EP2200475B1 - Portable apparatus for the steam treatment of hair - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a portable apparatus that performs a treatment and shaping of the hair using steam generating means optionally associated with a shaping device provided for detangling, styling or retaining the hair in relation to the steam.

Apparatus for steam hair treatment, such as for example described in the documents, are known. US 4,114,022 , US 3,781,519 or US 5,263,501 . The latter describes a curling iron having a mandrel-supporting housing including a conical base attached to the housing and extending through a cylindrical end portion with peripheral vapor outlet ports. The conical base receives steam from a generator belonging to the housing, which vapor then follows the longitudinal axis of the mandrel towards its outlet openings. The cylindrical portion is inserted into a hair curler on which hair has been wrapped which is then steam treated in the state. This device finds its limits already in the fact that the vapor transfer is at a distance from the steam outlet of the generator, transfer which generates pressure losses and thus a decrease in the output steam flow. Moreover, such a remote steam outlet arrangement of the generator is also at the origin of the condensation phenomena. Therefore, apart from its reduced performance, it is necessary to provide a return line to the tank, which complicates the construction of the device. Moreover, the water being sent from the tank inside the generator by a hand pump, the spray chamber is often drowned, especially when the person using the device and desiring a stronger steam flow, too much support often on the trigger of the pump. This results in a very variable steam flow, but also water flows that are troublesome or even dangerous for the person using the device.

To overcome these disadvantages, a solution has been described in the document WO 2004/002262 where the device is a two-jaw straightener resiliently articulated at one of their ends. According to this document, the means that generate steam form a sandwich structure contained in one of the jaws. More particularly, a jaw comprises a reservoir containing the treatment liquid which impregnates a wick arranged in contact with the heating element of the jaw to evaporate the liquid which then passes through orifices provided for this purpose in the surface. treatment for contact with the hair. Having however managed to generate a steam flow rate in a more stable manner than the apparatus of the preceding document, the main disadvantage of this apparatus is that, despite its rather complex structure, the steam flow rate generated is only very low, in particular lower than at 2g / min. However, a hair treatment performed with such a vapor flow does not produce an observable effect on the hair which must then be subjected to an additional heat treatment, strong enough to print a certain style, and whose very high temperature the dries strongly and can damage them.

The object of the present invention is to overcome at least part of these disadvantages and to provide a hair shaping apparatus that can continuously provide a constant supply of steam that is capable of deeply and efficiently treating the hair, while having a simplified structure and safe operation.

Another object of the invention is a hair shaping apparatus capable of rapidly sending a controlled supply of steam to the treated hair, while being able to dissociate it from a possible additional supply of heat and / or mechanical traction and or chemical.

Another object of the invention is a steam shaping apparatus that is reliable in operation, which is able to avoid condensation phenomena, while being able to be achieved simply and economically.

These goals are achieved with a hand-held hair shaping device. vapor comprising a housing comprising a liquid reservoir, liquid supply means of a steam generator comprising a vaporization chamber in thermal contact with an electric heating element, the vaporization chamber communicating with one or more dispensing orifices; the steam towards a lock of hair, which can be treated because the generator is supplied with liquid by an electric pump and the steam flow rate is greater than 5 g / min and preferably between 10 g / min and 60 g / min.

Such a steam generator powered by an electric pump makes it possible to rapidly provide a large, constant and continuous steam flow rate to the treated wick so as to result in a durable and deep treatment thereof. By the use of an electric pump whose maximum flow rate is advantageously calculated to be slaved to the maximum heating power of the vaporization chamber, the liquid introduced into the chamber by the pump is immediately and completely converted into vapor, thus avoiding a return of drops of non-vaporized liquid through the dispensing orifices. Moreover, such a device is portable, which makes it possible to have the outlet of the steam arranged as close as possible to the steam generation means of the housing to eliminate the phenomena of condensation, while simplifying the construction of the apparatus and making its handling more flexible.

Indeed, by performing laboratory tests on strands of hair either in the natural state, or coated with cosmetics, with a steam flow rate greater than 5g / min, up to 100g / min, it has been found that the effect of the treatment was clearly visible on the treated wick, since a high flow of steam already made it possible to prepare the hair for further treatment, for example by cleaning and loading them uniformly with moisture. This effect was maintained even on locks subsequently treated with a shaping device using a mechanical action and / or heat, because the hair already loaded in a better controlled moisture, kept all the longer their implementation in shape, with remarkable results on their appearance, especially gloss, color, and this in a homogeneous way throughout their volume.

By performing the same tests on several types of wicks, it was found that the flow rate range between 10g / min and 60g / min gave the best results in terms of scale openings and moisture load of the hair and this for most types of hair analyzed.

Advantageously, or the dispensing orifices are arranged at one end of the housing of the apparatus and the latter comprises a deflector arranged vis-à-vis the or orifices of distribution.

This deflector functions as a vapor barrier being placed vis-à-vis the steam outlet, while providing a space for the passage of a lock of hair. Thus, this deflector makes it possible, on the one hand, to protect the scalp of the person on whom the treatment is carried out and, on the other hand, to redirect the steam towards the back of the wick and thus treat it on both sides with a steam outlet located only on one side of it.

Preferably, the power of the electric heating element is between 600W and 1000W.

This provides a rapid rise in temperature of the vaporization chamber to about 150 ° C to happen to vaporize, preferably instantaneously, the liquid introduced into the chamber by the pump.

Advantageously, the steam generator comprises a lower plate provided with a liquid supply orifice and at least one outlet orifice of the steam produced and an upper plate, the steam being circulated between the two plates by minus a baffled path having a length of between 100mm and 200mm.

Such baffle circuits make it possible to increase the contact time and to vary the direction of movement of the liquid in contact with the wall generator and substantially improve the heat transfer during boiling. The vaporization chamber is thus superheated, all the droplets of water carried by the stream being evaporated before reaching the level of the steam outlet orifices of the chamber.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises one or more conduits connecting the outlet of the vaporization chamber to the orifice or to the dispensing orifices each having a length less than 3 cm.

The vaporization chamber is thus positioned as close as possible to the steam distribution or outlet orifices, which makes it possible to treat the lock of hair directly at the outlet of the vaporization chamber, via one or more conduits. These steam ducts leaving the vaporization chamber therefore being of very short length distribute the vapor without it being possible to form condensates which could then disturb and / or cancel the action of the steam on the wick or damage to the ease of use of the device, the condensates can limit the person using the device or on which the treatment is applied.

Advantageously, the apparatus comprises an adjusting device for adjusting the flow of liquid sent to the generator.

Such a device for adjusting the flow rate of liquid sent by the pump into the vaporization chamber makes it possible to adapt the flow of steam produced to the type of treatment and / or the type of hair treated with the apparatus.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises a device for shaping the hair comprising at least one treatment surface of generally elongated shape coming into contact with a lock of hair and said steam distribution orifices. are adjacent to the shaping device.

The device for shaping the hair comprises a device capable of at least temporarily and / or locally in contact with the hair to disentangle, comb or simply hold them in contact with a treatment surface, such as for example: a comb, a cylinder impregnated with a product for setting form, for example coloring, a smoothing pliers with movable or fixed articulated arms, a curling iron with a cylindrical heating mandrel possibly cooperating with at least one heating plate facing each other, a smoothing head comprising a plurality of parallel surfaces of side-by-side treatment, etc.

The direction of the shaping is generally defined by the generally elongate shaped treatment surface of the shaping device, which surface generally treats with its longest side the width of a wick. By an arrangement of the dispensing orifices in the vicinity of the edge of the shaping device, it is therefore excluded the arrival of steam inside the device in order to separate the steam treatment function from another function. for shaping the hair, which may be, for example, a treatment by application of heat, and / or a tension or pressure on the hair, and / or a product for shaping the hair, by example a fixing agent etc., for a better result on the treated lock.

Advantageously, the steam path is via several orifices uniformly distributed parallel to the processing surface of the forming device orienting the vapor in a direction perpendicular to that of their shaping by said device.

A vapor path arriving perpendicular to the width of a wick thus allows a quick treatment of the lock of hair and, moreover, homogeneous when the steam is distributed through outlet openings covering the width of the wick.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the dispensing orifices are adjacent to the hair shaping device being located upstream thereof.

By "upstream" is meant that, in the treatment operation, a portion of the lock of hair first supports the application of steam before supporting the shaping treatment.

Tests carried out by treating a lock of hair with steam sent upstream of the shaping device showed that the steam manages to open the scales of the hair, cleans it in depth. The mechanical action then performed by the shaping device finishes to rid the hair of impurities resulting for example from a possible treatment and / or previous care.

Laboratory tests have also shown that the steam sent upstream of the shaping device when it includes a cosmetic dispensing system, facilitates the penetration of said cosmetic inside the hair, which leads to better in-depth action of said cosmetic.

It has also been found that the treatment of the wick by means of a device performing a thermal action, in addition to the mechanical one, after the application of steam, prevents the dehydration of the hair, the latter being previously sheathed with a wet layer. This sheath is, of course, evaporated at the time of the styling action, but instead of the water contained in the heart of the hair which is thus protected from dehydration related to the application of a hot shaping device .

Finally, the laboratory tests have also shown that the steam sent upstream of the shaping device can sufficiently load the hair in moisture to protect it from significant dehydration during the action of the shaping device that can be heated at high temperature, for example 230 ° C.

In a second variant embodiment of the invention, said orifices distribution are adjacent to the hair shaping device being located downstream thereof.

By "downstream" it is meant that, in the treatment operation, a portion of the lock of hair initially supports the shaping treatment before supporting the application of steam.

Tests carried out with an apparatus made according to this variant of the invention have shown that, after mechanical shaping of the wick, the steam rehydrates the hair to compensate for the dehydration associated with the application to the hair of the surface of the hair. hot treatment of a shaping device.

Preferably, the shaping device comprises at least one electric heating element in thermal contact with the treatment surface.

Such a device comprising its own heating element, independent of that of the steam generator, then makes it possible to form a durable shaping of the hair, for example a smoothing, a looping, an embossing thereof. When the steam is applied to a lock of hair after shaping by a device performing a thermal action, or combined with a mechanical action on the wick, the steam rehydrates the hair to compensate for the dehydration related to the application on the hair of a hot tool.

Preferably, the shaping device comprises control means independent of those for controlling the steam.

This allows to separate the two functions, while allowing to adjust the operating parameters of each function independently.

Advantageously, the housing comprises a body extending downwards by a handle, the shaping device being arranged opposite the handle and the steam path exiting through the dispensing orifices is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the housing body.

Such a housing configuration provides both good ergonomics in use and effective treatment of the hair by steam.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hair shaping device comprises two articulated arms movable in opposite directions, each having a hair treatment surface, at least one of the arms having a heating element. in thermal contact with said treatment surface.

Such a device provides effective smoothing of the hair, with good performance over time.

Advantageously, the shaping device is removably arranged relative to the housing of the apparatus.

This allows the ambidextrous use of the apparatus with the same device, or even with a plurality of formatting devices, in a simple and inexpensive way.

This also allows the steam to be dispensed alone without prior or subsequent shaping. In this case, the vapor barrier is integral with the body of the device and not the shaping device.

Preferably, the liquid contained in the reservoir is a treatment product.

By treatment liquid is understood any liquid capable of being vaporized by the generator and which can then be applied to the hair in the form of steam to ensure care, shaping, coloring, discoloration, etc. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this liquid is water.

In another embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises an additional reservoir of liquid adjacent to or belonging to the hair shaping device.

This additional reservoir can therefore belong to the apparatus or to the shaping device and makes it possible to apply to the hair a liquid that is not necessarily vaporized by the steam generator of the apparatus, for example during an application by contacting the liquid from the additional reservoir with the treated wick.

Advantageously, the liquid contained in the additional reservoir is different from the liquid contained in the reservoir that supplies the steam generator.

This makes it possible to apply a cosmetic liquid, for example shaping or coloring, in addition to the steam treatment.

Thus, in the case where the cosmetic has been deposited before the application of the steam, the steam serves as a transport medium for the cosmetic to make it penetrate to the heart of the hair via the opening of the scales, the following mechanical treatment allowing close the scales and perform a form of cauterization of the hair to fix the cosmetic.

Moreover, in the case where the cosmetic has been deposited after the mechanical and thermal treatment of the hair, the steam is used as a transport medium, while avoiding to subject the cosmetic to very high temperatures and thus avoid it being deteriorated by the temperature.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un appareil portatif de traitement des cheveux à la vapeur selon un mode particulier de réalisation de l'invention, comportant un dispositif de mise en forme représenté en position fermée ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective de l'appareil de la figure 1, le dispositif de mise en forme étant en position ouverte ;
• la figure 3a est une vue en perspective de l'appareil de la figure 1 sans le dispositif de mise en forme, l'appareil étant dépourvu de son boîtier enveloppe et du couvercle de la chambre de vaporisation ; la figure 3b est une vue à échelle agrandie d'un détail de la figure 3a ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective d'un dispositif de mise en forme de l'appareil des figures 1 et 2 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective de l'appareil de traitement des cheveux à la vapeur selon une variante du mode de réalisation de l'appareil de la figure 1.

The invention will be better understood from the study of a particular embodiment of the invention, with its variants, taken by way of no limitation and illustrated in the accompanying figures in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable steam hair treatment apparatus according to a particular embodiment of the invention, comprising a shaping device shown in closed position;
• the figure 2 is a perspective view of the device from the figure 1 the shaping device being in the open position;
• the figure 3a is a perspective view of the device from the figure 1 without the shaping device, the apparatus being devoid of its casing and the cover of the vaporization chamber; the figure 3b is an enlarged view of a detail of the figure 3a ;
• the figure 4 is a perspective view of a shaping device of the apparatus of figures 1 and 2 ;
• the figure 5 is a perspective view of the steam hair treatment apparatus according to a variant of the embodiment of the apparatus of the figure 1 .

The attached figures, except the figure 4 , represent a portable apparatus for steam hair treatment comprising a housing 1 made of plastic material having a body 2 extended downwards by an elongate portion forming a handle 3 receiving a removable water tank 4 whose upper wall constitutes the upper part of the handle. The elongate portion of the housing 1 also encloses feed means 6 ( figure 3a ) of a steam generator 8 contained in the body 2 of the housing 1. The steam generator 8 is constituted by a vaporization chamber 10, for example instantaneous, associated with an electric heating element 9, these elements being visible at the figure 3a .

According to the invention, the steam generator is powered by an electric pump and is designed so as to produce a steam flow rate greater than 5 g / min and preferably between 10 g / min and 60 g / min.

The feed means 6 comprise in particular an electric pump 5, visible at the figure 3a , whose start is controlled by a command button 7. At the figure 3a it is also possible to see the circuit connecting the electric pump 5 to the tank 4 and to the generator 8. Thus, the electric pump 5 comprises an inlet orifice 16 connected by a first conduit 17 to the reservoir 4 and a discharge orifice 18 sending water from the reservoir 4 through a feed circuit of the steam generator 8. More particularly, the circuit supplying the steam generator 8 comprises a second duct 19 leading to a branch dividing the supply circuit into a first duct branch 20 connected to an inlet orifice 21 in the vaporization chamber 10 of the steam generator 8 and a second pipe branch 22 connected to the tank 4 allowing the discharge of a portion of water from the pump 5 to the tank 4. The passage section of the first pipe branch 20 is smaller than that of the second branch of pipe 22 which is, it, made of a flexible pipe, the apparatus further comprising a device 23 for adjusting the flow of water sent inside the generator 8. The dispositi The adjustment device 23 comprises means for compressing the flexible pipe of the second branch 22 which passes through a cylindrical casing 25. More particularly, the adjustment device 23 makes it possible, by turning a knurled knob 24, to actuate an internal bent lever in the casing 25, lever that bears on the outer surface of the hose.

When the pump 5 is turned on by means of the control knob 7, the latter sucks the water from the tank 4 through the first conduit 17 and delivers the water through the second conduit 19, the flow of water sent by this circuit being then divided between a first weak stream sent to the generator 8 and a larger flow sent to the tank. To increase the flow of water sent to the generator 8, the knob 24 is rotated to compress the return pipe to the tank 4.

More particularly according to the invention and as better visible in the figure 3b , the vaporization chamber 10 comprises a closed compartment made between a lower plate 50 of generally rectangular shape and an upper plate (not shown for clarity), the two plates being fixed together at the four corners by screws 52. A seal 51 Silicone device located between the two trays ensures tightness inside the vaporization chamber 10.

The lower plate 50 is provided with several reliefs constituting baffles which ensure the flow of the fluid from a water inlet to the steam outlet orifices of the chamber. The water inlet inside the vaporization chamber 10 is through the inlet orifice 21 located in the central part of a front wall 53. The flow of incoming water is divided, then the drops water and steam are conveyed by the reliefs of the lower plate 50 along two symmetrical labyrinth paths 55 and 56, arranged on either side of the axis of the chamber passing through the central inlet orifice. 21. The pathways 55, 56 have a length of approximately 150 mm each to lengthen the heating zone of the chamber allowing steam to be converted into water from the vaporization chamber 10. The two paths 55, 56 meet in a buffer zone 57 located just before a bottom wall 54 of the chamber. The buffer zone 57 forms a distribution chamber for the steam leaving via openings 58. In the example shown, five openings 58 are made on the bottom wall 54 and open via five internal pipes made in one piece with the chamber. in five ducts 14. Each duct 14 is attached, at one of its ends, in a sealed manner at the outlet of a manifold and has, at the opposite end, a diffusion nozzle placed in correspondence, with respect to a dispensing orifice 12 of the housing of the apparatus. Moreover, the internal walls of the vaporization chamber 10 are covered with a layer made of a granular coating intended to increase the contact surface between its walls and the drops of water inside the chamber and thus improving the diffusion of the drops on the heating surface of the chamber. Such a vaporization chamber is able to instantaneously produce dry steam at the outlet.

The steam generator 8 is made of an aluminum block or an aluminum alloy having a good thermal inertia forming a reservoir of calories for the vaporization chamber 10, for quickly vaporizing the water when starting the machine. pump. The vaporization chamber 10 and the electric heating element 9 form a one-piece assembly. In the example shown in the figures, the electric heating element 9 is a shielded resistor having a power of 900W. The electrical power supply of the apparatus is done by a power cord 15, a start-up button of the apparatus that can control the supply of the heating element 9.

The flow of water arriving inside the vaporization chamber 10 is rapidly transformed into vapor by the latter during its path along the baffles of the instantaneous vaporization chamber 10. The vapor exits the vaporization chamber 10 by several orifices provided on a bottom wall of the vaporization chamber located opposite the one receiving the inlet orifice 21. The steam outlet ports of the vaporization chamber 10 each communicate with a conduit 14 allowing distribute the steam to the outside of the appliance. So, we can notice at the figure 3b , five ducts 14 of short length, for example of about 1 cm each, allowing the steam to be distributed immediately after the exit of the vaporization chamber 10.

As best seen in the figure 2 , the body 2 of the casing 1 is closed, in its lower part and opposite the handle 3, by a flat face 11 having a plurality of steam distribution orifices 12, each orifice communicating with the outlet of a duct 14.

In accordance with an advantageous aspect of the invention, the steam distribution ports 12 are adjacent to a hair shaping device. Thus, the upper part of the body 2 advantageously receives the shaping device 30, the latter comprising at least one treatment surface 31 located in the extension, or even set back a few mm, parallel to the flat face 11 of the casing 1.

The shaping device 30 is better visible at the figure 4 and it comprises two arms 33,34 mounted articulated around a hinge 35 while being held in the open position or, in a variant, in the closed position by a spring of compression (not visible on the drawings). There is thus an upper arm 33 having, at its free end, an insertion shoe 36 of flared shape extending by a planar treatment surface 31 of rectangular shape in contact with a heating element. The lower arm 34 also has, at its free end, an introduction shoe 37 of flared shape extending through a planar treatment surface 32 of rectangular shape in contact with a heating element.

Each treatment surface 31, 32 is formed of a metal plate coming into thermal contact with an electric heating element (not visible in the drawings), which may be a resistive, PTC, infrared emitting heater, etc., which is placed against the treatment surface and inside a body 38, respectively 39 plastic of each arm 33,34. Each electric heating element may have its own regulating means and is supplied with electrical power by a power cord 40. The heating element is provided for heating the plates in a temperature range of 90 ° C to 230 ° C. Alternatively, the apparatus comprises a single power cord 15 for supplying electrical energy to the steam generator 8 and the heating plates of the shaping device 30. The treatment surface 31, 32 is made of a thermally conductive material, being polished, optionally covered with an enamel, a ceramic material, a layer of glass, etc.

The arms 33,34 are thus elastically movable in pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of their respective processing surfaces 31,32 between an open position and a closed position. Thus, a lock of hair can be inserted between the treatment surfaces 31, 32 of the arms 33, 34 when the arms are in the open position and can then be subjected to pressure to come into contact with the treatment surfaces. , 32 when the arms are in the closed position, the closure can be performed by pressing on the outer surface of the bodies 38,39 of the arms. The flat 31,32 treatment surfaces thus smooth the wick with which they come into contact.

In another variant embodiment of the shaping device 30, the jaws are closed at rest and the insertion of the wick is manually forced between the plates of the treatment surfaces 31, 32 by stretching the wick and pushing between the two plates using the introduction shoes 36,37. Advantageously, it is possible to envisage a system for controlling the opening of the plates to separate them sufficiently in such a way as to simplify the introduction of the wick, the actuation being able for example to be done from the handle of the apparatus or close to that -this.

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the lower arm 34 comprises a deflector 42 having a wall 43 arranged recessed, but parallel to the treatment surface 32. The wall 43 forms a vapor barrier protecting the scalp from the action of the steam to return the steam towards the lock of hair treated. This vapor return also has the advantage of impregnating the wick on both sides by having only a unilateral steam outlet.

According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the upper arm 33 comprises a fixing support 45 to the body 2 of the housing 1 of the apparatus, more particularly a removable attachment by means of a screw 46 cooperating with a threaded orifice in the upper part of the body 2 of the device. This removable attachment then allows, by loosening the screw 46, to move from a position as illustrated in the figures, suitable for use by a right-handed person, to another where the device is rotated 180 ° around the longitudinal axis of the body 2 for the use of the device by a left-handed person. This shaping device can be replaced by another, for example, having a cylindrical winding body cooperating with a pivoting hair clip, this device then being introduced into the mounting bracket 45 and mounted on the body 2 of the housing 1 of the device. Removable attachment of the shaping device 30 also allows the use of the steam hair treatment apparatus alone, without a shaping device mounted at its vapor outlet end.

The figure 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the deflector 42, in particular by making it integral with the body 2 of the housing 1 of the device. More particularly, the deflector 42 has a general tuning fork shape with a bottom wall 44 through which the dispensing orifices 12 pass, extending through a bend connecting it to a deflecting wall 43 spaced apart. The deflecting wall 43 is located at a distance parallel to the bottom wall 44 and ends with an end curved towards the latter. Such a deflector allows the passage of a lock of hair between its parallel walls while protecting the scalp, and at the same time ensures the return of steam through the baffle wall towards the wick. Such a deflector may advantageously be made of a plastic material. The apparatus according to figure 5 can be used alone to perform the hair treatment, the shaping device 30 being removable.

In operation, the hair shaping device is turned on by pressing a control button and a light (not shown in the drawings) can indicate when the hotplates have reached the correct temperature. A lock of hair is then introduced into the arms 33, 34 of the shaping device 30 applying a pressing force to the wick, and then the control button 7 is pressed, the apparatus starting to produce hair. steam instantly. The apparatus is then moved along the wick and vapor treatment is performed immediately followed by smoothing by contact with the treatment surfaces 31, 32 of the shaping device.

Because the control means of the device are independent of those of the device, it can also be used with the smoothing plates at room temperature or very weakly heated. This allows in particular to achieve cleaning of the wick by removing impurities and moisturizing at the same time.

In a variant not shown in the drawings, the dispensing orifices of the Steam are located above the shaping device to begin with smoothing before steaming.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has been given by way of example. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims (18)

1. Portable steam hair shaping device comprising a housing (1) containing a liquid tank (4), means (6) of supplying liquid to a steam generator (8) consisting of a vaporisation chamber (10) in thermal contact with an electric heating element (9), with the vaporisation chamber linking to one or several steam dispensing openings (12) in the direction of a lock of hair which can be styled, with the generator powered by liquid via an electric pump, and the flow of steam supplied being higher than 5 g/min and preferably between 10 g/min and 60 g/min.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the dispensing opening(s) are positioned at one of the ends of its housing and that it includes a deflector positioned opposite to the dispensing opening(s).
3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the power of the electric heating element (9) is between 600 W and 1000 W.
4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the steam generator includes a lower tray equipped with a liquid supply opening and at least one exit outlet for the steam produced, and an upper tray, with the steam being circulated between the two trays via at least one transverse path with a length of between 100 mm and 200 mm.
5. Device according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that it includes one or several ducts (14) linking the exit of the steam chamber (10) to the dispensing opening(s) (12), with each having a length of less than 3 cm.
6. Device according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises an adjustment device (23) to adjust the liquid flow sent to the generator (8).
7. Device according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that it includes a hair shaping device (30) comprising at least one treatment surface (31) with a general elongated shape, which comes into contact with a lock of hair, and that the aforesaid steam dispensing openings are adjacent to the shaping device (30).
8. Device according to claim 7, characterised in that the steam travels via several openings (12) that are uniformly distributed in parallel to the treatment surface (31) of the shaping device (30), which direct the steam perpendicular to the aforesaid device's shaping direction.
9. Device according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterised in that the aforesaid dispensing openings (12) are adjacent to the hair shaping device (30), in being located upstream from these.
10. Device according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterised in that the aforesaid dispensing openings (12) are adjacent to the hair shaping device (30), in being located downstream from these.
11. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterised in that the shaping device (30) comprises at least one electric heating element in thermal contact with the treatment surface (31).
12. Device according to claim 11, characterised in that the shaping device (30) comprises means of control which are independent from those of the steam control.
13. Device according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterised in that the housing (1) comprises a body (2) which extends down by a handle (3), with the hair shaping device (30) being positioned at the opposite end of the handle (3), and the steam flow coming out of the dispensing openings (12) being directed according to the longitudinal direction of the body (2) of the housing (1).
14. Device according to one of claims 7 to 13, characterised in that the hair shaping device (30) comprises two articulated arms (33,34), which are movable in opposite directions, with each including a hair treatment surface (31,32), with at least one of the arms (33,34) comprising a heating element in thermal contact with the aforesaid treatment surface (31,32).
15. Device according to one of claims 7 to 14, characterised in that the shaping device is positioned so that it is detachable from the device housing.
16. Device according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the liquid contained in the tank is a treatment product.
17. Device according to one of claims 7 to 16, characterised in that it comprises a supplementary liquid tank adjacent to the hair shaping device or belonging thereto.
18. Device according to claim 17, characterised in that the liquid contained in the supplementary tank is different to the liquid contained in the tank which supplies the steam generator.

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