Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B3/00—Ohmic-resistance heating
  • H05B3/20—Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional [2D] plane, e.g. plate-heater
  • H05B3/22—Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional [2D] plane, e.g. plate-heater non-flexible
  • H05B3/24—Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional [2D] plane, e.g. plate-heater non-flexible heating conductor being self-supporting
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D1/00—Curling-tongs, i.e. tongs for use when hot; Curling-irons, i.e. irons for use when hot; Accessories therefor
  • A45D1/02—Curling-tongs, i.e. tongs for use when hot; Curling-irons, i.e. irons for use when hot; Accessories therefor with means for internal heating, e.g. by liquid fuel
  • A45D1/04—Curling-tongs, i.e. tongs for use when hot; Curling-irons, i.e. irons for use when hot; Accessories therefor with means for internal heating, e.g. by liquid fuel by electricity
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D1/00—Curling-tongs, i.e. tongs for use when hot; Curling-irons, i.e. irons for use when hot; Accessories therefor
  • A45D1/06—Curling-tongs, i.e. tongs for use when hot; Curling-irons, i.e. irons for use when hot; Accessories therefor with two or more jaws
  • A45D1/08—Curling-tongs, i.e. tongs for use when hot; Curling-irons, i.e. irons for use when hot; Accessories therefor with two or more jaws the jaws remaining parallel to each other during use, e.g. the jaws sliding parallel to each other
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D1/00—Curling-tongs, i.e. tongs for use when hot; Curling-irons, i.e. irons for use when hot; Accessories therefor
  • A45D1/06—Curling-tongs, i.e. tongs for use when hot; Curling-irons, i.e. irons for use when hot; Accessories therefor with two or more jaws
  • A45D1/14—Curling-tongs, i.e. tongs for use when hot; Curling-irons, i.e. irons for use when hot; Accessories therefor with two or more jaws the jaws being separable from each other
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D2/00—Hair-curling or hair-waving appliances ; Appliances for hair dressing treatment not otherwise provided for
  • A45D2/001—Hair straightening appliances
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D2/00—Hair-curling or hair-waving appliances ; Appliances for hair dressing treatment not otherwise provided for
  • A45D2/36—Hair curlers or hair winders with incorporated heating or drying means, e.g. electric, using chemical reaction
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B1/00—Details of electric heating devices
  • H05B1/02—Automatic switching arrangements specially adapted to apparatus ; Control of heating devices
  • H05B1/0227—Applications
  • H05B1/0252—Domestic applications
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B3/00—Ohmic-resistance heating
  • H05B3/02—Details
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B3/00—Ohmic-resistance heating
  • H05B3/10—Heating elements characterised by the composition or nature of the materials or by the arrangement of the conductor
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B3/00—Ohmic-resistance heating
  • H05B3/20—Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional [2D] plane, e.g. plate-heater
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B3/00—Ohmic-resistance heating
  • H05B3/20—Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional [2D] plane, e.g. plate-heater
  • H05B3/22—Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional [2D] plane, e.g. plate-heater non-flexible
  • H05B3/26—Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional [2D] plane, e.g. plate-heater non-flexible heating conductor mounted on insulating base
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B2203/00—Aspects relating to Ohmic resistive heating covered by group H05B3/00
  • H05B2203/013—Heaters using resistive films or coatings

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a heater assembly for a haircare appliance, and to a haircare appliance included the heater assembly.
• a haircare appliance may utilise a pair of heated clamping plates to style the hair of a user.
• a tress of hair is clamped between the heated clamping plates, and the haircare appliance is drawn along the length of the tress. This process may then be repeated to style a full head of hair.
• each clamping plate may have a thickness of around 2-3 mm, and may be formed from e.g. stainless steel, aluminium, copper or brass. Clamping plates having a thickness of this order are relatively stiff, and do not have the flexibility to achieve a corralling effect, where hair is gathered and shaped. Furthermore, thicker clamping plates have a slower thermal response than thinner clamping plates, which means that in general the temperature of thicker clamping plates cannot be adjusted as quickly as for thinner clamping plates. Thus, the use of thicker clamping plates may result in a less controllable and flexible haircare appliance.
• the heater assembly may have a heat capacity per unit area of less than 0.004 J.K'fmm' 2 .
• a relatively low heat capacity i.e. low thermal mass
• the heater assembly may be more quickly heated to an operating temperature, and/or respond more quickly to temperature changes during use, e.g. as hair is brought into contact with and then subsequently removed from the heater assembly.
• Figure 9 is a plan view of another alternative example of a sensor and heating element layer of a heater assembly.
• the haircare appliance 10 of Figures 1 and 2 comprises a first arm 12 and a second arm 14 pivotably connected at one end by a hinge 16.
• the arms 12,14 are moveable about the hinge 16 between an open position (shown in Figure 1) and a closed position (shown in Figure 2).
• the haircare appliance 10 may take the general form of a hair straightener.
• Each arm 12,14 comprises a heating section 22,24 located at an end of each arm 12,14 remote from the hinge 16, and a handle section 26,28 located at an opposite end of each arm 12,14 where the hinge 16 is positioned.
• the user grips the handle sections 26,28 and inserts a section or tress of hair between the two arms 12,14.
• the user applies pressure to the handle sections 26,28 to close the arms 12,14 and grip the hair between the heating sections 22, 24, and pulls the haircare appliance 10 along the length of the hair to be styled.
• the arms 12,14 are biased towards the open position such that when the user releases the pressure on the handle sections 26,28, the arms 12,14 return to the open position and the tress of hair is released.
• the heating section 22,24 of each arm 12,14 comprises a casing 30, a heater assembly housing 32, a heater assembly 34 and a support member 38.
• the casing 30 defines a trough 31 within which the heater assembly housing 32 is located.
• the heater assembly housing 32 comprises a recess 33 within which the support member 38 and the heater assembly 34 are located.
• the support member 38 is located between the heater assembly housing 32 and the heater assembly 34 and supports the heater assembly 34 within the heater assembly housing 32.
• the heater assembly 34 is located on top of the support member 38. That is, the heater assembly 34 is located on the side of the support member 38 that is distal from the heater assembly housing 32.
• the heater assembly 34 will now be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 in particular.
• the heater assembly 34 comprises multiple layers of components arranged in a stack. Specifically, the heater assembly 34 comprises a sensor and heating element layer 40, an electrical insulation layer 41, and a contact member 42 that defines a hair-contacting surface 37 of the haircare appliance 10 for contacting and styling hair in use.
• the heater assembly 34 preferably has a relatively low heat capacity per unit area of the hair-contacting surface 37 of no more than 0.004 J.K'fmm' 2 .
• a lower heat capacity per unit area is preferable because as this value increases, the thermal responsiveness of the heater assembly 34 decreases.
• a heater assembly 34 having a lower heat capacity per unit area allows for faster heating and cooling of the contact member 42 and of the hair-contacting surface 37, which enables better control of the temperature of the hair contacting surface 37 for improved hair styling and safety of the haircare appliance 10.
• the sensor and heating element layer 40 is located beneath the electrical insulation layer 41. In this way, the sensor and heating element layer 40 defines an inner layer of the heater assembly 34 that is remote from the hair-contacting surface 37.
• the electrical insulation layer 41 is positioned above a dielectric cover 52 that is overmoulded with a flexible backing of silicone 54 (shown in Figure 6) that allows for corralling of the contact member 42 and hair-contacting surface 37.
• the sensor and heating element layer 40 has a thickness of 0.05 mm in this example, but in other examples the thickness of the sensor and heating element layer 40 may vary. However, in general a thinner sensor and heating element layer 40 is preferable for increased flexibility.
• the sensor and heating element layer 40 comprises a substrate 49, multiple heating elements 50 and a sensor 48.
• the substrate 49 supports and locates the sensor 48 and the heating elements 50 within the heater assembly 34, and further provides electrical insulation to insulate the heating elements 50 from one another and from the sensor 48.
• the substrate 49 has the same shape and area as the electrical insulation layer 41 and contact member 42, and comprises a layer of glass based dielectric material that supports the sensor 48 and heating elements 50.
• pre-preg which is a partially cured fibre resin composite sheet material that can be used for electrical insulation and bonding, or polyimide may be used.
• the substrate 49 may comprise more than one layer or sheet on or between which the sensor 48 and heating elements 50 are located.
• the sensor 48 and heating elements 50 may be provided on different layers from one another, so as to define a distinct sensor layer and a distinct heating element layer. In that case, the sensor layer and the heating element layer may be separated by a layer of insulation. It should be noted that in other examples additional sensors 48 may be included, such that the sensor and heating element layer 40 may generally include one or more sensors 48. In some cases the sensor and heating element layer 40 may include equal numbers of sensors 48 and heating elements 50, such that each heating element 50 has an associated sensor 48. In examples where the sensor and heating element layer 40 includes multiple sensors 48, said sensors may be equally spaced along the length of the sensor and heating element layer 40.
• the heating elements 50 provide heat to the contact member 42, which in turn provides heat to hair in contact with a hair-contacting surface 37 of the contact member 42 in use.
• the sensor and heating element layer 40 includes six heating elements 50 that each comprise a resistive track 51 and a pair of conductive pads (not shown).
• the resistive track 51 of each heating element 50 comprises a material such as copper, silver, constantan or stainless steel, and extends over the substrate 49 to define a generally U- shaped resistive track 51, with the conductive pads located at either end of the resistive track 51.
• the resistive tracks 51 may be formed by processes such as etching or printing. However, in other examples, one or more of the heating elements 50 may be formed from a length of wire.
• the sensor and heating element layer 40 may comprise more or fewer heating elements 50 in other examples.
• the heating elements 50 take the form of thick film printed heater traces, but other forms of heating element may be used, such as foil heaters, thin-film heaters, tubular heating elements, etched heaters or coiled heating elements.
• the heating elements 50 together extend over the substrate 49 such that the heating elements 50 together cover about 25% of an area, Ac, defined by the hair-contacting surface 37 of the contact member 42, and span about 80% of a length, Lc, defined by the hair-contacting surface 37 of the contact member 42. In other examples these percentage values may vary, and in fact the heating elements 50 together may preferably cover no less than 50% of the area, Ac, defined by the hair-contacting surface 37 and span no less than 95% of the length, Lc, defined by the hair-contacting surface 37. In this way, a more even distribution of heat across the contact member 42 and hair-contacting surface 37 is provided.
• the sensor 48 senses or measures a temperature of the heater assembly 34, and provides an indication of the a temperature of the hair-contacting surface 37 of the contact member 42. That is, although the sensor 48 does not directly measure the temperature of the haircontacting surface 37 in this example, the temperature sensed or measured by the sensor 48 provides a good approximation of the temperature at the hair-contacting surface 37.
• the senor 48 comprises a thermistor connected to a pair of wires, but in other examples the sensor 48 may take a different form, for example a thermocouple. In some examples the sensor 48 may be a printed film sensor.
• the sensor 48 is located between (and spaced from) parallel portions of the resistive track 51 of neighbouring heating elements 50 on a central portion of the substrate 49, so as to be located centrally along a length, Lc, defined by the hair- contacting surface 37 of the contact member 42.
• the sensor 48 is arranged to sense the temperature of the hair-contacting surface 37 at a position centrally along its length, Lc.
• the sensor 48 may be provided at a different position on the substrate 49, so as to sense the temperature at a different position on the hair-contacting surface 37.
• the sensor and heating element layer 40 may comprise multiple sensors 48 provided at different locations on the substrate 49 to allow for multiple temperature measurements to be taken, at different locations on the haircontacting surface 37.
• Figures 8 and 9 show alternative examples of sensor and heating element layers 140 and 240 that may be utilised in the haircare appliance 10.
• the sensor and heating element layers 140, 240 comprise a plurality of heating elements 150, 250 and a plurality of sensors 148, 248, each of the sensors 148, 248 being associated with one of the heating elements 150, 250, respectively.
• the sensor and heating element layer 140 of Figure 8 comprises three heating elements 150 and three associated sensors 148.
• Each heating element 150 comprises a resistive track 151 in a concentric rectangular shape and a pair of conductive pads 153 for supplying power to each of the resistive tracks 151 independently.
• each of the resistive tracks 151 is located beneath a different zone of the contact member 42 such that each of heating elements 150 heats a respective zone of the contact member 42 and thus the hair-contacting surface 37.
• the power supplied to each of the heating elements 150 may be controlled independently to allow for more precise control of the temperature of the hair-contacting surface 37 to be achieved.
• the sensor and heating element layer 240 of Figure 9 comprises six heating elements 250 and six associated sensors 248 each provided generally centrally with respect to their associated heating element 250.
• Each heating element 250 comprises a resistive track 251 that extends in a serpentine shape over the substrate 49 and a pair of conductive pads 253 (only two of which are labelled in Figure 9 for clarity) for supplying power to each of the resistive tracks 251 independently.
• the resistive track 251 of each heating element 250 has a thickness of around 0.015 mm, a width of around 1.0 mm and a spacing between adjacent parallel portions of the track 251 of around 0.5 mm. Where parallel portions of the track 251 are separated by the associated sensor 248, the spacing between the portions of track 251 at each side of the sensor 248 is greater than 0.5 mm so as to accommodate the sensor 248.
• different track thicknesses, widths and spacings may be used to achieve a desired coverage of the hair-contacting surface 37.
• the track thicknesses, widths and spacings may differ between different heating elements 50.
• the electrical insulation layer 41 of the heater assembly 34 comprises a first layer 56 and a second layer 58.
• the electrical insulation layer 41 is provided between the sensor and heating element layer 40 and the contact member 42, so as to electrically isolate the contact member 42 from the heating element 50 (not shown in Figure 6) of the sensor and heating element layer 40 for safety.
• the first layer 56 is positioned directly above the sensor and heating element layer 40
• the second layer 58 is positioned directly above the first layer 56 and directly beneath the contact member 42.
• the first layer 56 and the second layer 58 are each formed of a glass based dielectric material, and each have a thickness of 0.0175 mm.
• the electrical insulation layer 41 and any constituent layers of the electrical insulation layer 41 are possible to electrically isolate the contact member 42 from the heating element 50.
• materials such as pre-preg or polyimide may be utilised in the electrical insulation layer 41.
• the contact member 42 is provided on top of the electrical insulation layer 41, so as to be positioned above the electrical insulation layer 41 in the orientation shown in Figure 5.
• the hair-contacting surface 37 defines an outer surface of the heater assembly 34 and is arranged to contact and heat hair received between the arms 12, 14 of the haircare appliance 10 for styling in use.
• the contact member 42 comprises a heat spreading layer 60, represented in isolation in Figure 7.
• the contact member 42 is defined in its entirety by the heat spreading layer 60, but in other examples the heat spreading layer 60 may form only a part of the contact member 42.
• the heat spreading layer 60 comprises six heating zones 55 of equal length, Lhz. As explained already, each heating zone 55 is associated with a corresponding heating element 50 located beneath that heating zone 55. It should be noted that boundary lines 57 between the heating zones 55 are shown on the heat spreading layer 60 for illustrative purposes only, and do not indicate distinct segments of the heat spreading layer 60 which in this case is defined by a continuous layer of material.
• the heat spreading layer 60 is arranged and configured to spread heat provided by the heating element 50 of the sensor and heating element layer 40 through the contact member 42 and across the hair-contacting surface 37 of the contact member 42, so as to provide a more uniform temperature distribution across the hair-contacting surface 37.
• the heat spreading layer 60 is configured in particular to provide a more uniform distribution of heat from the sensor and heating element layer 40 across the length, Lc, of the haircontacting surface 37.
• the invention advantageously enables a uniform heat distribution to be achieved across the hair-contacting surface 37, without the use of a thick contact member plate that prevents flexibility and reduces the styling capability of the haircare appliance 10.

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• Resistance Heating (AREA)
• Control Of Resistance Heating (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=83931859

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (3)

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• 2022
  • 2022-08-31 GB GB2212581.9A patent/GB2622195A/en active Pending
• 2023
  • 2023-08-30 CN CN202380059511.8A patent/CN119949015A/zh active Pending
  • 2023-08-30 WO PCT/IB2023/058551 patent/WO2024047538A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2023-08-30 KR KR1020257009602A patent/KR20250056962A/ko active Pending
  • 2023-08-30 EP EP23768000.4A patent/EP4581901A1/de active Pending

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