CN115175588B

CN115175588B - Refill for a device for treating hair

Info

Publication number: CN115175588B
Application number: CN202080091943.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 桑迪·拉比泽; D·海嘉奥; 梅丽莎·香浦
Original assignee: SEB SA; LOreal SA
Current assignee: SEB SA; LOreal SA
Priority date: 2019-11-05
Filing date: 2020-11-04
Publication date: 2024-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 2040-11-04
Also published as: EP4054379C0; CN115175588A; EP4054379B1; FR3102650A1; ES2955322T3; FR3102650B1; US20220400826A1; WO2021089708A1; EP4054379A1; WO2021089615A1

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a refill (20) for a device (2) for treating hair, in particular for straightening hair, having: -a reservoir (23) of elongate shape along a longitudinal axis (X) defining a cavity (32) containing a cosmetic composition to be applied to the hair, the reservoir (23) having a side (36) for mounting the refill on the device, the side extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) of the reservoir; -a porous application member (26) for applying a cosmetic composition to the hair, the member having an elongated shape and extending parallel to a longitudinal axis (X) of the reservoir (23), the application member (26) being mounted in a slot-shaped opening (31) of the reservoir (23) into the cavity (32), the opening (31) being laterally offset towards the mounting side (36) with respect to a median plane (M) of the cavity (32), the median plane containing the longitudinal axis (X) of the reservoir (23) and being parallel to the mounting side (36). Another subject of the invention is an associated device.

Description

Refill for a device for treating hair

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cosmetic hair care product refill for a device for treating hair, in particular for a device for straightening hair, more in particular for a device for straightening hair with a steam outlet. The invention also relates to devices for treating hair, in particular for straightening hair, which are equipped with such refills and preferably have a steam outlet.

Background

Many devices for treating hair, in particular hair straighteners, have been proposed, enabling the application of hair care products to the hair.

Typically, hair straighteners comprise two arms connected together by means of a shaft which can open and close the arms and which comprises at least one heating element arranged on the arms. In an operation for treating a lock of hair, the hair is introduced between the two arms in the open position, and then the two arms are manually closed on the lock of hair. The lock is then subjected to the heat emitted by the heating element until the two arms are open, and the lock is extracted.

This is the case for example with the devices described in international applications WO 2009/078046, WO 2013/045331 and WO 2013/090896, which have two arms connected together so as to allow the device to be opened and closed, at least one heating member and at least one base for housing means for heat treating hair, which allow dispensing of the hair care product during operation. The treatment device may have a support material impregnated with a hair care product.

International applications WO 2014/064660 and WO 2015/097625 disclose cosmetic refills for applying hair care products having a reservoir containing the product, the reservoir being connected by a dispensing system and a porous application member separate from the reservoir. A pump is used to transfer the product from the reservoir to the application member. This type of refill is rather heavy, complex and expensive to produce, due to the use of a pump. Application by means of a steaming device is also mentioned.

Also, patent application US2009/0025247 discloses a hair care product refill having a reservoir and a porous application member that is partially immersed in the reservoir and is in contact with the hair during use of the device. The supply of product to the application member tends to vary with the orientation of the refill, which can be detrimental to uniformity of the results.

International application WO 2018/091577 describes a device for heat treating hair having a steam outlet and allowing cosmetic product to be applied by means of a refill mounted on one arm. The refill has a reservoir into which a porous application member extends partially, the porous application member being fixed in the reservoir and centred relative thereto. In this type of device, the water vapor is applied in large volumes, which reduces the effectiveness of the straightening. Furthermore, the contact of the steam with the cold wall, in particular the wall of the refill, causes condensation of the steam, which causes problems of electrical safety.

There is a need for further improvements in safety devices for treating hair that allow the application of cosmetic compositions, in particular cosmetic compositions that are reproducible and easy to use.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention aims at meeting this need, and according to a first aspect of the invention the subject of the invention is a refill for a device for treating hair, in particular heat-treating hair, in particular straightening hair, the treatment device having:

a reservoir of elongate shape along a longitudinal axis defining a cavity containing a cosmetic composition to be applied to the hair, the reservoir having a side for mounting the refill on the device, the side extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reservoir,

A porous application member for applying the cosmetic composition to the hair, which is of elongate shape and extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reservoir, the application member being mounted in a slot-shaped opening into the cavity in the reservoir, the opening being laterally offset towards the mounting side with respect to a median plane of the cavity containing the longitudinal axis of the reservoir and parallel to the mounting side.

By "mounting side" is understood an outer surface, in particular a flat outer surface, of the reservoir facing the device surface, in particular a device surface having a complementary shape, when the refill is mounted on the device. Such mounting sides may or may not have an embossed surface for securing the refill to the device. Preferably, the mounting side is disposed between the longitudinal axis of the refill and the treatment surface of the device when the mounting side is mounted on the respective device. Preferably, the mounting side extends perpendicular to the treatment surface of the device when the refill is mounted on the respective device.

Refill of this type may be used multiple times. Thus, it is not necessary to replace the refill from one use to another.

Furthermore, the lateral offset of the opening, in which the application member is mounted, with respect to the longitudinal axis in a direction towards the mounting side makes it possible to reduce the gap between the application member and the mounting side of the refill, thereby reducing the distance between the functional surface of the device, in particular the hot surface and/or the steam outlet, and the application member. This improves the treatment of the hair. In case the steam outlet of the device is close to the application member, the off-centered nature of the opening provided with the application member limits the steam to a small volume, making the heat treatment, in particular straightening, more efficient and reducing the risk of steam condensation. The reduced risk of condensation of steam on the device reduces the risk of scalding the user with water.

The mounting side is preferably provided with a profile extending along the reservoir for fastening to the processing device, the fastening profile being configured to be fastened to an insertion guide of the device, in particular by sliding on the insertion guide. Preferably, the fastening profile extends between the longitudinal axis of the reservoir and the treatment surface of the device when the refill is mounted on the device. Preferably, the fastening profile extends perpendicularly to the mounting side.

The fastening profile of the refill may have two profile elements which can be mounted in the insertion guide of the device and define a space between each other in which one or more components of the device can be mounted in order to perform at least one additional function if desired. The use of two profile elements also ensures that the refill remains correctly on the device.

Preferably, the fastening profile extends along more than 80% of the refill length in the insertion direction of the refill. This allows the refill to be effectively retained along its entire length.

Preferably, the fastening profile has in cross section the overall shape of a central T-shaped groove, which corresponds to the space between the two profile elements.

Preferably, the fastening profile, in particular one of the profile elements, comprises a hooked retention protrusion at its rear end, which protrusion is intended to engage with a clip of the device to hold the refill in place on the device. The term "rear end" refers to the end of the fastening profile intended to be mounted in the insertion guide first when the refill is fastened to the device.

Preferably, one of the profile elements, in particular one without the above-mentioned retaining projection, has a positioning finger at its rear end for easier positioning of the refill when it is inserted into the device. The positioning finger may have a chamfer to make it easier to install in the insertion guide of the device. The chamfer may be located on the edge opposite the retaining protrusion.

Preferably, the retaining projection is longer than the positioning finger.

Preferably, the width of the positioning finger extending from the profile element is not as great as the profile element. The positioning finger may have a discontinuity on the same side as the holding projection at the point of engagement with the profile element.

Preferably, the edge of the finger extending from the profile element opposite the holding projection is located in a continuation of the edge of the profile element.

In a variant, the reservoir has a fastening profile, in particular as described above, on the outer surface of the reservoir instead of the mounting side. In this case, the mounting side can be a surface, in particular a flat surface, which does not have a fastening relief facing the complementary surface of the device.

Preferably, the cavity is cylindrical, in particular having a substantially circular cross section. With a cylindrical reservoir having a circular base, a relatively large amount of cosmetic composition can be contained while there is good contact between the cosmetic composition and the application member. In this way, the dispensing of the cosmetic composition into the application member is improved, so that the cost and environmental impact of the refill can be optimized. Furthermore, the broad contact area between the application member and the composition contained in the reservoir promotes good impregnation of the application member, which may help ensure continued dispensing of the product upon a change in orientation of the device.

Preferably, the cosmetic composition contained in the reservoir is a liquid.

Preferably, the cosmetic composition is applied to the hair in a liquid state.

Preferably, the cavity is at least partially free of porous elements. The cosmetic composition is contained at least partially in the cavity in the free liquid state, that is to say without being impregnated in the porous element.

The internal volume of the reservoir may be less than or equal to 100mL, more preferably less than or equal to 50mL, especially 25mL to 5mL, still more preferably 15mL to 10mL.

The length of the cavity may be 30 to 200mm, more preferably 50 to 150mm, even more preferably 70 to 110mm.

The opening in the reservoir extends along a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reservoir.

Preferably, the length of the opening in the reservoir is substantially equal to the length of the cavity. This allows for good contact between the application member and the cosmetic composition, thereby improving the dispensing of the cosmetic composition into the application member and allowing the cost and environmental impact of the refill to be optimized.

Preferably, the opening has a constant width along its length and over its height.

In a variant, the opening has a variable width, in particular over its height. In cross section, the opening may have a greater width at the entrance to the cavity. This increases the contact area between the application member and the composition and avoids excessive compression of the composition while having a good seal between the application member and the opening, avoiding leakage of liquid. The opening may have a cross-section that widens towards the outside of the reservoir when the cross-section of the refill is viewed.

The reservoir may be opaque, translucent or transparent, preferably transparent. The reservoir may be opaque and have a translucent or transparent window.

The reservoir may have a cosmetic composition filling aperture closed by a removable stopper. In a variant, the reservoir is not intended to be refilled and does not have such a filling orifice separate from the opening into which the application member is fitted. When a filling aperture is provided, it is preferably located at the axial end of the refill, advantageously so that it can benefit from the cylindrical shape of the reservoir, so as to form a neck that allows for removable mounting of the stopper.

The reservoir may have removable or non-removable end caps. Such a cap may close the refill after it has been filled with the cosmetic composition during its manufacture and is not removable, in particular is press-fitted, glued or welded, with or without snap fastening. In a variant, the cover is removable, allowing the refill to be filled when empty. The cap may have a tubular sealing skirt.

The reservoir may not have an air inlet orifice. This is because the application member is sufficiently porous to allow air to enter. In a variant, the reservoir has an air inlet aperture. The size of the aperture is small enough to avoid leakage of liquid through the aperture when the refill is inverted.

Preferably, the length of the application member is substantially equal to or even slightly greater than the length of the opening in the reservoir, preferably substantially equal to or even slightly greater than the length of the cavity.

Preferably, the application member extends from the opening into the cavity over at least a portion of its height. Preferably, the application member does not fill the cavity.

Preferably, the opening has a median plane parallel to said median plane of the cavity in a cross-section through the refill. Preferably, the median plane of the opening is spaced from the median plane of the cavity by a non-zero distance, which is preferably constant along the longitudinal axis of the reservoir. Preferably, the distance between the median plane of the opening and the median plane of the cavity, measured perpendicular to the median plane of the cavity, is between 30% and 100%, still better between 70% and 100%, of the distance between the longitudinal axis of the reservoir and the side wall of the cavity. When the cavity is cylindrical with a circular bottom, the distance between the longitudinal axis of the reservoir and the side wall of the cavity (measured perpendicular to the median plane of the cavity) is the radius of the circular bottom.

Preferably, the application member is mounted in the reservoir when the refill is in use. This allows the position of the application member in the reservoir to be the same, irrespective of the height of the cosmetic composition within the cavity and the pressure exerted on the application member when the cosmetic composition is applied to the hair. Thus, the amount of cosmetic composition delivered when treating hair is relatively independent of the orientation of the refill. Thus, the application of the cosmetic composition by the application means is easier to control and reproduce. Furthermore, the fact that the application member is not movable limits the risk of leakage of the cosmetic composition at the opening.

Preferably, the application member abuts against a wall of the reservoir.

The application member may be positioned within the cavity against a side wall of the cavity. This allows the application member to be in contact with the cosmetic composition in the reservoir irrespective of the position of the refill, and the application member can be fixed when the device is in use.

The application member has an application portion extending out of the opening and the cavity, and a remainder portion extending through the opening into the reservoir and/or into the cavity. The application portion is preferably thicker than the rest. Preferably, when the refill is viewed in cross section, the thickness of the application portion is greater than the minimum width of the slot in said cross section, the width of the remaining portion being substantially equal to the minimum width of the slot in said cross section. This difference in thickness makes it possible to limit the travel of the application member inserted into the opening, the thickness of the application portion being too great to be inserted into the opening, ensuring that the application member is fixed when the device is in use. This also makes it possible to dispense with the presence of an additional seal. The application member may have a longitudinally extending relief, in particular a shoulder, between the application portion and the remainder, said relief abutting against a wall of the reservoir, in particular an outer wall of the reservoir defining the opening or a surface of the interior of the opening complementary to the shoulder.

The application member and the fastening system may be configured such that when the refill is mounted on the fastening member, the application member extends on a median plane substantially parallel to the mounting side plane.

The application member may be made of any material capable of transporting the cosmetic composition by capillary action while retaining the composition to avoid the composition from flowing out of the application member under its weight.

Preferably, the application member has sufficient stiffness to maintain its shape during application. This makes it possible to avoid "pumping effects", especially during administration.

The application member is preferably completely porous.

Preferably, the application member is made of felt. In the latter case, the fibres of the felt may all be oriented substantially in the same direction, these fibres being preferably oriented perpendicular to the surface of the lock of hair to be treated or parallel to the longitudinal direction of the application member.

In a variant, the application member is made of a sintered material, in particular plastic, preferably a thermoplastic sintered material, for example a sintered material of polyolefin, in particular PE, for example a sintered material sold under the number XS-49010 by Porex company.

The application member may be molded or preferably extruded.

Preferably, the application member has a substantially prismatic shape, in particular a parallelogram shape, in particular a positive parallelogram shape.

The application member may have a rounded application surface to facilitate application to hair.

The porosity of the application member, defined by the ratio of the pore volume to the total volume of the material, may be 0.05 to 2.

The density of the application member may be from 0.11 to 0.8g/cm ³, still more preferably from 0.25 to 0.5g/cm ³, still more preferably from 0.35 to 0.45g/cm ³.

This porosity allows the cosmetic composition to remain well in the application member while allowing good supply of the cosmetic composition to the application surface by capillary action. Preferably, the porosity of the application member is selected according to the viscosity of the cosmetic composition such that when the application member is oriented with the opening of the cavity downward, the application member is soaked with the cosmetic composition, but the composition does not flow out of the application member under the force of gravity.

The thickness of the application member may be less than or equal to 3cm, more preferably 0.5mm to 20mm, even more preferably 1mm to 8mm. This thickness allows the cosmetic composition to be able to easily soak the application member to the core between applications.

The cosmetic composition may be an anhydrous or aqueous composition.

Preferably, when the cosmetic composition is in oily form, the application member is hydrophobic. This may allow for better diffusion of the cosmetic composition in the application member.

Preferably, when the cosmetic composition is in aqueous form, the application member is hydrophilic. This may allow for better diffusion of the cosmetic composition in the application member.

Preferably, the application member is fixed, i.e. not removable, with respect to the reservoir. This ensures a better tightness of the reservoir and reduces the risk of contamination of the application member, thereby improving the hygiene of the refill.

In a variant, the application member is removably mounted in the reservoir. This allows for easy replacement of worn application members when desired, without the need to replace the reservoir. The application member may simply remain at the opening by friction.

The refill may have a removable cover configured to cover the application member, in particular the application portion of the application member, when the refill is not in use. The removable cover is preferably configured to prevent the refill from being mounted on the device when it is secured to the refill. The removable cover may extend between the fastening profile and the reservoir when mounted on the reservoir.

The removable cap may have an embossment or retaining system which may secure the cap to the refill when the refill is not mounted on the device. For example, the body of the cap has one or more embossments thereon, the shape of which is complementary to the one or more embossments of the outer surface of the reservoir, by which the complementary embossments cooperate, in particular by snap-fastening by means of one or more protrusions, in one or more recesses. In a variant, the retaining system has an at least partially flexible entrainment that is perforated or unperforated, preferably elastic, and is configured to wrap around the reservoir and retain the cap in place on the reservoir. Preferably, the entrainment is integrally formed with the remainder of the mask. The retaining system may also have a locking portion at its distal end configured to be fastened to the cap, in particular to one or more complementary locking members on the body, after the strap has been wrapped around the reservoir.

According to a second aspect of the invention, another subject of the invention is a refill for a device for treating hair, in particular heat-treating hair, having:

A reservoir having an elongated shape along a longitudinal axis, defining a cavity containing a cosmetic composition to be applied to the hair,

Profile for fastening to a treatment device, which extends along the longitudinal axis of the reservoir,

A porous application member for applying the composition to the hair, having an elongated shape and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reservoir, is mounted in a slot-shaped opening to the reservoir, which opening is laterally offset with respect to a median plane of the cavity containing said longitudinal axis towards the fastening profile.

Preferably, as mentioned above, the fastening profile is configured to extend between a median plane of the cavity containing the longitudinal axis of said reservoir and the treatment surface of the device when the refill is mounted on the device.

Features described above in relation to the first aspect of the invention also apply to the second aspect of the invention, alone or in combination.

According to a third aspect of the invention, another subject of the invention is a device for treating hair, in particular heat-treating hair, in particular straightening hair, having:

Two arms movable relative to each other between a moved-together configuration for treating hair and a spaced-apart configuration for inserting hair to be treated between the arms, the two movable arms defining a treatment surface between each other in the moved-together configuration,

-A refill as described above, removably mounted on one of the two arms.

Features described above in relation to the first aspect of the invention or the second aspect of the invention also apply to the third aspect of the invention, alone or in combination.

Preferably, one of the arms has a fastening system complementary to the fastening profile of the refill.

Preferably, the device has a heating element provided on one of the arms, the two movable arms defining a heat treatment surface therebetween at the heating element in a moved-together configuration.

Preferably, the device has a heating element intended to be in contact with the hair, in particular when the hair is to be straightened, and defines a treatment surface on the opposite arm facing it.

Preferably, the device has two heating elements intended to be in contact with the hair and arranged on one arm each, these elements defining a treatment surface between each other. The heating element or elements may each have a plate made of a material that is a good heat conductor, the plate defining a hot surface in contact with the hair, the temperature of said surface being for example greater than or equal to 95 ℃, still better from 90 to 230 ℃. In this case, the heating element defines a treatment surface.

Preferably, the device for treating hair according to the invention is a hair straightener with flat heating elements, which are in particular contacted in a moved together configuration of the arms.

Preferably, one of the arms, in particular the arm opposite to the arm provided with the refill, has a steam outlet.

Preferably, in the configuration of the arms moving together, the steam outlet is provided between a treatment surface defined by the heating element intended to be in contact with the hair and the application member of the refill.

Preferably, the distance of the application member from the steam outlet (measured between the median plane of the opening and the median plane of the steam outlet) is less than or equal to 10mm, even more preferably less than or equal to 8mm.

Preferably, the application member extends between the longitudinal axis of the reservoir and the treatment surface of the device. Preferably, in the moved-together configuration of the arms, the application member extends on a median plane perpendicular to the treatment surface.

The distance of the application member from the heating element (measured between the median plane of the opening and the edge of the heating element closest to the application member) is preferably less than or equal to 25mm, more preferably less than or equal to 20mm, even more preferably from 8 to 15mm.

Preferably, the application member has a side surface which is flush or in contact with the surface of the device, in particular with the surface of the arm on which the refill is mounted. This limits the refill contact area with the steam. In particular, the passage of the application member to the steam forms a seal.

The device may have a pressing element facing the application member, the pressing element being configured to press hair against the application member in a moved-together configuration of the arms. The pressing element is preferably mounted on a spring.

The pressing element may be configured to press hair against the application member with a constant force, in particular 1 to 5N, still better 2 to 4N. This constant force allows the cosmetic composition to be applied uniformly to the hair.

The device may have a comb, the application member extending between the comb and the heating element in the moved together configuration of the arms.

Preferably, the cosmetic composition is applied to a lock of hair introduced into the device before the application of the steam and/or straightening by the heating element and/or after combing. Thus, as the lock of hair moves between the arms of the device, the hair introduced between the arms may come into contact with the application member before being exposed to the steam and heating element.

Drawings

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example of a device for treating hair,

Figure 2 is a view of figure 1 taken along section II-II,

Figure 3 shows schematically a perspective view of an example of a refill according to the present invention,

Figure 4 is a view of the refill of figure 3 taken along section IV-IV,

Figure 5 shows schematically a partially exploded perspective view of the refill of figure 3,

Figure 6 shows an example of a device according to the invention,

Figure 7 shows the device of figure 6 when closed on a lock of hair to be treated,

Figure 8 shows the device of figures 6 and 7 closed during the treatment of a lock of hair,

FIG. 9 is a graph showing the relationship between the mass of a cosmetic composition applied by means of the device and the number of passes of the device according to the invention on a piece of absorbent paper,

Figure 10 shows schematically a cross-sectional view of a modified refill according to the present invention,

Figure 11 shows schematically a cross-sectional view of a modified device according to the invention,

Figure 12 shows schematically a cross-sectional view of a modified device according to the invention,

Fig. 13A schematically shows a modified refill according to the present invention, and

Fig. 13B schematically shows the protective cover of the refill of fig. 13A.

Detailed Description

In the rest of the description, identical or similar elements or elements having identical or similar functions bear the same reference numerals. For the sake of brevity, these elements are not repeatedly described for all the drawings, and only differences between the embodiments are pointed out.

Fig. 1 and 2 show an exemplary handpiece 2 of a device for heat treating hair in accordance with the present invention.

The handpiece 2 has two jaws 3 and 4 which are movable relative to each other between a spaced configuration (not shown) for introducing a lock of hair between said jaws and a moved-together configuration for treatment.

The jaws 3 and 4 are carried by an upper arm 5 and a lower arm 6, respectively, which are connected together at one end by a joint 8 in the example in question, the hand piece 2 thus forming a clamp.

The total length of each of the upper arm 5 and the lower arm 6 is preferably 22cm to 37cm, preferably 31cm, and defines between the joint 8 and the jaws 3 and 4 respective half grips 10 and 11 on which a user can press to move the jaws 3 and 4 together.

A resilient return member (not visible), such as a spring provided around the pin of the joint 8, is preferably provided to return the jaws 3 and 4 to the spaced arrangement.

The invention is not limited to one particular way of connecting the upper arm 5 and the lower arm 6 together, but the jaws 3 and 4 may be made movable in some other way without departing from the scope of the invention. However, the presence of a linker is highly preferred due to the ergonomics it provides.

The handpiece 2 is configured to heat treat hair by contact with two heating elements 15 and 16. The invention is not limited to the presence of two heating elements, but only one heating element may be present if desired.

The jaws 3 and 4 define, with each other, a surface 17 for treating the hair, intended to receive a lock of hair to be treated along which the handpiece 2 moves during the treatment, for example in the direction from the root to the tip of the hair.

In the present example in question, the handpiece 2 is configured to comb the hair by passing it through a comb 13, to apply a hair care product, to treat the hair by means of steam and then to heat treat the hair by contact with two heating elements 15 and 16.

The direction of movement D of the handpiece 2 over the hair (as shown in fig. 4) is preferably substantially perpendicular to the upper arm 5 and the lower arm 6.

In the example in question, the handpiece 2 is connected by wire to a base station (not shown) which is stationary during the process and is connected to a power supply.

The base station provides power to the handpiece 2 and also provides water for generating steam, as well as additional functions to process the electrical signals received from the handpiece 2. Thus, the wiring 18 connecting the handpiece 2 and the base station can have various electrical conductors and water supply pipes.

A user interface (not shown) may be present on the handpiece 2 to allow a user to activate or deactivate certain of the components, for example.

The heating elements 15 and 16 are made of any material suitable for the heat treatment to be carried out, for example metal, ceramic or glass in the form of a plate.

The surface condition of the plates of the heating elements 15 and 16 in the areas of contact with the hair depends on the desired heat treatment, preferably the plates are smooth when the device is used to straighten hair.

The length of the plate defines an extension of the treatment surface 17 perpendicular to the direction of movement D of the handpiece 2 relative to the hair. As shown in fig. 3, the plates of the heating elements 15 and 16 define, for example, a treatment surface 17 which is flat and has a rectangular profile.

For example, one of the plates of the heating elements 15 and 16 is mounted in a fixed manner on the respective arm, while the other is mounted in an articulated manner, for example by means of a ball joint, so that the plates of the heating elements 15 and 16 are parallel to each other and extend to the median treatment surface in the closed configuration of the jaws. If appropriate, at least one of the plates is provided on one of the arms 5 and 6, supported by the structure forming the spring.

The heating elements 15 and 16 may each have a resistance powered by the base station, preferably by one or more sensors disposed near the heating resistance or in contact with the plate.

The steam treatment is ensured by an evaporation member constituted by a resistive element present in an evaporation chamber 19, which evaporation chamber 19 is supplied with water by the base station. The base station may have an electrically driven pump, preferably a peristaltic pump, which draws water from the reservoir for delivery to the handpiece 2. Such a pump is disclosed, for example, in publication FR 2 967 018. The evaporation chamber may be manufactured according to the teachings of application EP 2449909A1 or in some other way and is in communication with at least one steam outlet.

The evaporation chamber 19 is provided on one arm (i.e. the lower arm 6 in the example discussed) and the steam outlet 58 is provided on the same arm 6.

The evaporating means are powered by a base station and the temperature sensor is advantageously arranged in the evaporating chamber 19. The base station may be manufactured to control the power supply to the evaporating means to maintain the steam temperature at the outlet 58 at a value of 110 ℃ to 130 ℃.

The evaporating member is mounted on one arm, in particular the lower arm 6.

The cosmetic composition is applied by means of a refill 20 carried by one of the two arms 5 or 6 (in this case the upper arm 5), which during the closing of the two arms, when there is no hair between the two arms, is in contact with a pressing element 21 provided on the arm, the arm provided with the pressing element 21 being opposite the arm carrying the refill 20 and facing the refill 20. The pressing element 21 extends along the longitudinal axis Y along the entire length of the refill 20. Refill 20 is elongate and extends along a respective arm 5 or 6.

The pressing element 21 is accommodated in the housing 38 through a front opening in the housing 38. The housing 38 is also open outwardly through at least one opening facing the application member 26.

In the example shown in fig. 2, the pressing element 21 is introduced into its housing 38 by sliding the ribs 45 on the housing 38 into the corresponding grooves 47 on the pressing element 21. Ribs 45 are provided on opposite side walls of the housing 38. Grooves 47 in the pressing member 21 are provided on the side walls of the pressing member 21, which face the side walls of the housing 38, respectively.

The pressing element 21 is movable along an axis Q perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y between a high position spaced apart from the bottom of the housing 38 in which it is housed and a low position moved together.

The pressing element 21 abuts against a support means 48, in particular one or more springs, extending into the housing 38 to allow a rocking movement of the pressing element 21 and to keep the pressing element 21 in a high position in the open position of the arms 5 and 6.

The stroke of the pressing element between its high and low positions is 1mm to 5mm, for example equal to about 3mm. The movement of the pressing element 21 is limited by the width l of the bottom or recess 47 of the housing 38.

The stroke of the pressing element 21 advantageously makes it possible to position the pressing element 21 in the closed position of the handpiece 2 so that the hair is substantially aligned, that is to say that there is no offset of a lock of hair between the portions located between the heating plates and between the pressing element and the application member. Furthermore, this allows to keep the hair on the application member with a constant and even pressure during use of the device. This allows for calibration and regular deposition of the cosmetic composition during the treatment and different treatment operations, in particular different straightening operations. Preferably, as shown in fig. 7 and 8, the pressing element 21 is configured to hold the hair in contact with the application member 26 with a force F of 1 to 5N, and more preferably 2 to 4N, independently of the clamping force applied by the user to the handpiece.

The width of the groove 47 in the pressing element 21 is greater than the thickness of the rib on the housing 38. This difference allows the pressing element 21 to move along the axis Q.

As can be seen more particularly in fig. 2, the refill 20 has a reservoir 23, the reservoir 23 having a body 30. The body 30 defines a cavity 32 containing the cosmetic composition in a free state. The refill 20 also has a porous applicator member 26 inserted into a slot-shaped opening 31 in the body 30, which is arranged to contact hair extending between the arms.

In the illustrated example, the reservoir 23 is elongate and extends along a longitudinal axis X and the cavity 32 is delimited by a side wall of the body 30 having a shape substantially in the form of a rotary cylinder along the longitudinal axis X. As can be seen in fig. 5, the cavity 32 is closed at its ends by a circular cap 33. The cap 33 allows the end of the cavity to be closed in a sealed manner after filling the cavity with the cosmetic composition during manufacture of the refill. The cover 33 may have a seal. It may be fastened by snap fasteners or some other means. The cap 33 may be removable or preferably permanently secured to the body 30 of the reservoir 23. The cover 33 may be arranged such that removal attempts result in the refill 20 being damaged, thereby preventing it from being reused.

The internal volume of cavity 32 may be substantially equal to 12mL.

Preferably, the cavity 32 extends along the longitudinal axis X along substantially the entire length of the arms 5 and 6.

The reservoir 23 has an inner radius K of, for example, 1mm to 10mm, in particular substantially equal to 7.5mm, and has a length L along the longitudinal axis X equal to about 87 mm.

The reservoir 23 contains the cosmetic composition in liquid form.

The reservoir 23 has a mounting side 36 for the refill which is configured to face the surface of the device when the refill 20 is mounted on the device. The mounting side 36 extends between the longitudinal axis X of the cavity and the treatment surface 17 of the device when the refill 20 is mounted on the device.

The opening 31 in the body 30 is provided in a portion of the body that is laterally offset towards the mounting side 36 with respect to a median plane M of the cavity 32, which is parallel to the mounting side 36 that contains the longitudinal axis X. The opening 31 opens on one side towards the outside of the body 30 of the refill 20, opens on the other side into the cavity 32 and extends along the entire length of the cavity 32. The opening 31 forms a groove in the body 30, which extends along a longitudinal axis O parallel to the longitudinal axis X and has a constant cross section along the longitudinal axis O.

The opening 31 and the application member 26 have the same median plane P, parallel to said median plane M of the cavity 32 and spaced from it by a distance d corresponding to a portion of 70% to 100% of the radius K of the cavity.

The application member 26 has a substantially rectangular parallelogram shape.

The application member 26 extends along the entire length of the opening 31 and fills it up to prevent any leakage of cosmetic product from the application member 26 through the opening 31.

In the example shown in fig. 1 to 5, the application member 26 has an application portion a outside the main body 30 and a remaining portion F for fastening thereof, which passes through the opening 31 and extends into the cavity 32. In the illustrated example, this portion F has a thickness E in a cross section through the refill that is smaller than the thickness E of the application portion a. Preferably, the thickness E of the application portion a is less than or equal to 10mm, more preferably less than or equal to 8mm, even more preferably less than or equal to 3mm. Preferably, the interface between the portion F and the application portion a is formed by a shoulder 34, which shoulder 34 abuts against the wall of the body 30 and prevents the insertion of the application portion a into the opening 31.

Preferably, the application member 26, in particular the portion F thereof, extends partially into the cavity 32.

The body 30 is made of a thermoplastic material, such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), polypropylene, copolyester, in particularAn elastomer or a mixture thereof, in particular a mixture of PBT and PET. Preferably, the body 30 is transparent.

The application member 26 may have a rectangular parallelogram shape. Thus, the application member 26 has a substantially flat application surface 37 which is intended to be in contact with the hair to be treated.

In the illustrated example, the application member 26 is porous. For example, it comprises a mixture of 50% polyethylene and 50% polypropylene.

In the present embodiment, the material constituting the application member 26 is felt. The fibres of the felt may be oriented parallel to the surface of the lock to be treated, the fibres preferably being oriented substantially in the longitudinal direction of the application member, perpendicular to the direction D of passage of the hair. According to a variant, the fibres of the felt of the application member are oriented perpendicular to the surface of the lock to be treated, and therefore perpendicular to the direction D and to the longitudinal direction of the application member 26.

In a variant, the application member 26 is made of a porous and hydrophobic sintered material, in particular of PE, for example sold by the company Porex

The density of the application member 26 is preferably 0.35 to 0.45g/cm ³, for example substantially equal to 0.4g/cm ³.

Preferably, the refill 20 is manufactured such that the application member 26 cannot be manually removed from the refill 20 through the opening 31 without damaging the refill 20, in particular the application member 26 and/or the body 30. In a variant, the application member 26 is mounted so as to be manually removable from the body of the refill 20.

The refill 20 preferably has a fastening profile 40 by means of which the refill 20 is fastened to one of the arms 5 or 6. The fastening profile 40 is inserted into a complementary shaped slide 41 on the arm 5 or 6.

Preferably, the fastening profile 40 extends from the mounting side 36 between the longitudinal axis X of the reservoir and the treatment surface 17 of the device when the refill 20 is mounted on the device.

In the illustrated example, the fastening profile 40 has the overall shape of a T, allowing the refill 20 to be correctly held on the arm 5 or 6. As shown in fig. 3 to 5, the fastening profile 40 can have two profile elements 42 and 44 mounted to slides 41 provided on the respective arms. However, any other means of securing the refill may be used to enable it to be removably mounted on the device.

The refill 20 may have a hook 50 extending from the rear end of one of the two profile elements 42 or 44 and intended to cooperate with a clip to hold the refill in place, the hook 50 being snap-fastened in the clip, for example at its end inserted into the device, and being able to be withdrawn therefrom by a push/pull type or similar mechanism.

The refill may also have locating fingers 80 extending from the rear end of the profile element 42 or 44 that do not carry the hooks 50, which make it easier for the profile elements 42 and 44 to locate relative to the slideway of the device when the refill 20 is secured.

The positioning finger 80 may have a chamfer 82 on its edge opposite the hook 50. Such chamfer 82 makes positioning easier.

The finger 80 may also form a discontinuity 84 on the same side as the hook 50 at the point where it intersects the profile element 44, the width of the finger 80 extending from the profile element 44 being smaller than the profile element 44. Thus, the refill 20 has a wider space 86 between the finger 80 and the hook 50 than the space between the two profile elements 42 and 44. Such a space 86 makes it easier to fasten the hook 50 to the clip of the corresponding device.

The hook 50 may extend further rearward than the locating finger 80 so that the locating finger 80 does not interfere with the snap fastening of the hook 50 to the clip of the device.

As shown in fig. 3-5, the refill 20 has a protective cover 100 for the removable application member 26. The cap 100 covers the application portion a of the application member 26, which extends from the body 30 of the refill 20, so as to protect the refill 20 from the external environment when it is not in use, and to limit drying out of the cosmetic composition contained in the application member 26. As shown in fig. 4, the cover 100 may be held in place on the body 30 by complementary embossments 102 provided on the body 30.

When mounted on the refill 20, the protective cover 100 extends partially between the fastening elements 42 and 44 and the body of the refill to prevent insertion of the refill into the chute 41. Thus, the risk of forgetting to remove the cover during use is avoided.

In the example shown in fig. 6 to 8, the handpiece 2 has a comb 13, which is located in front of the application member 26 and the pressing element 21 in the direction of movement D of the handpiece 2. The comb 13 may be integral with the pressing element 21, in particular integrally formed with the pressing element 21.

The comb 13 extends parallel to the pressing element 21 and along substantially its entire length. It has a plurality of teeth 55.

When the handpiece 2 is used, as shown in figures 7 and 8, the user closes the two arms 5 and 6 on a lock of hair and moves the handpiece 2 from the root of the hair to the top of the hair in the closed position. The following operations are performed on the hair:

Firstly combed by a comb 13, which aligns the hair with the treatment (in particular straightening) axis,

The hair is then pressed by the pressing element 21 against the application member 26, maintaining a constant and uniform pressure on the treated lock of hair, applying the product,

Steam is then applied through the steam outlet 58 in a space 110, which space 110 is delimited on one side by the application member 26 (the application member 26 resting on the hair on the pressing element 21), on the other side by the two heating elements 15 and 16 resting on the hair, and

Finally between the two heating elements 15 and 16.

In the present invention, the application member 26 is offset towards the mounting side 36 and thus towards the treatment surface 17 such that the volume of the space 110 is reduced compared to a refill-centric application member, in particular the refill-centric application member has a volume of 1.1 to 2 times, even more preferably 1.2 to 1.5 times the volume of the space 110. This restriction of the steam results in a higher concentration of steam in contact with the hair, thereby improving the treatment effect, in particular the straightening effect. Furthermore, this positioning of the application member 26 makes it possible to limit the area of the body 30 of the refill 20 and the handpiece 2 that is in contact with the steam during treatment, thereby reducing the effect of condensation of the steam (which occurs when the steam is in contact with a cold surface), thus increasing the safety of the handpiece in particular from an electrical point of view.

Preferably, the volume of the space 110 is 100mm ³ to 2000mm ³, still more preferably 700mm ³ to 1200mm ³, for example about 1000mm ³.

In the variant shown in fig. 6 to 8, the application member 26 abuts against the inner wall of the cavity 32. Such abutment may prevent displacement of the application member due to the force exerted by the pressing element 21 when the refill is in use. Thus, the shoulder present between application part a and part F is not useful for obtaining this result.

The refill shown in fig. 10 differs from the refill of fig. 1 to 5 in that the opening 31 has a widened portion 120 at the point of entry into the cavity 32. Such a widened portion 120 allows the application member to be more or less in permanent contact with the cosmetic composition, independently of its level in the cavity 32.

The refill shown in fig. 11 differs from the refill of fig. 1 to 5 in that the opening 31 has an outwardly widening 122.

In the variant shown in fig. 12, the fastening profile 40 is positioned on the body 30 in a different manner than described in the previous figures, in particular not on the mounting side 36. The fastening profile 40 is positioned on the outer surface of the reservoir, which extends over the top of the refill with respect to the opening, and the device is configured such that the complementary ramp 41 is positioned facing the pressing element on the arm 5 carrying the refill.

In a variation, as shown in fig. 13A and 13B, the boot 100 has a body 130, one or more flexible straps 132 extending from the body 130 and configured to wrap around the refill to hold the cap 100 in place, and a locking member 134 at a distal end of the straps configured to be secured by a securing device 136 of the body 130 of the cap once the straps have been wrapped around the refill. The strap 132 is integrally formed with the body 130. During mounting of the cap 100 on the reservoir, the body 130 of the cap is mounted on the reservoir so as to cover the application member 26, and then the strap 132 is wrapped around the reservoir with the locking means 134 at its distal end being secured to the body 130 to hold the cap 100 in place.

Examples

The hair care composition is applied to a piece of absorbent paper using the hand piece 2 and the refill 20 mounted on the hand piece 2 as described above with respect to figures 1 to 5.

In this example, the density of the applicator member 26 is 0.4g/cm ³ and the volume of the reservoir is 12mL.

The handpiece 2 loaded with refill 20 is passed several times over the sheet of paper, measuring the mass of cosmetic composition applied to the paper from the reservoir on each pass; a curve corresponding to the variation of the mass M of the cosmetic composition applied at each pass with the number of passes N is given in figure 9. Measurements were made during several time intervals of application T1 to T6 without replacement of refill 20 or refilling of cosmetic composition. Between two successive applications T1 to T6, a cap 100 is provided on the refill 20 to prevent the application member 26 from drying out. Figure 9 shows the different measurements for each application.

These curves show that the mass of the cosmetic composition per pass is substantially constant during one application, and that the mass of the cosmetic composition applied is also substantially constant during two time intervals of application, without the need to refill the reservoir with cosmetic product. However, it is useful to apply the cap 100 between applications to prevent the cosmetic composition from drying out between applications.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment just described, the features of which can be combined with one another in variants that are not shown.

For example, the fastening profile may be provided on the refill in some other way, the cavity may be cylindrical with a polygonal base, the cover may be fastened on the refill in some other way, in particular it may not prevent the refill from being mounted on the handpiece.

Claims

1. A refill (20) for a device (2) for treating hair, having:

-a reservoir (23) having an elongated shape along a longitudinal axis (X), said reservoir (23) defining a cavity (32) containing a cosmetic composition to be applied to the hair, said reservoir (23) having a mounting side (36) for mounting the refill on the device, said mounting side (36) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) of the reservoir,

-A porous application member (26) for applying a cosmetic composition to the hair, said porous application member (26) having an elongated shape and extending parallel to a longitudinal axis (X) of said reservoir (23), said application member (26) being mounted in a slot-shaped opening (31) of said reservoir (23), said opening leading into said cavity (32), this opening (31) being laterally offset with respect to a median plane (M) of said cavity (32) towards a mounting side (36), said median plane containing the longitudinal axis (X) of said reservoir (23) and being parallel to said mounting side (36).

2. Refill according to claim 1, wherein the mounting side (36) is provided with a profile (40) extending along the reservoir for fastening to the device, the profile (40) being configured to be fastened to an insertion guide (41) of the device, the opening (31) opening out between a longitudinal axis (X) of the reservoir and the profile (40).

3. Refill according to claim 1, wherein the cavity (32) is cylindrical.

4. Refill according to claim 1, wherein the opening (31) has a constant width along its length over its height.

5. Refill according to claim 1, wherein the application member (26) extends through the opening (31) into the cavity (32) over at least a portion of its height.

6. Refill according to claim 1, wherein the opening (31) has, in a cross-section through the refill, a median plane (P) parallel to the median plane (M) of the cavity (32), and the median plane (P) of the opening (31) is spaced from the median plane (M) of the cavity (32) by a non-zero distance d.

7. Refill according to claim 6, wherein, in a cross-section through the refill, the distance d between the median plane (P) of the opening (31) and the median plane (M) of the cavity (32) is measured perpendicular to the median plane (M) of the cavity, which distance is constant along the longitudinal axis (X) of the reservoir and corresponds to a fraction of 30% to 100% of the distance K between the longitudinal axis (X) of the reservoir and the side walls of the cavity (32).

8. Refill according to claim 1, wherein the application member (26) abuts against a wall of the reservoir (23).

9. Refill according to claim 1, wherein the application member (26) has an application portion (a) extending at least partially out of the opening (31) and the cavity (32) and a remaining portion (F) extending through the opening (31) into the reservoir and into the cavity (32), the application portion (a) being thicker than the remaining portion (F).

10. Refill according to claim 9, wherein the application member (26) has a shoulder (34) against the wall of the reservoir (23) between the application portion (a) and the remaining portion (F).

11. Refill according to claim 1, wherein the application member (26) is made of felt.

12. The refill of claim 1, having a removable cap (100) configured to cover the application member (26).

13. A device (2) for heat treating hair, having:

-two arms (5, 6), said two arms (5, 6) being movable relative to each other between a configuration for moving together the hair to be treated and a spaced configuration for inserting the hair to be treated between said arms, the two movable arms (5, 6) defining a treatment surface (17) between each other in said moved-together configuration,

-A refill (20) according to claim 1, removably mounted on one of the two arms (5, 6).

14. A device as claimed in claim 13, said device having a heating element (15, 16) intended to be in contact with the hair, the heating element (15, 16) defining said treatment surface (17) with opposite arms facing the heating element.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the device has two heating elements (15, 16) intended to be in contact with the hair, the two heating elements (15, 16) being respectively arranged on the arms and defining the treatment surface (17) between each other.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein one of the arms (5, 6) has a steam outlet (58).

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the steam outlet (58) is arranged between the treatment surface (17) defined by the heating elements (15, 16) for contact with hair and an application member (26) of the refill (20).

18. The device according to claim 16, wherein the application member (26) has a distance v from the steam outlet (58), measured between a median plane (P) of the opening (31) and a median plane (S) of the steam outlet (58), of less than or equal to 10mm.

19. The device according to claim 13, having a pressing element (21) facing the application member (26) configured to press hair towards the application member (26) in a configuration in which the arms (5, 6) are moved together.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the pressing element (21) is mounted on a spring (48) configured to press hair with a constant force against the application member (26).