CN116507240A

CN116507240A - Hair care appliance

Info

Publication number: CN116507240A
Application number: CN202180073620.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: R·博蒙特; R·库尔顿; N·伊姆哈斯利
Original assignee: Dyson Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Dyson Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2020-11-02
Filing date: 2021-10-14
Publication date: 2023-07-28
Also published as: US20230413969A1; GB2600474B; GB202017310D0; GB2600474A; WO2022090686A1

Abstract

A hair care appliance is described having first and second arms defining a hair treatment chamber, an infrared emitter configured to emit infrared radiation toward the hair treatment chamber, and an air flow generator configured to generate an air flow within the hair treatment chamber. The hair treatment chamber includes a minimum width of greater than 5mm.

Description

Hair care appliance

Technical Field

The invention relates to a hair care appliance.

Background

Conventional hair straighteners utilize a heating plate to contact and style hair during use. Blowers are commonly used to dry hair via convective heating of the air stream. Such convection heating may be relatively inefficient.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides a hair care appliance comprising first and second arms defining a hair treatment chamber, an infrared emitter configured to emit infrared radiation into the hair treatment chamber, and an air flow generator configured to generate an air flow within the hair treatment chamber, wherein the hair treatment chamber comprises a minimum width of greater than 5mm.

The use of an air flow generator configured to generate an air flow within the hair treatment chamber allows air containing vaporized liquid within the hair treatment chamber to be removed from the chamber and thus away from the hair within the hair treatment chamber. This may reduce the effect of evaporating liquid in use on hair drying or styling within the hair treatment chamber. Providing a hair treatment chamber having a minimum width of greater than 5mm ensures that the pressure generated within the hair treatment chamber by the air flow during use is not excessive.

The airflow generator may be configured to generate the airflow at a flow rate of greater than 4L/s, greater than 8L/s, greater than 10L/s, or greater than 12L/s. This ensures that the evaporated liquid is removed from the hair treatment chamber at a sufficient rate so that in use the evaporated liquid does not adversely affect the drying time of the hair located within the hair treatment chamber. The airflow generator may be configured to generate airflow at a flow rate of about 13L/s.

The airflow generator may comprise a motor driven impeller.

The hair care appliance may comprise a hair straightener. The first arm and the second arm may be opposite each other, for example, such that a hair treatment chamber is defined between the first arm and the second arm.

The hair treatment chamber may be open to ambient air. For example, at least one side of the process chamber may be open to ambient air. This may enable air containing evaporated liquid to be removed from the hair treatment chamber in use, for example by the action of an air flow from an air flow generator within the hair treatment chamber.

The first arm and the second arm are movable relative to each other to selectively vary the width of the hair treatment chamber. The relative movement of the first and second arms to selectively vary the width of the hair treatment chamber may allow for different volumes of hair to be accommodated while ensuring that the hair treatment chamber has a minimum width of greater than or equal to 5mm may ensure that the pressure within the hair treatment chamber due to the air flow is not excessive in use.

The infrared emitter may be configured to emit infrared radiation comprising a peak wavelength greater than 900 nm. This may allow the hair to dry relatively quickly compared to, for example, an emitter configured to emit radiation having a peak wavelength less than 900 nm. The infrared emitter may be configured to emit infrared radiation comprising a peak wavelength in the range of 1000-3500nm, for example a peak wavelength in the range of 2000-3000 nm. This may allow for efficient drying of hair contained within the hair treatment chamber in use. The infrared emitter may be configured to emit infrared radiation that targets the evaporation of water. The infrared emitter may be configured to emit infrared radiation having a peak wavelength less than 1mm. The infrared emitter may be configured to emit broadband infrared radiation having a peak wavelength in the range of 1000-3500nm, for example in the range of 2000-3000 nm.

The infrared emitter may be located in one of the first arm and the second arm. This may position the infrared emitter in the area of the hair treatment chamber defined by the first and second arms and may provide a relatively short path for infrared radiation to reach the hair treatment chamber when emitted by the infrared emitter. The first and/or second arm may comprise an infrared transmissive window, for example a window through which in use infrared radiation emitted by the infrared emitter may pass. The infrared transmissive window can have a length that substantially corresponds to the length of the infrared emitter.

The infrared emitter may extend along at least 50% of the length of the hair treatment chamber, for example along at least 60%, at least 70% or at least 80% of the length of the hair treatment chamber. The length of the infrared emitter may be at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70% or at least 80% of the length of the hair treatment chamber. This may maximize the area of the hair treatment chamber where the infrared radiation emitted by the infrared emitter may be used to dry the hair, which may result in a more efficient drying process.

The infrared transmissive window may extend along at least 50% of the length of the hair treatment chamber, for example along at least 60%, at least 70% or at least 80% of the length of the hair treatment chamber. The infrared transmissive window may have a length of at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70% or at least 80% of the length of the hair treatment chamber. This may maximize the area of the hair treatment chamber where the infrared radiation emitted by the infrared emitter may be used to dry the hair, which may result in a more efficient drying process.

The hair care appliance may include another infrared emitter located in the other of the second arm and the first arm. This may enable a more efficient drying process by applying infrared radiation to opposite sides of hair which, in use, are located within the hair treatment chamber. The other infrared emitter may be configured to emit infrared radiation comprising a peak wavelength greater than 900 nm. This may allow the hair to dry relatively quickly compared to, for example, an emitter configured to emit radiation having a peak wavelength less than 900 nm.

The infrared emitter and the further infrared emitter may be independently actuatable, for example, such that the hair care appliance may operate only when one of the infrared emitter and the further infrared emitter is turned on. This may allow for greater flexibility in drying and/or styling than, for example, devices where both the infrared emitter and the other infrared emitter are not independently controlled. The other infrared emitter may be configured to emit infrared radiation comprising a peak wavelength of less than 900 nm. This may allow, for example, an infrared emitter to be used for hair drying in a hair treatment chamber and another infrared emitter to be used for hair styling in a hair treatment chamber, as radiation having a smaller wavelength may be more suitable for styling and radiation having a larger wavelength may be more suitable for drying.

The second or first arm may comprise a further infrared transmissive window, for example a window through which in use infrared radiation emitted by the further infrared emitter may pass. The further infrared transmission window may have a length substantially corresponding to the length of the further infrared emitter.

The other infrared emitter may comprise a length substantially corresponding to the length of the infrared emitter. The further infrared emitter may extend along at least 50% of the length of the hair treatment chamber, for example along at least 60%, at least 70% or at least 80% of the length of the hair treatment chamber. The length of the further infrared emitter may be at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70% or at least 80% of the length of the hair treatment chamber. This may maximize the area of the hair treatment chamber where infrared radiation emitted by another infrared emitter may be used to dry the hair, which may result in a more efficient drying process.

The further infrared transmissive window may extend along at least 50% of the length of the hair treatment chamber, for example along at least 60%, at least 70% or at least 80% of the length of the hair treatment chamber. The length of the further infrared transmissive window may be at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70% or at least 80% of the length of the hair treatment chamber. This may maximize the area of the hair treatment chamber where infrared radiation emitted by another infrared emitter may be used to dry the hair, which may result in a more efficient drying process.

One of the first arm and the second arm may include an air outlet through which the air flow from the air flow generator is discharged into the hair treatment chamber. Positioning the air outlet on one of the first arm and the second arm may provide the air outlet proximate the hair treatment chamber. The air outlet may be located on the same arm that houses the infrared emitter. This ensures that the air flow is delivered to the same side of the hair in the hair treatment chamber which is heated by the infrared radiation from the infrared emitter. The air flow discharged into the hair treatment chamber through the air outlet may comprise a temperature of less than 60 ℃, less than 50 ℃ or less than 40 ℃.

The length of the air outlet may be greater than or equal to the length of the infrared emitter. This ensures that an air stream can be provided to remove evaporated liquid from the hair treatment chamber along the length of the infrared emitter. The air outlet may extend along at least 50% of the length of the hair treatment chamber, for example along at least 60%, at least 70% or at least 80% of the length of the hair treatment chamber. The length of the air outlet may be at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70% or at least 80% of the length of the hair treatment chamber. The air outlet may comprise a width of less than or equal to 4mm, such as less than or equal to 2mm, less than or equal to 1.5mm, or less than or equal to 1mm.

The air outlet may comprise a single aperture, for example a single continuous slot. This may enable a concentrated air flow to be provided along the length of the infrared emitter, which may be effective in use to remove evaporated liquid from the hair treatment chamber.

The hair care appliance may include an air inlet, the airflow generator may be configured to generate an airflow along an airflow path from the air inlet to the air outlet, and the infrared emitter may be disposed in the airflow path. This may be beneficial because the airflow may provide a cooling effect to the infrared emitters, for example, to drive the electronics of the infrared emitters. The hair care appliance may be configured such that in use the air flow within the hair treatment chamber has a temperature of less than 60 ℃, less than 50 ℃ or less than 40 ℃.

The other of the second arm and the first arm may include another air outlet through which the air flow from the air flow generator is discharged into the hair treatment chamber. Providing an air outlet on each of the first and second arms may allow the air flow to be evenly distributed within the hair treatment chamber in use, and may provide improved efficiency in removing evaporated liquid from within the hair treatment chamber. This may allow for uniform drying of hair located on opposite sides of the hair treatment chamber in use.

The further air outlet may comprise a length substantially corresponding to the length of the infrared emitter or the further infrared emitter. This ensures that an air stream can be provided to remove evaporated liquid from the hair treatment chamber along the length of the infrared emitter or another infrared emitter. The further air outlet may extend along at least 50% of the length of the hair treatment chamber, for example along at least 60%, at least 70% or at least 80% of the length of the hair treatment chamber. The length of the further air outlet may be at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70% or at least 80% of the length of the hair treatment chamber. The other air outlet may comprise a width of less than or equal to 4mm, for example less than or equal to 2mm, less than or equal to 1.5mm, or less than or equal to 1mm.

The other air outlet may comprise a single aperture, for example a single continuous slot. This may enable a concentrated air flow to be provided along the length of the infrared emitter, which may be effective in use to remove evaporated liquid from the hair treatment chamber.

The airflow generator may be configured to generate an airflow from the air inlet to the other air outlet along the other airflow path, and the other infrared emitter may be disposed in the other airflow path. This may be beneficial because the air flow may provide a cooling effect to the other infrared emitter, e.g. the electronics driving the other infrared emitter.

Each of the first and second arms may include a hair contacting rib. This may enable hair to be clamped and tensioned between the first and second arms in a manner similar to a conventional hair straightener. The hair contacting ribs may be opposite each other on the first and second arms. The hair contacting ribs may limit movement of the first arm and the second arm relative to one another, for example, such that when the hair contacting ribs contact one another, the hair treatment chamber adopts a configuration having its minimum width. This ensures that the hair is free to move within the hair treatment chamber during use.

The airflow generator may comprise a motor driven impeller.

The infrared emitter may comprise an incandescent source of infrared radiation, such as a source configured to emit infrared radiation due to the temperature of the source.

The infrared emitter may be configured to output a signal comprising greater than 10W/cm ² More than 15W/cm ² Or greater than 20W/cm ² Such as the power density measured at hair located within the hair treatment chamber. Such a power density may provide relatively fast drying times for hair located within the hair treatment chamber during use.

The hair care appliance may include a power rating of greater than 1000W, greater than 1500W, or greater than 1600W.

The hair care appliance may include a first mode of operation in which the infrared emitter is configured to output infrared radiation including a first power density and a second mode of operation in which the infrared emitter is configured to output infrared radiation including a second power density less than the first power density, and the first power density is greater than 10W/cm ² . This may enable the hair care appliance to operate in different modes, such as a first drying mode in which high power density infrared radiation is emitted to dry hair within the hair treatment cavity and a second styling mode in which low power density infrared radiation is emitted to style hair within the hair treatment cavity.

The airflow generator may be configured to generate an airflow at a first flow rate in the first mode of operation and to generate an airflow at a second flow rate less than the first flow rate in the second mode of operation. This may enable a high airflow rate to effectively remove evaporated liquid from the hair treatment chamber as the hair dries, but a lower, milder airflow rate facilitates styling.

The infrared emitter may comprise a tungsten halogen lamp.

The hair care appliance may comprise a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of hair within the hair treatment chamber in use, and a controller responsive to the output of the temperature sensor to modify the power supplied to the infrared emitter and/or to the further infrared emitter. This may provide a feedback loop that enables the infrared emitter to provide only the power required for a given hair temperature, which may be indicative of the humidity of the hair, which may provide improved efficiency compared to a corresponding arrangement without a temperature sensor. This may also enable automatic switching between the first and second modes, and may reduce the level of user interaction required with the hair care appliance.

The temperature sensor may comprise a non-contact temperature sensor, such as an infrared temperature sensor.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a hair care appliance according to the present invention;

fig. 2 is a first schematic cross-sectional view of the hair care appliance of fig. 1;

fig. 3 is a second schematic cross-sectional view of the hair care appliance of fig. 1, orthogonal to the first schematic cross-sectional view of fig. 2; and

fig. 4 is a third schematic cross-sectional view of the hair care appliance of fig. 1, orthogonal to the first schematic cross-sectional view of fig. 2 and the second schematic cross-sectional view of fig. 3.

Detailed Description

Figures 1-4 schematically illustrate a hair care appliance according to the present invention, generally designated 10.

The hair care appliance 10 includes a body 12 and first and second arms 14, 16 pivotally connected to the body 12. The hair care appliance 10 may take the general form of a hair straightener.

The body 12 is generally tubular and hollow in form and houses an airflow generator 18, a power source 20, and a controller 22. The body 12 has an air inlet 24, the air inlet 24 comprising a plurality of apertures and the airflow generator 18 comprising a motor driven impeller to draw airflow into the body 12 via the air inlet 24. One example of a suitable airflow generator 18 is manufactured by dyson technologies, incDigital motor V9.

The power supply 20 is a battery configured to provide DC power to the airflow generator 18 and other electronic components of the hair care appliance, such as infrared emitters 26, 28 disposed in the first and second arms 14, 16, as will be discussed below. Although shown here as including the power source 20, it should be understood that in alternative embodiments, the hair care appliance may include an electrical connection for connection to an AC mains power source, e.g., with appropriate circuitry for converting AC power to DC power for the airflow generator 18.

Controller 22 is configured to control airflow generator 18 and infrared emitters 26, 28, as discussed in more detail below. Although shown here as a single controller 22 controlling both the airflow generator 18 and the infrared emitters 26, 28, it should be understood that embodiments having multiple controllers are also contemplated, and in such embodiments, the controllers for the infrared emitters 26, 28 may be provided in the first arm 14 and/or the second arm 16, for example. The body 12 has a user interface 30, which may take the form of, for example, a button or touch sensitive display, and first and second air outlets 32, 34, as schematically shown in fig. 2, that enable air flow from the air flow generator 18 to enter the interiors of the first and second arms 14, 16. The first and second air outlets 32, 34 of the body 12 may be flexible or extendable conduits to allow for relative movement between the first and second arms 14, 16 and the body 12 in use.

The first and second arms 14, 16 are generally hollow and each has a first portion 36 and a second portion 38. The first portion 36 is located in the region of the body 12 and the first portion 36 has a hollow portion (not shown) in which the body 12 may be received to varying degrees depending on whether the first and second arms 14, 16 are in the open, closed, or any state between the open and closed configurations. As shown in fig. 1, the first and second arms 14, 16 are normally biased toward the open configuration in the absence of any other applied force. The first portion 36 defines a handle portion of the hair care appliance 10 that a user can grasp to selectively move the first arm 14 and the second arm 16 relative to one another.

The second portions 38 of the first and second arms 14, 16 are spaced apart to define a hair treatment chamber 40 therebetween. The hair treatment chamber 40 has a maximum width when the first arm 14 and the second arm 16 are in the open configuration of fig. 1, and the hair treatment chamber 40 has a minimum width when the first arm 14 and the second arm 16 are in the closed configuration shown in fig. 4. A user of hair care appliance 10 can selectively vary the width of hair treatment chamber 40 between a maximum width and a minimum width by applying pressure to first arm 14 and second arm 16, typically in the region of first portion 36.

The second portions 38 of the first and second arms 14, 16 each house a respective infrared emitter 26, 28 and each include hair-contact ribs 42, 44, air outlets 46, 48, and infrared-transmissive windows 50, 52, as shown in fig. 4.

Each infrared emitter 26, 28 extends along the length of the second portion 38 of its respective arm 14, 16, with the infrared emitters 26, 28 extending along at least 50% of the length of the hair treatment chamber 40, and in the embodiment of fig. 1-4 along about 75% of the length of the hair treatment chamber 40. The infrared emitters 26, 28 in the embodiment of fig. 1-4 are tungsten halogen lamps, which are incandescent sources of infrared radiation.

Each hair contacting rib 42, 44 extends along an inwardly facing surface of a respective one of the first arm 14 and the second arm 16. Each hair contacting rib 42, 44 extends along the length of the second portion 38 of its respective arm 14, 16, wherein the hair contacting ribs 42, 44 extend along at least 50% of the length of the hair treatment chamber 40, and in the embodiment of fig. 1-4 extend along about 75% of the length of the hair treatment chamber 40. The length of each hair-contacting rib 42, 44 substantially corresponds to the length of the respective infrared emitter 26, 28, air outlet 46, 48, and infrared-transmissive window 50, 52.

The hair contacting ribs 42, 44 are for contacting hair in use, such as tensioning hair held within the hair treatment chamber 40, and each hair contacting rib 42, 44 is formed of a material, such as aluminum coated, such that the hair care appliance 10 is capable of sliding along the hair when the hair is held between the hair contacting ribs 42, 44.

A hair treatment chamber 40 is defined between the first arm 14 and the second arm 16, with hair contact ribs 42, 44 being provided above the hair treatment chamber 40 in fig. 4. The hair contacting ribs 42, 44 are sized such that when the hair contacting ribs 42, 44 are in full contact with hair 56 in use and the first arm 14 and the second arm 16 cannot move closer together, the hair treatment chamber 40 is at its minimum width. A suitable minimum width of hair treatment chamber 40 is 5mm or greater, as will be discussed below.

Each air outlet 46, 48 extends along an inwardly facing surface of a respective one of the first and second arms 14, 16. Each air outlet 46, 48 extends along the length of the second portion 38 of its respective arm 14, 16, with the air outlets 46, 48 extending along at least 50% of the hair treatment chamber 40, and in the embodiment of fig. 1-4 along about 75% of the length of the hair treatment chamber 40. The length of each air outlet 46, 48 corresponds substantially to the length of the corresponding infrared emitter 26, 28, hair-contact rib 42, 44, and infrared-transmissive window 50, 52.

Each air outlet 46, 48 is disposed on the respective arm 14, 16 between the hair-contact rib 42, 44 and the corresponding infrared-transmissive window 50, 52. In the embodiment of fig. 1-4, the air outlets 46, 48 comprise generally rectangular slots formed in the walls of the respective first and second arms 14, 16, each slot having a width of 2mm or less, typically between 1-1.5 mm.

In use, the air outlets 46, 48 receive an air flow from the air flow generator 18 via the first air outlet 32 and the second air outlet 34 of the body 12. As shown in fig. 4, the air outlets 46, 48 are inclined relative to the hair contacting ribs 42, 44 and the infrared transmissive windows 50, 52 and are angled to facilitate the introduction of an air stream into the hair treatment chamber 40 during use. The infrared emitters 26, 28 are disposed between respective first and second air outlets 32, 34 of the body 12 and respective air outlets 46, 48 of the first and second arms 14, 16 such that, in use, air flows through the infrared emitters 26, 28. In particular, air may flow through the drive electronics of the infrared emitters 26, 28, which may enable cooling of the drive electronics in use.

Each infrared-transmissive window 50, 52 extends along an inwardly facing surface of a respective one of the first arm 14 and the second arm 16. Each infrared-transmissive window 50, 52 extends along the length of the second portion 38 of its respective arm 14, 16, with the infrared-transmissive windows 50, 52 extending along at least 50% of the hair treatment chamber 40, and in the embodiment of fig. 1-4 along about 75% of the length of the hair treatment chamber 40. The length of each air outlet 46, 48 corresponds substantially to the length of the corresponding infrared emitter 26, 28, hair-contact rib 42, 44, and air outlet 46, 48.

The infrared-transmissive windows 50, 52 form a portion of the surface of the respective arms 14, 16 and define at least a portion of the hair treatment chamber 40, as shown in fig. 4. The infrared transmissive windows 50, 52 are generally rectangular and are formed of any suitable material capable of passing infrared radiation from the infrared emitters 26, 28. Suitable materials may include infrared transmitting glass. The infrared transmissive windows 50, 52 are aligned with the respective infrared emitters 26, 28 so that in use infrared radiation emitted by the infrared emitters 26, 28 can enter the hair treatment chamber 40.

A temperature sensor 54 is located within the first arm 14 adjacent the near infrared transmissive window 50 and is configured to measure, in use, the surface temperature of hair within the hair treatment chamber 40. In the embodiment of fig. 1-4, the temperature sensor 54 is an infrared temperature sensor.

The hair care appliance 10 of fig. 1-4 has a first so-called "dry" mode in which the hair care appliance is configured to dry hair 56 located within the hair treatment chamber 40. By the application of pressure by the user, the first arm 14 and the second arm 16 are moved to the closed configuration such that the hair 56 is positioned within the hair treatment chamber 40 and tensioned by the hair contacting ribs 40, 42. The infrared emitters 26, 28 are configured to emit infrared radiation having a peak wavelength in the range of 700nm-1mm, typically greater than 900nm, and in some cases a peak wavelength in the range of 2000-3000 nm. The emitted infrared radiation has a value of greater than 10W/cm ² And in some cases a power density of 20W/cm ² Is defined in the region of the substrate. Such infrared radiation may be particularly suitable for drying hair at a relatively fast rate.

At the same time as the infrared radiation is introduced into the hair treatment chamber 40 via the infrared transmission windows 50, 52, the air flow generated by the air flow generator 18 is fed into the hair treatment chamber 40 via the air outlets 46, 48 of the first and second arms 14, 16, where it flows through the hair located in the hair treatment chamber 40 and then exits via the open side of the hair treatment chamber 40. This assists the drying process by removing evaporated liquid from the hair treatment chamber 40 and may result in increased drying efficiency and reduced drying time, as well as better styling control.

The airflow generator 18 is configured to generate airflow at a flow rate of greater than 4L/s, and in some examples about 13L/s, and such a flow rate has been found to be advantageous for drying efficiency. The minimum width of the hair treatment chamber 40, i.e., the minimum width of the hair treatment chamber when the first arm 14 and the second arm 16 are in the closed configuration, is greater than 5mm, taking into account the flow rate used. This may avoid experiencing adverse pressures within hair treatment chamber 40 during use.

The temperature of the air stream introduced into hair treatment chamber 40 is typically less than 60 c, such as less than 50 c, or less than 40 c, even in the event that the air stream generated by air stream generator 18 picks up some heat by convective heating, such as in the event that the air stream flows through the driving electronics of the infrared emitters 26, 28 in use.

The temperature sensor 54 monitors the surface temperature of the hair within the hair treatment chamber 40 and feeds it back to the controller 22. Controller 22 may then automatically control airflow generator 18 and/or infrared emitters 26, 28, for example, to increase or decrease the airflow rate and the power or wavelength of the emitted infrared radiation in response to the monitored temperature, or to provide an alert to a user of hair care appliance 10.

In some embodiments, hair care appliance 10 has a second so-called "styling" mode in which infrared emitters 26, 28 are configured to emit infrared radiation having a lower wavelength and/or lower power density than the infrared radiation emitted in the first "drying" mode, and/or airflow generator 18 is configured to generate an airflow at a lower flow rate than that generated in the first "drying" mode. This may provide flexibility to hair care appliance 10 and for hair drying and styling.

In some embodiments, infrared emitters 26, 28 may be independently actuatable, e.g., one infrared emitter configured to be on and the other off, or one infrared emitter configured to emit infrared radiation at a higher or lower wavelength and/or higher or lower power density than the other infrared emitter. This may provide greater flexibility in drying or styling hair.

While the first and second arms 14, 16 are described above as pivotally connected to the body, and each of the first and second arms 14, 16 has a respective infrared emitter 26, 28 and a respective air outlet 46, 48, it will be appreciated that other configurations of the hair care appliance 10 are also contemplated.

For example, in some embodiments, only one of the first arm 14 and the second arm 16 may be pivotally connected to the body 12. Embodiments are also contemplated wherein the airflow generator 18 and/or the power source 20 and/or the controller 22 are located in one of the first arm 14 and the second arm 16, rather than in the body 12.

In some alternative embodiments, only one of the arms 14, 16 may include an infrared emitter 26, 28 and an air outlet 46, 48, or one arm 14, 16 may include an infrared emitter 26, 28 while the other opposing arm 16, 14 includes an air outlet. However, in each embodiment, the infrared emitter may be configured to emit infrared radiation having a peak wavelength greater than 900nm, such that the hair care appliance 10 may be used to effectively dry hair within a hair treatment chamber in use.

Claims

1. A hair care appliance comprising first and second arms defining a hair treatment chamber, an infrared emitter configured to emit infrared radiation into the hair treatment chamber, and an air flow generator configured to generate an air flow within the hair treatment chamber, wherein the hair treatment chamber comprises a minimum width of greater than 5mm.

2. The hair care appliance of claim 1, wherein the airflow generator is configured to generate airflow at a flow rate of greater than 4L/s.

3. The hair care appliance of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second arms are movable relative to each other to selectively vary the width of the hair treatment chamber.

4. The hair care appliance of any preceding claim, wherein the infrared emitter is configured to emit infrared radiation having a peak wavelength greater than 900 nm.

5. The hair care appliance of any preceding claim, wherein the infrared emitter is configured to emit infrared radiation having a peak wavelength in the range of 1000-3500 nm.

6. The hair care appliance of any preceding claim, wherein the infrared emitter extends along at least 50% of the length of the hair treatment chamber.

7. The hair care appliance of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the infrared emitter is located in one of the first and second arms, and the hair care appliance comprises another infrared emitter located in the other of the second and first arms.

8. The hair care appliance of claim 7, wherein the other infrared emitter extends along at least 50% of the length of the hair treatment chamber.

9. The hair care appliance of any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the first and second arms comprises an air outlet through which air flow from the air flow generator is discharged into the hair treatment chamber.

10. The hair care appliance of claim 9, wherein the length of the air outlet is greater than or equal to the length of the infrared emitter.

11. The hair care appliance of claim 9 or 10, wherein the air outlet comprises a single aperture.

12. The hair care appliance of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the air outlet has a maximum width of less than 4mm, less than 2mm, less than 1.5mm, or less than 1mm.

13. The hair care appliance of any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the hair care appliance comprises an air inlet, the airflow generator is configured to generate an airflow along an airflow path from the air inlet to the air outlet, and the infrared emitter is disposed in the airflow path.

14. The hair care appliance of any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the other of the second and first arms comprises another air outlet through which air flow from the air flow generator is discharged into the hair treatment chamber.

15. The hair care appliance of claim 14, wherein the length of the other air outlet is greater than or equal to the length of the infrared emitter.

16. The hair care appliance of claim 14 or 15, wherein the further air outlet comprises a single aperture.

17. The hair care appliance of any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein additionally the maximum width of the air outlet is less than 4mm, less than 2mm, less than 1.5mm or less than 1mm.

18. The hair care appliance of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the first and second arms comprises a hair contacting rib.

19. The hair care appliance of any preceding claim, wherein the infrared emitter comprises an incandescent source of infrared radiation.

20. The hair care appliance of any preceding claim, wherein the infrared emitter is configured to output a power density comprising greater than 10W/cm ² Is provided).

21. The hair care appliance of any preceding claim, wherein the hair care appliance comprises a first mode of operation in which the infrared emissions are emitted and a second mode of operationThe infrared emitter is configured to output infrared radiation comprising a first power density, in the second mode of operation, the infrared emitter is configured to output infrared radiation comprising a second power density less than the first power density, and the first power density is greater than 10W/cm ² 。

22. The hair care appliance of claim 21, wherein the airflow generator is configured to generate airflow at a first flow rate in the first mode of operation and to generate airflow at a second flow rate less than the first flow rate in the second mode of operation.

23. The hair care appliance of any preceding claim, wherein the hair care appliance comprises a temperature sensor configured to sense hair temperature within the hair treatment chamber in use and a controller configured to modify power supplied to the infrared emitter in response to an output of the temperature sensor.