JP6953529B2 - A device for treating hair using refills - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device that operates using a refill, and more particularly to a device for treating hair, such as a straight iron.

Refills include products that are applied to the hair and optionally include applicators that come into contact with areas where the products are intended to be deposited.

Devices for treating hair by generating steam combined with product application are known. Steam can enhance the performance of the product on the hair.

The behavior of the device should be modified in the absence of refills to avoid improper use of it.

According to the first aspect of the aspect, the present invention meets this need by means of a device for treating hair, the device.
− A structure for accommodating the refills of hair treatment products and
A steam generator for discharging steam to hair at a volume flow rate smaller than -10 g / min,
− Provided with a refill detection element that detects the refill when it is fitted into the containment structure.
The device is designed to transition to unfilled mode if the detection element does not detect a refill, and the steam generator's operation in this unfilled mode is different from its normal operation when there is a refill. different.

Preferably, the device is configured to transition from a non-refilled mode to a normal operating mode, also known as a normal mode, when the refill is fitted into the containment structure.

Preferably, the steam generator operates at a lower level or does not operate in the unrefilled mode. The expression "operating at a lower level" means that the amount of steam emitted by the steam generator is less or zero than during normal operation.

The device preferably comprises at least one heat straightening plate. When the steam generator is in the non-refill mode, the temperature of the heat straightening plate may be modified, the temperature control range of the heat straightening plate may be reduced, or the heat straightening plate may be switched off.

Preferably, in the non-refill mode, the steam generator is switched off and the temperature control range of the heat correction plate is reduced. Therefore, in the absence of refills, the device operates in refill unattached mode, where straightening without steam is still available.

In the variant, in the unfilled mode, the steam generator and heat correction plate remain switched off. This makes it possible to prevent the device from being completely used if there is no refill in the device.

The device preferably comprises two arms that cover and close the hair to be treated.

The device may include an electronic control circuit with electronic memory designed to detect arm closure and refill attachment by a detection element, after the device has the refill replaced during use of the device. Designed to increment a variable stored in the device's memory, the device is designed to increment the variable in memory after the refill is replaced during its use, and the above variable is the first predetermined Designed to transition to a final finishing mode of operation (also known as "downgrade mode of operation") in which the behavior of the steam generator and / or straightening plate is modified when the threshold is exceeded.

The functionality provided by the device in final finishing mode may be the same as in unrefilled mode.

The final finishing mode advantageously allows the use of the device even though the refill has been exhausted, and this use is limited, but to complete the treatment of the hair, or Sufficient to carry out the final finishing operation.

The above variable may be proportional to the number of times the arm is closed and may correspond to a fraction of the number of times the arm is closed, especially once every five times the number of times the arm is closed. This can reduce the size of memory and the cost of electronic circuits.

The variable may include the time it takes for the arm to cover and close the hair, which allows for greater accuracy in estimating the extent to which the refill is exhausted.

The device may be designed so that the variables are reset when the refill is replaced.

The device is a second, in which the variable is different from the first predetermined threshold, especially lower than the first predetermined threshold, over multiple uses in which the power supply to the device is cut off between uses. If a predetermined threshold is exceeded, it may be designed to transition to the final finishing mode.

The device may be designed so that the value of the variable is retained when the device is switched off without interrupting the power supply of the device.

Preferably, in the final finishing mode, the steam generator is switched off.

Preferably, in the final finishing mode, the behavior of the heat straightening plate is modified, especially the temperature control range of the heat straightening plate is reduced.

The operation in the non-refilled mode may be different from the operation in the final finish mode, in particular the temperature of the heat straightening plate may be corrected in the final finish mode and the heat straightening plate is turned off in the non-refill mode. It may be switched.

Preferably, the refill detection element is mechanical, especially a contactor, or other type, especially electronic, magnetic, and / or light. Detection may be brought about by direct contact of the refill with the detection element or by remote detection.

The steam generator may include an electrical resistor for steam generation and / or a water reservoir for liquids, especially water, and / or a pump. The device may include a handpiece and a base station, which base station comprises a liquid water reservoir.

Preferably, the containment structure comprises an insertion guide for refilling. The insertion guide may be designed so that the refill can be attached and detached by sliding along the guide. Other movements for mounting the refill are also possible.

The detection element may be disposed, at least in part, within the insertion guide for refilling.

For example, the detection element comprises a protruding element within the insertion guide, and when the refill is inserted into the insertion guide, the refill compresses it. The protruding element protrudes sufficiently enough to cause the detection element to change its state.

In the variant, the detection element is located elsewhere on the device.

Preferably, the device is configured to mechanically prevent the attachment of refills that have been removed after being previously used. Therefore, the refill is disposable.

Preferably, in order to prevent the reuse of used refills, the containment structure comprises undulations arranged to act on the element that acts as the refill's used memory when the refill is first attached to the device. The device is moved from an inoperable configuration in which the refill is retracted from the space to an operable configuration in which this element protrudes into the space, and the containment structure is accommodated while the refill is being mounted within the containment structure. A locking member configured to block the element when it is in an operable configuration while being removed from the structure, the element and the locking member attempt to reinsert an already used refill. It is designed so that when an attempt is made, the locking member can be passed by the element in the refill removing direction and the locking member prevents the element from passing in the refill inserting direction.

The above features make it possible to simply and effectively prevent the refill from being attached if it was previously used on the device.

The locking member may be capable of moving in the transverse direction with respect to the traveling direction of the element in contact with it, and the locking member is preferably elastically returned to its initial position. It is embodied, for example, by using a spring wire or by a moving part on which the spring acts on it.

It is possible that the locking member is not symmetrical with respect to the central plane perpendicular to the direction of travel of the element in contact with it.

Thus, the locking member may have a contact surface for contact with the element, which contact surface has different inlet and outlet slopes that make the inlet slope steeper than the outlet slope, which is the inlet slope. The exit slope prevents the element in the operable configuration from passing by forming a stopper stopper that hinders the progress of the element, and the outlet slope retracts the locking member as the element passes in the refill removing direction. Allows the element to engage the locking member. The locking member is passed by the element in one direction.

The locking element is preferably located upstream of the locking member described above so that in the case of an already used refill, it is actuated during the introduction of the refill prior to locking the refill. The device may include a second contactor that is activated only after the refill insertion is complete.

The device may be equipped with a contactor supported between the head and joint of the arm by one of the arms, particularly a reed switch type magnetic contactor, to detect arm closure.

The element that acts as the memory used may be embodied in various ways. For example, an element is a pin that is capable of frictionally moving into a corresponding housing within a refill, thereby maintaining an operable position after being placed in the housing.

The element may be integrally molded with the body of the refill, which simplifies its fabrication.

In this case, the element has, for example, an operating portion that cooperates with the lock member in an operable configuration and a connecting portion that connects the operating portion to the rest of the refill, at least in an inoperable configuration. The refill may have a housing and the moving portion may be designed to be secured in the housing, among other things by snap fasteners, when the element is in a movable configuration.

The connecting portion is, for example, a film hinge, or a detachable material bridge.

In one variant, the element may be embodied in the form of an articulated hook on the body of the refill.

A further subject of the invention is an article for a hair treatment device as defined above, which article is removable to a structure for accommodating the article so that its presence can be detected by the detection element of the device. It is configured to fit.

Such articles make it possible to simulate the presence of refills on the device so that the device does not go into unfilled mode. Thus, the article allows the user to use the device in normal mode.

Preferably, the article does not include a cosmetic product. Therefore, the user can use a device having all of its functions other than the application of the product.

When the non-refill mode corresponds to the operating mode in which the steam generator is switched off and the heat correction plate remains on, the user
-Devices with no refills or articles on the device and no vapor or cosmetic application,
-There is an article on the device that does not contain cosmetics and there is vapor but no cosmetic application, or-You can use a device that has a refill on the device and has vapor and cosmetic application. Can,
In particular, simply replacing the tool (article or refill) on the device eliminates the need for additional programming actions or control members on the device, thereby simplifying the use of the device.

The article may have an elongated body extending along the vertical axis.

The article may comprise a body and an absorbent element disposed on the body, especially made of felt.

The article may be provided with a housing structure, in particular a fixing means for fixing to the outer shape. The fixing means may include an outer shape in which the article engages with an insertion guide of a containment structure that moves along the article when it is attached to the device and when the article is removed from the device, in particular two outer elements. good. Preferably, the outer elements extend in the direction of insertion of the article when the article is attached to the device and / or along the vertical axis of the article.

Preferably, the fixing means has a T-shaped groove in its central cross section, the groove being formed between the two outer elements.

Preferably, one of the contour elements is provided at its rear end with a hook-shaped holding projection intended to engage a clip of the device to keep the article in place on the device. ..

Preferably, the presence of the fixing means is detected by the detection element while the article is fixed to the containment structure.

Preferably, the article can be inserted into and removed from the device more than once. In particular, the article has the same configuration between its insertion into the device and its removal from the device. The article preferably has no element that acts as a memory in use and does not engage the locking member. Therefore, the locking member cannot prevent the reinsertion of the article, and the article can be used multiple times as needed. This is because in the absence of cosmetic products there is no need to prevent the reinsertion of the article.

Preferably, the article is configured to occupy the corresponding space of the containment structure, as is the refill.

Preferably, the article has substantially the same appearance as the refill, except that it does not contain a cosmetic product.

Preferably, the article is configured so that when the device is used to treat the hair, it does not come into contact with the tuft of hair to be treated by the device and / or the pressing element of the device.

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.

A further subject of the invention is a set of accessories for a device for treating hair as defined above, including at least two accessories, one of which is a refill containing a hair treatment product, an accessory. The other is the article according to the present invention.

Preferably, within this range, the refill and the article have the same overall shape. The article may generally be the same as the refill, except that it does not contain a hair treatment product.

Refills provide means to prevent the reuse of used refills, but preferably the article does not have such means to allow it to be reused.

A further subject of the invention is an assembly comprising a device according to the invention and an article according to the invention, preferably both the device and the article are initially wrapped in the same packaging.

A further subject 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.
-Steps to detect the presence or absence of refills or articles in the device containment structure,
− Includes the step of operating or enabling the steam generator when the steam generator is in the refill non-attached mode and the attachment of a refill or article in the containment structure of the device is detected.

The present invention may be better understood by reading the following detailed description of the non-limiting exemplary embodiments and by examining the accompanying drawings.

It is a figure which shows schematicly the perspective view of an example of the device in the state which the refill is attached. It is a figure which shows the device of FIG. 1 in the state without a refill. It is a figure which shows the part of the device of FIG. 2 with the cover of an upper arm removed. It is a figure which shows schematic the partial figure of an example of a refill. It is a figure which shows schematicly the perspective view of the modified refill. It is sectional drawing in the VB-VB plane of FIG. 5A. It is a figure which shows schematicly the perspective view of the deformed refill after the deformed refill is used. It is sectional drawing in the VD-VD plane of FIG. 5C. It is a side view of the refill of FIG. 4 before use on a device. It is a side view of the refill of FIG. 4 after use on a device. It is a figure which shows schematicly the perspective view of the modified refill by this invention. It is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the refill of FIG. It is a figure which shows the change of the composition of the refill of FIG. 8 before and after its use. It is a figure which shows the change of the composition of the refill of FIG. 8 before and after its use. It is a figure which shows an example of the algorithm which can be performed during the operation of a device. It is a figure which shows the electronic circuit of a device very schematicly. It is a figure which shows the modified electronic circuit of a device very schematicly.

In the example shown in the figure, device 1, also known as a device, to which the present invention applies, comprises two arms 2, 3, which are connected by joints 4 and on opposite surfaces of the arms. A straight iron that supports heating elements 5 and 6. These elements 5 and 6 constitute a straightening plate.

The device 1 utilizes a refill 10, which is fixed to one of the arms adjacent to one of the heating elements, in this case to the upper arm 2 adjacent to the heating element 5. Is fixed.

The refill 10, which itself is shown in FIG. 4, comprises a body 11 made of, for example, PBT, including a product to be applied, in this case a cosmetic product applied to the hair.

The refill 10 also includes a coating means 13 for coating the product, such as felt, which contacts the hair while the device is in use. The refill 10 has means 12 for fixing the refill 10 to the accommodating structure of the device, only a part of which is shown in FIG.

The product contained within the refill can be applied to the hair as it passes between the arms.

In this example, the means for fixing the refill to the device comprises two outer elements 14 and 15, which are inserted into guide elements provided on the corresponding arms.

When the refill 10 is mounted on the device, the device collaborates with, for example, the three guide elements 17, 18, and 19, which are intended to collaborate with the upper contour element 15, and the lower contour element 14. It comprises two guide elements 20 and 21 of the same.

The refill 10 may be provided at the rear with a hook 23 for engaging the clip 24 to keep the refill in place, the hook 23, for example, at the end of its insertion into the device. It is snap-fixed inside and can be removed from it by a push / pull type mechanism or the like.

The device comprises a detection element 26 composed of an electrical contactor that is actuated by the refill 20 when it is present and allows the presence of the refill to be signaled. The contactor comprises a lever 26a, the seal 26b can push it, and the seal itself is actuated by the pusher 26c.

The device 1 includes a lock member 30, and the role of the lock member 30 is to cooperate with the element 33 of the refill 10 that acts as a used memory.

The locking member 30 is elastically returned by a leaf spring 31 in this example and has an edge 34 at the front that is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the wall 35 to which the guide element is attached and less so at the rear. It has a non-steep edge 37.

The locking member 30 is disposed, for example, through a slot 36 in the wall 35 and can be retracted as the element 33 passes in the refill removal direction.

In this example, the element 33 takes the form of a pin that is frictionally fitted into the corresponding housing 42 within the upper outer element 15, as can be seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B.

The element 33 whose initial inoperable configuration is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is two outer elements, especially before the refill is first used, as can be seen in FIGS. 5B and 6A. It does not protrude into the space 43 defined between the 14 and the outer element 15.

The device 1 has undulations designed to move the element 33 when the refill 10 is first mounted on the device.

In this example, this undulation is formed by the lamp 45 of the guide element 18 located at the trailing edge 37 of the lock member 30. Thus, as the outer elements 14 and 15 slide within the guide element when the refill is used for the first time, the lamp 45 is gradually pressed against the element 33, pushing the element 33 into its housing 42.

Therefore, the element 33 projects into the space 43 between the outer element 14 and the outer element 15, as shown in FIG. 5D.

The locking member 30 engages between the outer element 14 and the outer element 15 when the refill 10 is mounted on the device. Therefore, during the insertion of the refill 10, the locking member 30 sweeps through the zone, in which the element 33 extends when it is in an operable configuration, as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D.

The slope of the trailing edge portion 37 of the lock member 30 is selected so that the element 33 can deform the lock member 30 so that the lock member 30 can be retracted and passed through the lock member 30 during the removal of the refill.

The pusher 26c acting on the contactor 26 is located upstream of the locking member 30 with respect to the direction in which the refill 10 is introduced into the device 1. Therefore, the contactor 26 is activated even before the locking member 30 exerts its possible action of blocking the insertion of the cartridge.

This assembly formed by the refill and the device works as follows.

When the refill 10 is first mounted on the device, the lamp 45 moves the element 33 from the configuration of FIGS. 5A and 5B to the configuration of FIGS. 5C and 5D. This change in configuration occurs when the element 33 has already passed the leading edge 34 of the locking member 30 due to the offset between the leading edge 34 in the insertion direction of the refill 10 and the lamp 45. Therefore, the lock member 30 does not interfere with the mounting of the refill 10.

During the removal of the refill 10, the element 33 can pass the locking member 30 through the slope of the trailing edge 37.

However, if an attempt is made to refit the refill, the element 33 hits the leading edge 34 of the locking member 30 due to the large slope of the leading edge 34, which causes the leading edge 34 to come into contact with the element 33. Is prevented from being passed by. Therefore, the user cannot reuse the refill.

The element 33, which acts as memory in use, is embodied in a variety of other ways, other than with the help of pins that can move with friction within the housing, as described above with reference to FIGS. 1-6B. Can be done.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9B, the shape of the hook including the end portion 53 that is hooked on the housing 51 in the lower outer shape element 14 and the connection portion 52 that connects the end portion 53 to the main body of the refill is formed. It is possible to embody the element 33. In this embodiment, the element 33 can be formed by integrally molding the element 33 with the outer element 14, the outer element 15, and the main body of the refill 10.

When the refill 10 is first fitted, the lamp 45 of the device pushes the element 33 at, for example, an elbow formed between a portion 52 and a portion 53 of the element 33, the portion 53 as shown in FIG. 9B. Can be snap-fixed inside the housing 51.

The path followed by the locking member 30 with respect to the refill 10 while the refill 10 is being mounted is indicated by a dashed line in this figure.

9A shows that in the initial configuration corresponding to the configurations of FIGS. 7 and 8, the end portion 53 is located above the path of the locking member 30 prior to the first use of the refill, thus mounting the refill. It shows that it does not interfere with. In the operable configuration shown in FIG. 9B, the end portion 53 can be snapped into the housing 51 and then abutted against the locking element 30.

The device 1 includes an electronic circuit 100 schematically shown in FIG. 10, and the electronic circuit 100 includes, for example, an EEPROM type electronic memory 101. The electronic circuit 100 is connected to a contactor 26, which is activated while the refill 10 is being mounted on the device. The electronic circuit 100 is at least one electrical resistor 102 for steam generation, one or more electrical resistors 103 for heating elements 5 and 6, and one that makes it possible to know the temperature of, for example, a plate. Alternatively, it is also connected to a plurality of temperature sensors 104.

For example, if there is a reed switch type switch 105, it becomes possible to know the closed state or the open state of the device. The switch 105 is, for example, disposed on one of the arms and has a magnet on the other of the arms so as to change the state of the switch 105 when the two arms 2 and 3 are in the closed position. Arranged. The switch 105 enables the electronic circuit 100 to be notified of the number of times the arm is closed. The electronic circuit 100 is designed to be connected to an AC power source, such as a 110V or 240V power source, by a power cable 106.

The electronic circuit 100 may take the form of one or more boards, some of which may be disposed within the handpiece, the other of which may include, for example, a water reservoir and a pump. It may be disposed within such a base station when the device has a base station that helps to generate steam.

The steam is preferably produced at a volumetric flow rate less than 10 g / min.

The electronic circuit 100 includes at least one component, such as a microcontroller, which is programmed to execute an algorithm that controls the operation of the device, preferably according to the diagram of FIG.

The electronic circuit 100 is powered when the cable 106 is connected to a power source and can detect the attachment of the refill when the device is switched off. By step 201 connecting the device cable 106 to the power supply, refill 10 can occur before device 1 is turned on by pressing the corresponding button in step 203, thanks to the contactor 26, in step 202. It becomes possible to detect the insertion.

If a refill insertion is detected in step 202, the variable ILS_nbr, which represents the number of arm closures, is initialized in step 204, even though device 1 has not yet been started.

When the device is switched on in step 203, the presence of a refill is detected in step 205. If no refill is fitted (this corresponds to branch 206 in the diagram), the variable ILS_nbr is initialized in step 207 and the operation of device 1 is performed in final finishing mode, for which the block of FIG. 11 It is schematically shown by 208. In this final finishing mode, the temperature is predefined to be non-adjustable, for example set to a value of 180 ° C, which prevents steam generation and does not operate, and the corresponding state is to the user, eg LED. It is signaled by blinking or emitting an acoustic signal.

The device 1 remains in this final finishing mode until the refill is optionally inserted in step 209, when inserted, the device operates in the normal mode depicted by block 210 in FIG. The temperature can be adjusted by the user, starting from the default value stored in memory that corresponds to the last used value in normal mode. The steam generator is activated and the corresponding state is signaled to the user by, for example, the above-mentioned LED being non-blinking illuminated.

In normal mode, in step 211, the electronic circuit 100 detects the closure of arms 2, 3 on the tufts to be processed, whereby the variable ILS_nbr is incremented by a number representing the number of closures. To save memory space, this variable is preferably incremented once for every n closures, where, for example, n = 5. Therefore, the variable ILS_nbr is incremented by 5 units once every five closures.

Step 211 may also allow the user to modify the setpoint heating temperature of the plate. If necessary, the amount of water remaining for steam generation can be detected to trigger the corresponding alarm.

In step 212, a check is made as to whether or not the variable ILS_nbr is smaller than the predetermined threshold value n1, where, for example, n1 = 160. If the variable ILS_nbr is less than n1, the cosmetic composition in the refill is considered not exhausted and device 1 operates in normal mode, as schematically shown by branch 213 in FIG. You can continue. When the value of the variable ILS_nbr is greater than or equal to the threshold n1 as depicted by branch 215, the device again transitions to the final finishing mode corresponding to block 208 in FIG. Therefore, the setpoint heating temperature of the plate returns to a predetermined value in the final finishing mode, the operation of the steam generator is interrupted, and the corresponding state is signaled by a blinking LED display.

If device 1 is stopped without disconnecting its power supply (this is schematically shown in step 216) and then device 1 is started in step 217, the stored value of the variable ILS_nbr in step 218. Is read. If this value is less than the threshold n1 as depicted by branch 219 in FIG. 11, the device maintains the normal mode depicted by block 210. If the stored value of the variable ILS_nbr is greater than or equal to the threshold n1, the device transitions to final finishing mode as depicted by branch 221 and block 208.

If the user removes the refill while the device is on, as depicted by branch 220 and step 223, the variable ILS_nbr is reinitialized in step 224 and device 1 transitions to final finishing mode.

Preferably, the device 1 is designed to go into sleep mode in step 230 until the on button is pressed in step 210 if it is unused, i.e. for a long period of time when the closure of arms 2 and 3 is not detected. ..

Block 231 schematically illustrates the case where device 1 is disconnected, in which case the algorithm of FIG. 11 returns to step 201 described above when device 1 is reconnected.

Returning to the test in step 205, if device 1 is started in step 203 with the refill 10 already attached (this corresponds to branch 234 in FIG. 11), the value of the variable ILS_nbr in step 235. Is read and this value is compared to a second threshold n2 that is different from the threshold n1, especially smaller than the threshold n1. The threshold n2 is, for example, equal to 20. If the value of the variable ILS_nbr is greater than or equal to n2, in step 208 the device transitions to final finishing mode. Thus, this avoids operating the device in normal mode if the user disconnects and then reconnects the device for which the arms have already been opened and closed a significant number of times. This is because the user has started using the refill, and then disconnecting the device often means that the device has been stowed, so leave it for a non-negligible period of time before resuming processing. This is because it is highly possible that it was left. When used at excessive time intervals, the cosmetic composition contained in the refill may evaporate, resulting in a diminished effect of the refill.

If the variable ILS_nbr is truly smaller than the second threshold n2, the device can operate in normal mode corresponding to branch 237 and block 210 in FIG.

The present invention is not limited to the illustrated algorithm.

Specifically, in the variant shown in FIG. 12, step 208 described above can be replaced with step 308 in which device 1 is operated in refill unattached mode. In this non-refill mode, the heating plate is switched off, the generation of steam is prevented and it does not operate, and the corresponding state is signaled to the user by, for example, a blinking LED or emitting an acoustic signal. The device 1 remains in this unfilled mode until the refill is optionally inserted in step 209. In steps 212 and 218, when the value of the variable ILS_nbr is greater than or equal to the threshold n1 as depicted by branch 315 and branch 321 respectively, the device transitions to the final finishing mode corresponding to block 310 in FIG. Device 1 remains in this mode until the refill is removed in step 223. In step 224, the variable ILS_nbr is reinitialized and device 1 transitions to the unrefilled mode corresponding to branch 324 in FIG.

It may be advantageous to count not only the number of arm closures, but also the duration of arm closures on the hair, which may represent the length of the tufts to be treated. This makes it possible to more accurately determine the extent to which the cosmetic composition in the refill has been used up and thus more accurately signal the user that the refill needs to be replaced. obtain.

To determine the duration of arm closure, the device electronics 100 preferably include a clock 110, shown by the dotted line in FIG. 11, preferably a battery for storing data in the clock memory. It is provided in a state of being.

In this example, the final finishing mode corresponds to operation without a steam generator at a given temperature of the heating plate.

In a modified embodiment of the present invention, the final finishing mode and / or the non-refilling mode are different, for example, corresponding to an operation in which the temperature of the heating plate may still be adjustable, which is preferably in the presence of steam. It is more limited than.

In one variant not shown, the device encodes information about the nature of the mounted refill, eg, one or more undulations on the refill, and that information is present on the device or one or more. Designed to be identifiable, thanks to being read by multiple corresponding contactors. In this case, for example, in order to take into account the fact that the cosmetic composition is used up differently for each refill depending on the nature of the refill, a threshold, particularly a first threshold n1, is set according to the nature of the refill. It can be modified.

In one variant, it is also possible to store the duration that the refill resides on the corresponding arm. By doing so, in particular, to avoid a situation in which the user performs the treatment with a refill that the cosmetic composition may have lost its effect, eg, due to its evaporation. Beyond the duration, it may be possible to force the device into final finishing mode.

The refill 10 may be replaced with an article having the same structure as the refill 10 except for an element that acts as a used memory and a cosmetic product, and the article does not have an element that acts as a used memory and a cosmetic product. Therefore, when fixed to the device in the same manner as the refill 10, the article acts on the detection element 26 in the same manner as the refill 10.

Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the examples just described.

The element 33 is made, for example, by being molded together with the adjacent outer elements while being connected to the adjacent outer elements by one or more separable material bridges. The element 33 may be retained after it is in an operable configuration by friction alone or, otherwise, by snap-fixing it within the opposing outer element.

Although the present invention has been shown in the context of refills mounted on a device by slide movement, the invention has shown movements other than mere slide movement, such as rotational movement, or more complex movements involving translational and rotational components, for example. Also applies to refills worn by.

The detection element 26 for detecting the attachment of the refill may be located anywhere on the arm, and in particular, may be present in a push / pull type mechanism that cooperates with the hook 23.

The detection element 26 may be located below the pressing element on which the coating means 13 is pushed when the arm is closed.

The detection element 26 may be something other than a contactor, for example a photodetector that detects the presence of the refill 10 by the reflection of the beam by the refill 10, the magnetism on the refill facing when the refill is fitted into the device. Alternatively, it may be a magnetic detector that detects the presence of the conductive element, or an electrical detector that detects the contact of the conductive element of the refill when the refill 10 is fitted into the device.

The locking member 30 may be made as a plastic portion that is articulated around the swivel shaft and returned to its initial position by a coil spring.

The outer shape of the cartridge may differ from the overall T-shape shown, and the element 33 may be moved in any direction other than the spatial direction defined between the two outer elements, eg, the element. 33 may be moved in a direction parallel to the T-shaped handle.

The article may have a structure different from that of the refill. For example, the article is feltless and the housing normally provided for felt on the refill is open or closed. The article may be a portion that does not come into contact with the hair or pressing element when the arm is closed, but acts on the detecting element to be detected as a refill.

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

If necessary, the refill is in an operable configuration, i.e. the refill is already used, to signal the user why the refill cannot be worn, for example by displaying a message on the screen or by illuminating the indicator light. The presence of the subsequent element 33 may be automatically detected, for example, thanks to a mechanical sensor or an optical sensor, when an attempt is made to mount the cartridge on the device.

1 Device 2 Upper arm 3 Arm 4 Joint 5 Heating element 6 Heating element 10 Refill 11 Main body 12 Means 13 Giving means 14 Lower outer shape element 15 Upper outer shape element 17 Guide element 18 Guide element 19 Guide element 20 Guide element 21 Guide element 23 Hook 24 Clip 26 Detection element, Contactor 26a Lever 26b Seal 26c Pusher 30 Lock member, Lock element 31 Leaf spring 33 Element 34 Front edge 35 Wall 36 Slot 37 Rear edge 42 Housing 43 Space 45 Lamp 51 Housing 52 Connection part 53 End part 100 Electronic circuit 101 Electronic memory 102 Electric resistor 103 Electric resistor 104 Temperature sensor 105 Switch 106 Power cable 110 Clock ILS_nbr Variable n1 Predetermined threshold, first threshold n2 threshold, second threshold

Claims (19)

A device (1) for treating hair, which is
-A containment structure for accommodating a refill (10) containing a hair treatment product for application to the hair, and
A steam generator for discharging steam from the liquid water reservoir of the device to the hair at a volume flow rate smaller than -10 g / min.
-A refill detection element (26) for detecting the refill when the refill is attached to the housing structure, and
In the device (1) provided with
The device (1) is designed to transition to the refill non-attached mode (208; 308) when the refill (10) is not detected by the refill detection element (26), and the refill non-attached mode (208; 308). in), the steam generator, wherein the refill is that runs at the detected if by Ri low levels by the refill detecting element, the device. The device according to claim 1, wherein when the refill (10) is attached to the accommodation structure, the device is configured to transition from the non-refill mode (208; 308) to the normal mode (210). .. The device comprises at least one heat straightening plate (5, 6).
The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the temperature of the heat correction plate (5, 6) is corrected when the steam generator is in the refill non-attached mode (208; 308). The temperature control range of the heat correction plate (5, 6) is reduced, or the heat correction plate (5, 6) is in the steam generator in the refill non-attached mode (208; 308). The device according to claim 3, which is shut down. The device comprises two arms (2, 3) that are closed over the hair to be treated.
The device (1) comprises an electronic control circuit with an electronic memory, wherein the electronic control circuit closes the arms (2, 3) and refills (10) by the refill detection element (26). It is configured to detect wearing and
The device (1) increments the variable (ILS_nbr) stored in the memory of the device after the refill (10) is exchanged during use of the device, and the variable (ILS_nbr). To shift to the final finishing operation mode (208; 310) in which the operation of the steam generator and / or the heat correction plate (5, 6) is modified when the first predetermined threshold (n1) is exceeded. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is configured in the above. The device according to claim 5, wherein the operation in the refill non-attachment mode (208) is the same as the operation in the final finishing mode (208). The device according to claim 5, wherein the operation in the refill non-attached mode (308) is different from the operation in the final finishing mode (310). Claimed that the temperature of the heat straightening plate (5, 6) is corrected in the final finishing mode (310) and the heat straightening plate (5, 6) is shut down in the refill non-attached mode (308). Item 7. The device according to item 7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the refill detection element (26) is of a mechanical type or another type. The refill detecting element (26) includes a protruding element (26c) disposed inside the insertion guide of the housing structure.
Any of claims 1 to 9, wherein when the refill (10) is inserted into the insertion guide, the refill (10) abuts on the containment structure to enable detection of the refill. The device according to one item. Detachable from the containment structure so that the presence of the article is detected by the device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and the refill detection element (26) of the device (1). An assembly consisting of said articles configured to be attached to. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein the article does not include a cosmetic product. The assembly according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the article comprises fixing means (14, 15) for fixing to the containment structure. The accommodating structure so that the fixing means (14, 15) moves the article along an insertion guide when the article is attached to the device and when the article is removed from the device. 13. The assembly according to claim 13, wherein the two outer elements (14, 15) are engaged with the insertion guide of the above. The assembly according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the fixing means (14, 15) has the entire shape of a T-shaped groove in the center of the cross section of the fixing means (14, 15). One of the outer elements (14, 15) engages with the clip (24) of the device (1) in order to keep the article in place on the device (1). The assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a hook-shaped holding projection (23) at the proximal end of the outer element. The assembly according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the article can be inserted into and removed from the device multiple times. The article is configured so that when the device (1) is used to treat the hair, it does not come into contact with the tufts of hair treated by the device and / or the pressing element of the device. , The assembly according to any one of claims 11 to 17. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and the device (1).
A series of accessories for the device for treating hair, wherein the series of accessories is at least two accessories, one of which is a refill (10) including a hair treatment product. The other accessory of the accessories is configured to be detachably attached to the containment structure so that the presence of the article is detected by the refill detection element (26) of the device (1). With the series of accessories, which are said to be the articles
An assembly consisting of.

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