EP3506788B1 - Hairstyling apparatus equipped with a system for locking a water tank and a wick in a steam production position - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of hairstyling devices for curling the hair, of the “curler” type, and more particularly to such hairstyling devices equipped with a steam production system which comprises a liquid reservoir, a tube. wick soaked in the liquid and a heating element with which said wick comes into contact.

In addition, such a hairdressing appliance comprises a mandrel and a tile, these elements being articulated to form a clamp so as to allow the pinching of a lock of hair to wind it around the mandrel and thus curl it.

State of the art

Patent applications are known WO0167915A2 and EP1894488A1 relating to such hairdressing devices comprising the aforementioned characteristics, which makes it possible to generate steam during the completion of the curling of the lock of hair.

The liquid reservoir is arranged at the end of the mandrel and the wick soaked in liquid is integral with the reservoir and communicates with the latter so as to be soaked with said liquid. A heating element is placed in the mandrel. Guide means are arranged between the reservoir and the mandrel so as to allow movement of the reservoir and the wick between a passive position and an active position in which the wick is in contact with the heating element for the creation of steam. This vapor is generated by manually moving the reservoir and wick.

During the operation of curling the lock of hair, the user must pinch the lock of hair, wind it around the mandrel and then keep the reservoir pressed so that the lock soaked in liquid remains in contact with the heating element, so as to generate steam continuously. This makes the current hairdressing appliances having such characteristics not very ergonomic.

In addition, the user must himself count the duration of vaporization of the lock of hair in order to carry out a treatment of the curly lock of hair by spraying for a suitable duration, this duration having to be neither too short for the treatment to be effective, nor too long so as not to degrade the hair. This requires extra attention from the user during styling. In addition, the steam application time is highly variable, depending on the user's counting speed. The user must keep the wick pressed on the heating element for the entire time defined.

The document CH597786 discloses a hairdressing appliance according to the preamble of claim 1.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

The primary objective of the invention is to prevent the user from having to permanently maintain the reservoir in the pressed position for the creation of steam during the performance of a looping operation.

To this end, the invention relates to a hairdressing appliance for curling the hair.

The styling apparatus comprises a mandrel and a tile hinged to the apparatus to form a clamp with the mandrel so as to move the tile between a disengaged position of the mandrel allowing the positioning of a lock of hair, and a position of support against the mandrel, allowing the pinching of the lock of hair in order to then perform the curling operation.

The hairdressing appliance also comprises a heating element and electrical means making it possible to activate said heating element.

In addition, the hairdressing appliance comprises a liquid reservoir and a wick integral with the reservoir and communicating with the latter so as to be soaked with liquid. Guide means are arranged between the reservoir and the mandrel so as to allow movement of the reservoir and the wick between a passive position and an active position in which the wick is in contact with the heating element for the creation of steam.

Furthermore, the styling appliance comprises a locking / unlocking system which is configured to ensure that the reservoir and the wick are held in the active position, which avoids the user having to keep the reservoir and the wick in said position active throughout the looping operation.

According to a preferred embodiment of the hairdressing appliance which is the subject of the invention, the locking / unlocking system is configured to ensure that the reservoir and the wick are held in active position when the tile is in the position of bearing against the mandrel. This makes it possible to start the curling and vaporization operation, only after having carried out the pinching of the lock of hair. Conversely, the locking / unlocking system is configured to allow the release of the reservoir and the wick to its passive position when the tile is in the position released from the mandrel. It would however be possible to provide alternative embodiments according to which the locking / unlocking system fulfills the aforementioned holding and release functions, independent of the position of the tile with respect to the mandrel.

According to this preferred embodiment of the hairdressing appliance, the locking / unlocking system comprises a first locking element arranged on the reservoir and a second locking element arranged at a distal end of the tile. Said locking elements are configured to cooperate and ensure that the reservoir is held in position vis-à-vis the tile when said tile is in the bearing position against the mandrel and when the reservoir and the wick are in the active position.

According to one embodiment, the first locking element and the second locking element are configured to snap into one another so as to ensure said holding in position of the reservoir vis-à-vis the tile. One could however envisage variants of first and second locking elements, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Preferably, according to this embodiment, the first locking element comprises a resilient U-shaped piece provided with a constriction and the second locking element comprises a stud arranged on an internal face of the tile, the constriction ensuring the retention of the elastic part engaged on the stud.

According to the hairdressing appliance which is the subject of the invention, the locking / unlocking system comprises means for returning the reservoir and the wick to the passive position. This ensures an automatic stop of the steam, without requiring additional handling of the styling device.

According to the hairdressing appliance which is the subject of the invention, the reservoir comprises a filling opening, which allows the reservoir to be reused once it has been emptied of its liquid. According to the hairdressing device that is the subject of the invention, it comprises a system for detecting the active position of the reservoir and of the wick. This makes it possible to detect the start of the vaporization operation when curling a lock of hair.

In a preferred embodiment of the styling device, the heating element comprises a vaporization plate against which the lock comes into contact in the active position. In addition, the detection system comprises means for detecting a drop in temperature of said vaporization plate occurring when the wick soaked in liquid is in contact with said vaporization plate.

In the presence of such a system for detecting the active position of the reservoir and of the lock, the hairdressing device which is the subject of the invention preferably comprises a counting unit, the detection system being configured to trigger the triggering unit. counting when the reservoir and the wick move from the passive position to the active position. This allows the user not to have to count the time of maintaining the lock of hair wrapped around the mandrel during the spraying operation.

Brief description of the figures

• la figure 1 illustre une vue d'ensemble d'un appareil de coiffure avec une tuile en appui contre un mandrin ;
• la figure 2 illustre une vue en coupe longitudinale de l'appareil de coiffure de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 illustre une vue en coupe longitudinale de l'extrémité distale de l'appareil de coiffure de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 illustre une vue du réservoir de liquide à l'extrémité du mandrin, mettant en évidence un élément de verrouillage femelle ;
• la figure 5 illustre une vue de l'extrémité de la tuile, mettant en évidence un élément de verrouillage mâle ;
• la figure 6 schématise un système de détection de la position active du réservoir et de la mèche, mise en oeuvre dans le mandrin.

The following description of a preferred and non-limiting embodiment of the hairdressing appliance demonstrates the characteristics which are the subject of the present invention. This description is based on figures, including:

• the figure 1 illustrates an overall view of a styling appliance with a tile resting against a mandrel;
• the figure 2 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the styling apparatus of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the distal end of the styling appliance of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 4 illustrates a view of the liquid reservoir at the end of the mandrel, showing a female locking element;
• the figure 5 illustrates a view of the end of the tile, showing a male locking element;
• the figure 6 shows schematically a system for detecting the active position of the reservoir and of the wick, implemented in the mandrel.

detailed description

As illustrated in figures 1 and 2 , the hairdressing appliance 1 comprises a body 2, a mandrel 3, a tile 4. The body 2 is configured to manipulate said hairdressing appliance 1 during its use. The mandrel 3 is cylindrical and extends the body 2 along a longitudinal axis X. The tile 4 is of circular shape adapted to that of the mandrel 3. The proximal end 5 of the tile 4 is fixed to a handling finger 6 which is articulated. vis-à-vis the distal end 7 of the body 2. Pressing the rear part 8 of the handling finger 6 makes it possible to move the tile 4 to a position released from the mandrel 3, to allow the introduction of a drill bit of hair between the mandrel 3 and the tile 4. A spring 9, arranged between the distal end 7 of the body 2 and the handling finger 6, makes it possible to move the tile 4 in the position of bearing against the mandrel 3, such as 'illustrated in figure 1 , when one stops pressing on said handling finger 6, which allows the pinching of a lock of hair (not shown) positioned between said mandrel 3 and said tile 4.

As illustrated in figures 1 to 3 , the hairdressing appliance 1 comprises a reservoir 10 which has an opening 11 at its proximal end 12. This opening 11 allows the reservoir to be filled with liquid 10. A wick 13 is mounted in a tubular part 14 which is fixed with the reservoir 10 at this proximal end 12, said wick 13 communicating with the opening 11, which allows it to be soaked. The reservoir 10 and the tubular part 14 are mounted in a sliding connection on the distal end 15 of the mandrel 3, which makes it possible to translate said elements and the wick 13 along the longitudinal axis X, vis-à-vis said mandrel 3, so as to move the assembly (reservoir 10, tubular part 14 and wick 13) from an active position according to which the proximal end 16 of the wick 13 bears against a vaporization plate 17, as illustrated in figure 3 , allowing the creation of steam, to a passive position in which the proximal end 16 of the wick 13 is released from said vaporization plate 17. A spring 18 arranged in the bottom 19 of the tubular part 14 exerts a support against the distal end 20 of the wick 13 to keep it properly resting against the vaporization plate 17 in said active position. The vaporization plate 17 is in contact with a heating element 21, for example a thermistor with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC), which makes it possible to heat said vaporization plate 17 by thermal conduction. The heating element 21 also makes it possible to heat the mandrel 3.

A locking / unlocking system 22 is arranged on the hairdressing appliance 1 to hold the reservoir 10, the tubular part 14 and the wick 13 in the aforementioned active position. As shown on figures 1 to 5 , this locking / unlocking system 22 is implemented between the contour wall 23 of the reservoir 10 and the distal end 24 of the tile 4. The contour wall 23 comprises a groove 25 opening onto its proximal end 26, such as 'illustrated in figure 4 . This groove 25 receives an elastic part 27 in the form of a U, said elastic part 27 comprising a constriction 28, as illustrated in figure 4 . This elastic part 27 constitutes a first locking element. As illustrated in figure 5 , a stud 29 extends on the side of the internal face 30 of the tile 4, at its distal end 24. The stud 29 constitutes a second locking element configured to be housed in the elastic part 27. When the tile 4 bears against the mandrel 3, in the position of gripping a lock of hair, and that the reservoir 10 is in the passive position, the stud 29 is positioned in the groove 25 outside the elastic part 27. When ' then the reservoir 10 is moved into the active position, said elastic part 27 engages on stud 29 until the constriction 28 exceeds said stud 29, thus allowing the resilient part 27 to snap onto stud 29 or vice versa, which maintains the reservoir 10 in this active position and, consequently, the maintenance of the wick 13 soaked in liquid against the vaporization plate 17.

As illustrated in figure 3 , return means 31, such as a spring, are arranged between the vaporization plate 17 and the tubular part 14, this spring making it possible to exert a force on said tubular part 14, in the direction of an arrow 32. The snap-fastening of the stud 29 in the elastic part 27 ensures that the reservoir 10 is held in position with respect to the tile 4, despite this force exerted by said spring. On the contrary, when the tile 4 is moved into the released position vis-à-vis the mandrel 3 by the user, the stud 29 is released from the elastic piece 27, which allows the spring to push the tubular piece 14 back and the tank 10 (and wick 13) in the passive position, stopping the production of steam.

Advantageously, the hairdressing appliance 1 comprises a system for detecting the active position of the reservoir 10, of the tubular part 14 and of the wick 13, according to which steam is generated. This detection system comprises means 33 for detecting a drop in temperature of said vaporization plate 17, these detection means 33 themselves comprising a temperature sensor, preferably a negative temperature coefficient (CTN) thermistor. This temperature sensor is positioned in contact with the internal face 34 of the vaporization plate 17, such as schematized on the figure 6 . When the proximal end 16 of the wick 13 comes into contact with the outer face 35 of the vaporization plate 17, said vaporization plate 17 undergoes a sudden drop in temperature, which is detected by the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor transmits the information of the drop in temperature to an electronic control unit 36, shown in figure 2 , incorporating a counting unit which counts a duration, for example of ten seconds, during which it is necessary to maintain the creation of steam and the heating of the mandrel 3 once the lock of hair wound around said mandrel 3. This duration can be adjusted by the user according to indexed values of duration of exposure to steam, for example 5, 8 or 10 seconds, this setting being accessible from a user interface placed on the hairdressing appliance 1. Once the duration has elapsed, the the counting unit transmits the information to the electronic control unit 36 which triggers an audible signal, for example a beep, or even a light signal, indicating to the user to release the tile 4 vis-à-vis the mandrel 3, in order to release the reservoir 10 and the lock 13 in the passive position and thus stop the creation of steam, before removing the lock of curly hair.

The reservoir 10 is removable from the distal end 15 of the mandrel, which allows access to the opening 11 on said reservoir 10, in order to fill it with liquid. For this, the proximal end 12 of the reservoir 10 is removably assembled, in particular by a snap-fit, with the bottom 19 of the tubular part 14.

The foregoing description makes it possible to grasp the very essence of the invention, without limiting its scope. Thus, other variants remain possible, in particular as regards the implementation of the locking / unlocking system to ensure the retention of the reservoir 10, of the tubular part 14 and of the wick 13 in the active position. This locking / unlocking system could for example be designed between the reservoir 10 or the tubular part 14, on the one hand, and the distal end 15 of the mandrel 3, independently of the position of the tile 4.

Other characteristics can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, a cover could be provided (not shown) making it possible to open the distal end 37 of the reservoir 10 in order to fill it with liquid without having to dismantle said reservoir 10 vis-à-vis the distal end 15 of the mandrel 3.

Claims (10)

1. Hairstyling appliance (1) for curling hair, comprising a mandrel (3), a tile (4) hinged on the appliance to form a clamp with the mandrel so as to move the tile between a position disengaged from the mandrel and a supported position against the mandrel, a heating element (21), a liquid reservoir (10), a wick (13) integral with the reservoir and communicating therewith so as to be soaked in liquid, and guide means arranged between the reservoir and the mandrel so as to enable the movement of the reservoir and the wick between a passive position and an active position wherein the wick is in contact with the heating element for the creation of steam, characterised in that the appliance comprises a locking/unlocking system (22) configured to ensure that the reservoir and the wick are held in the active position.
2. Hairstyling appliance (1) according to claim 1, wherein the locking/unlocking system (22) is configured to ensure holding in the active position when the tile (4) is in the supported position against the mandrel (3) and to allow the release of the reservoir (10) and the wick (13) towards the passive position thereof when the tile is in the released position from the mandrel.
3. Hairstyling appliance (1) according to claim 2, wherein the locking/unlocking system (22) comprises a first locking element (27) arranged on the reservoir (10) and a second locking element (29) arranged on a distal end (24) of the tile (4), where said locking elements are configured to engage and ensure that the reservoir (10) is held in position in relation to the tile when the tile is in the supported position against the mandrel (3) and the reservoir and the wick (13) are in the active position.
4. Hairstyling appliance (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first locking element (27) and the second locking element (29) are configured to snap-fit together.
5. Hairstyling appliance (1) according to claim 4, wherein the first locking element (27) comprises a U-shaped elastic part provided with a narrowing (28) and the second locking element (29) comprises a stud arranged on an inner face (30) of the tile (4), the narrowing ensuring that the plastic part is held engaged on the stud.
6. Hairstyling appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking/unlocking system (22) comprises means (31) of returning the reservoir (10) and the wick (13) to the passive position.
7. Hairstyling appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the reservoir (10) comprises a filler opening.
8. Hairstyling appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which comprises a system for detecting the active position of the reservoir (10) and the wick (13).
9. Hairstyling appliance (1) according to claim 8, wherein the heating element (21) comprises a vaporising plate (17) against which the wick (13) comes into contact in the active position, the detection system comprising means (33) of detecting a drop in temperature of said vaporising plate (17).
10. Hairstyling appliance (1) according to one of claims 8 or 9, which comprises a counting unit, the detection system being configured to trigger the counting unit when the reservoir (10) and the wick (13) are moved from the passive position to the active position.

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