GB2614547A

GB2614547A - Hair styling accessory

Info

Publication number: GB2614547A
Application number: GB2200105.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Purnell Thomas; Edward Keane Martin; Mark Brett Coulton Robert; Benjamin Courtney Stephen
Original assignee: Dyson Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Dyson Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2022-01-06
Filing date: 2022-01-06
Publication date: 2023-07-12
Also published as: GB2617434A

Abstract

A hair styling accessory comprises a body (12, fig.1) supporting a pair of jaws (14, fig. 1) defining a clamping space 16 between them for receiving a tress of hair 18. The accessory is configured so that at least one of (or part of) the jaws is movable to releasably clamp the tress of hair between the jaws. The movable jaw is actuated by air pressure. At least one of the jaws is configured to deliver a jet of air from the body to the clamping space. The moveable part may be a clamping member 24. A chamber 28 may be arranged in the housing to receive a flow of air to actuate the clamping member to move from the unclamped position (see figure 4a) to the clamping position. The clamping member may define a passage that connects the chamber to the clamping space to deliver the jet of air A. In one embodiment the accessory may comprise a flexible member (560, fig.10) which can be moved from a folded to an extended configuration.

Description

Hair styling accessory

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a hair styling accessory for drying, straightening and/or otherwise styling a tress of hair.

BACKGROUND

Conventional hair straighteners generally comprise a pair of movable elongate arms or jaws that each include an elongate clamping plate. The arms are movable between an open position in which hair to be straightened or styled is received between the arms, and a closed position in which hair is clamped between planar faces of the clamping plates.

In the open position, the clamping plates and arms are generally not parallel, but extend away from one another along their lengths to define a cavity between them that has a generally V-shaped cross-section.

To close the arms and provide a clamping force to hair received in the cavity, a user grips and squeezes a handle of the hair straighteners to pivot the arms together, and bring the clamping plates together. In the closed position, the clamping plates are parallel and engaged across their planar faces.

This conventional arrangement requires the user themselves to apply the clamping force during straightening or styling, by manually by squeezing the handle. Repeated manual clamping by the user during styling, and the requirement to apply force not only to close the arms but to maintain the arms in a clamped position during styling, can lead to user fatigue. Furthermore, the pivoting arrangement of such conventional hair straighteners may result in uneven clamping force being applied along the length of the elongate clamping plates. For example, a greater clamping force may be applied to hair positioned closer to the hinging axis of the straighteners, and a smaller clamping force may be applied to hair positioned further from this hinging axis.

It is against this background that the present invention has been devised.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an aspect of the invention, there is provided a hair styling accessory. The hair styling accessory comprises a body supporting a pair of jaws defining a clamping space between them for receiving a tress of hair. The accessory is configured so that at least one of the jaws is movable to releasably clamp the tress of hair between the jaws. The movable jaw is actuated by air pressure. At least one of the jaws is configured to deliver a jet of air from the body to the clamping space.

The hair styling accessory advantageously eliminates the need for the user themselves to provide the clamping force, i.e. the force required to move the movable jaw or jaws from unclamped to clamped positions and hold the accessory in a clamped position in which hair is clamped between the jaws. By virtue of the invention, the user may simply engage a user interface (i.e. a button or slider) to activate clamping by actuating the movable jaw or jaws using air pressure delivered, for example, from an air generating device housed in the body of the accessory. In this way, user fatigue associated with repeated manual clamping is eliminated, allowing the user to complete the styling process more effectively and without undue strain. In other examples, the clamping may be activated by a sensing system. For example, the sensing system may be configured to sense when hair is placed between the jaws and then to activate clamping. The clamping may be activated after a predetermined time period to allow the user to place the hair between the jaws and then move their hands clear. The sensing system may also be configured to deactivate the clamping. For example, the sensing system may be configured to sense when hair has been pulled completely through the jaws such that the clamping can be released.

The or each movable jaw may comprise a housing and a clamping member. The clamping member may be coupled to the housing so as to be movable with respect to the housing between an unclamped position in which a tress of hair can be received in the clamping space, and a clamped position in which the jaws are arranged to clamp a tress of hair received in the clamping space. Thus, the movable jaw is movable by virtue of at least a portion of the jaw, i.e. the clamping member, being movable with respect to another portion of the jaw, i.e. the housing. In this way, the movable jaw is movable or configurable between an unclamped position in which the clamping member is in its unclamped position, and a clamped position in which the clamping member is in its clamped position.

The or each movable jaw may comprise a chamber defined between the housing and the clamping member, and an inlet for receiving a flow of air from the body into the chamber to actuate the movable jaw and move the clamping member from the unclamped position to the clamped position.

The clamping member may have an elongate shape defining a first long edge, and be coupled to the housing so as to be pivotable about the first long edge. Pivoting about a long edge of the clamping member, rather than the short edge as is conventional, provides an even clamping force along the length of the clamping member, with the same clamping force provided at one end of the clamping member as at the opposing end of the clamping member. Even clamping allows the user to achieve consistent styling across all of the hair received in the clamping space.

The clamping member may define a clamping edge for engaging and clamping hair in the clamped position.

The clamping member may comprise a passage that connects the chamber to the clamping space thereby to deliver the jet of air thereto. The passage may be arranged such that air entering the clamping space from the passage is directed generally towards the first long edge of the clamping member. The air entering the clamping space may be directed generally away from the clamping edge. For this, the passage may be generally arch-shaped in cross-section. Directing air entering the chamber in this way advantageously allows the air to provide a straightening and smoothing effect on the tress of hair in the clamping space, and reduces the likelihood of strands from the tress of hair being blown upwards and out of the clamping space by the jet of air.

The clamping member may comprise a limit stop that engages with the housing in the clamped position to limit movement of the clamping member.

The hair styling accessory may comprise a flexible member coupled to the housing and the clamping member, and configurable between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration. In the extended configuration, the flexible member extends between the housing and the clamping member, and the clamping member is in the clamped position. In the collapsed configuration, the flexible member is folded or otherwise collapsed between the housing and the clamping member, and the clamping member is in the unclamped position.

The hair styling accessory may comprise two movable jaws. The clamping member of one of the jaws may be pivotably coupled to its respective housing at its first long edge, and the clamping member of the other jaw may be pivotably coupled to its respective housing at a second, opposing, long edge.

The hair styling accessory may comprise a retainer for retaining the clamping member in the unclamped position. This allows for air to be delivered through the chamber and into the clamping space without the clamping member being forced to the clamped position. In this way, a user can provide heat and air to dry and/or otherwise style hair in the clamping space without providing a clamping force to this hair.

An air generating device may be configured to deliver pressurised air to the body of the hair styling accessory. At least a portion of the jet of air that actuates the movable jaw may be delivered to the clamping space. This enables the same jet of air to provide clamping of hair in the clamping space, and air flow to hair in the clamping space.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a hair styling accessory comprising a pair of clamping members defining a clamping space between them for receiving a tress of hair. At least one of the clamping members is located in a housing in an unclamped position, and is coupled to the housing so as to be movable with respect to the housing between the unclamped position and a clamped position to releasably clamp the tress of hair between the clamping members. The at least one movable clamping member is actuated by air pressure.

The hair styling accessory may be configured to deliver a jet of air to the clamping space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure la is a perspective view of a hair styling accessory in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention in an unclamped position; Figure lb is a perspective view of the hair styling accessory of Figure la in a clamped position; Figure 2a is a perspective view of a portion of the hair styling accessory of Figure la, illustrating a flow of air between jaws of the accessory in the clamped position; Figure 2b is a side view of the portion of the hair styling accessory shown in Figure 2a; Figure 2c is a plan view of the portion of the hair styling accessory shown in Figure 2a; Figure 3a is a front view of the hair styling accessory of Figure la, showing clamping members of the accessory in their clamped positions; Figure 3b is a cross-section taken through the front view of Figure 3a, in which the direction of air flow in a clamping space defined between the clamping members is illustrated; Figure 4a shows a tress of hair received between jaws of the hair styling accessory of Figure la in an unclamped position; Figure 4b shows a tress of hair clamped between jaws of the hair styling accessory of Figure la in a clamped position; Figure 5 shows a hair styling device in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, in which the hair styling accessory defines an attachment for a hair styling device; Figure 6a is a cross sectional front view of jaws of a hair styling accessory in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, in unclamped positions; Figure 6b shows the jaws of Figure 6a but in clamped positions; Figure 7a is a perspective view of a hair styling accessory in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention in a clamped position; Figure 7b is a cross-sectional view of a jaw of the hair styling accessory of Figure 7a, in the clamped position; Figure 7c is a cross-sectional view of a jaw of a hair styling accessory of Figure 7a, in the unclamped position; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a hair styling accessory in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention, in a clamped position; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of a hair styling accessory in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the invention, in a clamped position; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of a hair styling accessory in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the invention, in a clamped position; Figure lla is a cross-sectional view of a hair styling accessory in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the invention, in an unclamped position; Figure llb is a perspective view of the hair styling accessory of Figure 11a in the unclamped position; Figure 11c is a cross-sectional view of the hair styling accessory of Figure lla in a clamped position; Figure lid is a perspective view of the hair styling accessory of Figure 11 a in the clamped position; Figure 12a is a cross-sectional view of a jaw of a hair styling accessory in accordance with a ninth embodiment of the invention, showing a retainer in its retaining position and a clamping member in its unclamped position; and Figure 12b is a cross-sectional view of the jaw of Figure 12a, showing the retainer in its open position and the clamping member in its clamped position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figures la to 4b show a hair styling accessory 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

The hair styling accessory 10 comprises a body 12 and a pair of jaws 14 that are supported by the body 12. The jaws 14 define a clamping space 16 between them for receiving a tress of hair 18 (shown in Figures 4a and 4b), and are movable to releasably clamp the tress of hair 18 between the jaws 14 in use.

Specifically, each jaw 14 is configurable or movable between an unclamped position shown in Figure la, and a clamped position shown in Figure 1 b. In the unclamped position, the jaws 14 are separated to allow a tress of hair 18 to be received in the clamping space 16. In the clamped position, the jaws 14 are arranged to clamp a tress of hair 18 received in the clamping space 16. As will be explained in more detail later, the jaws 14 are actuated for movement using air pressure generated within or external to the hair styling accessory 10.

Each jaw 14 is generally elongate, having a first end 20 coupled to the body 12 and a second end 22 remote from the body. Each jaw 14 comprises a clamping member 24 and a housing 26. Each clamping member 24 is moveably coupled to its associated housing 26. A chamber 28 is defined between each clamping member 24 and its associated housing 26. In use, air is delivered to the chambers 28 through inlets (not shown) of the jaws 14 to actuate movement of the respective clamping member 24. At least a portion of this air may subsequently be delivered to the clamping space 16 for use in the hair styling process.

In this embodiment of the invention, the body 12 defines an elongate handle of the hair styling accessory 10. However, in other embodiments such as the second embodiment of Figure 5, the body 12 comprises an attachment portion 30 for attachment to a separate handle portion 32 to define an attachable accessory for a hair styling device 34.

Each clamping member 24 is generally elongate in shape, and comprises an outer wall 36 defining first and second long edges, 38 and 40 respectively, an upper wall 42, a first end wall (not shown) and a second end wall 44.

The clamping members 24 are pivotably coupled to their respective housings 26 at their first long edges 38. The second long edges 40 define clamping edges 41 for engaging and clamping a tress of hair 18 in the clamped position.

The upper wall 42 of each clamping member 24 extends generally perpendicularly from the second long edge 40 of the outer wall 36, and includes a protrusion 46 that engages with a corresponding protrusion 48 of the housing 26 in the clamped position to together define a limit stop 50. The limit stop 50 limits movement of the clamping members 24 in a clamping direction (i.e. the direction of movement of the clamping member 24 from its unclamped position towards its clamped position). Once engaged, the limit stop 50 prevents further movement of the clamping member 24 in the clamping direction, and guards against disengagement of the clamping member 24 from its housing 26.

Referring now to Figures la and 3b in particular, the outer wall 36 of each clamping member 24 comprises a plurality of passages 52 that connect the chamber 28 to the clamping space 16. In use, air is delivered from the chamber 28 to the clamping space 16 via the passages 52.

Each passage 52 terminates in an outlet 54 provided in an outer face 56 of the outer wall 36, and is located towards the clamping edge 41 of the clamping member 24. The passages 52 are arranged such that air entering the clamping space 16 from the passages 52 is directed generally away from the clamping edges 41 of the clamping members 24, and towards the first long edges 38 of the clamping members 24. For this, as illustrated in Figure 3b, each passage 52 has a generally arch-shaped cross-section. Also illustrated in Figure 3b is the direction of the flow of air, A, through and out of the arch-shaped passages 52.

The passages 52 are arranged side-by-side to extend generally across the entire length of the outer wall 36 in this embodiment, so as to enable air to be delivered to a tress of hair 18 clamped at any position in the clamping space 16. The arrangement and number of passages 52 could of course differ in other embodiments, however, and the invention is not intended to be limited in this regard. For example, each clamping member 24 may include a single elongate passage 52 terminating in a single elongate outlet 54 extending generally across the entire length of the outer wall 36. It would also be possible for the number of passages 52 to differ from the number of outlets 54 such that, for example, multiple passages 52 terminate in a single outlet 54, or a single passage 52 terminates in multiple outlets 54. The arrangement of passages 52 and outlets 54 may differ for each clamping member 24 The hair styling accessory 10 further includes an air generating device (not shown) comprising a motor configured to produce a high pressure air flow. A suitable pressure of flow may be between 3.5 and 7Kpa at 13.5L/s, purely by way of example The air generating device is housed in the body 12 in this embodiment and forms part of the hair styling accessory 10, but could be external to the hair styling accessory 10 in other embodiments. For example, in the embodiment of Figure 5, the air generating device may be housed in the handle portion 32.

In some embodiments, air generated by the air generating device is heated by a heating element before being delivered to the clamping space To use the hair styling accessory 10, a user first places a tress of hair 18 in the clamping space 16 defined between the unclamped clamping members 24, as shown in Figure 4a.

Although not shown, the clamping members 24 are biased towards the unclamped position by biasing means in the form of biasing springs. When the air generating device is turned off, the biasing means hold the clamping members 24 in their unclamped positions within the housing 26.

To clamp the tress of hair 18 between the clamping members 24, the user actuates the jaws 14 by pressing a push button (not shown) provided on the body 12 of the hair styling accessory 10. Of course, in other embodiments the jaws 14 may be actuated via another suitable type of user interface such as a sliding switch. The jaw 14 may also be actuated automatically, without specific command from the user. For example, the clamping may be activated by a sensing system. The sensing system may be configured to sense when hair is placed between the jaws and then to activate clamping. The clamping may be activated after a predetermined time period to allow the user to place the hair between the jaws and then move their hands clear. The sensing system may also be configured to deactivate the clamping. For example, the sensing system may be configured to sense when hair has been pulled completely through the jaws such that the clamping can be released. The automatic clamping may be combined with manual clamping commanded by the user.

When the push button is pressed into an 'on' position, an electronic activation signal is sent to the air generating device. Once activated, the air generating device generates a jet or flow of high pressure air which is delivered to the chamber 28 of each jaw 14 via conduits (not shown) that connect an outlet (not shown) of the air generating device to inlets (not shown) of the chambers 28. This jet of air forces the clamping members 24 to pivot from their unclamped positions to their clamped positions, overcoming the force of the biasing means and causing the chambers 28 to expand. It should be noted that in some embodiments the air generating device may be activated separately to actuation of the jaws 14. That is, the air generating device may be activated initially without actuating the jaws 14, and the jaws 14 may be subsequently actuated by diverting air flow generated by the air generating device to the jaws 14, or by e.g. releasing retaining means (not shown in Figures 4a or 4b) configured to releasably hold the clamping members 24 in the unclamped position.

In the clamped position shown in Figure 4b, the tress of hair 18 is clamped between the clamping edges 41 of the clamping members 24. The air pressure generated by the air generating device is such that, in this clamped position, the tress of hair 18 is firmly clamped between the clamping edges 41.

A portion of the jet of air provided by the air generating device is delivered from the chambers 28 to the clamping space 16 for direct use in styling of the clamped tress of hair 18. In other embodiments, one or more separate jets of air to those delivered to the chambers 28 are delivered to the clamping space 16. In that case, the hair styling accessory 10 may include separate conduits for delivering air directly to the passages 52 from the air generating device, in addition to the conduits that deliver air to the chambers 28 from the air generating device.

Although not shown, in some embodiments the hair styling accessory 10 includes a heater, and air generated by the air generating device is heated by a heater before being delivered to the clamping space 16.

As noted already, the passages 52 that deliver air to the clamping space 16 are arranged to direct air away from the clamping edges 41 and towards the first long edges 38 of the clamping member 24. This advantageously provides a straightening and smoothing effect on the tress of hair 18 in the clamping space 16, by directing a flow of air both towards and along the length of this tress of hair, rather than directly at and perpendicularly with respect the length of the tress of hair 18. Furthermore, the arrangement of Figure 4b reduces the likelihood of hairs being blown out of the clamping space 16 in use.

With the tress of hair 18 clamped between the clamping edges 41, the user pulls the hair styling accessory 10 along the length of the tress of hair 18 in a direction indicated by arrow D in Figure 4b, to straighten or style the tress of hair 18 as required.

When the user wishes to release the tress of hair 18, they simply press the push button again, into an 'off' position, which causes an electronic signal to be sent to the air generating device to deactivate the air generating device. The air generating device stops delivering high pressure air to the jaws 14, and the clamping members 24 are no longer forced into the clamping position by this high-pressure air. The biasing means pull the clamping members 24 from the clamped position back to the unclamped position, and the hair styling accessory 10 is ready for use on another tress of hair 18. As mentioned above, in other examples, deactivation of the clamping may be achieved by way of a suitably configured sensing system that senses when no hair is between the jaws and, in response, deactivates clamping, by stopping air generation, for example.

Turning now to Figures 6a and 6b, jaws 114 of a hair styling accessory 110 in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention are shown. Each jaw 114 of the third embodiment comprises a first clamping member 124a and a second clamping member 124b, arranged to resemble a slider-crank mechanism As in the first embodiment, the jaws 114 of the third embodiment are movable between an unclamped position (shown in Figure 6a) and a clamped position (shown in Figure 6b), and are actuated by air pressure delivered to chambers 128 defined between clamping members 124a, 124b and a housing 126 of each jaw.

The first clamping member 124a defines a first long edge 138a that is both pivotably and slidably coupled to a lower end 160 of the housing 126. The second clamping member 124b defines a first long edge 138b that is pivotably coupled to an upper end 162 of the housing 126. The first and second clamping members 124a, 124b are pivotably coupled to one another by means of a pivotable coupling 158.

For pivotable and slidable coupling of the first clamping member 124a, the housing 126 comprises an elongate slot 164. The slot 164 has a first end 166 and a second end 168, and is arranged so as to extend generally parallel to the housing 126. The slot 164 receives a complementary pin 172. The first clamping member 124a is pivotably coupled to the pin 172 at its first long edge 138a, such that the pin 172 defines a pivot axis about which the first clamping member 124a is pivotable.

In the undamped position shown in Figure 6a, the first and second clamping members 124a, 124b extend generally parallel to the housing 126, and second long edges 140a, 140b of the first and second clamping members 124a, 124b are in abutment with one another. The pin 172 is positioned at the first end 166 of the slot 164.

When high pressure air from the air generating device fills the chambers 128, this forces the first and second clamping members 124a, 124b into their clamped positions shown in Figure 6b.

The first clamping member 124a pivots about the pin 172 such that its second long edge 140a swings outwardly away from the housing 126. At the same time, the pin 172 slides in the slot 164 towards its second end 168, and the first clamping member 124a moves with the pin 172, away from the lower end 160 of the housing 126. When the pin 172 reaches the second end 168 of the slot 164, the first clamping member 124a abuts a protrusion 174 of the housing 126 that extends into the chamber 128.

The second clamping member 124b pivots about its first long edge 138b such that its second long edge 140b swings outwardly away from the housing 126.

In the clamped position, clamping edges 141 defined by the second long edges 140b of the second clamping members 124b of the jaws 114 clamp a tress of hair (not shown in Figure 6b) received in the clamping space 116. As in the first embodiment of the invention, air is delivered to the clamping space 116 from the chamber 128 via passages 152. However, in this embodiment the passages 152 are defined between the first and second clamping members 124a, 124b of each jaw 114. As indicated by arrows A in Figure 6b, air that flows through these passages 152 is directed generally downwardly into the clamping space 116, away from the clamping edges 141 at which the hair is clamped, and generally towards the first long edges 138a of the first clamping members 124a.

The third embodiment of the invention is advantageous as it provides a compact arrangement. Specifically, the arrangement of the first and second clamping members 124a, 124b allows the width, W, of each jaw 114 to be reduced when compared to the arrangement of the first embodiment, in which the overall width is dictated by the upper wall 42 of the clamping member 24.

Figure 7a shows a hair styling accessory 210 in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Figures 7b and 7c show a jaw 214 of the hair styling accessory 210 of the fourth embodiment. The jaw 214 is similar to those of the first embodiment in many respects, but differs in that the clamping member 224 does not include rigid upper, first and second walls. Instead, a flexible member 260 replaces these walls, as best seen in Figure 7a.

Furthermore, this illustrated example shows a pair of flared extension plates 261 which extend from the jaws 214, axially. The extension plates 261 provide a means to guide hair into the space between the jaws 214.

The flexible member 260 is attached to the clamping member 224 and its associated housing 226. Referring to Figures 7a and 7b, in the clamped position the flexible member 260 is arranged in an extended configuration in which it extends between the clamping member 224 and the housing 226. Referring to Figure 7c, in the unclamped position the flexible member 260 is arranged in a collapsed or folded configuration in which it is folded between the clamping member 224 and the housing 226. Biasing means 262 in the form of springs are attached to an inner face 264 of the housing 226 and an inner surface 266 of the flexible member 260.

In the unclamped position shown in Figure 7c, the biasing means 262 bias the flexible member 260 into its folded configuration. When high pressure air from the air generating device fills the chamber 228, which in this case is defined between the housing 226, the clamping member 224 and the flexible member 260, the biasing force is overcome, and the clamping member 224 is forced into its clamped position, shown in Figure 7b.

In this example the flexible member 260 is arranged in a concertina fold in the collapsed or folded configuration, but other arrangements are possible.

The foldable, flexible member 260 of the fourth embodiment enables a more compact jaw 214 arrangement compared to that of the first embodiment in particular, as the housing 226 is not required to accommodate the rigid upper wall 42 of the clamping member 24 in the unclamped position. This allows the width 'W of the jaw 214 in the unclamped position to be reduced.

Figure 8 illustrates jaws 314 of a hair styling accessory 310 in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention.

In this embodiment, the clamping member 324 of each jaw 314 is pivotable between the unclamped position and the clamped position, as in the first embodiment. However, the clamping members 324 are pivotably coupled to their housings 326 about opposing long edges. That is, a first clamping member 324a of a first jaw 314a of the pair is pivotably coupled to its housing 326 at its first long edge 338a. A second clamping member 324b of a second jaw 314b of the pair is pivotably coupled to its housing 326 at its second long edge 340.

The clamping members 324a, 324b are shaped to each define a clamping region 360 that extends across a portion of a planar face 362 of each clamping member 324a, 324b, rather than defining clamping edges as in previous embodiments. Furthermore, the clamping members 324a, 324b are arranged such that a tress of hair 18 that hangs generally vertically when received in the clamping space 316 before clamping, is clamped between the clamping members 324a, 324b at an angle from the vertical in the clamped position.

In the unclamped position, the clamping members 324a, 324b are housed in housing chambers 364 having a generally semi-circular cross-section. For clamping, the first clamping member 324a pivots about its first long edge 338a and the second clamping member 324b pivots about its second long edge 340b, such that the clamping regions 360 swing towards one another. Limit stops 350 are provided to limit movement of each clamping member 324a, 324b in the clamping direction, i.e. the direction of movement of the clamping member 324a, 324b from its unclamped position towards its clamped position.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate jaws 414, 514 of hair styling accessories 410, 510 in accordance with sixth and seventh embodiments of the invention, respectively.

In the sixth embodiment of Figure 9, similarly to the first embodiment, each clamping member 424 is pivotably coupled to its housing 426 at a first long edge 438, and a second long edge of each clamping member 424 defines a clamping edge 441 for engaging and clamping hair in the clamped position (illustrated in Figure 9). However, in contrast to the clamping members 24 of the first embodiment, additional pivotable elements 460 are provided as part of each clamping member 424 in this embodiment. These elements 460 are coupled towards the clamping edge 441 of their associated clamping member 424. When moving from the unclamped position to the clamped position, each clamping member 424 pivots or rotates in a first direction, and its associated element 460 pivots or rotates in a second, opposing, direction. Movement of the clamping members 424 in the clamping direction (i.e. from the unclamped position, towards the clamped position) is limited by limit stops 450 defined between the clamping members 424 and their housings 426. Movement of the elements 460 towards their final positions shown in Figure 9 is limited by limit stops 462 defined by the elements 460 and their associated clamping members 424.

In the clamped position shown in Figure 9, walls 464 of the elements 460 define a chamber 466 within the clamping space 416 having a generally rectangular cross-section, and act to better confine a tress of hair received in the clamping space 416 during styling.

In the seventh embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 10, movement of the clamping members 524 is enabled by pivotable couplings 558 and flexible members 560. A first long edge 538 of each clamping member 524 is pivotably coupled to a pivotable element 562, which in turn is pivotably coupled to the housing 526. When moving from the unclamped position to the clamped position, the pivotable element 562 of a jaw 514 pivots or rotates in a first direction, and the associated clamping member 524 simultaneously pivots or rotates 568 in a second, opposing, direction. Because the jaws 514 are mirror images of each other, the first direction of one jaw 514 is the same as the second direction of the other jaw 514, and vice versa.

By virtue of the pivotable couplings 558 of this embodiment, the clamping members 524 pivot from unclamped positions in which their outer walls 536 are substantially parallel to one another, to clamped positions in which their outer walls 536 are also substantially parallel.

The flexible members 560 of this embodiment are similar to those of the fourth embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 7a to 7c, extending between each clamping member 524 and its associated housing 526, and enabling movement of the clamping members 524 between their unclamped and clamped positions whilst maintaining an enclosed chamber 528. Although not shown in Figure 10, the clamping members 524 of this embodiment may also include passages for delivery of air to the clamping space 516.

Figures I la, 11 b, 11c and lid illustrate a hair styling accessory 610 in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, each clamping member 624 is pivotably coupled to the housing 626 at a first short edge 660 of the clamping member 624.

In the undamped position shown in Figures 11 a and 11 b, the clamping space 616 has a generally triangular cross-section in plan view (see Figure 11a). To move from the unclamped position to the clamped position, the clamping members 624 pivot about the pivotable coupling at their first short edges 660, and the clamping members 624 swing towards one another. Limit stops 650 defined at a second ends 662 of the clamping members 624 limit movement in the clamping direction towards the clamping positions. In the clamped position shown in Figures 11c and 11d, hair received in the clamping space 616 is clamped by planar faces 664 of the outer walls 636 of the clamping members 624.

Figure 12 shows a jaw 714 in accordance with a ninth embodiment of the invention, and illustrates a modification to the jaws of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, a movable retainer 760 is provided through an aperture 762 of the housing 726. The retainer 760 is movable between a retaining position shown in Figure 12a and an open position shown in Figure 12b.

In the retaining position of Figure 12a, the clamping member 724 is mechanically held in the unclamped position by the retainer 760 that engages a protrusion 746 of the upper wall 742 of the clamping member 724. The retainer 760 prevents the clamping member 724 from moving to the clamped position when the air generating device is activated and air is provided to the chamber 728. In this way, a tress of hair received in the clamping space 716 can be dried and styled using air flow delivered to the clamping space 716 from the passages 752, without applying a clamping force to the tress of hair. For example, if a user wishes to use the hair styling accessory to dry, but not straighten, their hair, then they may use the device with the retainer 760 in the retaining position.

In the open position shown in Figure 12b, the retainer 760 is positioned such that it does not engage the protrusion 746 of the upper wall 742, so that the clamping member 724 is free to move from the unclamped position to the clamped position.

The retainer 760 may be moved between the retaining and open positions using any suitable user interface, e.g. a sliding switch or push button, provided at any suitable position of the hair styling accessory.

It should be understood that many modifications to the described embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention.

Although the described embodiments each utilise a pair of movable jaws, each jaw being movable by virtue of comprising a clamping member that is movable with respect to a relatively fixed housing, it would be possible for only one of the jaws of the pair to be movable.

Furthermore, it would be possible for the manner in which the clamping member moves from the unclamped position to the clamped position to differ for each jaw of a pair, with any of the described jaw configurations being combinable with any other of the described jaw configurations in a pair of jaws of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A hair styling accessory, comprising: a body supporting a pair of jaws defining a clamping space between them for receiving a tress of hair, the accessory being configured so that at least one of the jaws is movable to releasably clamp the tress of hair between the jaws; wherein, the movable jaw is actuated by air pressure; and at least one of the jaws is configured to deliver a jet of air from the body to the clamping space.
2 A hair styling accessory as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the or each movable jaw comprises a housing and a clamping member, the clamping member being coupled to the housing so as to be movable with respect to the housing between an unclamped position in which a tress of hair can be received in the clamping space, and a clamped position in which the jaws are arranged to clamp a tress of hair received in the clamping space.
3 A hair styling accessory as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the or each movable jaw comprises a chamber defined between the housing and the clamping member, and an inlet for receiving a flow of air from the body into the chamber to actuate the movable jaw and move the clamping member from the unclamped position to the clamped position.
4 A hair styling accessory as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the clamping member has an elongate shape defining a first long edge, and is coupled to the housing so as to be pivotable about the first long edge.
5. A hair styling accessory as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the clamping member defines a clamping edge for engaging and clamping hair in the clamped position.
6 A hair styling accessory as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 5, wherein the clamping member comprises a passage that connects the chamber to the clamping space thereby to deliver the jet of air thereto.
7 A hair styling accessory as claimed in Claim 6 when dependent on Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the passage is arranged such that air entering the clamping space from the passage is directed generally towards the first long edge of the clamping member.
8 A hair styling accessory as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 7, wherein the clamping member comprises a limit stop that engages with the housing in the clamped position to limit movement of the clamping member.
9 A hair styling accessory as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 8, further comprising a flexible member coupled to the housing and the clamping member, and configurable between: an extended configuration in which the flexible member extends between the housing and the clamping member, and the clamping member is in the clamped position; and, a collapsed configuration in which the flexible member is folded between the housing and the clamping member, and the clamping member is in the unclamped position
10. A hair styling accessory as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 9 and comprising two movable jaws, wherein the clamping member of one of the jaws is pivotably coupled to its respective housing at its first long edge, and the clamping member of the other jaw is pivotably coupled to its respective housing at a second, opposing, long edge.
11. A hair styling accessory as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 10, comprising a retainer for retaining the clamping member in the unclamped position.
12. A hair styling accessory as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an air generating device configured to deliver pressurised air to the body.
13. A hair styling accessory as claimed in Claim 12, configured such that at least a portion of the jet of air that actuates the movable jaw is delivered to the clamping space.