ES2951265T3 - Device to treat hair using a recharge - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for treating hair, comprising: - a structure for housing a refill (10) of hair treatment product, - a steam generator for emitting steam onto the hair at a speed less than 10g. /min, - a recharging detection element that detects said recharging when mounted on the housing structure, the device (1) being designed to switch to a non-recharging mode if the detection element does not detect any recharging (10), The operation of the steam generator in this mode without recharging is different from its normal operation when a recharging is present. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Device to treat hair using a recharge

[0001] The present invention relates to devices that use a recharge to operate and more particularly to devices for treating hair such as straightening irons.

[0002] The refill contains, for example, a product to be applied to the hair, and optionally also an applicator that comes into contact with the area on which the product is to be placed.

[0003] Devices are known for treating hair by generating steam together with the application of the product (see document FR3015875).

[0004] Steam allows the effectiveness of the product on the hair to be increased.

[0005] It is desirable that the operation of the device can be modified in the absence of recharging, in order to avoid inappropriate use of it. According to a first of its aspects, the invention responds to this need with the help of a device according to claim 1.

[0006] Preferably, the device is configured to transition from no-recharge mode to normal operating mode, also known as normal mode, when a recharge is mounted on the housing structure.

[0007] Preferably, the steam generator operates at a lower level in the non-recharging mode. The expression "operate at a lower level" means that the amount of steam supplied by the steam generator is less than during normal operation, greater than zero.

[0008] The device preferably comprises at least one heated smoothing plate. The temperature of the heated smoothing plate can be changed when the steam generator is in non-recharging mode; The temperature adjustment range of the heated straightening plate may be reduced or the heated straightening plate may be switched off.

[0009] Preferably, in the non-recharging mode, the steam generator is switched off and the temperature adjustment range of the heated smoothing plate is reduced. Thus, in the absence of recharging, the device operates in a non-recharging mode in which steamless straightening is still available and the temperature of the heated straightening plate is reduced.

[0010] The apparatus preferably comprises two arms that close over the hair to be treated.

[0011] The apparatus may comprise an electronic control circuit with an electronic memory, designed to detect the closing of the arms and the placement of the refill by means of the detection element, the apparatus being designed to increment a variable stored in a memory of the appliance during use of the latter after changing the refill, to switch to a finishing touch operating mode (also known as "degraded operating mode") in which the operation of the steam generator is modified and/or of the ironing plate, when said variable exceeds a first predefined threshold.

[0012] The functionalities offered by the device in the finishing touch mode may be the same as in the no-recharge mode.

[0013] The touch finishing mode advantageously allows the device to be used even though the recharge has been exhausted, this use being limited but sufficient to complete a hair treatment or perform touch finishing operations.

[0014] The aforementioned variable may be proportional to the number of arm closures and correspond to a fraction of the number of arm closures, in particular to each fifth of them. This can reduce the size of the memory and the cost of the electronic circuit.

[0015] The variable can incorporate the time during which the arms are closed on the hair, which allows increasing the precision in estimating the degree of recharge exhaustion.

[0016] The device may be designed so that the variable is reset when the recharge is changed.

[0017] The device may be designed to go into finishing touch mode if the variable exceeds a second predefined threshold, different from the first, notably lower than the first, over several uses between which power to the device is cut off. .

[0018] The device may be designed so that the value of the variable is preserved when the device is turned off without removing power to the device.

[0019] Preferably, in the finishing touch mode, the steam generator is turned off.

[0020] Preferably, in the touch finishing mode, the operation of the heated smoothing plate is modified, and in particular, the temperature adjustment range of the heated smoothing plate is reduced.

[0021] Operation in the no-recharge mode may be different from operation in the touch finishing mode, and in particular, the temperature of the heated straightening plate may be changed in the touch finishing mode and the heated straightening plate may be turned off. in non-recharging mode.

[0022] Preferably, the recharging detection element is mechanical, especially a switch, or of another type, especially electronic, magnetic and/or optical. Detection can be carried out by direct contact of the recharge with the detection element or by remote detection.

[0023] The steam generator may comprise an electrical resistance for the production of steam, and/or a liquid reservoir, in particular water, and/or a pump. The device may comprise a handpiece and a base station, the base station comprising the liquid reservoir.

[0024] Preferably, the housing structure comprises an insertion guide for reloading. This insertion guide can be designed so that the refill is inserted and removed by a sliding movement along the guide. Other movements to place the reload are also possible.

[0025] The detection element may be arranged, at least partially, in the refill insertion guide.

[0026] For example, the sensing element comprises a protrusion element on the insertion guide, against which the refill rests when inserted into the insertion guide. The protruding element protrudes enough for the sensing element to change state.

[0027] In a variant, the detection element is located in another part of the device.

[0028] Preferably, the device is designed to mechanically prevent the placement of a refill that has been previously used and then removed. In this way, recharging is single use.

[0029] Preferably, in order to avoid the reuse of a refill already used, the housing structure comprises a relief placed so as to act on an element that serves as memory for the use of a refill when the refill is placed for the first time. in the device, in order to make it go from an inactive configuration in which the element is removed from a space to an active configuration in which this element protrudes into said space, where the housing structure comprises a locking element configured to intercept said element when it is in the active configuration, while the reload is being placed and removed from the housing structure, the element and the locking member being designed in such a way that the locking member can be bypassed by said element in the reload withdrawal direction and in such a way that the blocking member prevents said element from passing in the reload insertion direction, if an attempt is made to reinsert a refill that has already been used.

[0030] The above features allow the placement of the recharge to be blocked in a simple and effective way if it has been previously used on the device.

[0031] The locking member may be capable of moving transversely to the direction of displacement of said element in contact therewith, where the locking element is preferably returned to the initial position by elasticity. It is done, for example, with a spring wire or by a moving part on which a spring acts.

[0032] It is possible that the locking member is not symmetrical with respect to a median plane perpendicular to the direction of displacement of said element in contact therewith.

[0033] Thus, the locking member may have contact surfaces for contact with said element that have different entrance and exit slopes, having an entrance slope steeper than an exit slope, where the entrance slope prevents the passage of said element in the active configuration by forming a stop that prevents the displacement of said element, and where the exit slope allows said element to engage with the locking member to cause it to retract when said element passes in the direction removal of recharge. Said element passes over the blocking member in one direction.

[0034] The locking element is preferably located upstream of the aforementioned locking member, so that it is actuated before locking the refill during its introduction, in the case of a refill that has already been used. The device may comprise a second switch which is only actuated once the insertion of the recharge has been completed.

[0035] The device may comprise a switch on one of the arms between the head of the arms and the joint, in particular a magnetic switch of the reed switch type, to detect the closing of the arms.

[0036] The element that serves as a usage memory can be made in various ways. For example, the element is a pin that is capable of moving with friction in a corresponding housing in the reload, in order to maintain the active position once it has been inserted in the latter.

[0037] Said element can be molded in a single piece with a refill body, thus simplifying its production.

[0038] In this case, the element has for example an active part that cooperates with the locking member in the active configuration and a connection part that connects said active part to the rest of the reload at least in the inactive configuration. The refill may have a casing and the active part may be designed to be fixed to the casing, in particular by snap-fitting, when said element is in the active configuration.

[0039] The connecting part is, for example, a film hinge or a material separable bridge.

[0040] In a variant, the element can also be made in the form of a hook articulated on the body of the refill.

[0041] Another object of the invention is an article for a hair treatment device, as defined above, which is configured to be removably mounted on the structure for housing the latter, so that its presence can be detected. by the detection element of the device.

[0042] Said article allows simulating the presence of a recharge on the device, so that the device does not go into no-recharge mode. So, with the help of this item, the user can use the device in normal mode.

[0043] Preferably, the article does not contain any cosmetic product. Thus, the user can use the device with all its functionalities apart from the product application.

[0044] When the no-recharge mode corresponds to an operating mode in which the steam generator is off and the heated straightening plate remains on, the user can use:

- the device without steam or application of cosmetic product, without recharging or item on the device,

- the device with steam, but without application of cosmetic product, with the item that does not contain any cosmetic product in the device, or

- the device with steam and application of cosmetic product, with recharging in the device,

specifically, without requiring a programming action or an additional control element on the device, simply changing the tool (item or refill) on the device, which simplifies the use of the latter.

[0045] The article may have an elongated body that extends along a longitudinal axis.

[0046] The article may comprise a body and an absorbent element, in particular made of felt, arranged in said body.

[0047] The article may comprise a means of fixing to the housing structure, in particular a profile. This fixing means may comprise a profile, especially two profile elements that fit into an insertion guide of the housing structure along which the article moves when placed in the apparatus and when removed from it. Preferably, the profile elements extend in the direction of insertion of the article when mounted in the apparatus and/or along the longitudinal axis of the article.

[0048] Preferably, the fixing means have the general shape of a T slotted in the center in cross section, and the slot is made between the two profile elements.

[0049] Preferably, one of the profile elements comprises, at its rear end, a hook-shaped fastening projection intended to engage with a clip of the device in order to keep the article in position on the latter.

[0050] Preferably, while the article is fastened to the housing structure, the sensing element detects the presence of the fastening means.

[0051] Preferably, the article can be inserted and removed from the device more than once. In particular, the item has the same configuration between its insertion and its removal from the device. Preferably, the item does not have a usage memory member and does not engage the locking member. In this way, the blocking member cannot prevent reinsertion of the item, which can be used as many times as necessary. This is because, in the absence of a cosmetic product, it is not necessary to prevent the reinsertion of the item.

[0052] Preferably, the article is configured to occupy the corresponding space in the housing structure, as a refill would.

[0053] Preferably, the article has a substantially identical appearance to that of a refill, except that it does not contain a cosmetic product.

[0054] Preferably, the article is configured not to come into contact with the strand of hair treated by the device and/or with a pressure element of the device when it is used to treat the hair.

[0055] Preferably, the article is made of a thermoplastic material such as PET, PBT, PA6.6, PP, POM, PC or SAN, especially PET, PBT or PA6.6.

[0056] Another object of the invention is a range of accessories for a hair treatment device as defined above, comprising at least two accessories, one of the accessories being a refill containing a hair treatment product, the other accessory being an article according to the invention.

[0057] Preferably, within this range, the refill and the item have the same general shape. The item may be generally identical to the refill, except that it does not contain any hair treatment products.

[0058] While the refill comprises a means that prevents the reuse of the used refill, the article preferably does not have this, to allow its reuse.

[0059] Another object of the invention is a set comprising a device according to the invention and an article according to the invention, where the device and the article preferably initially contained in the same container.

[0060] Another object of the invention is a method for controlling the operation of a steam generator in a device according to the invention or an assembly as defined above, comprising the steps of:

- detect the presence or absence of the refill or the article in the housing structure of the device, - activate or allow the activation of the steam generator when the steam generator is in the non-recharge mode and the presence of a refill is detected or an item in the device housing structure.

[0061] The invention can be better understood by reading the following detailed description of non-limiting illustrative embodiments thereof and studying the attached drawing, in which:

- Figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of an example of a device, with the recharge placed,

- Figure 2 shows the device of figure 1 without recharging,

- Figure 3 shows part of the device of figure 2, with the upper arm cover removed,

- Figure 4 schematically shows a partial view of an example of recharging,

- Figure 5A schematically illustrates a perspective view of a variant of the reloading,

- Figure 5B is a cross-sectional view in the plane VB-VB of Figure 5A,

- Figure 5C schematically illustrates a perspective view of a variant of the refill once the refill has been used,

- Figure 5D is a cross-sectional view in the VD-VD plane of Figure 5C,

- Figures 6A and 6B show respective side views of the recharge of figure 4, before and after its use in the device,

- Figure 7 schematically shows a perspective view of a variant of the refill according to the invention,

- Figure 8 is a schematic longitudinal section through the reload of Figure 7,

- Figures 9A and 9B illustrate the changing configuration of the recharging of Figure 8, before and after use, - Figure 10 is an example of an algorithm that can be implemented during the operation of the device,

- Figure 11 shows, in a very schematic way, the electronic circuit of the device, and

- Figure 12 shows, very schematically, a variant of the electronic circuit of the device.

[0062] In the example illustrated in the figures, the device 1 to which the invention is applied, also known as an apparatus, is a straightening iron, which comprises two arms 2,3 that are connected by a joint 4 and carry elements of 5.6 heating on opposite sides of the arms. These elements 5 and 6 are made up of the smoothing plates.

[0063] This device 1 takes a recharge 10 that is fixed to one of the arms, next to one of the heating elements, in this case the upper arm 2 and the heating element 5.

[0064] The refill 10, shown alone in Figure 4, comprises a body 11, made, for example, of PBT, containing a product to be applied, in this case a cosmetic product to be applied to the hair.

[0065] The refill 10 also comprises application means 13 for applying this product, such as a felt, for example, which comes into contact with the hair while the device is being used. The refill 10 has a means 12 for fixing to a device accommodation structure, only a part of which has been shown in Figure 2.

[0066] The product contained in the refill can be applied to the hair when the latter passes between the arms.

[0067] In the example in question, the means for fixing the refill to the device comprise two profile elements 14 and 15, which are inserted into the guide elements provided on the corresponding arm.

[0068] The device has for example three guide elements 17, 18 and 19 that are intended to cooperate with the upper profile element 15, and two guide elements 20 and 21 that are intended to cooperate with the profile element bottom 14, when the refill 10 is placed on the device.

[0069] The refill 10 may comprise on the rear part a hook 23 that is intended to engage with a clip 24 to keep the refill in position, where this hook 23 closes for example by snapping on the clip 24 at the end of its insertion. on the device, for example, and is capable of being removed from it by a push/pull type mechanism or similar.

[0070] The device comprises a detection element 26 consisting of an electrical switch that is activated by the recharge 20 when the latter is present, and which makes it possible to indicate whether the recharge is present. This switch comprises a lever 26a against which a seal 26b can be pressed, where said seal itself is actuated by an impeller 26c.

[0071] The device 1 has a locking component 30, whose function is to cooperate with a mobile element 33 of the refill 10 that serves as a use memory.

[0072] The locking component 30 is elastically returned by a leaf spring 31 in this example and has, at the front, an edge 34 substantially perpendicular to the plane of the wall 35 to which the guide elements are fixed, and, at the rear, a less inclined edge 37.

[0073] The locking component 30 is arranged for example through a slot 36 in the wall 35 and can be retracted when the element 33 passes to the reload removal direction.

[0074] In the example in question, the moving element 33 is in the form of a pin that is mounted with friction in a corresponding housing 42 in the upper profile element 15, as can be seen in Figures 5A and 5B.

[0075] The element 33, whose initial inactive configuration is shown in Figures 5A and 5B, does not protrude into the space 43 defined between the two profile elements 14 and 15 before the refill is used for the first time, as shown. can be seen in Figures 5B and 6A, above all.

[0076] The device 1 has a relief designed to move the element 33 when the refill 10 is placed on the device for the first time.

[0077] In the example in question, this relief is formed by a ramp 45 of the guide element 18 located on the rear edge 37 of the locking component 30. Thus, when the profile elements 14 and 15 slide on guide elements when the Reloading is used for the first time, the ramp 45 is progressively pressed on the element 33 and presses it into its housing 42.

[0078] The element 33 thus protrudes into the space 43 between the profile elements 14 and 15, as illustrated in Figure 5D.

[0079] The locking component 30 engages between the profile elements 14 and 15 when the refill 10 is placed on the apparatus. Thus, during the insertion of the refill 10, the locking component 30 runs through the area in which the element 33 extends once in the active configuration as shown in Figures 5C and 5D.

[0080] The slope of the trailing edge 37 of the locking component 30 is chosen such that the element 33 can deform the locking component 30 during removal of the reload to retract and pass over said locking component 30.

[0081] The driver 26c acting on the switch 26 is located above the locking component 30 with respect to the direction of introduction of the refill 10 into the device 1. Thus, the switch 26 is actuated even before the locking component 30 exerts its possible action of blocking the insertion of the cartridge.

[0082] The assembly formed by the recharge and the device works as follows.

[0083] The first time the refill 10 is adjusted on the device, the ramp 45 causes the element 33 to move from the configuration of Figures 5A and 5B to that of Figures 5C and 5D. This change in position takes place when the element 33 has already passed over the front edge 34 of the locking component 30, due to the compensation between this edge 34 and the ramp 45 in the direction of insertion of the refill 10. The Locking 30 does not therefore prevent the placement of the refill 10.

[0084] During the removal of the latter, the element 33 can pass over the blocking component 30 due to the slope of the rear edge 37 thereof.

[0085] However, if an attempt is made to reposition the refill, the element 33 abuts the front edge 34 of the locking component 30 because of the increased slope of this front edge 34, which prevents it from being passed. by element 33. Therefore, the user cannot reuse the recharge.

[0086] The element 33 that serves as a memory of use can be realized in various other ways and others with the help of a pin that is capable of moving with friction in a housing, as has just been described with reference to Figures 1 to 6B.

[0087] It is thus possible, as illustrated in Figures 7 to 9B, to make the element 33 in the form of a hook, which includes a part of the end 53 that is collected in a housing 51 of the lower profile element 14 and a part connection 52 that connects the end part 53 with the body of the refill. This embodiment which does not have the positioning finger (80) of the invention makes it possible to form the element 33 by molding in one piece with the profile elements 14 and 15 and the refill body 10.

[0088] When the refill 10 is placed for the first time, the ramp 45 of the device presses against the element 33, for example, in the angular piece formed between the parts 52 and 53 of the element 33, and the part 53 can be closed to pressure in housing 51, as illustrated in Figure 9B.

[0089] The path followed by the locking component 30 in relation to the reload 10 while the latter is being placed is shown by a dashed line in this figure.

[0090] Figure 9A shows that in the initial configuration, which corresponds to that of Figures 7 and 8, before the refill is used for the first time, the end part 53 is positioned over the path of the charging component. lock 30 and therefore does not affect the placement of the reload. In the active configuration, as illustrated in Figure 9B, once the end portion 53 has been snapped into the housing 51, it can abut the locking component 30.

[0091] The device 1 comprises an electronic circuit 100, shown schematically in Figure 10, which comprises an electronic memory 101, for example, of the EEPROM type. This electronic circuit 100 is connected to the switch 26 which is operated while the recharge 10 is placed in the device. It is also connected to at least one electrical resistance 102 for the production of steam, to one or more electrical resistances 103 to heat the elements 5, 6, and to one or more temperature sensors 104 that allow, for example, to know the temperature of the plates.

[0092] A switch 105, for example, of the reed switch type, makes it possible to know the closed or open state of the device. The switch 105 is arranged for example on one of the arms and a magnet is arranged on the other of the arms to change the state of the switch 105 when the two arms 2,3 are in the closed position. The switch 105 makes it possible to inform the electronic circuit 100 of the closing numbers of the arms. The electronic circuit 100 is designed to be connected by a power cable 106 to the AC network, for example, the 110 V or 240 V network.

[0093] The electronic circuit 100 may be in the form of one or more boards, some of which may be arranged in the handpiece and others may be arranged in the base station when the apparatus has such a base station, which serves for the steam production containing, for example, a water tank and a pump.

[0094] The steam is preferably produced at a rate of 10g/min.

[0095] The electronic circuit 100 comprises at least one component such as a microcontroller, programmed to execute an algorithm that controls the operation of the device, preferably according to the diagram in Figure 11.

[0096] The electronic circuit 100 is powered when the cable 106 is connected to the electrical conduits and can detect the placement of the recharge when the device is disconnected. The step 201 of connecting the cable 106 of the device to the network makes it possible to detect in a step 202 by virtue of a switch 26, the possible insertion of the recharge 10 before connecting the device 1 in phase 203, by pressing a corresponding button.

[0097] If battery placement is detected in phase 202, then a variable ILS_nbr representative of the number of arm closures is initialized in phase 204, even though device 1 has not yet been started.

[0098] When the device is turned on, in phase 203, a detection of the presence of the recharge is carried out in phase 205. If the recharge has not been placed, which corresponds to branch 206 in the diagram, The ILS_nbr variable is initialized in step 207 and the startup of device 1 is carried out in finishing touch mode, which is schematically indicated by block 208 in Figure 10. In this finishing touch mode, the temperature is predefined to be non-adjustable, for example set to the value of 180°C, steam generation is prevented and cannot be activated, and the corresponding status is signaled to the user, for example by the flashing of an LED or the emission of an audible signal.

[0099] The device 1 remains in this finishing touch mode until a recharge is inserted possibly in phase 209, in which case the device operates in a normal mode, represented by block 210 in Figure 10, where the temperature can be adjusted by the user, starting from a standard value stored in memory, which corresponds to the last value used in normal mode. The steam generator is activated and the corresponding status is signaled to the user, for example by the LED mentioned above, which lights up without flickering.

[0100] In a mode other than the finishing touch, the electronic circuit 100 detects the closing of the arms 2,3 in the locks treated in phase 211, to increase the variable ILS_ nbr by an amount representative of the number of closures. To save memory space, this variable is preferably incremented every n closures, where n=5, for example. Thus, every 5 closures, the ILS_nbr variable is increased by 5 units.

[0101] In step 211, it is also possible to allow the user to modify the set point of the heating temperature of the plates. The amount of water left for steam generation can be detected to trigger a corresponding alarm, if necessary.

[0102] In step 212, a check is made as to whether the variable ILS_nbr is less than a predefined threshold n1, where nl=160, for example. If the variable ILS_nbr is less than n1, it is considered that the cosmetic composition in the refill has not been spent and the device 1 can continue to operate in the normal mode, as indicated schematically by branch 213 in Figure 11. If the value If the ILS_nbr variable becomes greater than or equal to the threshold n1, as represented by branch 215, the device returns to the finishing touch mode, corresponding to block 208 in Figure 11. The heating temperature set point of The plates thus return to the predefined value of the finishing touch mode, the operation of the steam generator is interrupted, and the corresponding status is indicated by the LED display, which flashes.

[0103] If the device 1 is stopped without the power supply being cut off, this is still shown schematically in step 216, and the device is then started in step 217, the stored value of the variable ILS_nbr is read in the phase 218. If this value is less than the threshold n1, as represented by branch 219 in Figure 10, the device maintains the normal mode represented by block 210. If the stored value of the variable ILS_nbr is greater than or equal At threshold n1, the device enters finishing touch mode, as represented by branch 221 and block 208.

[0104] Yes, when the device is on the user removes the recharge, as represented by branch 220 and phase 223, where the variable ILS_nbr is reset in phase 224 and device 1 goes to finishing touch mode.

[0105] Preferably, the device 1 is designed, in case of a prolonged period of non-use, that is, without detecting closures of the arms 2,3, to go into sleep mode in phase 230, until the button ignition switch is pressed in phase 210.

[0106] Block 231 schematically indicates the case in which device 1 is disconnected, in which case, when it is reconnected, the algorithm in Figure 10 returns to phase 201 described above.

[0107] Returning to the test in phase 205, if device 1 is started in phase 203 with recharge 10 already placed, where this corresponds to branch 234 in Figure 10, the value of the variable ILS_nbr is read in phase 235 and this value is compared with a second threshold n2, which is different from the threshold ni and much lower than the latter. The threshold n2 is equal to 20, for example. If the value of the variable ILS_nbr is greater than or equal to n2, the device enters the finishing touch mode at step 208. Therefore, this avoids putting the device into operation in the normal mode if the user has disconnected and after reconnecting the device with an already significant number of openings and closings of the arms, where it is likely that the user has begun to use the recharge and has allowed a non-negligible period of time to pass before resuming treatment, since disconnecting the device frequently implies that it has already been saved. In the case of uses that are excessively spaced in time, the cosmetic composition contained in the refill is likely to evaporate, resulting in reduced effectiveness of the refill.

[0108] If the variable ILS_nbr is essentially less than the second threshold n2, the device can operate in the normal mode, which corresponds to branch 237 and block 210 in Figure 11.

[0109] The invention is not limited to the illustrated algorithm.

[0110] In particular, in a variant illustrated in Figure 12, the step 208 described above can be replaced by a step 308 in which the device 1 operates in a mode without recharging. In this non-recharging mode, the heated plates are switched off, steam generation is prevented and cannot be activated, and the corresponding status is indicated to the user, for example by flashing an LED or emitting an acoustic signal. Device 1 remains in this no-recharge mode until a recharge is inserted in step 209. In steps 212 and 218, if the value of the variable ILS_nbr is greater than or equal to the threshold ni, as shown in branches 315 and 321, respectively, the device enters the finishing touch mode, corresponding to block 310 of Figure 12. The device 1 remains in this mode until the recharge is removed at step 223. At step 224, the variable ILS_nbr and device 1 goes to unfilled mode, corresponding to branch 324 of Figure 12.

[0111] It may also be advantageous to count not only the number of closures of the arms but also the duration of closure of the arms in the hair, which may be representative of the length of treated locks. This may make it possible to determine more accurately the extent to which the cosmetic composition has been used in the refill and therefore signal the need to replace the refill more precisely to the user.

[0112] To determine the closing duration of the arms, the electronic circuit 100 of the device is advantageously provided with a clock 110, shown by means of dotted lines in Figure 10, preferably provided with a battery to save the data in a memory. of clock.

[0113] In the example in question, the finishing touch mode corresponds to operation without the steam generator and at a predefined temperature of the heating plates.

[0114] In variants of embodiments of the invention, the finishing touch mode and/or the mode without recharging is different and corresponds for example to operation with still a possibility of adjusting the temperature of the heated plates, where this is preferably more limited than in the presence of steam.

[0115] In a variant that is not illustrated, the device is designed in such a way that it can identify the nature of the recharge placed, by virtue of for example one or more reliefs on the recharge that encode information that is read by one or more corresponding switches present on the device. In this case, it is possible to modify the threshold values, especially the first threshold ni, depending on the nature of the refill, for example, to take into account the fact that the cosmetic composition is used up in different ways from one refill to another. depending on the nature of it.

[0116] It is also possible, in a variant, to store the duration in which a recharge is present in the corresponding arm. This can above all allow the device to be forced to go into finishing touch mode beyond a certain duration to avoid a situation where the user performs a treatment with a refill, whose cosmetic composition may have lost its effectiveness due to its evaporation, For example.

[0117] Refill 10 can be replaced by an item that has the same structure as refill 10, except for the item that serves as a usage memory and the cosmetic product, which it does not have. In this way, when fixed to the device in the same way as refill 10, the article acts on the detection element 26 in the same way as refill 10 would.

[0118] Needless to say, the invention is not limited to the examples just described here.

[0119] The element 33 is produced for example by being molded with the adjacent profile element, being connected to it by one or more separable fabric bridges. Once in the active configuration, element 33 can be secured by friction alone or, alternatively, by automatic snap fit on the opposite profile element.

[0120] Although the invention has been illustrated in relation to a refill placed on the device by a sliding movement, where the invention also applies to refills that are placed by a movement other than simply a sliding movement, for example, a rotary motion or a more complex motion with translational and rotational components, for example.

[0121] The detection element 26 that detects the placement of the reload may be located in another part of the arm and, in particular, be present in the push/pull mechanism that cooperates with the hook 23.

[0122] The sensing element 26 may also be located below the pressure element against which the application means 13 is pressed when the arms are closed.

[0123] The detection element 26 may be something other than a switch, for example an optical detector that detects the presence of the recharge 10 by reflection of a beam by the latter, a magnetic detector that detects the presence of a magnet or of a conductive element present on the facing recharge when the latter is mounted on the device, or an electrical detector that detects the contact of a conductive element of the recharge when the recharge 10 is mounted on the device.

[0124] The locking component 30 can also be produced as a plastic part that is articulated around a pivoting axis and returned to its initial position by a coil spring.

[0125] The profile shape of the cartridge may be different from the general shape T illustrated, and the element 33 may move in any manner other than the spatial direction defined between the two profile elements; for example, it can move in a direction parallel to the stem of the T.

[0126] The item may have a different structure than the refill. For example, the article does not have the felt, the housing normally provided for the latter being open or closed in refills. The article may be a piece that does not come into contact with the hair or the pressure element when the arms are closed, but which acts on the sensing element to be detected as a refill.

[0127] The article may be made of a different material than the refill.

[0128] If necessary, the presence of element 33 in the active position, that is, after the reload has been used, can be automatically detected if an attempt is made to place the cartridge in the device, by means of For example, a mechanical or optical sensor, to indicate to the user the reason why the recharge cannot be placed, for example, by displaying a message on a screen or by illumination of an indicator light.

Claims (15)

1. Device (1) for hair treatment, comprising: - a structure to house a refill (10) of hair treatment product, - a steam generator that emits steam on the hair at a speed of less than 10 g/min, - a reload detection element (26) that detects said reload when it is mounted on the housing structure, - at least one heated smoothing plate (5, 6), where the device (1) is designed to switch to a mode without recharging (208; 308) if the detection element (26) does not detect any recharging (10), where the operation of the steam generator in this mode without recharging (208 ; 308) is different from its normal operation when there is a recharge, operating the steam generator at a lower level, in which the amount of steam supplied by the steam generator is greater than zero and lower than during normal operation, in the non-recharging mode (208; 308) and/or where in the non-recharging mode (208; 308) the temperature adjustment range of the at least one heated smoothing plate (5, 6) is reduced. 2. Device according to claim 1, which is configured to switch from non-recharging mode (208; 308) to normal mode (210) when a refill (10) is mounted on the housing structure. 3. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the steam generator operates at a lower level, wherein the amount of steam supplied by the steam generator is greater than zero and less than during operation normal, in non-recharging mode (208; 308). 4. Device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, the operation of the steam generator in this mode without recharging (208; 308) being different from its normal operation when a recharge is present and the temperature of the heated plate (5) being modified. , 6) when the steam generator is in the non-recharging mode (208; 308), where in particular the temperature adjustment range of the heated smoothing plate (5, 6) or the heated smoothing plate (5) is reduced , 6) disconnects. 5. Device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising two arms (2, 3) that close on the hair to be treated, where the device (1) comprises an electronic control circuit with an electronic memory, intended to detect the closure of the arms (2, 3) and the placement of the recharge (10) by means of the detection element (26), the device (1) being designed to increase a variable ( ILS_nbr) stored in a memory of the device during the use of the latter after changing the recharge (10) and to move to a finishing touch operating mode (208; 310) in which the operation of the steam generator and/or the smoothing plate (5, 310) is modified. 6), when said variable ( ILS_nbr ) exceeds a first predefined threshold (n1). 6. Device according to claim 5, the operation in the no-recharge mode (208) being identical to the operation in the finishing touch mode (208). 7. Device as claimed in claim 5, the operation in the non-recharging mode (308) being different from the operation in the finishing touch mode (310), in particular the temperature of the heated smoothing plate (5, 6) in the finishing touch mode (310) and turning off the heated smoothing plate (5, 6) in the no-recharge mode (308). 8. Device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, the detection element (26) comprising a protruding element (26c) arranged in an insertion guide of the housing structure, against which the refill (10) rests when It is inserted into the insertion guide to allow detection of reloading. 9. Assembly formed by a device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and an article configured to be removably mounted on the housing structure of the device, so that its presence is detected by the detection element ( 26) of the device (1), the device and the article being preferably initially contained in the same container. 10. Set according to claim 9, wherein the article does not contain any cosmetic product. 11. Assembly according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the article comprises a means (14, 15) for fixing to the housing structure, in particular a profile, preferably two profile elements (14, 15) that fit into a insertion guide of the housing structure along which the article moves when mounted on the device and when removed from the latter, preferably comprising one of the profile elements (14; 15) preferably comprising, in its proximal end, a hook-shaped fastening projection (23) intended to hook to a clip (24) of the device (1) in order to keep the refill (10) in position on the latter. 12. Assembly according to claim 11, whose fastening means (14, 15) have the general shape of a T slotted in the center in cross section. 13. Assembly according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the article can be inserted and removed from the device more than once. 14. Assembly as claimed in any of claims 9 to 13, wherein the article is configured so as not to come into contact with the lock of hair treated by the device (1) and/or a pressure element of the device when it It is being used to treat hair. 15. Set formed by a device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8 and a range of accessories for the hair treatment device comprising at least two accessories, one of the accessories being a refill (10) containing a hair treatment product, and the other accessory being an article configured to be removably mounted in the housing structure of the device so that its presence is detected by the detection element (26) of the device (1).