EP4272599A1 - Detangling-straightening comb for hairdryer or blow-dryer brush - Google Patents

Abstract

Hair detangler-straightener comb intended to be attached to the blowing end of an apparatus for shaping and drying hair, said comb comprising a hollow body with an air inlet and a support comprising a plurality of teeth , the teeth comprising an enlarged base on the proximal side and a pointed apex on the distal side, the profile of said teeth on the proximal side having a corrugated shape progressively truncated on its corrugated parts starting from the proximal side towards the distal side of the teeth.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a hair dryer or blower brush accessory, more particularly a “two in one” type detangling-straightening comb used for detangling and straightening curly hair. It is intended to be attached to the outlet of a device capable of blowing hot air such as a hair dryer or blowing brush.

State of the art

Devices for straightening curly hair are well known to the state of the art and widely used, more particularly by populations of African or African-American origin. Mechanical straightening of frizzy or strongly curly hair is generally preceded by detangling/drying after washing the hair. This double operation is often done with a comb whose teeth are relatively spaced apart allowing detangling before tackling straightening with another device. Straightening is generally achieved using a heat source used simultaneously with pressure or tension exerted on the hair strands. However, these successive manipulations take time and straightening exposes the hair to significant thermal and mechanical stress, which can damage it over time.

To reduce these stresses applied to the hair and save time, an alternative is the use of a flow of heated air emitted by a device blowing through a “two in one” comb capable of both detangling and straightening. hair during the drying operation. The means used makes it possible to guide and concentrate the outgoing air flow towards a specific area of the user's hair. Different combs are currently used to stretch hair and make it easier to arrange and detangle curly hair. However, there is still a growing demand for a straightener accessory to gently detangle and straighten hair when drying.

The document WO00/25623 (SEB1999) discloses a hair dryer or styling brush accessory comprising means for pinching a strand of hair with complementary gripping surfaces for tightening and straightening the strands of hair.

The document US6009883 A describes a hair straightening nozzle formed by two parallel rows of teeth, arranged on opposite sides of the nozzle, such that air from the hair dryer passes through the opening of the nozzle, between the two rows of teeth . This nozzle is equipped with a heating bar located between the two rows and parallel to the teeth. The hair strands are straightened as they pass between the teeth and over the heat bar.

The document US20200121053 describes a straightening comb adaptable to a hair dryer with two rows of parallel teeth and positioned at a certain distance from each other to allow a passage for heated air between the two rows of teeth. The heated air helps straighten the strand of hair which is placed under tension between the two rows of teeth

The patent WO 2020/025919 A1 describes a hair styling accessory in the form of a comb adaptable to a hair dryer comprising an air inlet for receiving an air flow and an elongated slot-shaped air outlet in which a series of triangular-shaped comb teeth is mounted on a flexible bar to allow elastic movement of these teeth when using the accessory.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to a hair detangling-straightener comb intended to be attached to the blowing end of an apparatus for shaping and drying hair, said comb comprising a hollow body with an air inlet and a support comprising a plurality of teeth, the teeth comprising an enlarged base on the proximal side and a pointed apex on the distal side, the profile of said teeth of the base on the proximal side having a corrugated shape progressively truncated on its corrugated parts starting from the proximal side towards the distal side of the teeth.

• l'inclinaison moyenne des dents par rapport à l'axe X présente un angle a, en valeur absolue, compris entre 5° et 25°, de préférence entre 10° et 20° à la base, du côté proximal des dents;
• la tangente des extrémités supérieure et inférieure de chaque dent du côté proximal présentent un angle β entre 20° et 50°, de préférence entre 30° et 40° par rapport à l'axe X ;
• le rapport entre la hauteur Ld et la largeur Bd de chaque dent et compris entre 2 et 8,5, de préférence entre 3 et 6 et de manière particulièrement préférée entre 3,5 et 5;
• chaque dent présente une épaisseur (ε) comprise entre 1,2 mm et 3 mm ;
• l'espace entre les dents E est compris entre 1 mm et 5 mm, de préférence entre 1,5 et 4 mm et de manière particulièrement préférée entre 1,8 et 3 mm ;
• le support comporte au moins un chariot mobile avec les dents désolidarisé du corps creux et au moins un moyen permettant la mise en mouvement du chariot mobile avec les dents dans au moins deux directions ;
• le au moins un moyen permettant la mise en mouvement du chariot mobile est un moteur comportant une tige excentrée par rapport à l'axe du moteur ou un vibreur comportant un moteur à balourd ;
• le vibreur est positionné de manière centrale ;
• le moteur comportant une tige excentrée par rapport à l'axe du moteur est positionné à une extrémité ou aux deux extrémités du chariot mobile ;
• le support comporte deux chariots mobiles, un premier chariot mobile supportant une rangée de dents paire et un second chariot mobile supportant une rangée de dents impaire et permettant la mise en mouvement des dents à rangées impaires et paires les unes par rapport aux autres par l'intermédiaire de deux moteurs M1 et M2 avec tige décentrée reliés respectivement au premier et au second chariot mobile ;
• le support comportant les chariots mobiles comporte un amortisseur élastique ;
• le corps creux comporte une barrière de protection thermique pour isoler le ou les moteurs dans le corps creux du flux d'air chaud.

The preferred modes of the present invention include one or more of the following characteristics:

• the average inclination of the teeth relative to the axis
• the tangent of the upper and lower ends of each tooth on the proximal side have an angle β between 20° and 50°, preferably between 30° and 40° relative to the X axis;
• the ratio between the height Ld and the width Bd of each tooth is between 2 and 8.5, preferably between 3 and 6 and particularly preferably between 3.5 and 5;
• each tooth has a thickness (ε) of between 1.2 mm and 3 mm;
• the space between the teeth E is between 1 mm and 5 mm, preferably between 1.5 and 4 mm and particularly preferably between 1.8 and 3 mm;
• the support comprises at least one movable carriage with the teeth separated from the hollow body and at least one means allowing the movement of the movable carriage with the teeth in at least two directions;
• the at least one means enabling the moving carriage to be set in motion is a motor comprising a rod eccentric with respect to the axis of the motor or a vibrator comprising an unbalanced motor;
• the vibrator is positioned centrally;
• the motor comprising a rod eccentric with respect to the axis of the motor is positioned at one end or at both ends of the mobile carriage;
• the support comprises two movable carriages, a first movable carriage supporting a row of even teeth and a second movable carriage supporting an odd row of teeth and allowing the teeth with odd and even rows to move relative to each other by the intermediate of two motors M1 and M2 with off-center rod connected respectively to the first and the second mobile carriage;
• the support comprising the mobile carriages comprises an elastic shock absorber;
• the hollow body includes a thermal protection barrier to isolate the motor(s) in the hollow body from the flow of hot air.

The present invention also discloses a hair dryer comprising a comb according to the invention with an electrical connection and a control panel allowing the movement of the mobile carriage(s) supporting the teeth.

The present invention also discloses a blowing brush comprising a comb according to the invention

Brief description of the figures

There figure 1 is a perspective view of the straightener comb adaptable to a hair dryer according to the invention.

THE figures 2 , 3 and 4 respectively represent plan views, profile views and the opening of the straightener comb according to the invention.

There figure 5 presents six progressive cuts A1-A1 up to A6-A6 through the teeth of the straightener accessory according to the invention, starting from the proximal base on the support side to the top on the distal side. These sections show the evolution of the profile and the deviation undergone by the strand of hair when passing between the teeth of the comb from the base to the top of the teeth. At the base, on the proximal side, the teeth have a width Bd and a wave-shaped profile which gradually attenuates towards the distal side of the teeth as the width of the teeth decreases towards the tip, the distal side. The shape of the wave on the proximal side of the tooth comprises a first part curved in a first direction 7 and a second part curved 8 in a second direction.

THE figures 6 to 8 represent a series of non-exhaustive and non-limiting geometric configurations of the teeth with a wave-shaped configuration on the proximal side of the comb according to the invention. The possible amplitude of the undulation depends on both the space between the teeth, the thickness of the teeth and the angles of the tangents and inclination of the teeth. A summary table of these parameters is given below:

Tooth structure parameter values Description of parameters (see figures)

α Inclination of the tooth relative to the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the proximal rib β Inclination of the tangent of the curved part of the tooth proximal rib γ Inclination of the central straight part of the tooth proximal rib δ Length of the central straight part of the tooth proximal rib ε Proximal rib tooth thickness E Space between two teeth proximal side L.d. Tooth length BD Tooth base width

Example data, two main variables of the structure of the teeth on the proximal side shown below giving rise to 2 main variants, Twist 1 and Twist 2, the variant where the outer parts of the tooth base are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the comb (Twist 2 with α=vertical=0°) and the variant where the central part of the base of the tooth is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the comb with (Twist 1 with γ=vertical=0°)

The figures below show the angles of the tangents β on the curvatures of the wave-shaped structure of the teeth on the proximal side of the comb as well as the average inclination α of the base of the tooth on the proximal side with respect to the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the comb. The angle α represents the average deviation that the lock of hair undergoes at the base of the teeth during its passage. The higher the angle α, the more restrictive the passage of the lock of hair through the teeth is and the more it is stretched, the force exerted for passage through the teeth being high. The evolving profile of the tooth, from the base on the proximal side towards the tip of the teeth, allows the user to adjust the depth of penetration of the bit into the teeth in order to adapt the stretching force of the bit to an optimized straightening result. The teeth on the proximal side are curved in an opposite but symmetrical manner, the angles of the tangents β are therefore equal and, therefore, the direction of use of the passage of the strand has no influence on the penetration of the strand of hair , which allows any orientation for the hair dryer and the direction of straightening the strands.

THE figures 6A-C represent preferred configurations with a tooth gap of 1.5 mm. In these figures, we gradually move from an angle of inclination alpha of the teeth relative to the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the comb from 0 to -25°. The sign of the angles is only due to the orientation of the figure and the angles are to be taken in absolute value. With a space of only 1.5 mm between the teeth, there is little freedom in terms of the amplitude of the undulation because it is necessary to ensure the free movement of the strand of hair even on the proximal side of the teeth.

THE Figures 7A-E represent preferred configurations with a tooth gap of 2.5 mm. With a gap between the teeth increased to 2.5 mm, there is greater geometric freedom both in terms of inclination and in terms of amplitude of the undulation. This configuration is considered an optimum presenting a good balance between the number of teeth available in a defined space, freedom in the amplitude of the undulation and the inclination in relation to the direction of passage of the strand of hair.

THE Figures 8A-D represent preferred configurations with a tooth gap of 4 mm. With such a gap between the teeth, we see even greater geometric freedom both in terms of inclination and in terms of amplitude of the undulation. Of course, increasing the gap between the teeth, as well as possibly increasing the thickness of the teeth, reduces the number of teeth and therefore the ability to comb. It is therefore a question of finding a balance between on the one hand an amplitude of undulation and an inclination of the teeth sufficient for smoothing and an appropriate spacing between the teeth allowing effective detangling, the wave form at the base of the tooth being the common denominator allowing tensioning of the hair strand during heat treatment and therefore appropriate straightening. Although curly hair is quite different in terms of texture densities and length from person to person, when tested on mannequins, the 7C, 7D and 8B configurations were found to be the most effective.

THE figures 9 to 20 represent different examples of the detangling-straightening comb according to the invention, the teeth of which are mounted on a mobile carriage (9,11) allowing them to move in the three directions of space, generating a vibration/translation of the comb. Such vibration allows easier detangling compared to a static version of the comb according to the invention.

In particular, the figures 9 to 11 illustrate an example of the detangling-straightener comb according to the invention in which the movement is carried out by an appropriate means such as for example a motor comprising a rod off-centered relative to the axis of rotation (10) placed in a central position on the longitudinal axis of the comb. There Figure 9 represents a three-dimensional view of this example, the Figure 10 represents an exploded view while the figures 11A And B represent a set of cuts through the accessory.

THE figures 12 to 14 illustrate an example of the detangling-straightener comb according to the invention in which the movement is carried out using a single motor with an off-centered axis 10 placed in a lateral position. There Figure 12 represents a three-dimensional view of this example, the Figure 13 represents an exploded view while the figures 14A and B represent a set of cuts through the accessory.

THE figures 15 to 17 illustrate an example of the detangling-straightening comb according to the invention in which the movement is carried out thanks to a vibrator comprising an unbalanced motor 12, such as for example a motor of the "precision microdrive Pico Vibe 306-103.006" type, placed in central position relative to the longitudinal axis of the comb. There Figure 15 represents a three-dimensional view of this example, the Figure 16 represents an exploded view while the figures 17A And B represent a set of cuts through the accessory. The section also shows the presence of an elastic shock absorber 19 intended to absorb any contact between the support envelope 3 and the mobile carriage.

THE figures 18 to 20 illustrate an example of the detangling-straightener comb according to the invention in which the movement is carried out thanks to two motors 10 comprising rods offset relative to the axis of the motor placed at both ends on the longitudinal axis of the comb, allowing each to control a two-part carriage 11 independently, each carriage comprising a set of teeth. There Figure 18 represents a three-dimensional view of this example, the Figure 19 represents an exploded view, while the figures 20A And B represent a set of cuts through the accessory.

THE figures 21 to 25 represent an example of the detangling-straightener comb according to the invention, mounted on the air outlet of a conventional hair dryer. The detangler-straightener comb in these figures comprises a mobile carriage which is set in motion by an off-center rod motor 10 placed eccentrically relative to the air outlet axis of the hair dryer and the inlet of the hair dryer. air in the accessory.

In particular, the figures 21 and 22 represent an exploded view in three dimensions, the Figure 23 represents a front view, while the figure 24 And 25 represent a set of cuts through the comb mounted on the hairdryer. Detail B of the Figure 21 shows the low voltage electrical connections that power the motor while allowing the accessory to remain rotating on the hair dryer.

THE figures 26 to 28 represent an example of the detangling-straightener comb according to the invention, adapted as an accessory to a blowing brush.

In particular, the Figure 26 represents an exploded three-dimensional view of the Figure 27 representing a profile view and a top view, while the Figure 28 represents a set of cuts through the blower brush.

List of digital references

1.

Detangler-straightener comb

2.

Air inlet

3.

Support

4.

Row of teeth

5.

Distal part of the tooth

6.

Proximal part of the tooth

7.

Wave-shaped tooth profile on the proximal side with a first part curved in a first direction

8.

Wave-shaped tooth profile on the proximal side with a second part curved in a second direction

9.

Mobile support/cart

10.

Motor comprising a rod offset relative to the axis of the motor

11.

Support/carriage in two parts carrying one tooth out of two respectively.

12.

Vibrator (unbalanced motor)

13.

hair dryer

14.

Blower brush attachment

15.

Comb movement control display

16.

Electrical connection

17.

Mechanical connection

18.

Motor and display power supplies.

19.

Elastic shock absorber

20.

Flexible membrane allowing the mobile carriage to move, without propagation of vibration in the accessory or the hair dryer.

21.

Engine ventilation openings

22.

Thermal protection wall

Detailed description of the invention

The detangling-straightening comb of the present invention is adaptable to the outlet of a hair dryer or a blowing brush. It comprises a series of teeth of essentially triangular shape whose profile evolves in a particular and progressive manner from the proximal base towards the tip. The profile of the teeth presents an approximately sinusoidal type waveform with a variable amplitude on the proximal side on the support, and an angle α of inclination relative to the direction of passage of the strand and therefore of deviation of the strands of hair to comb and detangle. The profile gradually attenuates towards the distal side of the teeth of the comb by truncating the corrugated parts 7 and 8, which allows the strands of hair to be tightened as the strand penetrates deeper and deeper into the comb towards the base of the teeth, proximal side, and place them under tension against the hot air coming from the hair dryer and passing between the rows of teeth. The wavy shape of the teeth on the proximal side also increases the contact surface between the tooth and the strand of hair and therefore the effectiveness of the treatment.
There figure 5 shows the change in the section of the tooth profile from the proximal to the distal side of the teeth, which allows the user to adjust the traction force on the strand of hair by adjusting the penetration depth of the wick.

THE figures 1 and 2 respectively present a front perspective view and a plan view of the straightener comb 1 according to the invention. The comb 1 includes an air inlet 2 intended to receive the air flow coming from an air outlet end of a hair dryer or a blowing brush. The air inlet 2 of the straightener comb is an opening whose shape is adapted to the outlet mouth of the hair dryer or a blowing brush. The straightener comb according to the invention comprises a support 3 carrying a plurality of teeth 4 distributed regularly over the length of the support.

Air inlet 2 has a generally circular section, which is suitable for engagement at the air outlet ends of most hair dryers. An intermediate piece can nevertheless be used as an adapter for hair dryers comprising an air outlet mouth unsuitable for the support of the straightener comb according to the invention. For blower brushes, the adaptation is specific.

The air flow emitted by the hair dryer enters through the air inlet 2 and passes through the plurality of teeth 4, guided by the support 3. The hot air flow is in direct contact with the hair strands. Hair held tight and taut by the wave-shaped profile of the teeth proximal to the base of the comb. As the comb is exposed to the flow of air coming out of a hairdryer, or a blowing brush, it can exceed 100°C, it must therefore be made with a material resistant to the maximum temperature that can be reached .

There Figure 3 illustrates the side view of the comb 1 showing the total height, Ld, of each tooth 6 which is preferably between 25 mm and 85 mm, and preferably between 50 mm and 60 mm. The width of the base of each tooth 6, Bd, is advantageously between 10 mm and 30 mm, and preferably between 15 mm and 20 mm. This is the apparent width including the waveform.

In reference to the Figure 3 , the side view of comb 1 shows the side shape of tooth 6 which is generally triangular with possibly a rectangular base. The tip of the tooth, contrary to the graphic representation, is never sharp but always has a radius of a few tenths of a millimeter.

There Figure 4 illustrates the plan view of comb 1 which shows the alignment of the teeth. In this embodiment, the wave profile at the base of the teeth comprises a first portion curved 7 located above the Y axis and a second curved portion 8 located below the Y axis. These two curves respectively have two tangents β whose inclination is equal. Furthermore, in this embodiment, each tooth has a thickness ε approximately equal to 2 mm and the teeth are spaced at a distance E of approximately 3 mm.

The comb 1 comprises a plurality of teeth 4 connected to the proximal base on the support side 3. In the diagrams illustrated on the figures 1 and 2 , and in the static version of the comb, the plurality of teeth 4 can be molded and/or injected with the support 3 and the air inlet 2 in a single piece. Depending on the inclination of the tangent β, the average inclination α relative to the passage of the wick, and the configuration of the straightener comb in general, assemblies of separately molded/injected parts can also be used, in particular for versions of the comb mounted on a mobile cart.

There figure 5 illustrates the front view of comb 1 with six cross sections through the length of teeth 4 from the proximal base on the support side 3 to the top 5 on the distal side. Each tooth has a wave-shaped profile or undulation, extending over the width of the support 3. The wave is formed by two portions curved in opposite ways with respect to the Y axis and each portion has a tangent inclination β of the curved part between 20° and 50°, preferably between 30° and 40° and particularly preferably between 36 _° and 38° for the gamma = 0 variant. For the alpha = 0 variant, the inclination of the tangent β of the curved part is compromised between 20° and 30°, preferably between 24 and 26°. The width of the teeth 4 gradually decreases from the base towards the end until reaching a parallelepiped cross section illustrated on sections A1-A1, A2-A2, A3-A3, A4-A4, A5-A5, and A6-A6 respectively.

The detangling-straightener comb of the present invention can also be adapted to a blowing brush as shown in the figures 27 And 28 .

According to a preferred mode of the invention, the teeth of the detangling-straightener comb can be mounted on a mobile carriage allowing movement in the three directions of space, generating a vibration of the comb of a maximum amplitude of the order of a millimeter for an unbalanced motor 12. For the movements generated by motors with an off-center rod relative to the motor axis 10, the amplitude of movement can be a few millimeters.

In order to set the comb in motion, several means can be considered such as the use of a vibrator 12 by an unbalanced motor or one or more motors 10 with an eccentric rod in the accessory. THE figures 9 to 18 show several modes of execution allowing the implementation of a vibration movement along several axes.

The comb according to the invention can also comprise two independent carriages 11 driven by a motor 10 with an eccentric rod on each side of the accessory. Each of the carriages has one tooth out of two, which allows the comb to move in partial or complete phase opposition. This is how teeth 1,3,5,7,9, etc. are fixed on a first carriage and the teeth 2,4,6,8, etc. on a second carriage, the two carriages being able to be set in motion at different amplitudes and frequencies.

In configurations including a motor, there is a thermal protection barrier 22 separating the motor compartment from the flow of hot air coming from the hair dryer or blower brush in order to protect the motors from the high temperatures which can be reached by the motor. air entering the accessory.

Claims (15)

Hair detangler-straightener comb (1) intended to be attached to the blowing end of a device for shaping and drying hair, said comb comprising a hollow body with an air inlet (2) and a support (3) comprising a plurality of teeth (4), the teeth (4) comprising an enlarged base on the proximal side and a pointed apex on the distal side, the profile of said teeth (4) on the proximal side having a corrugated shape progressively truncated on its corrugated parts (7,8) starting from the proximal side towards the distal side of the teeth (4). Comb (1) according to claim 1, in which the average inclination of the teeth relative to the axis the base, on the proximal side of the teeth (4). Comb according to one of the preceding claims, in which the tangent of the upper and lower ends of each tooth on the proximal side has an angle β between 20° and 50°, preferably between 30° and 40° relative to the axis . Comb according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the ratio between the height Ld and the width Bd of each tooth is between 2 and 8.5, preferably between 3 and 6 and particularly preferably between 3.5 and 5. Comb according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each tooth has a thickness (ε) of between 1.2 mm and 3 mm. Comb according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the space between the teeth E is between 1 mm and 5 mm, preferably between 1.5 and 4 mm and particularly preferably between 1.8 and 3 mm. Comb according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the support (3) comprises at least one movable carriage (9) with the teeth (4) separated from the hollow body and at least one means (10,12) allowing the implementation movement of the movable carriage (9) with the teeth (4) in at least two directions. Comb according to claim 7, in which the at least one means allowing the movement of the mobile carriage (9) is a motor (10) comprising a rod eccentric with respect to the axis of the motor or a vibrator (12) comprising a unbalanced motor. Comb according to claim 8, wherein the vibrator (12) is centrally positioned. Comb according to claim 8, in which the motor (10) comprising a rod eccentric with respect to the axis of the motor is positioned at one end or at both ends of the movable carriage (9). Comb according to any one of claims 8 to 10, in which the support (3) comprises two movable carriages (11), a first movable carriage supporting an even row of teeth and a second movable carriage supporting an odd row of teeth and allowing setting the odd and even row teeth in motion relative to each other via two motors M1 and M2 with off-center rods connected respectively to the first and second movable carriage. Comb according to any one of claims 8 to 11, in which the motors are isolated in the hollow body by a thermal protection barrier (22). Comb according to any one of claims 8 to 12, in which the support (3) comprising the movable carriages (9,11) comprises an elastic shock absorber (19). Hair dryer comprising a comb according to any one of the preceding claims with an electrical connection (16) and a control panel (15) allowing the movement of the mobile carriage(s) (9,11) supporting the teeth (4) . Blowing brush comprising a comb according to any one of the preceding claims.

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