CN114786526A

CN114786526A - Heating unit for hair styling appliance

Info

Publication number: CN114786526A
Application number: CN202080085501.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: F.格罗特里安; A.拉莫里; 方超英; R.尼古拉乌; S.克拉克
Original assignee: Dyson Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Dyson Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2019-12-16
Filing date: 2020-10-19
Publication date: 2022-07-22
Also published as: GB201918471D0; GB2590396B; WO2021123718A1; GB2590396A

Abstract

A heating unit for a hair styling appliance, the heating unit comprising a rigid mount and a flexible support member mounted within the rigid mount, wherein the flexible support member supports a heating element such that the heating element is able to bend with the support member relative to the rigid mount.

Description

Heating unit for hair styling appliance

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a hair styling appliance and a heating unit for a hair styling appliance. Heated hair styling appliances are designed to utilize the action of heat to form hair into a desired shape or pattern, including curly, wavy, and straightened portions of hair. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a heating unit for a hair straightener appliance (also referred to as a hair styling iron), and to the hair straightener appliance itself.

Background

Hair straighteners usually comprise two hinged arms hingedly attached to each other at one end and one or more heating plates at the other end. In the case of both arms having heated plates, they are typically located on the inner opposing surfaces of the arms. The heating plate usually has a hair contact surface which is designed to come into contact with the hair to be styled during use of the hair straightener. Such a hair straightener is disclosed in WO 2014/056957.

Heating plates for hair straighteners are typically made of solid metal, ceramic, or a combination of both. They are also often resiliently mounted on the arms of the hair straightener so that they can move up and down or move slightly when hair is pressed between the two arms. These resilient mounts are intended to ensure that hair pressed between the heating plates is not subjected to too much pressure. Furthermore, by using a resilient mounting, the manufacturing tolerances of the product are less critical. However, pressure points still occur, which may damage the hair and affect the final styling.

To reduce damage to the hair caused by over-compression, the iron is designed such that the heating plates or the opposing surfaces in contact with the heating plates are segmented to help conform to the hair pressed between the arms of the iron. However, such a solution does present a problem in that the hair strands may be pinched between the sections during use of the iron. Thus, the use of segmented heating plates is not a completely satisfactory solution, and there remains a need to provide a hair styling appliance in which the hair is heated evenly over a selected sample of hair, avoiding over-pressurization of any selected area and avoiding heat ingress in a manner that damages the hair.

The present invention provides an improved heating plate and hair styling device in which these problems are taken into account.

Disclosure of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a heating unit for a hair styling appliance, the heating unit comprising a rigid mount and a flexible support member mounted within the rigid mount, wherein the flexible support member supports a heating element such that the heating element is able to flex with the support member relative to the rigid mount.

In one embodiment, the rigid mount defines a recess that receives the flexible support member.

A particular benefit of the present invention is that the heating element of the heating unit can be bent in use by being mounted on a flexible support member. It has been found that the bending of the heating element in contact with the hair being styled results in a beneficial styling effect and causes less damage to the hair in direct contact with the heating plate of the heating unit. The bending occurs in such a way that the heating plate deforms/bends to the same extent wherever the hair exerts pressure on the surface of the heating element through the hair.

In one embodiment, the heating element defines a heating surface on the hair-facing side of the heating element, wherein at least a portion of the heating surface (or a surface of a member carried by the heating surface) protrudes beyond the rigid mounting such that the hair-contacting surface of the heating unit is in direct contact with the hair when applied to the hair styling appliance.

Since the heating surface protrudes out of the recess and the hair is in direct contact with the heating element (or a very thin part carried by the heating element is in contact with the hair), there is a beneficial styling effect on the hair. It is also possible to effectively achieve hair styling, transferring heat to the hair to the maximum extent, without losing heat due to other parts of the heating unit.

In an embodiment, the hair-facing side of the heating element is in direct contact with the hair in use. Alternatively, the hair-facing side of the heating element may carry a contact member (e.g., a pad or other coating) that defines a hair-contacting surface.

If contact means are provided, this may include edges for guiding hair over the pad and heating element in use. For example, the edge may be a profiled edge (e.g., rolled) or a machined edge. Since the edge serves to guide the hair over the contact member, there is less risk of the hair being caught or worn when passing over the heating element.

If no contact member is provided, the edges of the heating element may also be shaped (e.g., rolled) or machined to smoothly direct hair onto the hair's contact surface.

In an embodiment, the flexible support member comprises a support layer defining a flexible support surface for the support surface of the heating element, a base layer, and a support structure arranged between the support layer and the base layer, the support structure being configured to provide substantially uniform deflection of the flexible support member upon application of a downward force at any point on the flexible support surface.

For example, the flexible support member comprises a support portion defining a flexible support surface for the support surface of the heating element and a support structure. The flexible support member may further comprise a base, wherein the support structure is disposed between the support portion and the base and is configured to provide substantially uniform deflection of the flexible support member upon application of a downward force at any point on the flexible support surface.

The uniform deflection of the flexible support member and the heating element it carries ensures that the hair is heated evenly over the entire surface of the heating element. This prevents hot spots from being applied to the hair and ultimately improves the final styling result.

In embodiments, the support structure may define a plurality of openings extending through the flexible support member from one side to the other.

The support structure may comprise a post structure, such as a hollow post structure, to define a plurality of openings.

For example, the support structure may include a base portion and a support portion integrally formed with the post structure.

The post structure may include a plurality of post pairs, wherein adjacent post pairs at least partially define a plurality of triangular openings extending through the support member from one side to the other.

Typically, the column pair, base and support portions are integrally formed.

In an embodiment, the flexible support surface for the heating element may protrude beyond the rigid mount.

The flexible support member may be formed of silicone or any other suitable flexible material.

For example, the rigid mount may form an integral part of a housing or shell for the hair styling appliance. For example, the rigid mount itself may form part of an arm of a hair styling appliance.

In other embodiments, the rigid mount may be a separate unit mounted within the housing for the hair styling appliance.

For example, the rigid mount may take the form of a frame and may have a curved base which, in use, mates with a complementary form of recess defined in a housing for the hair styling appliance.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hair styling appliance comprising at least one heating unit as described in the preceding paragraph.

In embodiments, a housing for a hair styling appliance may form an arm or limb for a hair styling appliance, wherein the arm or limb may comprise a handle portion which is held by a user.

In general, a hair styling appliance may include a pair of heating units and a pair of arms, each heating unit being arranged in a respective arm such that a heating surface of a heating element of each heating unit faces a heating surface of a heating element of the other heating unit of the pair.

The hair styling appliance is particularly suitable for straightening hair.

The hair styling appliance may comprise means for supplying power to the or each heating unit. For example, the hair styling appliance may comprise a battery unit for supplying direct current to the or each heating unit. The battery unit may be a detachable and/or rechargeable unit.

Since the heating element (or the very thin contact member carried by the heating element) is in direct contact with the hair, it is desirable to limit the power output of the heating element to avoid burning or scorching the sampled hair. This means that the appliance is most suitably powered by a dc battery arrangement of relatively low power rather than an ac power source.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a heating unit for a hair styling appliance, the heating unit comprising a rigid mounting configured to support a heating element, and a flexible member mounted on the rigid mounting, the flexible member being flexible relative to the heating element so as to contact the heating element to transfer heat from the heating element to a hair contacting surface of the heating unit defined by the flexible member.

The flexible member may be a removable member that is separable from the rigid mount.

The flexible member may form part of a sleeve which is received over the heating element.

The rigid mount may form part of a housing (e.g., an arm) for the hair styling appliance.

It will be appreciated that preferred and/or optional features of each aspect of the invention may also be incorporated into other aspects of the invention, alone or in appropriate combination.

Drawings

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is an isometric view of a hair styling appliance in the form of a hair straightener in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention with the arms of the straightener closed together;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the iron of FIG. 1, with the arms of the iron also closed together;

figure 3 is a side view of the iron of figures 1 and 2, with the arms of the iron fully open;

figure 4 is a top view of the iron of figures 1 to 3;

fig. 5 is an isometric view of the iron of fig. 1 to 4, with the arms of the iron fully open and the heating unit of the iron removed and shown in isolation;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the heating unit shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the heating device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the heating unit shown in FIG. 7 taken along line A-A of FIG. 7;

figures 9 to 15 show cross-sectional views of various configurations of flexible support members for forming part of the heating unit of figure 8;

figures 16, 17 and 18 show three possible heater configurations for the heating plate of the heating unit of figures 6 to 8;

figure 19 is an isometric view of the hair straightener in figures 1 to 5, a hair sample being present between the arms of the straightener;

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 19, but with the hair sample removed to illustrate bending of the heating plate of the heating unit in use; and

fig. 21 is an exploded view of the heating unit with hair present to illustrate how the various elements of the heating unit flex during use.

Detailed Description

The hair styling appliance of the present invention is typically of the type having a rechargeable battery unit which provides direct current to the heating unit of the appliance, and the present invention has features which make it particularly suitable for use in appliances which are powered in this manner. Such appliances are particularly convenient because they are portable, can be used anywhere, and are particularly useful when traveling. However, the present invention is equally applicable to hair styling appliances powered by a power cord from an ac mains supply. The benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the description below.

Referring to figures 1 to 4, a hair straightener appliance, generally indicated at 10, comprises a first arm, generally indicated at 12, and a second arm, generally indicated at 14, which are connected together at one end by a hinge 16. The

arms

12, 14 are movable about the hinge and may be closed to each other as shown in fig. 1 and 2 or separated from each other as shown in fig. 3. In this manner, the

arms

12, 14 act like a pair of jaws, either closing the jaws against one another or moving away from one another to open the jaws.

As shown in fig. 2, each

arm

12, 14 includes a handle portion 18, including a hinged end 16, and a heating portion 20 at the end of each arm remote from the hinge 16. In use, a user grasps the handle portion 20 and applies pressure thereto to squeeze the

arms

12, 14 together.

Typically, each

arm

12, 14 of the hair straightener appliance comprises an outer shell or housing. The housing includes an upper housing 22 and a lower housing 24, one of which is associated with each of the

arms

12, 14. Each of the upper and

lower housings

22, 24 takes the form of an integrally molded component and the external form is substantially the same as the other. The two

shells

22, 24 are typically made of a plastics material and may be coated with a thin heat resistant coating (typically a few microns thick) to provide an aesthetically pleasing finish to the appliance and to limit heat transfer to a user holding or touching the appliance.

As best seen in fig. 1, the upper housing 22 includes an upper curved shell that abuts and mates with a lower curved shell of the lower housing 24 in a claw-like manner. The upper and

lower housings

22, 24 in the heating portion 20 of each arm define a curved slot (not visible in fig. 2 to 4, but only the lower curved slot 30 is visible in fig. 1) which receives the heating unit of the hair straightener appliance. The top of each

heating unit

40, 42 is visible only in fig. 3, where the

arms

12, 14 are shown separated from each other. Each

heating unit

40, 42 is disposed in the heating section 20 of each

arm

12, 14 such that one is in the upper enclosure 22 and one is in the lower enclosure 24, and most of the

heating units

40, 42 are located within the

enclosures

22, 24.

The walls of each slot 30 in the handle portion 20 taper at the end remote from the handle portion, defining the beak end of each shell. As shown in FIG. 2, the beak end of the upper housing 22 is defined by reference numeral 32 and the beak end of the lower housing 24 is defined by reference numeral 34. The

housing

22, 24 of each arm is provided with a

respective recess

36, 38 along a portion of its length which defines a boundary between the handle portion 18 and the heating portion 20 of each arm and provides a visual aid to a user of the appliance as to where the heating effect of the appliance occurs.

With particular reference to fig. 4, the iron 10 has an associated battery unit 44 which is located within a recess provided in the handle portion 18 of the upper housing 22. Typically, the battery unit 44 is a removable and/or rechargeable battery unit, and a connection point is provided on the hair straightener (not shown) to connect the battery unit with the charging device when needed. The battery unit 44 is connected by internal wiring to an internal printed circuit board (also not shown in fig. 4) which controls the iron 10 in a manner known to the person skilled in the art. In other embodiments, the battery unit 44 may be removed from the iron 10 and remotely charged.

The

heating units

40, 42 will now be described in more detail with reference to fig. 5 to 8. The

heating units

40, 42 are multi-component units and comprise several components arranged in a stack. Fig. 5 shows the heating unit 42 to be housed within the lower housing 24 of the lower arm 14. From the bottom of the stack, each

heating unit

40, 42 includes a printed circuit board 50(PCB — as described above) that receives power from the battery unit 44 and is programmed to control the iron in response to various signals related to, for example, on/off demand, heating settings, and temperature control. The PCB 50 is located beneath and secured to the underside of a rigid mounting member in the form of a frame 52, the frame 52 also forming part of the heating unit 42, as best shown in figures 7 and 8.

The frame 52 is typically made of plastic and includes a base 56, two relatively

long side walls

58, 60 and two relatively

short end walls

62, 64 to connect the side walls together at each end. Together, the

side walls

58, 60,

end walls

62, 64 and the base 56 define a recess 54 (best shown in fig. 8) for receiving other components of the heating unit 42. The interior cross-section of the recess 54 defines a rectangular shape. The frame end wall 64 of the handle portion 18 closest to the housing (when the heating unit is received within the housing 22, 24) is generally square, while the frame end wall 62 remote from the handle portion 18 is shaped to define a beak end of the frame having a shape corresponding to the shape of the beak ends 32, 34 of the housing. This means that the frame and the beak ends of the

shells

22, 24 fit together in a complementary manner when the heating unit 42 is received within the shells. The flexible support member 66 is received within the recess 54 in the frame 52 such that it rests on the base 56 of the frame 52. The flexible support member comprises a lower frame facing surface (visible in fig. 6) which faces the frame 52 in use, and an opposite hair facing surface 75 which is directed towards the hair. The flexible support member 66 includes a front facing side 72 and an opposite rear facing side 74, as viewed in the orientation shown in fig. 6. The heating element 68 is applied to a hair-facing surface 75 of the flexible support member 66, as will be discussed in more detail below.

Heating element 68 defines a heating surface 77 on the hair-facing side of heating element 68, and a support surface (not visible in fig. 6) on the support-facing side of heating element 68 that cooperates with hair-facing surface 75 of flexible support member 66. On top of the heating element 68, a contact member 70 in the form of a pad or other suitable hair contact member is mounted to a heating surface 77 of the heating element 68 to define a hair contact surface 79 of the heating unit 42.

Fig. 9 to 15 show various configurations of the flexible support member 66 forming part of the heater unit 42. The curved nature of the flexible support member 66 provides an important function for the heating unit 42, as described below.

The flexible support member 66 is an integrally formed member, typically formed of silicone or other suitable flexible material. Referring to fig. 9, in a first embodiment of the invention, the flexible support member 66 includes a base portion 76, a top portion 78, and an intermediate portion 80 forming a support structure between the base portion 76 and the top portion 78. The area of the upper surface of the top 78 is generally rectangular, having two relatively long sides and two relatively short ends, as shown in fig. 6. The area of the lower surface of the bottom portion 76 is the same as the area of the top portion 78. The intermediate portion 80 includes a plurality of openings in the front side 72 of the flexible support member 66 that extend completely through the flexible support member 66 and are open at the rear side 74. The opening defines a channel 82 extending through the flexible support member between the front side 72 and the back side 74. The thickness of the flexible support member is substantially uniform over its entire area.

The top 78 of the flexible support member 66 defines a flexible support surface 75 for the heating element 68 to rest on. The base 76 is received within the recess 54 of the frame 52 and rests on the bottom of the recess 54.

When a hair sample is applied between the arms of the hair straightener, the flexible support member 66 is able to bend vertically when a downward force is applied to the upper surface of the top 78.

As shown in fig. 10 to 15, various other pillar structures are contemplated as alternatives to the structure shown in fig. 9. In the embodiment of fig. 10, the intermediate portion 180 of the flexible support member 66 has a post structure including a plurality of posts 186 extending at an angle from vertical between the top 178 and the base 176. Each post 186 is angled from vertical with adjacent posts 186 being angled from each other. The effect of this post structure is that a plurality of triangular channels 182 extend through the flexible support member from side to

side

72, 74.

The support member of fig. 10 is not only flexible, but the nature of the intermediate portion 180 and the channel 182 ensures that the degree of bending of the support member 166 that occurs when pressure is applied to the upper surface of the top portion 178 is uniform regardless of where on the surface of the top portion 78 a downward force is applied.

In the embodiment of fig. 11, the intermediate portion 280 is similar to that of fig. 9, but the opening is rounded rectangular to define a rounded rectangular channel 282 through the flexible support member 266.

In FIG. 12, the post structure of the middle section 380 includes a plurality of angled posts 386, with the posts on one side of the central V-shaped channel 388 being angled from vertical in one direction and the posts on the other side of the central V-shaped channel 388 being angled from vertical in the other direction. The result of this pillar structure is that the cross-sectional shape of the channel 382 through the flexible support member 366 is like a parallelogram.

Fig. 13 is yet another alternative configuration of the flexible support member 466 in which the base portion is completely removed and the flexible support member 46 includes only a top portion 478 and a plurality of vertical posts 486 extending downwardly from the top portion 478.

Fig. 14 is similar to fig. 13, but has a base 576 and a top 578 with a post 586 extending between the base 576 and the top 578.

In the configuration shown in fig. 15, the flexible support member 666 is similar to that shown in fig. 9, but has an oval shaped opening to define an oval shaped channel 682 through the flexible support member 666 from side to side.

In any configuration of the flexible support member, the material from which the flexible support member is made may have thermal insulation properties that ensure that heat from the heating element 68 supported by the flexible support member is not readily transferred to the frame 52, as discussed in further detail below.

Referring to fig. 16-18, the heating element 68 generally comprises an electrically conductive heating track laid or formed on the underside of a thick film base 94 applied to the flexible support member 66.

Fig. 16 shows a first configuration of conductive tracks 92 which is provided as three separate heater elements, each having an independent positive and negative electrical terminal 96, with current being supplied to the electrical terminals 96. The thick film substrate 94 may be formed of any suitable material that transfers heat from the substrate to the hair to be straightened. Examples of suitable materials are metals and metal alloys such as aluminum, copper, steel, titanium and beryllium copper. The shape of the thick film substrate 94 corresponds to the shape of the recess 54 of the frame 52.

Fig. 17 shows an alternative arrangement of electrically conductive tracks placed on the thick film substrate 94 as six individual heating elements 98, each heater element having positive and negative terminals 100 (only one of which is identified), current being supplied to the terminals 100.

Fig. 18 shows another alternative configuration of the conductive tracks 102 in which the terminals are arranged in a paired positive arrangement, with the positive terminals (e.g., 104) paired to the same localized area on the base 94 and the negative terminals (e.g., 106) paired to the same localized area on the base 94.

The

conductive tracks

92, 98, 102 may be applied to the thick film substrate 94 by screen printing a conductive ink onto the thick film substrate. Alternatively, the conductive tracks may be formed by a chemical etching process whereby areas of the thick film substrate are removed by the etching process to create the conductive tracks.

An advantageous feature of hair styling apparatus 10 of the present invention is that at least the hair contacting surface of heating unit 68 protrudes from recess 54 in frame 52, as shown in fig. 8, so that it contacts the hair. In addition, since the pad 70 is provided with a curved or "soft" edge 90 (as shown in fig. 8), when hair is applied to the heating element and passes over the pad 70, it moves gently past the soft edge 90 without catching, in use.

When powered by battery unit 44, heating element 68 is typically about 200W-250W (which may be higher if powered by mains electricity). Since the heating element 68 of the appliance is in close proximity to the hair, in use, the very thin pad 70 on the heating plate provides the hair contact surface, and it is therefore necessary to limit the power of the appliance to prevent scorching of the hair. Thus, the appliance is adapted to be powered by a relatively low power source, such as the portable battery unit 44, rather than by an ac power source. The appliance may also be powered by a dc power supply but requires the necessary adjustment to the heater arrangement to maintain the delivered power at a suitable, relatively low level.

It will be appreciated that each

arm

12, 14 of the straightener appliance is provided with the same heating unit 42, the hair contacting surfaces of each heating unit 42 facing each other. When the

arms

12, 14 are closed together about the hinge 16, the hair sample between them is sandwiched between the arms, and when the straightener is drawn over the hair sample, heat from the opposing heating units is used to apply a straightening effect to the hair sample.

The appliance in use is visible in figures 19, 20 and 21. In fig. 19, it can be seen how a hair sample 104 is received between the

arms

12, 14 of the straightener and sandwiched between the two opposing hair contacting surfaces defined by the opposing pads 70. When the

arms

12, 14 are closed together, the action of the hair swatches 104 applying a downward force to the hair contacting surface of the pad 70 causes the heating element 68 to flex relative to the frame 52, facilitated by the flexible support member 66. This bending effect is best illustrated in fig. 20, which shows the hair straightener of fig. 19, but with the hair sample removed from the drawing. It is apparent here how the hair contacting surface bends in the region of the hair sample due to the bending properties of the flexible support members 66 thereunder, while the rigid frame 52 retains its shape and structure.

The bending effect can also be seen in fig. 21, which shows an exploded view of the stacked components of the heating unit, in which a hair sample 104 is received between the opposing

arms

12, 14 of the hair straightener. Here it can be seen that the spacer 70, heating element 68 and flexible support member 66 all bend together in the region where hair is received between the heating units 42. This curvature of the hair contacting surface has been shown to have a beneficial styling effect. In addition, due to the curled, machined or otherwise formed soft edges of the pad 70, hair is not caught as it passes over the hair contact surface of the pad.

It will be appreciated that various other modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A heating unit for a hair styling appliance, the heating unit comprising:

a rigid mount and a flexible support member mounted within the rigid mount, wherein the flexible support member supports the heating element such that the heating element is able to flex with the support member relative to the rigid mount.

2. The heating unit of claim 1, wherein the rigid mount defines a recess in which the flexible support member is received.

3. The heating unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating element defines a heating surface on a hair-facing side of the heating element, and wherein at least a portion of the heating surface or a surface of a contact member supported by the heating surface protrudes out of the rigid mount such that the hair contact surface of the heating unit is in direct contact with the hair when applied to the hair styling appliance.

4. The heating unit of claim 3, wherein the hair-facing side of the heating element bears a contact member defining a hair contact surface, and wherein the contact member is bendable with the heating element relative to the rigid mount.

5. A heating unit according to claim 4, wherein the contact member comprises an edge for guiding hair over the contact member and the heating element in use.

6. The heating unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible support member comprises a support portion and a support structure, the support portion defining a flexible support surface for supporting the heating element.

7. The heating unit of claim 6, wherein the flexible support member includes a base, and wherein the support structure is disposed between the support portion and the base and is configured to provide substantially uniform deflection of the flexible support member upon application of a downward force at any point on a flexible support surface.

8. The heating unit of claim 6 or 7, wherein the support structure defines a plurality of openings extending through the flexible support member from one side to another.

9. The heating unit of claim 8, wherein the support structure comprises a post structure to define the plurality of openings.

10. The heating unit of claim 9, wherein the support structure comprises a base portion and a support portion integrally formed with the pillar structure.

11. The heating unit of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the rigid mount is a separate unit mounted within a housing of the hair styling appliance.

12. A heating unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the rigid mount has a curved base which, in use, mates with a complementary form of recess defined in the housing.

13. The heating unit of claim 11 or 12, wherein the housing forms an arm for the hair styling appliance, and wherein the arm comprises a handle portion which is gripped by a user.

14. A heating unit for a hair styling appliance, the heating unit comprising:

a rigid mount configured to support the heating element, an

A flexible member mounted on the rigid mount, the flexible member being flexible relative to the heating element for contact with the heating element to transfer heat from the heating element to a hair contacting surface of the heating unit defined by the flexible member.

15. The heating unit of claim 14, wherein the flexible member is a removable member that is separable from the rigid mount.

16. The heating unit of claim 15, wherein the flexible member forms part of a sleeve that is received over the heating element.

17. The heating unit of any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the rigid mount forms part of a housing (e.g. arm) for a hair styling appliance.

18. A heating unit for a hair styling appliance, the heating unit comprising:

a rigid mount configured to support the heating element, an

19. The heating unit of claim 18, wherein the flexible member is a removable member that is separable from the rigid mount.

20. The heating unit of claim 19, wherein the flexible member forms part of a sleeve that is received over the heating element.

21. The heating unit of any of claims 18 to 20, wherein the rigid mount forms part of a housing (e.g. arm) for a hair styling appliance.

22. A hair styling appliance comprising at least one heating unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21.