EP2173215B1 - Hair care device with optimized ion release - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hair treatment appliance (1) having a handle (3), a functional head (4) which can be connected to the handle (3) and has a hair treatment device (5), and also an ion application device (9) for applying ions to the hair, said ion application device having at least one ion outlet (11), wherein the functional head (4) and the handle (3) also in each case have an electrically conductive area on an outer face of the component and the electrically conductive area of the functional head (4) and the electrically conductive area of the handle (3) are electrically conductively connected to one another.

Description

The present invention relates to a hair care appliance having a handle, a functional head connectable to the handle, which has a hair processing device, in particular a bristle and / or tine field, and an ion applicator for applying ions to the hair, which has at least one ion outlet.

Recently, hair care appliances, especially hairbrushes, have come to be known, which in addition to their primary function, i. In the case of a hairbrush combing, brushing and shaping the hair, as an additional application ions bring out. Such ions are usually molecules charged with negative electrons. With the help of such ion application, the hair and hair care can be improved, in particular, a static charging of the hair and a corresponding projection of the hair can be avoided.

From the US 2005/284495 a hair brush or a hair dryer with integrated brush attachment is known, which has on an away from the bristle field back of the device and on a bristle field carrying device front side each having an ion outlet, the ions leak in the direction of the function head.

In such hair care devices with ion application, the ions are on the one hand, of course, deliberately applied to the hair, on the other hand, no punctiform, but as evenly distributed as possible impingement of the hair done. In this case, the ion discharge is hindered not only by direct mechanical obstacles, such as hairs located in front of the ion outlet, or a user's hand in the way, but also by electrostatic opposing fields, which are strongly negatively charged components, which, so to speak, fend off the negatively charged ions Components with high positive charges, which have an attractive field effect on the ions can go out. Charges of this type can, for example, be generated on the bristle field itself when it is combed through the hair. Also in the region of the ion outlet, electrostatic fields can form on the device housing, which can hinder the ion emission.

Another aspect to be improved in previously known hair care devices of the type mentioned is the safety of use, which can be adversely affected by the aforementioned heavy charges on the device.

Proceeding from this, the present invention has the object to provide an improved hair care device of the type mentioned, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and further develops the latter in an advantageous manner. In particular, a uniform, efficient ion discharge to the hair should be achieved with simple means, but without affecting the safety of use of the device.

According to the invention this object is achieved by a hair care device according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

It is therefore proposed to eliminate an electrostatic charge and opposing fields at least on the parts of the hair care device by means of suitable countermeasures which stand in the way of the ion discharge on the hair or can impair the ion discharge. Without being adversely affected by such electrostatic opposing fields, uniformly distributed but nevertheless targeted and efficient ionization of the hair can be achieved with only simple formation of the ion applicator device, which in a simple embodiment of the invention can manage with only a single ionic outlet. According to the invention, the hair-care appliance is characterized in that it has a rear side facing away from the hair-processing device, and an ion-emitting device for applying ions to the hair, which has at least one switching unit, an ion source, an ion outlet and a sleeve surrounded by the ion outlet, the hair-styling appliance furthermore a grounding surface for discharging / limiting electronic charges, which is disposed on a housing part in the vicinity of the Ionenauslasses, wherein the ion source relative to the potential level of the ground plane has a potential level of - 10 to - 3 KV, the sleeve relative to the potential level of the ground surface Potential level from - 2.5 to -1 KV or from 20% to 50% of the potential level of the ion source and the back of the device relative to the potential level of the ground plane has a potential level of - 500 to - 100 V or 2% to 10% of the potential level of the ion source Has.

Depending on the type of hair care device, therefore, the ion source relative to the potential level of the ground plane a potential level selected from a range of minus (-) 10 kilovolt (KV) to - 8 KV or from -8 KV to -6 KV or from -6 KV to - Have 3 kV.

The sleeve surrounding the ion outlet can be designed in various forms. It can for example be cylindrical or funnel-shaped. It can be a fairly good electrical conductor, so that the sleeve almost assumes the potential level of an adjacent ground plane or it may be a bad conductor, so that despite being grounded, it can partially charge, but its charge is limited by the grounding applied. The sleeve may have a potential level selected from a range of minus (-) 2.5 kilovolts (KV) to - 2 KV or from - 2 KV to -1.5 KV or - 1.5 KV to -1 relative to the potential level of the ground plane KV have. The potential level of the sleeve should be matched to the potential level of the ion source. The potential level of the sleeve may be a potential level selected from a range of 50% to 40% or from 40% to 30% or from 30% to 20% of the potential level of the ion source.

The back of the case can also be made in various forms. It can be a good electrical conductor, so that the rear side of the housing at least approximately assumes the potential level of an adjacent ground surface or it can be a bad conductor, so that despite adjacent grounding can partially charge, but their charge is limited by the applied ground. The rear of the housing may have a potential level selected from a range of minus (-) 500 volts (V) to - 300 volts or from - 300 volts to -200 volts or -200 volts to -100 volts relative to the potential level of the ground plane. The potential level of the rear of the housing should be matched to the potential level of the ion source. The backside potential level may be a potential level selected from the range of 10% to 8%, or 8% to 5%, or 5% to 2% of the potential level of the ion source.

In a non-conductive or at least not well conductive housing part (such as the back of the case or the sleeve), the potential level of the housing part may be different at different locations. The potential level is then best determined on an outside of the component. In the context of the present invention it is sufficient if the potential level at a point facing the ion stream lies on the outside of the component in the abovementioned ranges. This potential level can then be considered as the potential level of the component.

An optimal potential distribution can be influenced by the entrainment of grounding surfaces on the hair care device and the choice of materials, in particular based on their conductivity.

The grounding surfaces, that is to say each of the first grounding surface, the second and further grounding surfaces, alone or together, can be designed as desired. They can have a flat or punctiform contact area, via which a discharge / boundary done by electronic charges. They may further comprise a contact plate which is connected to another surface, for example an inner surface or outer surface of a plastic component, for example by gluing. The contact surface can be made rigid or flexible. Further, the ground surfaces may comprise an electrically contacted screw which is screwed into a screw dome in the plastic part.

A grounding surface should be considered herein to be disposed "in the vicinity" of another, if it can act on the other component, that is, to dissipate / limit electronic charges from that other component. The component can be contacted directly from the grounding surface or even indirectly. Even with indirect contacting, the distance to the component should not be more than 1 or 5 or 10 millimeters. The distance may depend on the electrical conductivity of the component or components to be bridged.

Furthermore, the functional head and / or a housing part in the vicinity of the ion outlet may have at least one further grounding surface for discharging / limiting electrostatic charges ("third grounding surface"). Such a grounding surface on the functional head and / or on a housing part surrounding the ionic outlet prevents or limits excessive charging and accordingly electrostatic fields in the region of the functional head and in the region of the ionic outlet, which could hinder the ion discharge onto the hair. In particular, such ground surfaces may be present both on the functional head and on the housing part in the vicinity of the ion outlet.

The grounding surface can basically be designed differently. In particular, the grounding surface may be formed in the form of a metal surface, which is applied to a non-conductive, preferably made of plastic body or housing part of the functional head and / or the Ionenauslasses. The body of the functional part or of the ionic outlet per se can therefore continue to be formed as a plastic injection-molded part or a plastic part manufactured in another way. The ground surface in the form of a metal surface, which can advantageously be arranged on an outer side of said body parts and form their outer surface, thereby not only prevents the ion discharge impairing fields, but also increases the reliability of the hair care device.

Alternatively or in addition to a grounding surface on the outside of a body part can in an advantageous embodiment of the invention also on an inner surface of a body part a grounding surface may be provided. The arrangement on the inside or outside can be different depending on the component. On the other hand, while the grounding surface on the said functional head and / or on an outlet housing enclosing the ion outlet may be provided on an outer surface of the corresponding body part, it brings about particular advantages, on a further body part in the vicinity of the ion outlet, in particular in an exit direction the outlet body part over which the ion cloud propagates to provide a grounding surface or device on the inner surface of the corresponding body part.

With regard to the arrangement of the ground surfaces, different embodiments may be advantageous. An advantageous arrangement on the functional head may consist in that the grounding surface is connected to the hair treatment device, in particular the bristle and / or tine field. For example, the grounding surface can form the bed, so to speak, which forms the bristles or tines of the bristle field or possibly also differently formed Wearing processing tool of the hair processing device. Alternatively, or in addition to the aforementioned bristle and / or tine field, the hair processing device may, for example, also have a care surface made of a suitable material, such as ceramic, for hair care. Alternatively or additionally, a heating surface with a suitable shape, in particular a smooth, concave and / or convexly rounded working surface, be provided

Also with regard to the arrangement of the grounding surface at the ionic outlet ("first grounding surface") and in its surroundings, various configurations may be advantageous. According to an advantageous development of the invention, the ion outlet comprises a preferably separate housing module, which encloses a high-voltage element emitting the box box and / or box-shaped and has an orifice side, in which an outlet opening for discharging the ions generated by the high voltage element is provided. Advantageously, the aforesaid ground plane is provided on one of the non-muzzle sides of said housing package. The mouth side of the housing module can in particular be designed entirely free of counterelectrodes. The grounding surface can be arranged on a side face of the outlet housing which adjoins the mouth side and surrounds the aforementioned, preferably mandrel, pin or point-shaped high-voltage element on the circumference. Alternatively or additionally, a grounding surface may also be provided on a rear outlet housing surface, which is opposite to the mouth side. The ground plane may surround a high voltage element for emitting ions.

In addition to such a grounding surface on the outlet housing, a housing component adjacent to the ion outlet and / or a housing surface arranged in the vicinity of the ionic outlet may also be provided with a ground ("second grounding surface"). In particular, a housing member may be grounded downstream of the ionic port over which the ion cloud is intended to propagate, which housing component may advantageously be made of a non-conductive material and provided with a grounding surface applied thereto. The electrical grounding of the housing component in the vicinity of the ion outlet can take place in the simplest embodiment via an electrically contacted screw, which is screwed into a screw dome in the plastic part. Alternatively or additionally, the electrical grounding can take place via a contact pressure of a metal electrode, which forms a grounding surface of the aforementioned type. Said housing component or said housing components can be earthed via a contact to the ground potential of the voltage circuit of the device, whereby an electrostatic charge is not impossible, but is sufficiently limited to keep the electric opposing fields resulting from the charging so small that they do not hinder the propagation of the ions from the ionic outlet.

The electrical grounding of the housing component, over which the ion cloud propagates, advantageously takes place not in the field of view of the ion cloud, but rather on a housing component side facing away from the ion outlet, in particular an inner surface of the housing component.

According to an advantageous development of the invention and in particular the second grounding surface, the device housing can be provided in an area over which the ion cloud emerging from the ion outlet, and / or in the vicinity of the ion outlet with a lonenleit- or ion control device. A control of the ions can hereby be achieved in an advantageous manner by providing a plurality of separate housing components in the vicinity of the ion outlet, of which at least one is grounded and at least one further earth is formed. While the ungrounded housing part can charge electrically and thereby deflect the ions, the ions can propagate freely over the grounded, nonconducting housing components, so that the propagation of the leaking ions can be appropriately controlled by a corresponding pattern of grounded and ungrounded housing components.

Depending on the application, such an ion guide device can be designed differently in order to produce different propagation patterns. In a preferred embodiment of the invention may be provided in the vicinity of the Ionenauslasses a symmetrical to the device longitudinal plane symmetrical pattern of grounded and ungrounded housing components, so that a total symmetrical ion propagation is achieved. Alternatively, however, a deviating from the symmetry with respect to the longitudinal center plane configuration can be made, for example, to create a targeted device for right-handed or a device for left-handers.

Alternatively or in addition to the aforementioned embodiment, to connect the grounding surface directly to the hair processing device, the grounding surface on the functional head ("third grounding surface"), the hair treatment device also circumferentially at least partially, preferably annularly surrounded and / or arranged directly adjacent to the hair treatment device. In particular, a metal strip may be provided around the hair treatment device on the functional head as a grounding surface. In this case, the hair processing device itself, so for example, the bristle and / or tine field, or the housing body of the functional head itself consist of non-conductive material. Advantageously, the grounding surface on the functional head is not provided in the immediate vicinity of the at least one ionic outlet. The grounding surface may advantageously be arranged on the edge next to the hair processing device in the functional head carrying the hair processing device.

In a development of the invention, the housing potential is also electrically contacted with the body of the user. In a development of the invention, the handle of the hair care appliance can have an electrically conductive contact surface for discharging positive charges to the respective user of the hair care appliance. This protects the user from charging. Namely, the release of negative ions can negatively charge the user. On the other hand, positive contact charges can be transmitted to the user through the contact surface on the handle, whereby the charging effect is compensated by the negative ions. This is particularly advantageous in the case of an embodiment of the hair care appliance without a mains connection, in particular as a battery and / or cordless appliance. In such a non-power supply, the generation of negative ions usually causes an equivalent amount of positive charge on the device, since the device as a battery or cordless device, the reference potential is missing. Due to this positive charge on the device, a negative charging of the user can be compensated for via the aforementioned electrically effective contact surface on the handle.

Due to the largely interference-free ion delivery to the hair, which is achieved by the ground surfaces and thereby eliminated or clipped charge fields on the device, a particularly simple design of the Ionenausbringvorrichtung can be achieved, in particular with respect to Ionenauslassanordnung. In a further development of the invention, provision can be made in particular for the ion emission to take place exclusively on the rear side of the device, which faces away from the hair processing device providing the primary function of the hair care device. Surprisingly, this makes it possible to achieve an evenly distributed, yet targeted, application of the ions to the hair. So far, it has usually been attempted to apply at least some of the ions on the front of the device in the area of the hair processing tool, so to speak to introduce the ions directly into the area to be cared for, assuming that ions applied to the back of the device are more or less at the target, i. the hair to be cared for. In particular, in connection with the above-described ground surfaces and the elimination or limitation of disturbing charge fields can be achieved by a Ionenaustrag on the back of a particularly evenly distributed, yet almost complete application of the ions on the hair, as the hair usually one - of the discharged ions to be compensated - positive charge that attracts the ions. This effect is sufficient if no stronger interference fields on the hair care device are present, which would impede the Ionenaustrag. Due to the arrangement of the ion outlet or all ion outlets on the back of the device, the ion exit takes place without mechanical hindrances by a user's hand or strands of hair located in front of the ion outlet.

In principle, a single ion outlet may be sufficient. Optionally, several ion outlets can be arranged on the back of the device. In both cases, the arrangement is advantageously made symmetrical to the longitudinal center plane of the hair care device. The at least one ion outlet or the plurality of ion outlets is preferably such that a main exit direction of the ions or the sum of the main exit directions of the ions is directed in the plane of the rear side surface or over the surface of the rear side symmetrically to the longitudinal center plane. The main exit direction of the ion outlet is advantageously substantially - roughly speaking - aligned parallel to the rear side surface, so that the ions emerge substantially parallel to the back of the device over this. Alternatively or additionally, a slightly acute angle (upwards) splayed ion delivery may be provided. In this case, the ion outlet be inclined to the surface of the back at an angle of preferably 0 ° to 45 °, preferably 0 ° to 30 °.

In order to achieve a uniform distribution of ions on the hair, the at least one ion outlet is arranged at the edge of the device rear surface, which is opposite the hair processing device, so that an ion cloud forms over the rear side of the functional head.

If only a single ion outlet is arranged, this is advantageously arranged in the longitudinal center plane itself. In the arrangement of two ion outlets on the back of the device they can be spaced from the longitudinal center plane at the same height to each other and preferably inclined slightly inclined to the center plane. Alternatively, when two ion outlets are arranged on the rear side of the device, an opposing arrangement can be provided such that both ionic outlets are arranged on opposite edges of the rear functional head surface and directed towards each other so that they allow the ions to exit one another as it were.

The hair processing device can be firmly connected to the functional head and can also be firmly integrated into the functional head. Alternatively, the hair treatment device can advantageously be exchangeably mounted on the functional head, so that a functional head can be connected and used with different hair processing device. In addition to a bristle or tine field also other hair processing device in question, such as: a heat treatment device, a heatable hair straightener, a hot air device, such as a hair dryer or a hot air brush. Such various hair processing devices typically require various ways of handing and gripping the device, so it is advantageous to offer electrically conductive surfaces in the manner disclosed. In addition, the ion current should be delivered so that it is well compatible in both its strength, as well as its geometric distribution with a variety of functional heads.

Fig. 1:

eine Draufsicht auf die Rückseite eines Haarpflegegeräts in Form einer Haar- bürste nach einer vorteilhaften Ausführung der Erfindung, die den Ionenauslass in der Längsmittelebene am Rand der Rückseite des Funktionskopfs zeigt,

Fig. 2:

einen Längsschnitt durch die Haarbürste aus Fig. 1 entlang der dort eingetrage- nen Linie A-A, wobei eine Erdungsfläche am Funktionskopf unter dem dort vor- gesehenen Zinkenfeld vorgesehen ist,

Fig. 3:

eine Draufsicht auf die Vorderseite einer Haarbürste nach einer weiteren vorteil- haften Ausführung der Erfindung, bei der die Erdungsfläche am Funktionskopf in Form eines das Zinkenfeld am Rand umgebenden Metallstreifens vorgesehen ist,

Fig. 4:

eine Draufsicht auf die Rückseite einer Haarbürste nach einer weiteren vorteil- haften Ausführung der Erfindung, die die Anordnung zweier Ionenauslässe am Rand der Rückseite des Funktionskopfes symmetrisch zur Längsmittelebene zeigt,

Fig. 5:

eine stirnseitige Ansicht der Haarbürste aus Fig. 4, die die zueinander aufge- spreizten, im wesentlichen parallel zur Rückseitenfläche der Haarbürste verlau- fenden Hauptaustrittsrichtungen der Ionenauslässe zeigt,

Fig. 6:

eine Draufsicht auf die Rückseite einer Haarbürste nach einer weiteren vorteil- haften Ausführung der Erfindung, bei der zwei Ionenauslässe einander entge- gengerichtet in der Längsmittelebene der Haarbürste vorgesehen sind,

Fig. 7:

einen Längsschnitt der Haarbürste aus Fig. 6 entlang der dort eingetragenen Linie A-A, die die unterschiedliche Neigung der Ionenauslässe auf der Rückseite der Haarbürste zeigt,

Fig. 8:

eine schematische, perspektivische Ansicht des lonenauslasses und seines Aus- lassgehäuses nach einer vorteilhaften Ausführung der Erfindung, bei der eine Bodenfläche des Auslassgehäuses als Erdungsfläche ausgebildet ist,

Fig. 9:

eine stirnseitige Draufsicht auf die Mündungsseite des Ionenauslasses aus Fig. 8,

Fig. 10:

einen schematischen Längsschnitt durch den Ionenauslass aus den beiden vor- hergehenden Figuren,

Fig. 11:

eine perspektivische, schematische Darstellung eines Ionenauslasses nach einer alternativen vorteilhaften Ausführung der Erfindung, bei der nur ein Teilbereich der Bodenseite des Auslassgehäuses als Erdungsfläche ausgebildet ist,

Fig. 12:

eine schematische, perspektivische Darstellung eines Ionenauslasses nach einer weiteren vorteilhaften Ausführung der Erfindung, bei der eine Seitenfläche des Auslassgehäuses teilweise als Erdungsfläche ausgebildet ist,

Fig. 13:

eine schematische, perspektivische Ansicht eines Ionenauslasses nach einer weiteren vorteilhaften Ausführung der Erfindung, bei der eine der Mündungsseite gegenüberliegende Rückseite des Auslassgehäuses als Erdungsfläche ausge- bildet ist,

Fig. 14:

eine schematische, perspektivische Darstellung eines Ionenauslasses nach einer weiteren vorteilhaften Ausführung der Erfindung, bei der zwei gegenüberliegende Seitenflächen des Auslassgehäuses jeweils teilweise als Erdungsflächen ausge- bildet sind,

Fig. 15:

eine schematische, perspektivische Darstellung eines Haarpflegegeräts in Form einer Haarbürste nach einer weiteren vorteilhaften Ausführung der Erfindung mit einem Ionenauslass auf eine Rückseite der Haarbürste, wobei das Gehäusebau- teil des Geräts in der Umgebung des Ionenauslasses geerdet ist, und

Fig. 16:

eine schematische, perspektivische Darstellung eines Haarpflegegeräts ähnlich Fig. 15, wobei in der Umgebung des Ionenauslasses auf der Rückseite des Ge- räts mehrere separate Gehäusebauteile vorgesehen sind, von denen nur eines geerdet und die anderen ungeerdet sind.

These and other features of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the following description and / or the accompanying drawings, wherein the features in various combination and sub-combination with each other and individually regardless of their summary in the claims form the subject of the invention. The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments and associated drawings. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1:

4 shows a top view of the back side of a hairbrush in the form of a hairbrush according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, which shows the ion outlet in the longitudinal center plane at the edge of the rear side of the functional head,

Fig. 2:

a longitudinal section through the hairbrush Fig. 1 along the line AA entered there, wherein a grounding surface is provided on the functional head under the tine field provided there,

3:

4 a top view of the front side of a hairbrush according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, in which the grounding surface on the functional head is provided in the form of a metal strip surrounding the tine field at the edge,

4:

2 shows a plan view of the back side of a hairbrush according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, showing the arrangement of two ion outlets at the edge of the rear side of the functional head symmetrical to the longitudinal center plane,

Fig. 5:

an end view of the hairbrush Fig. 4 showing the main exit directions of the ion outlets, which are spread apart from one another and run essentially parallel to the back surface of the hairbrush,

Fig. 6:

4 a top view of the back side of a hairbrush according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, in which two ion outlets are provided opposite one another in the longitudinal center plane of the hairbrush,

Fig. 7:

a longitudinal section of the hairbrush Fig. 6 along the line AA recorded there, which shows the different inclination of the ion outlets on the back of the hairbrush,

Fig. 8:

1 is a schematic, perspective view of the ion outlet and its outlet housing according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, in which a bottom surface of the outlet housing is designed as a grounding surface,

Fig. 9:

a frontal plan view of the mouth side of the Ionenauslasses Fig. 8 .

Fig. 10:

a schematic longitudinal section through the Ionenauslass from the two preceding figures,

Fig. 11:

a perspective, schematic representation of an ionic outlet according to an alternative advantageous embodiment of the invention, in which only a portion of the bottom side of the outlet housing is formed as a grounding surface,

Fig. 12:

1 is a schematic, perspective view of an ion outlet according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, in which a side surface of the outlet housing is partially formed as a grounding surface,

Fig. 13:

1 is a schematic, perspective view of an ionic outlet according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, in which a rear side of the outlet housing opposite the outlet side is designed as a grounding surface,

Fig. 14:

1 is a schematic, perspective illustration of an ion outlet according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, in which two opposite side surfaces of the outlet housing are each partially formed as grounding surfaces,

Fig. 15:

a schematic perspective view of a hair care device in the form of a hair brush according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention with an ion outlet on a back of the hairbrush, wherein the housing part of the device is grounded in the vicinity of the ion outlet, and

Fig. 16:

a schematic, perspective view of a hair care device similar Fig. 15 , wherein in the vicinity of the Ionenauslasses on the back of the device several separate housing components are provided, of which only one grounded and the others are ungrounded.

That in the FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrated hair care device 1 comprises a device body 2, which has a handle 3 and in its interior or on its outer shell yet having descriptive electronic devices. Said handle 3 carries a functional head 4, which carries a bristle field 6 as a hair processing device 5 on the front of the device 7. However, it is understood that other hair processing tools, such as heating elements or hair styling elements or possibly also a fan output, may be provided when the hair care device is designed as a hair styling device and / or hair dryer. The mentioned hair processing tools can also be combined if necessary.

The said hair processing device 5 can be firmly integrated into the functional head 4. Alternatively, the hair processing device 5 can advantageously be exchangeably mounted on the functional head 4, so that a functional head 4 with different hair processing devices 5 can be equipped and used.

Advantageously, the hair-care appliance 1 can have a modular construction with a plurality of components that can be connected, wherein, in particular, the entire functional head 4 and / or the hair-processing apparatus 5 can be formed separately from the appliance body 2 in the aforementioned manner. In this case, between the various components advantageously positively acting connection means may be provided, for example in the form of locking tongues and pockets that allow a tool-free removal and replacement of the blocks.

As FIG. 1 and 2 Furthermore, an ion discharge device 9 is provided on the device base body 2 on its rear side 8 facing away from the hair processing device 5, which comprises an ion emitter which is arranged in the interior of the device base body 2 and / or can have a high-voltage element 12 arranged in the ion outlet 11 for emitting the ions. Said high-voltage element 12 can be arranged in a box-like or jacket-like outlet housing 13, the wall of which has on an outlet side 14 an outlet opening 17 through which the emitted ions can escape.

In the illustrated embodiment, the ion outlet 11 is formed nozzle-shaped or diffuser-like and causes a directed ion leakage, cf. FIG. 2 , Advantageously, the ion outlet 11 is arranged on the rear side of the device 8, which is opposite to the bristle field 6 or facing away from it and, so to speak, forms the back of the hairbrush. Advantageously, the ion outlet 11 is arranged in the longitudinal center plane 18, which the drawing plane of FIG. 2 forms, wherein advantageously the ion outlet 11 with its main exit direction 19 is slightly inclined at an acute angle to the rear surface of the device and directed away from this, cf. FIG. 2 , wherein the angle of inclination is advantageously between 0 ° and 45 ° and in the illustrated embodiment may advantageously be approximately between 20 ° and 30 °. As the FIGS. 1 and 2 In this case, the ion outlet 11 is arranged at the edge of the rear side surface of the functional head, which is opposite to the bristle field 6, so that the ions emerging from the ion outlet 11 form an ion cloud over the rear side of the functional head 4. In particular, the ion outlet 11 can, as FIG. 1 shows, roughly - be arranged in the transition region between the handle 3 and the functional head 4.

In the interior of the device main body 2, a not specifically shown power supply unit is housed, which may preferably be in the form of a battery or rechargeable battery device. Advantageously, the hair care device 1 is designed to be energy self-sufficient, i. it does not have a permanent power supply that would provide power from the outlet. Of course, a power cord can be plugged in to charge the batteries inside the device body 2. Via the said power supply unit, the ion discharge device 9 is fed to effect the ion generation.

As FIG. 2 shows, the hair care device 1 is advantageously provided with a grounding device 20 in order to avoid unwanted device charging, to avoid interference with the ion leakage and to improve the safety of the device operation. In the illustrated embodiment according to FIG. 2 In the region of the functional head 4, the grounding device 20 may have a grounding surface 21 ("third grounding surface") which prevents the construction of high charge fields in the region of the functional head 4, in particular in the region of the hair processing device 5. In the execution according to FIG. 2 the grounding surface 21 is directly connected to the hair processing device 5, being formed as a carrier and seated under the hair processing device 5 mounted thereon, cf. FIG. 2 , The grounding surface 21 advantageously consists of a metal surface and / or a metal coating, which is applied to the otherwise made of plastic functional head body. The grounding surface 21 may be connected to the device potential, in particular inside the device arranged ground blocks.

Alternatively or additionally, the functional head-side grounding surface 21 may also have a metal surface body arranged on the edge of the bristle field 6, preferably in the form of a metal strip, which annularly surrounds the bristle field 6, or, as in FIG figure 3 represented, U-shaped encloses from three sides. The bristle field 6 and the remaining body of the functional head 4 may be non-conductive, in particular made of plastic. In the case of a grounding surface 21 at the edge of the bristle field 6 according to FIG. 3 The grounding surface 21 surrounds a sufficient part of the bristle field 6 in order to sufficiently compensate for charges arising therefrom. Advantageously, the metal strip will extend along at least 50% of the circumference of the hair processing device 5.

As the FIGS. 4 and 5 show, the hair care device 1 on its rear side 8 also have a plurality of ion outlets 11, wherein in the illustrated embodiment according to the FIGS. 4 and 5 two ion outlets 11 are provided which, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the device, are arranged at the same height and are positioned symmetrically relative to one another with respect to the longitudinal center plane 18. Advantageously, the ion outlets 11 are arranged at the edge of the functional head back, wherein they are inclined at an angle of the order of 60 ° to 120 °, preferably about 90 ° to each other to produce a uniformly distributed ion cloud. In the illustrated embodiment, the ion outlets 11 are aligned with their main exit direction 18 parallel to the surface of the rear of the device 8, so that the ions emerge substantially parallel to the back of the functional head. In the illustrated embodiment, the ion outlets 11 allow the ions to emerge in diverging directions in order to distribute an ion cloud uniformly over the functional head 4 or its rear side.

Alternatively to the embodiment according to the FIGS. 4 and 5 can also be arranged a plurality of ion outlets 11 in the longitudinal center plane 18, cf. FIGS. 6 and 7 , Advantageously, the two ion outlets 11 are directed opposite to one another, wherein they are arranged on opposite sides in edge regions of the functional head rear side, cf. FIGS. 6 and 7 to let out an ion cloud over the back of the function head.

Advantageously, the two ion outlets 11 may be differently inclined to the surface of the rear of the device. While an ionic outlet is aligned with its main exit direction 18 substantially parallel to the surface of the rear of the device 8, the other ionic outlet 11 is inclined at an acute angle to the surface of the device rear side, preferably at an angle of 0 ° to 40 °, in particular 10 ° to 30 ° , As the FIGS. 6 and 7 show, it may be particularly advantageous if the arranged in the transition region between the handle 3 and the function head 4 ion outlet 11 is slightly inclined, while at the remote from the handle 3 end of the functional head backside arranged ion outlet 11 can be arranged parallel to the rear of the device 8.

As the FIGS. 8 to 10 In this case, the aforementioned grounding device 20 advantageously also includes a grounding surface 22 ("first grounding surface") assigned to the ionic outlet 11. In particular, this grounding surface 22 is provided on a housing outer surface of the outlet housing 13, which surrounds the ion emitter or its high-voltage element 12. As FIG. 8 best shows, includes - roughly speaking - box-shaped outlet housing 13 an end face forming a muzzle side 14, in which an outlet opening 17 is provided for the exit of the emitted ions. The high-voltage element 12 is arranged centrally in the outlet housing 13 and ends shortly before said outlet opening 17 in the interior of the outlet housing 13, cf. FIG. 10 , The high-voltage element 12 typically comprises or consists of a wire, which is usually guided in an insulating sheath, while the outlet housing is usually made of another, third material, for example of plastic (the schematic FIG. 10 does not make material differences apparent).

In the embodiment according to the FIGS. 8 to 10 is a - with respect to the high voltage element 12 circumferentially - side surface 16 is provided with the ground surface 22. This can be done according to the FIGS. 8 to 10 a bottom side of the outlet housing 13, which faces the device base body 2. Alternatively or additionally, this may also be a side wall surface 16 of the outlet housing 13, as this FIG. 12 shows.

According to the FIGS. 8 to 10 the entire bottom side of the outlet housing 13 is formed as a grounding surface 22, in particular in the form of a metal surface, wherein the housing body, moreover, can not be made conductive and in particular made of plastic. As FIG. 11 shows, the corresponding area - in the case of FIG. 11 the bottom-side side surface of the outlet housing 13 may also be provided only partially with the grounding surface 22, ie the grounding surface 22 does not necessarily cover the entire side surface, cf. FIG. 11 ,

Also in the execution according to FIG. 12 only about half of the side surface 16 is formed as a grounding surface 22.

As FIG. 13 shows, the rear side of the outlet housing 13, which is opposite to the mouth side 14, may be formed as a grounding surface 22.

Another version shows FIG. 14 , Here, opposing side surfaces 16 of the outlet housing 13 are each provided with a ground surface 22, which are formed in the illustrated embodiment only in the form of a side surfaces 16 partially covering strip.

A hair care appliance 1 according to a further embodiment of the invention shows Fig. 15 , Unless otherwise described, this hair care device can correspond to the previous embodiments, wherein corresponding components corresponding reference numerals in Fig. 15 are used. Essentially, the hair care device differs according to Fig. 15 from the previous ones by the fact that the entire rear side of the functional head is earthed. The housing component 108, which forms the back of the functional head 4 and surrounds the ionic outlet 11, consists in itself of non-conductive material, in particular of plastic, so that the housing component 108 can be electrostatically charged per se. However, said housing member 108 is grounded through contact with the ground potential of the high voltage circuit, whereby the electrostatic charge is not impossible, but sufficiently limited, so that the charging electric counter fields are so small that they do not propagate the ions from the ion outlet hinder. In this case, the electrical grounding can take place via the grounding surface 122 ("second grounding surface"). The grounding surface 122 may in this case also be designed as an electrically contacted screw in a screw dome in the housing component 108. Alternatively or additionally, a pressure of a metal electrode may be applied to the housing member 108 preferably on the inside thereof. In both cases, therefore, a connected to the ground potential grounding surface is provided on the housing member 108 in order to prevent or suppress the electrostatic charge.

As Fig. 15 shows, the grounded housing member 108 extends in the vicinity of the Ionenauslasses 11 substantially over the entire rear body surface of the device or its portion over which propagates the ion emerging from the ion outlet 11 ion cloud. In this case, the grounded housing component 108 extends starting from a rear side of the ion outlet 11 facing away from the outlet side 14 of the ion outlet 11, in particular over a large area up to the ion outlet 11, ie downstream of the ion outlet 11 viewed in the exit direction of the ions from said ion outlet 11, cf. Fig. 15 , The ionic outlet 11 forms, so to speak, an island in the surface of the grounded one Housing components 108, wherein the larger part housing member 108, in the illustrated embodiment more than two thirds of the housing member 108, on the outlet side of the Ionenauslasses 11, see. Fig. 15 ,

Said ionic outlet 11 is integrated in said housing member 108, in particular, the latter bulges dome-shaped to make room for the outlet opening 17 of the Ionenauslasses 11, which is formed in the illustrated embodiment of a sleeve 170, preferably made of plastic, the ion emitter enclosing the outlet side, cf. Fig. 15 ,

Instead of in Fig. 15 shown full-surface grounding of the housing component in the exit region of the ion emitter 10 can, as this Fig. 16 shows, in the vicinity of the ion outlet 11 also a plurality of separate housing components 108 a and 108 b may be provided, of which at least one is grounded, while at least one other is not grounded. The ungrounded parts can become electrostatically charged, which deflects the ions. In contrast, the ions can propagate undisturbed over the grounded parts, so that overall control of the ion cloud is achieved. The pattern of grounded and ungrounded housing components in the vicinity of the ionic outlet 11 thus constitutes an ion conducting device.

As Fig. 16 shows this ion guide or the pattern of grounded and ungrounded housing components 108 a and 108 b may be advantageously arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal center plane 18 of the hair care device 1 or formed. Specifically shows Fig. 16 a central, from the ion outlet 11 away trapezoidal widening housing member 108 a, which is grounded in the aforementioned manner. This central, strip-shaped housing component 108 a is flanked on the right and left by two lateral housing components 108 b, which remain ungrounded and thus can charge electrostatically. In this embodiment, the ion guide, so to speak, forms an exit channel or corridor, which permits a targeted ion exit and suppresses excessive lateral spreading. Depending on the application, however, other patterns of grounded or ungrounded housing components can be provided in order to achieve appropriate control of the propagation of the ion cloud, depending on the application.

Claims (11)

1. A hair care tool, comprising a handle (3), a function head (4) that can be connected to the handle (3), the function head having a hair styling device (5), in particular a bristle and/or tooth field (6), and a tool rear side (8) furthest from the hair styling device (5), and further comprising an ion output device (9) for delivering ions to the hair which includes at least one switching unit, an ion source, an ion outlet (11) disposed on the tool rear side (8) furthest from the hair styling device (5), and a sleeve (13, 170) surrounding the ion outlet (11), the hair care tool further comprising a grounding area (22) for dissipating/limiting electronic charges, the grounding area being disposed on a housing part (13) in the surroundings of the ion outlet (11), characterized in that the ion source, relative to the potential level of the grounding area, has a potential level of - 10 to - 3 kV,
   the sleeve (13, 170), relative to the potential level of the grounding area, has a potential level of - 2.5 to - 1 kV, or of 20 % to 50 % of the potential level of the ion source, and
   the tool rear side (8), relative to the potential level of the grounding area, has a potential level of - 500 to - 100 V, or of 2 % to 10 % of the potential level of the ion source, and
   said tool rear side (8) is provided in the surroundings of the ion outlet (11), preferably on a component inner side, with at least one additional grounding area (122), and
   the additional grounding area (122) is disposed on a housing component (108), which is disposed, as viewed in the ion discharge direction, downstream of the ion outlet (11) adjacent to the outlet.
2. The hair care tool according to claim 1, wherein at least one grounding area (22, 122) comprises a metal surface, which is applied to a non-conducting body part and/or housing wall part, preferably made of plastic, of the function head (4) and/or of the housing part (13) in the surroundings of the ion outlet (11).
3. A hair care tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an additional grounding area (21) is disposed on the function head (4).
4. The hair care tool according to the preceding claim, wherein the grounding area (21) on the function head (4) surrounds the hair treatment device (5) at least in some sections, preferably in a ring-shaped arrangement, and/or is disposed directly adjacent to the hair styling device (5).
5. A hair care tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the grounding area (22) is disposed on the housing part (13) surrounding the ion outlet (11) and forms, at the ion outlet (9), a housing surface which surrounds a high-voltage element (12) for emission of the ions.
6. The hair care tool according to the preceding claim, wherein the housing part (13) surrounding the ion outlet (11) comprises a mouth side (14), in which a discharge opening (17) is provided for discharge of the ions, and at least one additional, closed housing side (16), wherein the grounding area (22) is provided on the closed housing side.
7. The hair care tool according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the housing part (13) surrounding the ion outlet (11) is designed in the form of a sleeve.
8. A hair care tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mouth side (14) of the ion outlet (11) is designed to be free of counter electrodes.
9. A hair care tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one ion outlet (11) or all of the ion outlets (11) are disposed in a peripheral region of the rear side of the function head (4) such that an ion cloud developing above the function-head rear side can be generated.
10. The hair care tool according to the preceding claim, wherein an energy storage device, preferably in the form of a disposable and/or rechargeable battery, is provided for supplying power to the ion output device (9).
11. The device according to the preceding claim, wherein the function head (4) and/or the hair styling device (5) is detachably fastened to a device main body (2) forming the handle (3).

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