EP0619087B1 - Apparatus for treating and/or shaping hair, with a device for removing a curled lock - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field general technique of treatment and / or setting devices in the form of hair, such as that making it possible to ensure styling, styling, or crimping functions, for example.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for treatment and / or shaping of the hair, preferably for manual use, comprising arranged from a body main, gripping means, winding body for locks of hair, preferably mounted free to rotation on the main body around its longitudinal axis and at least one movable clamp for tightening the drill bit hair on the body.

The apparatus according to the invention is more particularly intended to provide a immobilization of a lock of hair for the purpose of securing or facilitate the curling of a lock of hair. As such the processing and / or shaping apparatus in accordance with the invention relates more specifically, but not exclusively curling machines. The device conforms to the invention may however obviously include association on the main body constituting it, additional devices capable of providing other functions hair treatment and / or shaping such as brush, or any other means capable of providing heat, steam, or a treatment product. The device according to the invention therefore also includes devices such as styling or curling irons with or without means of heating or generating steam.

It is already known to facilitate the winding of a lock of hair around a cylindrical body, to provide this last of protrusions, teeth or other elements likely to get into the lock of hair for facilitate its adhesion and immobilization on the body cylindrical. However, such a device has the downside of monopolizing both hands of the user, one to hold the lock of hair against the cylindrical body, the other to rotate the device along the axis of the cylindrical body. These devices are therefore generally considered to be of a often delicate use, and at least requiring a minimum dexterity.

To improve installation and immobilization of the lock of hair on the cylindrical body it has in consequence already proposed to use pliers movable integral with said body to ensure the tightening of the lock of hair. Such a clamp thus makes it possible to apply and to immobilize the lock of hair on the body and facilitates thus greatly the always delicate start-up phase of winding the wick. The device of the prior art using the classic principle of the mobile gripper thus presents a noticeable improvement in handling in comparison with the device mentioned above. The use of a mobile clamp does not however make it possible to remedy to the problems of separation of the treated and curled lock from the cylindrical body, without destroying at least in part the structure and quality of the hair curls retained. Indeed the separation step requires a unwinding of the loop to loosen it.

It has already been proposed to remedy at least in part of this problem, to provide the cylindrical bodies with a number of retractable protrusions believed to facilitate separation of the curled lock. It turns out that part at least some hair always partially adheres to the protrusions, and that if the course of the wick can be limited, it is always necessary to ensure a certain manual guidance, at the start of the winding, and even at the end of the operation during of separation. Devices fitted with retractable projections are also more complex to perform mechanically, and at the same time more cost Student.

Document US-A-1,579,952 describes an apparatus for processing and / or hair shaping according to the preamble of claim 1.

The object of the invention therefore aims to propose a new device treatment and / or hair shaping, not having the disadvantages of the previous systems mentioned above, and which is even to ensure simple, efficient and rapid separation of the wick processed and closed without complicated handling on the part of the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for treatment and / or hair shaping design particularly simplified on the mechanical plan.

Another object of the invention is to propose a new method of treatment and / or shaping of the hair in which the separation step curly lock is obtained without excessive manipulation on the part of the user, quickly and easily.

The objects assigned to the invention are achieved with the aid of a treatment and / or shaping of the hair comprising the characteristics of claim 1.

• La figure 1 montre selon une coupe transversale longitudinale, une vue d'un appareil conforme à l'invention.
• La figure 2 montre selon une vue en perspective l'étape de mise en place d'une mèche de cheveux sur l'appareil conforme à l'invention.
• La figure 3 montre selon une vue en perspective, l'étape de démarrage de l'enroulement de la boucle sur un appareil conforme à l'invention.
• La figure 4 montre selon une vue en perspective, le début de l'étape de séparation et d'extraction d'une mèche de cheveux sur un appareil conforme à l'invention.
• La figure 5 montre selon une vue en perspective l'étape terminale d'extraction de la mèche traitée sur un appareil conforme à l'invention.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear and emerge in more detail on reading the description given below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of illustrative and nonlimiting examples in which:

• Figure 1 shows in a longitudinal cross section, a view of an apparatus according to the invention.
• Figure 2 shows in a perspective view the step of placing a lock of hair on the device according to the invention.
• Figure 3 shows in a perspective view, the step of starting the winding of the loop on an apparatus according to the invention.
• Figure 4 shows in a perspective view, the beginning of the step of separation and extraction of a lock of hair on an apparatus according to the invention.
• Figure 5 shows in a perspective view the final step of extracting the wick treated on an apparatus according to the invention.

The hair treatment and / or shaping apparatus in accordance with the invention, such as the curling appliance shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, comprises a means grip 1 consisting of a handle intended to be grasped by hand of the user. In the particular embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the gripping means 1 forms the main body of the device from which are arranged different parts constituting it. In the particular example shown, the gripping means 1 is by example consisting of a cylindrical body with an axis of revolution x-x ', on which is mounted, preferably free to rotate along said axis x-x ', a winding body 2. The latter is advantageously cylindrical in shape, aligned with the axis x-x ' gripping means 1 and connected to control means and stopping 3 the rotation of said winding body 2. As variant, the winding body 2 can be fixed relative to the main body, the shaping of the hair being obtained by rotating the entire device. In the example shown the control and stop means 3 are consisting of a two-position control button ensuring blocking or releasing the rotation of the rewinder body 2 around its axis of revolution x-x '. As a variant, the winding body 2 can be connected to a device for dog clutch housed in the gripping means 1, and allowing a clutch or a disengagement of the rewinder body 2. By way of additional variant, the rewinder body 2 can be connected to an electric motor assembly capable of ensuring its rotation.

The winding body 2 can be provided with its periphery of a series of grooves 4 (Figures 2 to 5), or equivalent means, likely to encourage attachment a lock of hair, or to oppose their sliding. In the example shown, the grooves 4 are longitudinal, but it is obvious that any type of means likely to perform a function opposing the sliding is possible.

The winding body 2 has at the end 5 opposite to the end of the connection with the gripping means 1, a button 6 for manual control of the rotation of said body reel 2.

The apparatus for processing and / or shaping hair according to the invention also comprises at least one movable clamp 10 intended for clamping a lock of hair M on the peripheral surface of the winding body 2. The clamp mobile 10 is mounted on the reel body 2 so as to be freely movable on the latter between two positions stop. Advantageously, the movable clamp 10 is movable along the longitudinal axis x-x 'of the winding body 2, by by means of a slide 11 movably mounted on the body winding 2.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figures 1 to 5, the slide 11 consists of an annular ring surrounding the winding body 2.

Alternatively, the slider 11 can be consisting of a part extending over only part of the periphery of the winding body 2 and be guided and secured to the latter by means of a slot longitudinal (not shown in the figures).

The movable clamp 10 is intended to ensure the tightening of the lock of hair M on the winding body 2 by via a compression arm 13 extending along the axis x-x 'and intended to be applied longitudinally on the periphery of the winding body 2. The compression arm 13 is extended by an intermediate piece 13a for fixing to the slide 11, inside which is housed an axis 14 substantially normal to the axis x-x '. The clamp 10 comprises its end opposite to the compression arm 13 a head of control 15 extending the intermediate part 13a and intended to be operated manually to allow rotation of the clamp 10 around the axis 14. In a manner known per se clamp 10 is mounted on the slide 11 in association with an elastic return means (not shown in the figures) such that a blade or a spring ensuring the elastic return of the compression arm 13 resting on the periphery of the winding body 2.

In its working position as shown by example in Figures 1 to 3, in which the clamp provides the tightening and immobilization of the drill bit M, the arm of compression 13 extends substantially over a length equal to that of the winding body 2, the slide 11 being mounted so as to slide between two stop positions corresponding to the two ends of the winding body 2. Advantageously, the winding body 2 comprises at its end 5 a stop piece (not shown in the figures) preventing complete release of the slide 11.

The operation of a device in accordance with the invention is as follows.

The user grasps the device with one hand by the gripping means 1 as shown in Figure 2, and presses on the head 15 so as to ensure the release of the clamp 10 by rotation of the compression arm 13 according to arrow F1 around axis 14. This allows the user to set place against compression arm 13 and body winding 2, a wick M which is then immobilized by relaxation of the head 15 (FIG. 3). The setting operation wick place M can be done with one hand since it suffices to lift the wick M directly with the winding body 2. The relaxation of the head 15 allows the compression arm 13 to apply against the surface of the winding body 2 and immobilize the wick M while leaving a user's hand available for any control or assistance action.

The user can then press the means of control 3 (Figure 3), to ensure disengagement of the winding body 2. Preferably simultaneously, the user grips button 6 with the other hand, rotation around the axis x-x 'allows the winding of the wick M on the winding body 2. The user performs then the appropriate treatment of the wick M, such than application of steam, dye or heat.

After treatment of wick M, the user grasps with his free hand (Figure 4) the assembly consisting of the slide 11 and the clamp 10 in order to separate the wick processed or looped M 'of said winding body 2 by translation of the clamp 10 on said body 2 so that the wick M 'is freely suspended on the clamp 10 (figure 5). During this step the slide 11 undergoes a translational movement according to arrow F2 corresponding to sliding of the clamp 10 along the longitudinal axis x-x ' of the winding body 2 ensuring the extraction of the wick treated M 'without having to unroll it. The sliding of the clamp 10 is carried out over a sufficient length, and by example substantially over the entire length of the body winding 2 so as to allow full clearance of the treated wick M 'leading, as shown in the figure 5 to a free suspension position of the treated wick M ' on the compression arm 13.

The apparatus for processing and / or shaping hair according to the invention, as well as the method of corresponding treatment ensures extraction complete with the treated or curled wick M 'without having to ensure its progress, i.e. without having to act in no way on the structure of the treated wick M '. The latter is thus fully preserved in its state initial treatment, i.e. for example wound or buckled, even as the winding manipulations and have been particularly simplified.

As a preferred variant, the body winding 2 can be partially realized or advantageously entirely of a plastic material, such as PBT, filled or unloaded polyamide, or polypropylene.

Claims (6)

1. An appliance for treating and/or shaping hair, said appliance preferably being for manual use, and including a main body on which the following are mounted:

   graspable means (1);

   a winding body (2) for receiving a lock of hair and having a longitudinal axis (x-x'); and

   at least one pivotally mounted clamp (10) for clamping the lock of hair against the winding body (2);

   said appliance being characterized in that the clamp (10) is mounted on a slide (11) that is freely displaceable on the winding body (2) between two abutment positions corresponding to the ends of the winding body (2).
2. An appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the slide (11) is constituted by a ring surrounding the winding body (2).
3. An appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the winding body (2) is mounted on the main body to be free to rotate about its longitudinal axis (x-x').
4. An appliance according to claim 3, characterized in that it includes control means (3) for starting and stopping rotation of the winding body (2).
5. An appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the winding body (2) is made of a plastics material.
6. An appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is constituted by a curling appliance.

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