Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D20/00—Hair drying devices; Accessories therefor
  • A45D20/04—Hot-air producers
  • A45D20/08—Hot-air producers heated electrically
  • A45D20/10—Hand-held drying devices, e.g. air douches
  • A45D20/12—Details thereof or accessories therefor, e.g. nozzles, stands
  • A45D20/122—Diffusers, e.g. for variable air flow

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an apparatus for drying and / or shaping the hair, more particularly a hair dryer providing an air jet of modifiable shape.
• Hair dryers for private or professional use generally comprise a housing provided with a handle and equipped with air circulation means between an inlet grille in the housing and an outlet port of the latter, and means heating the air blown.
• the air circulation means comprise a fan driven by an electric motor and the heating means comprise an electrical resistance arranged in the air flow.
• some hair dryers use one or more removable accessories, mounted at the air outlet end of the device and allowing to have the same number of forms of airflow.
• This has the disadvantage of having to change several accessories during use of the device, which becomes troublesome when manipulating accessories arranged near the heating means.
• Another disadvantage is to multiply the number of accessories, which poses a problem of size and storage of the device with its utensils.
• hair dryers using a pair of pivoting flaps arranged in the airflow outlet duct of the housing of the apparatus. These flaps can be operated simultaneously by setting means placed on the outer portion of the duct of the apparatus so as to restrict more or less the section of the outlet duct of the air flow.
• the flaps are arranged inside the device so that the position of one relative to the other (flaps close together or apart) is difficult to see from the outside, this which has the effect of making it difficult to orient the hair dryer relative to the lock of hair treated.
• a flap device has the disadvantage of being of complex construction, which makes it difficult and expensive to implement.
• hair dryers with a flexible nozzle mounted at the end of the air outlet, as described in particular in JP54-156756.
• Said nozzle is equipped at its end with a screw, inserted transversely with respect to the air flow in an orifice of a wall of the nozzle, cooperating with a nut arranged diametrically opposite the orifice.
• the rotation of the nut causes a gradual change in the shape of the end of the nozzle in one direction to reduce the size of the airflow, or in the other direction to increase the size of the airflow.
• This device is however long is tedious to implement to move from one end position to another linked to the end of the screw.
• the temperature is high in the operating zone, which requires manipulation in the off position of the device.
• Document DE9409075 describes another example of a hairdryer provided with a flexible nozzle mounted at the end of the air outlet.
• the end of said nozzle is slotted parallel to the direction of the air flow and this end is curable on the outlet of the hair dryer to give the air flow a round shape.
• fastening means such as a press button
• the attachment does not make the nozzle completely watertight, air can escape to the side.
• the handling of this device is also delicate: to roll up the nozzle or implement the fastening means, the user must use both hands and, moreover, the parts to be handled are hot.
• the object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to provide a hairdryer provided with a device for varying the outlet section of the airflow blown very easily maneuverable to quickly pass a diffuse flow, wide to a concentrated flow where the speed of the air is accelerated and vice versa, while using a reliable, compact, robust and simplified construction device.
• Another object of the invention is a hairdryer provided with a device for varying the geometry of the air flow blown by the apparatus, while allowing to visualize the shape of the section thus modified.
• Another object of the invention is a hair dryer provided with a device for varying the geometry of the air flow with few parts, which is easy to industrialize for a lower manufacturing cost.
• a hairdryer having means for heating and circulating a flow of air between an inlet end in a housing and an outlet end, and a device for modifying the jet section of the jet.
• emitted air comprising a flexible deformable nozzle arranged at the outlet end, characterized in that the device comprises means for quickly tilting the front end of said nozzle by clamping between at least two stable positions: a first position A of which the section is close to the section of the air outlet of the hair dryer and a second position B.
• outlet section of the nozzle close to that of the outlet of the device, it is understood that the two surfaces of these sections are close to not slow down or accelerate the flow of air significantly but the shape made from that of connecting the nozzle to the outlet end of the hair dryer housing can evolve towards the front end of the nozzle in different ways: round, square or rectangular with rounded corners, star, multi-lobed.
• the front end of said nozzle By quickly tilting the front end of said nozzle between at least two stable positions, it includes a direct change from one position to another, abruptly and instantaneously.
• the time required for the change of position is less than three seconds, preferably less than one second.
• pinching is understood a direct pressing action, support on at least one of the deformable walls of the nozzle to obtain a change of position of the front end of the nozzle.
• the end of the nozzle By means for tilting the front end of said nozzle by pinching between at least two stable positions, there are means allowing the end of the nozzle to take 2, 3 or 4 stable positions; for example, from a first position where the shape of the end is round, one can obtain a second position where the shape of the end is flattened, a third or a fourth position by flattening the ends more and more. of the previous form to obtain for example a duckbill shape.
• the second position B thus makes it possible to vary the shape and the section of the front end of the nozzle and thus to modify the flow of air exiting through the nozzle.
• the second position B of the end of the nozzle has a reduced section compared to that of the position A.
• This arrangement makes it possible to have a position B of the front end of the nozzle which concentrates the flow of air and which enables the user to work on a smaller area of the hair, or even on a lock of hair.
• the ratio between the value of the section of the position A and the value of the section of the position B can range from a value close to one to a large value, for example from one to three or preferably 1.5. .
• the passage of the front end of the nozzle from position B to position A is reversible by a nip in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the previous nip.
• This arrangement allows the user to return to the previous position of the nozzle by the same type of movement, very simple and very fast.
• this arrangement allows the user to memorize very quickly the positions of the supports to be made with his fingers, because very intuitive to move from one position to another.
• the device comprises means for holding the front end of the nozzle in position B, made by at least one magnet and a magnetic part.
• the device comprises a means for holding the front end of the nozzle in the position A, made by a reinforcement of the wall at the end of the nozzle.
• Reinforcement comprises a bead composed of the same material as that of the nozzle or, according to another embodiment, an additional flexible annular piece arranged at the edge of the end of the nozzle.
• This arrangement makes it possible to guarantee the position A of the nozzle and thus the geometry of the air flow without complicating the device, which reinforces its reliability.
• This arrangement also allows the nozzle during the transition from position B to position A, to have sufficient elasticity to ensure the return to position A.
• the magnet is arranged on a protuberance located inside the front end of the nozzle.
• the magnet it would have been possible, certainly, to arrange the magnet on the inner periphery of the nozzle.
• an arrangement having a protuberance is preferred because this arrangement makes it possible to reduce the nip stroke for better ease of use.
• the magnet can be clipped, glued, screwed onto the protrusion. This makes it possible to have a construction that is extremely simple to implement and very reliable, the protuberance being able to be produced in one and the same piece with the walls of the nozzle.
• the device comprises means for holding the front end of the nozzle in one of the positions A or B having at least one bistable leaf spring.
• This arrangement ensures a large number of maneuvers while allowing good dimensional stability over time.
• the device comprises two leaf springs bistable arranged vis-à-vis in the direction of the air flow.
• This arrangement allows starting from a position A of substantially circular section to obtain for the position B a flattened shape of the end of the nozzle where the air jet is concentrated, this form being commonly used to treat a reduced area of the hair
• the means making it possible to move from the position A to the position B are arranged in such a way that the pinching of the nozzle takes place in a direction that is always identical, preferably parallel to the axis of a gripping handle of the hair dryer
• This arrangement of pinching means allows the user to easily memorize the position of the fingers on the nozzle and change the shape of the airflow without having to look at the device closely when is oriented towards the hair, or even without having to have on the periphery of the nozzle markers to position the fingers.
• the material of the nozzle is a temperature resistant silicone.
• This arrangement makes it possible to have a temperature at the support zones on the nozzle which remains low and comfortable for the user, the change of position of the nozzle not requiring the device to be stopped.
• Other elastomeric, textile and foam materials could be envisaged.
• the hardness of the flexible material constituting the nozzle is between 25 and 40 shores, preferably 30 shores.
• the nozzle comprises fixing means relative to the outlet end making said removable nozzle.
• This arrangement allows the addition of accessories to increase the versatility of the device.
• the attachment means of the nozzle relative to the outlet end comprise means for orienting said nozzle relative to the housing.
• the position A has a round shape
• the position B has a flattened shape in a direction perpendicular to that of the handle of the hair dryer. If the nozzle during its fixing is shifted by a quarter of a turn, the position B will always have a flat shape but in a direction parallel to the handle.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair-dryer comprising a device for varying the geometry of the air flow according to the invention
• FIG. 2a illustrates a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 in position A.
• FIG. 2b illustrates a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 in position B.
• FIG. 3a illustrates a sectional view and a side view according to another embodiment of the device in position A.
• Figure 3b illustrates a sectional view and a side view according to another embodiment of the device in position B.
• the hair dryer made according to the invention comprises a housing 1 inside which are arranged a fan actuated in rotation by an electric motor ensuring the flow of air between an inlet of air 2 located at the rear of the housing 1 and an air outlet 3 located at the opposite end, heating means of the air flow circulating inside the apparatus as well as connections to a power supply (not shown in the drawings).
• the device is switched on and off by means of a switch 4 on a handle 5 connected to the housing 1 of the device.
• the hairdryer also comprises a device 6 for varying the geometry of the air flow blown by the device, this device being attached to the end of the air outlet 3.
• the device 6 can be fixed permanently at the end 3 of the housing 1 or it can also be removably mounted relative to the housing 1, for example by a bayonet attachment, by a forced assembly, by an assembly comprising elastic hooks cooperating with slots vis-à- screws, etc.
• a grid 7 forms a protection element separating the electrical parts of the device from the blower end 3 or the device 6.
• the grid 7 is fixedly mounted, slightly set back with respect to the air outlet 3.
• FIGS 2a and 2b A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 2a and 2b where it is found that the device 6 comprises a flexible nozzle 8, the rear end 9 is intended to be attached to the blower end 3 of the hair dryer , the flow of air blowing towards the hair by the front end 10 of the nozzle 8.
• the nozzle 8 has the general shape of a duct whose wall is continuous.
• the nozzle 8 is a silicone part produced by injection whose wall thickness is between one and five millimeters, preferably two millimeters.
• the nozzle 8 comprises at its front end 10 two protuberances 14,14 'arranged perpendicular to the air flow, composed of two plastic parts overmolded during the production of the nozzle 8. These protuberances could be realized as growths of the walls of the nozzle.
• two magnets 11; 12 are fixed by two screws 17,17 '.
• the nozzle 8 also has at its front end 10 a reinforcement 13 of its wall made during the injection whose thickness is between three and eight millimeters, preferably five millimeters.
• the nozzle 8 comprises on either side of the outside of its front end 10, in the axis of the protuberances, first bearing zones 15, for example called closures.
• first bearing zones 15 for example called closures.
• the closure zones 15 are not materialized.
• the zones 15 may include arrangements in the form of bumps or grooves to allow the user to visualize or tactilely recognize these areas.
• the nozzle 8 comprises on either side of the outside of its front end 10, in an axis perpendicular to the axis of the protuberances, second support zones 16 called openings.
• the opening areas 16 are not materialized. We can imagine the same variant for zones 16 as for zones 15.
• the nozzle 8 comprises at its rear end 9 a plastic ring 18, overmolded during the injection of the nozzle.
• This ring has four tabs 19 in the form of bayonets cooperating with four lights arranged at the outlet end 3 of the hair dryer.
• This embodiment allows a mounting of the nozzle 8 on the outlet end 3 every quarter turn. We can consider multiplying the number of lights in the outlet end 3 to increase the number of position of the nozzle relative to the outlet end 3.
• Figure 2a illustrates the device 6, the front end 10 of the nozzle 8 is in a position whose section is close to the section of the outlet end 3 of the hair dryer. In this position, the airflow is wide and diffuse.
• FIG. 2b illustrates the device 6 whose shape of the front end 10 of the nozzle 8 is in a position B whose section is reduced compared with that of the position A. In this position, the air flow is concentrated and the speed of the air is accelerated.
• Maintaining the front end 10 of the nozzle 8 in the B position is achieved by the magnets 11; 12 who are in contact.
• the user turns on the hair dryer by operating one of the buttons 4 and directs it to the hair.
• it then adapts the type of airflow.
• To move from a diffuse flow to a concentrated flow it presses on the zones of closures 15, so that the end of the nozzle 8 deforms, causing the magnets 11, 12 which come into contact with each other. 'other.
• the nozzle then has the stable position B.
• the user presses the opening zones 16.
• the force induced by the deformation of the nozzle 8 at the level of the magnets 11, 12 causes them to separate and the elasticity of the nozzle causes said nozzle to return to its initial position A.
• FIGs 3a and 3b illustrate another embodiment of the invention.
• the device comprises two bistable spring blades 20 embedded on one side in the ring 18 of the rear end 9 of the nozzle and the other in housings 21 made on the inner periphery of the front end 10 of the nozzle 8
• These spring blades have an elongate shape, of length substantially equal to that of the nozzle 8 made according to the principle of a hair bar for the bistable effect.
• FIG. 3a illustrates the device 6 whose front end 10 of the nozzle 8 is in the position A.
• FIG. 3b illustrates the device 6 whose front end 10 of the nozzle 8 is in the position B.
• the two leaf springs 20 are in their other stable position.
• the user presses on the closure zones 15, so that the end of the nozzle 8 is deformed, causing the ends of the leaf spring 20.
• These leaf spring 20 change stable position and maintain the end of the nozzle 8 in the stable position B.
• the user forces on the zones of openings 16. The force induced by the deformation of the nozzle 8 at the end of the blades 20 spring fact that they resume their other stable position; the end 10 of the nozzle 8 returning to the position B.
• At least one of the protuberances 14,14 ' may comprise means for adjusting its length modifiable by pressure to allow to have one or more additional positions of the outlet end of the nozzle.

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• Cleaning And Drying Hair (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=38050025

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• 2006
  • 2006-10-17 FR FR0609070A patent/FR2906980B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2007
  • 2007-10-12 EP EP07858435A patent/EP2091379A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-10-12 WO PCT/FR2007/001671 patent/WO2008046991A2/fr active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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