters 6 are housed in insides of the housings 311 and 321.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, a power supply switch 7A and a temperature switching switch 7B are provided on the housing 311 as one of the pair, and a lock switch 7C and a conductive member 51 of an electric charge unit 5 are provided on the other housing 321. The power supply switch 7A is a switch that turns on/off energization to all of electrical components, that is, the heaters 6, the ion generation portions 4, the electric charge unit 5, and further, potential holding means 10 to be described later, and the like. Moreover, the temperature switching switch 7B is a switch that switches heat generation amounts of the heaters 6, and the lock switch 7C is a switch that locks a closed state of the split clip portions 21 and 22 and releasing such locking. Note that, though not shown, a power supply cord is connected to a terminal end portion (right end portion in FIG. 1) of the grip portion 3.
Moreover, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the two ion generation portions 4 which generate the ions are provided in swelling portions 312A and 312B formed by swelling, to both sides, the tip end portion of the housing 311 that covers the split grip portion 31 as one of the pair. Then, one of the two ion generation portions 4 is formed as a mist generation portion 4A that generates mist, and the other thereof is formed as a fine metal particle generation portion 4B that generates fine metal particles. Then, the ions (mist and fine metal particles) generated in the mist generation portion 4A and the fine metal particle generation portion 4B are emitted from emission ports 41A and 41B, respectively.
In this embodiment, as the mist generation portion 4A, a device is used, which, by taking a ground electrode as a reference, applies a high voltage from a high voltage generation circuit to an electric discharge electrode to cause an electric discharge (corona discharge or the like), and turns condensed water into fine particles by a function of the electric discharge, thereby generates extremely fine mist of a nanometer size (mist that contains negative ions and is negatively charged).
Note that, as this mist generation portion 4A, a publicly known one can be used, which includes: a cooling plate composed of a Peltier device and a member having thermal conductivity (for example, metal member or the like); and radiator fins which radiate an amount of heat generated at the time of cooling the cooling plate, in which moisture in the air is condensed onto a surface of the cooling plate cooled by the Peltier device, and the condensed water is generated thereon.
Moreover, as the fine metal particle generation portion 4B, a device is used, which, by taking a ground electrode as a reference, applies a high voltage from a high voltage generation circuit to an electric discharge electrode to cause an electric discharge (corona discharge or the like), and by a function of the electric discharge, emits the fine metal particles (molecules, ions and the like of metal) from the electric discharge electrode, the ground electrode and the like.
Moreover, also as this fine metal particle generation portion 4B, a publicly known one can be used, and it is possible to compose the electric discharge electrode of the fine metal particle generation portion 48, for example, from a simple substance of transition metal (for example, gold, silver, copper, platinum, zinc, titanium, rhodium, palladium, iridium, ruthenium, osmium or the like), an alloy thereof, a member formed by plating the transition metal, or the like.
Here, in the case where gold, silver, copper, zinc or the like is contained in the fine metal particles generated in the electric discharge unit and emitted therefrom, an antibacterial function can be generated by the fine metal particles concerned. Moreover, in the case where platinum, zinc, titanium or the like is contained in the fine metal particles, an antioxidant function can be generated by the fine metal particles concerned. Note that it has turned out that the fine particles of platinum have an extremely high antioxidant function. Moreover, a portion of the electric discharge unit (for example, ground electrode and the like), from which the emission of the fine metal particles is not allowed, can be composed by using stainless steel, tungsten or the like.
Moreover, the electric discharge unit may generate the fine metal particles in such a manner that ions (for example, negative ions such as NO₂ ^-, NO₃ ^- or the like) are generated by the electric discharge function, and that the ions are allowed to collide with the electric discharge electrode, the ground electrode, other members containing a metal material or a metal component, and the like. In other words, the ground electrode and the other members described above may be composed of a material containing the above-described transition metal, and the fine metal particles may be emitted therefrom.
As mentioned above, the hair iron 1 according to this embodiment emits the ions and the fine metal particles. However, when electric charges of these are accumulated in the user, the ions become less likely to be emitted toward the user, and eventually, the fine metal particles also become less likely to be emitted. In this connection, in the hair iron 1 according to this embodiment, the electric charge unit 5 is provided, which charges the user at an opposite polarity to that of the electric charges of the ions generated in the ion generation portions 4.
The electric charge unit 5 includes: a circuit (not shown) ; and the conductive member 51 that is connected to the circuit concerned through lead wires and is exposed to an outer surface of the grip portion 3. Then, for example, in the case where the ions generated in the ion generation portions 4 are negative, a voltage source (for example, battery, capacitor or the like) that raises a potential more than a ground level of the ion generation portions 4 is provided in the circuit, the conductive member 51 is connected to a positive electrode of the voltage source through the lead wire, and the conductive member 51 concerned is set at a potential higher by a predetermined voltage than the ground level of the ion generation portions 4. Note that, in the case where the ions generated in the ion generation portions 4 are positive, the conductive member 51 just needs to be set at a potential lower by the predetermined voltage than the ground level of the ion generation portions 4.
Moreover, the conductive member 51 is molded from a conductive material (for example, synthetic resin material containing conductor filler, or the like) into a predetermined shape, and is fixed to the outer surface of the grip portion 3.
As described above, the electric charge unit 5 is provided, and the user is charged at the opposite polarity to that of the electric charges of the ions generated in the ion generation portions 4. In such a way, it becomes possible to suppress a phenomenon that the electric charges of the ions generated in the ion generation portions 4 are accumulated in the user, resulting in that the ions become less likely to reach the user.
Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, in the hair clip portion 2 as a member located on the periphery of the hair at the time of use, there is provided the potential holding means 10 for holding a potential of the hair clip portion 2 concerned so that the potential can facilitate the ions emitted from the ion generation portions 4 to be adhered onto the hair with respect to the electric charges of the ions concerned.
In this embodiment, the potential holding means 10 is provided, whereby the potential of the hair clip portion 2 is set at a potential of an opposite polarity to that of the electric charges of the ions emitted from the ion generation portions 4.
Moreover, in this embodiment, by the potential holding means 10, the potential of the hair clip portion 2 is held so as to be the same potential as the potential of the electric charge unit 5.
As shown in FIG. 5, the potential holding means 10 is housed in the housing 311 of the split grip portion 31 as one of the pair, and as shown in FIG. 6, a connection member 101 such as a lead wire and bus bar of the potential holding means 10 and the split grip portion 21 as one of the pair in the hair clip portion 2 are fixed to each other by a screw 8 as a fastening member that couples the split clip portion 21 and the holding member 211 of the split grip portion 31 to each other.
Specifically, on a holding surface 211a that is coupled to the base portion of the split clip portion 21 as one of the pair, holds the split clip portion 21, and belongs to the holding member 211 for fixing the split clip portion 21 to the split clip portion 31, a slit (or step difference surface) 211b into which the connection member 101 is inserted is formed. Then, the connection member 101 is inserted into the slit 211b in a state of being brought into contact with the split clip portion 21, and these split clip portion 201 and connection member 101 are fastened to each other by the screw 8, whereby the potential holding means 10 and the hair clip portion 2 are connected to each other.
A. circuit unit (not shown) is formed in the potential holding means 10, and a voltage source (for example, battery, capacitor, diode or the like) is provided in this circuit unit, whereby the potential of the hair clip portion 2 is set at a predetermined value. Specifically, in a similar way to the above-mentioned electric charge unit 5, in the case where the ions generated in the ion generation portions 4 are negative, a voltage source that raises the potential more than the ground level of the ion generation portions 4 is provided in the circuit unit, the hair clip portion 2 is connected to a positive electrode of the voltage source through the lead wire, and the hair clip portion 2 concerned is set at a potential higher by a predetermined voltage than the ground level of the ion generation portions 4. Note that, in the case where the ions generated in the ion generation portions 4 are positive, the diode is attached to the voltage source so as to be reversed in polarity, whereby the hair clip portion 2 just needs to be set at a potential lower by the predetermined voltage than the ground level.
In accordance with this embodiment described above, there is provided the potential holding means 10 for holding the potential of the hair clip portion 2 so that the potential can be of the opposite polarity to that of the electric charges of the ions emitted from the ion generation portions 4. Accordingly, the hair clip portion 2 can be charged with the electric charges of the opposite polarity to that of the electric charges of the ions emitted from the ion generation portions 4. As a result, the ions emitted from the ion generation portions 4 can be attracted toward the hair clip portion 2.
Moreover, the potential holding means 10 is provided to hold the potential of the hair clip portion 2 at the predetermined value, whereby the ions adhered to the hair clip portion 2 and the electric charges of the hair clip portion 2 can be neutralized at the time when the hair iron 1 is used.
Furthermore, by the potential holding means 10, the potential of the hair clip portion 2 is held so as to be the opposite potential to that of the electric charges of the ions emitted from the ion generation portions 4. Accordingly, even if the hair iron 1 is continuously used, the hair clip portion 2 can be suppressed from being electrically charged at the same polarity as that of the ions emitted from the ion generation portions 4. As a result, the ions emitted from the ion generation portions 4 can be suppressed from being repelled, and the ions can be continuously adhered onto the hair.
As described above, in accordance with this embodiment, the ions can be adhered onto the hair far more efficiently.
Moreover, in this embodiment, the electric charge unit 5 is provided, and the user is electrically charged at the opposite polarity to that of the electric charges of the ions generated in the ion generation portions 4. Accordingly, it becomes possible to further suppress the phenomenon that the electric charges of the ions generated in the ion generation portions 4 are accumulated in the user, resulting in that the ions become less likely to reach the user.
In addition, the potential holding means 10 holds the potential of the hair clip portion 2 so that the potential can be the same potential as the potential of the electric charge unit 5. Accordingly, the potential of the hair clip portion 2 becomes the same potential as that of the user who has contacted the electric charge unit 5, that is, of the hair of the user, and it becomes possible to suppress a potential difference from occurring between the hair and the hair clip portion 2, and to continuously irradiate the ions, which are emitted from the ion generation portions, onto the hair more stably. In such a way, the ions emitted from the ion generation portions can be adhered onto the hair more efficiently.
Moreover, in accordance with this embodiment, the hair clip portion 2 is composed of: the pair of semicylindrical split clip portions 21 and 22, which clips the hair by freely approaching and departing from each other; and the pressing plate 23 that clips the hair by freely approaching and departing from the outer circumferential surface of one of the split clip portions 21 and 22. Accordingly, the hair is heated while being clipped by the pair of split clip portions 21 and 22, whereby the straight styling can be given to the hair, and in addition, the hair is clipped between the split clip portion 21 as one of the pair and the pressing plate 23, whereby the curl styling can be given to the hair. As described above, in accordance with this embodiment, both of the straight styling and the curl styling can be achieved by the one hair iron 1.
At this time, the mist and the fine metal particles, which are generated in the mist generation portion 4A and the fine metal particle generation portion 4B as the ion generation portions 4, are adhered onto the hair styled by the hair clip portion 2. Accordingly, it becomes possible to finish portions of the hair, which include tip portions thereof, in a moist manner. Moreover, the antibacterial function and the antioxidant function can be obtained by the fine metal particles.
Moreover, in accordance with this embodiment, the pair of split clip portions 21 and 22 is formed of the metal as a conductive material. Accordingly, it can be facilitated to remove the ions adhered onto the hair clip portion 2. In such a way, the mist and the fine metal particles, which are generated in the mist generation portion 4A and the fine metal particle generation portion 4B, can be efficiently adhered onto the hair. Note that, in this case, either one of the pair of split clip portions 21 and 22 just needs to be formed of the conductive material.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the potential holding means 10 is housed in the housing 311 of the split grip portion 31 as one of the pair, and the connection member 101 of the potential holding means 10 and the split grip portion 21 as one of the pair are fixed to each other by the screw 8 that couples the split clip portion 21 and the holding member 211 of the split grip portion 31 to each other. Accordingly, connection work and assembly work for the potential holding means 10 and the hair clip portion 2 can be simplified more.

(Second Embodiment)

A hair iron 1A according to this embodiment basically has a similar configuration to that of the hair iron 1 according to the above-mentioned first embodiment. The hair iron 1A includes the hair clip portion 2 and the grip portion 3, and in the hair iron 1A, the ion generation portions 4 and the electric charge unit 5 are provided.
Here, a large different point of the hair iron 1A according to this embodiment from the hair iron 1 according to the above-mentioned first embodiment is that the pressing plate 23 shown in the above-mentioned first embodiment is not provided, and the hair clip portion 2 is solely composed of the split clip portions 21 and 22. Hence, the hair iron 1A according to this embodiment is provided only with a function to give the straight styling to the hair. Moreover, the split clip portions 21 and 22 which compose the hair clip portion 2 have a flat cross-sectional shape in order to widely ensure clipping surfaces for the hair.
Then, also in this embodiment, the mist generation portion 4A and the fine metal particle generation potion 4B are provided in the swelling portions 312A and 312B provided on both sides of the tip end portion of the housing 311 that covers the split grip portion 31 as one of the pair, and the ions (mist and fine metal particles) generated in the mist generation portion 4A and the fine metal particle generation portion 4B are emitted from the emission ports 41A and 41B, respectively.
Moreover, on the housing 311 as one of the pair, the power supply switch 7A and the temperature switching switch 7B are provided; however, on the other housing 321, only the conductive member 51 is provided, and the lock switch 7C shown in the above-mentioned first embodiment is not provided. Note that it is possible to provide the lock switch 7C also in this embodiment.
Furthermore, in the split clip portions 21 and 22 according to this embodiment, only the opposed surfaces thereof which clip the hair just need to be heated, and only the opposed surfaces which are flattened are formed of metal having high thermal conductivity, and outsides of the split clip portions 21 and 22 are covered with covers 212 and 222 made of synthetic resin. Then, these covers 212 and 222 are attached to the housings 311 and 312 so as to continue therewith.
Here, also in the hair iron 1A according to this embodiment, as in the above-mentioned first embodiment, in the hair clip portion 2 as a member located on the periphery of the hair at the time of use, there is provided the potential holding means 10 for holding the potential of the hair clip portion 2 concerned so that the potential can facilitate the ions emitted from the ion generation portions 4 to be adhered onto the hair with respect to the electric charges of the ions concerned (refer to FIG. 11) . Moreover, the potential holding means 10 is provided, whereby the potential of the hair clip portion 2 is set at the potential of the opposite polarity to that of the electric charges of the ions emitted from the ion generation portions 4, and in addition, by the potential holding means 10, the potential of the hair clip portion 2 is held so as to be the same potential as the potential of the electric charge unit 5.
Also by this embodiment, functions and advantageous effects, which are substantially similar to those of the above-mentioned first embodiment, can be exerted.
Incidentally, with regard to the hair irons 1 and 1A shown in the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, those are illustrated, in each of which the potential holding means 10 is connected to the hair clip portion 2 so that the potential of the hair clip portion 2 can be the potential of the opposite polarity to that of the electric charges of the ions emitted from the ion generations portions 4; however, it is also possible to adopt means as will be described below in order to hold the potential of the hair clip portion 2 so that the potential can facilitate the ions emitted from the ion generation portions 4 to be adhered onto the hair with respect to the electric charges of the ions concerned.
First, in the case where the potential of the hair clip portion 2 and the electric charges of the ions emitted from the ion generation portions 4 are of the same polarity, the potential holding means 10 may be provided so as to hold the potential of the hair clip portion 2 at a level lower than the potential of the ions emitted from the ion generation portions 4. At this time, it is suitable to lower the potential of the hair clip portion 2 to an extent where the hair clip portion 2 and the ions are attracted to each other without being repelled.
In such a way, owing to a potential difference that occurs between the hair clip portion 2 and the ions emitted from the ion generation portions 4, it becomes possible for the ions to be attracted toward the hair clip portion 2. Accordingly, even in the case where the polarity of the potential of the hair clip portion 2 is the same as that of the electric charges of the ions emitted from the ion generation portions 4, the ions emitted from the ion generation portions 4 can be suppressed from being repelled by the hair clip portion 2, and it becomes possible to efficiently adhere the ions onto the hair.
Next, the potential holding means 10 may be provided so as to hold the potential of the hair clip portion 2 at the same potential as that of the ground. Specifically, the potential holding means 10 may be provided so that the potential of the hair clip portion 2 can be 0V by connecting the hair clip portion 2 to a ground wire.
In such a way, at the time when the hair iron 1 is used, the ions adhered onto the hair flow outward through the ground wire. Accordingly, the potential of the hair clip portion 2 remains to be held at 0V. Then, the ions emitted from the ion generation portions 4 can be suppressed from being repelled by the hair clip portion 2, and it becomes possible to efficiently adhere the ions onto the hair.
Moreover, the potential of the hair clip portion 2 may be held at the same potential as the potential of the grip portion 3.
In such a way, the potential of the hair clip portion 2 can be held at the same potential as the potential of the grip portion 3. Accordingly, the potential of the hair clip portion 2 becomes the same potential of the user who has gripped the grip portion 3, that is, of the hair of the user, and the ions emitted from the ion generation portions 4 can be continuously irradiated onto the hair more stably. In such a way, the ions emitted from the ion generation portions can be adhered onto the hair more efficiently.
Note that it is also possible to hold the potential of the electric charge unit 5 at the potential described above. Moreover, the respective potentials of the hair clip portion 2 and the electric charge unit 5 can be set appropriately.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above; however, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and is modifiable in various ways.
For example, the present invention can be embodied even in the case of using a hair iron such as a hair iron for use mainly in the case of curling the hair, which includes a hair clip portion that gives such styling to the hair, and is capable of providing the ion generation portions therein.
Moreover, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the case has been illustrated, where the ions of which electric charges are either positive or negative are emitted from the ion generation portions; however, two ion generation portions, one of which is for generating the negative ions, and the other of which is for generating the positive ions, may be provided so as to be switchable.
In such a way, in the case of a hair iron that mainly emits the negative ions to the hair, at the time when the negative ions are continuously emitted from the ion generation portion, and an adhesion amount of the negative ions is reduced as a result that the hair is charged with the negative ions, the positive ions are temporarily emitted from the ion generation portion, whereby such an electrostatic charge of the hair, which is saturated with the ions, can be neutralized. Thereafter, the ions emitted from the ion generation portion are switched again to the negative ions, whereby it becomes possible to efficiently adhere the negative ions to the hair.
Moreover, the case where two ion generation portions are provided has been illustrated in each of the above-mentioned embodiments; however, the present invention is not limited to this, and one or three or more ion generation portions may be provided.
Furthermore, though the mist generation portion and the fine metal particle generation portion, which generate the mist and the fine metal particles by the electric discharge, are illustrated in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, a steam generation mechanism that generates steam by heating water may be mounted as the mist generation portion, and a metal solution atomization mechanism that generates fine metal particles by atomizing a solution of metal may be mounted as the fine metal particle generation portion.
Moreover, specifications (shapes, sizes, layout and the like) of the hair clip portion and the grip portion, the voltage source and other details are also be appropriately changeable.

Claims

A hair iron (1,1A) comprising: a grip portion (3);
a hair clip portion (2) that is provided continuously with one end of the grip portion (3) and clips hair; and
an ion generation portion (4) that generate ions, wherein a potential holding unit (10) that holds a potential of the hair clip portion (2) is connected to the hair clip portion (2) .
The hair iron (1,1A) according to claim 1, wherein the potential holding unit (10) holds the potential of the hair clip portion (2) at a potential of an opposite polarity to a polarity of electric charges of the ions emitted from the ion generation portion (4) .
The hair iron (1,1A) according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the potential of the hair clip portion (2) and electric charges of the ions emitted from the ion generation portion (4) are of a same polarity, the potential holding unit (10) holds the potential of the hair clip portion (2) at a level lower than a potential of the ions.
The hair iron (1,1A) according to claim 1, wherein the potential holding unit (10) holds the potential of the hair clip portion (2) at a same potential as a potential of a ground.
The hair iron (1,1A) according to claim 1, further comprising: an electric charge unit (5) that holds the hair at a predetermined potential, wherein the potential holding unit (10) holds the potential of the hair clip portion (2) at a same potential as a potential of the electric charge unit (5).
The hair iron (1,1A) according to claim 1, wherein the potential holding unit (10) holds the potential of the hair clip portion (2) at a same potential as a potential of the grip portion (3).
The hair iron (1,1A) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of members of the hair clip portion (2), the members clipping the hair therebetween, is formed of a conductive material.
The hair iron (1,1A) according to claim 1, wherein a connection member (101) of the potential holding unit (10) and the hair clip portion (2) are fixed to each other by a fastening member (8) that fixes, to each other, the hair clip portion (2) and a holding member (211) for coupling the hair clip portion (2) to the grip portion (3).
The hair iron (1,1A) according to claim 8, wherein a slit (211b) into which the connection member (101) is inserted is formed on a holding surface (211a) that holds the hair clip portion (2) and belongs to the holding member (211).