LU101490B1 - Hair treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

A hair styling device, in particular a hair straightener or straightener, comprises two arms connected to one another via a joint, at least one of the arms having a coolable sliding surface which is arranged on the respective arm in such a way that it faces the respective other arm. The device has an expansion chamber, which is in thermal contact with the coolable sliding surface, and an inlet device for the controlled introduction of compressed gas stored in the liquid state into the expansion chamber, the expansion chamber and the inlet device being designed in such a way that the compressed gas is introduced into the expansion chamber relaxes and changes from the liquid state to the gaseous state.

Description

1 lu101490 device for hair treatment technical area

The present invention relates generally to a device for hair treatment and in particular to a hair styling device such as a hair straightener for treating hair on the basis of refrigeration technology. Background of the Invention |

Hair care, hair care and hair styling technologies are used by many | People used to improve their looks. |

In a variety of known hair treatments and devices, hair | fibers directly exposed to heat in order to "bind" them in a certain style | or to “fix” or around the hair for an appearance other than natural | straighten curly hair. However, it has been shown that the use of | high heat (between 40 and 250 degrees Celsius) leads to superficial and structural / structural damage to the treated hair. |

In order to achieve a nice straightening of the hair, this must depending on | can be smoothed again after the wash cycle. For regular applications with | the hot straightening iron, however, the hair is massively damaged and its structure | permanently damaged. A destruction of the keratin structure and / of the protein structures of the hair must be expected, since the hot straightening iron / temperatures of 150 ° to 170 ° C (proteins can de- | naturate from 45 ° C). As a result, the hair becomes brittle, dry, loses its shine, appears dull and damaged. /

By using the hot straightening iron, the hair is not in any | Wise cared for or built up and there is no sealing. /

In order to mitigate or eliminate these heat damage effects and in | some cases to improve the life of the resulting hairstyle have been | Developed hair treatment devices that have a hair cooling device in addition to the classic heating / device. Using the hair cooling device, | which is usually based on Peltier elements, after the heat treatment: the hair is actively cooled again when it comes into contact with a set of flat cooling and / or clamping plates. |

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The disclosure of EP 3 154 391 takes a different approach. This document discloses a hair straightener with two arms articulated to one another.

Each of the arms has a cold store, which is stored before the hair treatment by cooling the straightener beforehand, e.g. in a freezer compartment, on a | Temperature is cooled down below 0 ° C. The hair can then be fixed with the frozen treatment surfaces of the arms. The disadvantage of this device is that the hair straightener has to be pre-cooled for a certain period of time before the hair treatment. In addition, after a long hair treatment, the device cannot be cooled afterwards without a further waiting time.

Object of the invention

[0008] The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing an improved hair styling device for treating hair on the basis of refrigeration technology to propose logic. | General Description of the Invention |

The object is achieved by a hair styling device, in particular a hair straightener | ter or a straight bar, solved, which has two arms connected to one another via a joint or hinge. At least one of the arms has a coolable | Sliding surface, which is arranged on the respective arm that they | facing the other arm. According to the invention, the hair shaping | advises a cooling or relaxation chamber, which is connected to the coolable sliding surface in | thermal contact is, and an inlet device for controlled introduction | th of pressurized gas stored in a liquid state in the expansion chamber | mer, wherein the expansion chamber and the inlet device configured in such a way | This means that the compressed gas relaxes when it is introduced into the expansion chamber / and changes from the liquid state to the gaseous state. |

In the hair styling device according to the invention, this is in the liquid addition | stored compressed gas was released when it was introduced into the expansion chamber, whereby the gas compressed in the liquid state suddenly opens det. Since it has to overcome the specific heat of vaporization of the gas, | the gas removes the energy required for boiling from the surroundings, whereby | a strong cooling of the surrounding parts results.

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[0011] Particularly suitable pressurized gases are gases which, at normal room temperature, are already in a liquid state at moderate pressure (of a few bar). Gases that have this property are, for example, butane, propane and ethane, but these are eliminated because of their flammability and explosiveness. Other gases and volatile liquids such as monochloromethane, monochloroethane and other halogenated hydrocarbons are eliminated because they are not harmless to inhale and, like other CFCs, can damage the ozone layer. A suitable gas, on the other hand, is carbon dioxide CO », because it is not explosive and the ozone layer is not damaged. In addition, CO »is liquid even at relatively low pressures (above approx. 5.2 bar pressure at room temperature).

[0012] When using CO 2 as the compressed gas, it cools down so much when the load is released that it freezes to dry ice or carbon dioxide snow, with a temperature of below -78 ° C. It should be noted that CO2 results in a favorable cold temperature when suddenly boiling, which is not too slightly below the operating temperature of the iron (-13 to -18 ° C), but also not much too low, as is the case with liquid nitrogen, for example -196 ° C. This evaporation cold is used to cool the sliding surfaces of the stretch iron.

It should be noted that in such a hair styling device the arms are preferably spring-loaded in such a way that the arms are normally pressed together by the spring force of the joint. As a rule, a toggle handle is then provided in order to open the hair styling device against the spring force of the joint, so that the strand of hair to be treated can be inserted. If you let go of the toggle handle, a spring presses on the joint, which presses the two arms together.

It should also be noted that in the hair styling device the coolable sliding surface forms the smooth element or the treatment surface which comes into contact with the hair when the hair styling device is used. As a rule, both arms have a sliding surface. According to the present invention, at least one of these sliding surfaces can be cooled in the manner described. Since the two sliding surfaces are pressed together by the spring-loaded joint when the rocker arm handle is not actuated and are in thermal contact with one another, the second sliding surface is also cooled by the contact with the first sliding surface. Accordingly, one

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4 lu101490 ne only sliding surface that is cooled directly by the expansion of the pressure gas, usually sufficient to ensure that both | To effect sliding surfaces on the hair. However, this does not explicitly rule out that, in one embodiment of the invention, both sliding surfaces can be cooled in the manner described.

The coolable sliding surface is preferably made of thermally conductive material, which results in a good temperature distribution in the sliding surface.

The coolable sliding surface is preferably made of a suitable metal, such as corrosion-resistant steel.

In order to achieve a silky hair feeling, the hair needs regular care. With the cold straightening iron according to the invention, concentrated active ingredients and care substances are introduced into the hair, the scales of the hair close and the products remain in the hair. Stressed, brittle, damaged | ted hair needs high quality, nourishing essences. With the help of the cold | Straightening iron these are smuggled into the hair in a few minutes and the cuticle of the hair fiber is sealed. This process nourishes and repairs the hair right down to the tips. |

A treatment with the cold straightening iron gives the hair new | Shine and suppleness, increases the luminosity of the color pigments and the | Hair structure is intensively repaired and smoothed at the same time. The difference is already clearly noticeable and visible after the first treatment. [

The application is suitable for thin, strong, full, smooth, curly, | damaged or colored hair.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the expansion chamber is designed as a coolant channel or coolant line which / which is / half of the coolable sliding surface extends and with this in thermal contact | stands. The coolant channel or the coolant line is preferably made of thermal | Made of conductive material to ensure a good temperature exchange with the cooling | allowable sliding surface. The coolant channel or the coolant line | can be, for example, a copper line, which can be used in a suitable manner, for example | wise by brazing or welding, is attached to the sliding surface. In a | Another variant, the Kuhimittelkanal or the coolant line by Plati- |

5 lu101490 can be made of deep-drawn copper, which can then be put together very easily. In this case, the copper line is actually a sheet metal with a pressed-in conduction path, on which the sliding plate with the sliding surface is placed. Alternatively, the coolant channel can also be milled into the material of the arm (e.g. made of hard plastic or glass fiber reinforced plastic or carbon) so that it can then be covered with the sliding plate with the sliding surface. It should be noted that the production of the coolant channel or the coolant line can take place with such a simple technology, since the cooling line is not under any high pressure.

The coolant channel or the coolant line preferably runs in a meander shape below the sliding surface, which results in a correspondingly large thermal contact surface between the channel and the sliding surface, which is advantageous for rapid and uniform temperature exchange.

In one embodiment of the invention, the inlet device comprises a pressure reservoir for storing compressed gas in the liquid state and a controllable expansion valve, the expansion valve being arranged between the pressure reservoir and the expansion chamber and being fluidically connected to them.

In a first variant, the pressure reservoir can comprise a pressure chamber which is preferably arranged in a handle of the hair styling device which is connected to the joint. The pressure chamber can then be acted upon with a compressed gas stored in a liquid state before the hair styling device is used.

[0023] The pressure chamber can, for example, have a pressure gas connection with an inlet valve via which the pressure chamber is supplied with the pressure gas is beat. The application can take place, for example, with a connectable gas cartridge, which is connected to the compressed gas connection and actuates the inlet valve. The gas cartridge can, for example, be a commercially available CO cartridge with a content of 16 g. Such CO »cartridges are used, for example, in beer dispensing systems for private household use and are inexpensive to obtain. These CO, cartridges are provided on the outside of the connection end with a standard thread with which they can be screwed into a corresponding thread of the compressed gas connection.

6 lu101490 This variant is particularly suitable for private use of the hair styling device, for example.

In another variant of this embodiment, the pressurized gas is applied to the pressure chamber via a large CO, gas cylinder connected to the pressurized gas connection. The gas bottle can for example take place via a pressurized gas line. This variant is preferred for commercial use in the hairdressing sector. It should be noted that after the pressure chamber has been filled with pressurized gas, the gas bottle can be disconnected from the pressurized gas connection again, so that the hair styler can then be used without disturbing cables or gas lines. This makes mobile use of the device considerably easier. |

In an alternative embodiment, the pressure reservoir of the hair styling device can be formed directly by a gas cartridge with liquid compressed gas. In this case, no separate pressure chamber is provided and the gas cartridge is connected directly to the inlet device. As with the variant with gas cartridge described above, the gas cartridge can be a commercially available CO cartridge with a content of 16 g.

It should be noted that in all configurations, i.e. with a gas cartridge or with a connection to a large gas bottle, there are no bothersome cables or gas lines when the hair styling device is actually used. This makes the device ideal for mobile use. The absence of bothersome cables and gas lines also enables fatigue-free work.

In one embodiment of the invention, the triggerable expansion valve is triggered manually via an actuating device. The actuation device, for example a suitable pressure lever, is preferably arranged in the handle or in the joint part of the hair styling device at a point that is easily accessible for the operator. Before using the hair styling device, the relief valve can then be actuated briefly via the pressure lever and the sliding surface (s) of the device can be cooled down to a low temperature suitable for hair treatment of, for example, -10 ° C to -20 ° C within a very short time become. If the temperature of the sliding surfaces during the loading

7 lu101490 action increases too much, it can be reduced again in a very short time by manually actuating the expansion valve again.

The hair styling device preferably has a temperature measuring device for measuring the temperature of the coolable sliding surface and a display device for displaying the temperature measured on the coolable sliding surface. The operator can easily read the temperature of the corresponding sliding surface on the display at any time and, if necessary, briefly actuate the expansion valve again in order to lower the temperature to a value preferred for the treatment.

In another variant, the hair styling device has a temperature measuring device for measuring the temperature of the coolable sliding surface, the controllable relaxation valve being automatically triggered by an electronic control when the hair styling device is in use if a predetermined temperature is exceeded on the coolable sliding surface . In this variant, the temperature can be kept electronically controlled at a value specified for hair treatment. Brief description of the enclosed figures

[0030] Further details of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of non-restrictive preferred embodiments of the invention on the basis of the accompanying figures. These show: FIG. 1 a plan view of an embodiment of a hair straightener; 2 shows the internal structure of the hair straightener of FIG. 1, description of preferred embodiments 1 shows a view of an embodiment of a straightener or straightening iron 10 while FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the straightening iron 10 schematically. The straight bar has two arms 14, 16 connected to one another via a spring-loaded joint or hinge 12. On the side of the joint 12 facing away from the arms 14, 16, a handle of the stretching iron is arranged. In the embodiment shown, the lower arm 14 is rigidly connected to the handle 18 via the joint 12, while the upper arm 16 is designed as a rocker arm 16 which is counteracted by actuating a rocker arm handle 20

8 lu101490 the spring force of the joint 12 is tilted into an open position (shown in dashed lines in the figure). If you let go of the rocker arm handle 20, a spring presses on the joint 12, whereby the two arms 14, 16 are pressed together.

Both arms 14, 16 each have a sliding surface 22 which is arranged on the respective arm in such a way that it faces the respective other arm. When the straight bar 10 is closed, i.e. when the rocker arm handle 20 is not pushed through, the two sliding surfaces 22 are pressed together. According to the invention, at least one of the sliding surfaces 22 can be cooled so that a strand of hair introduced into the device can be treated with cooling technology.

The coolable sliding surface 22 is preferably made of thermally conductive material, which results in a good temperature distribution in the sliding surface 22. The coolable sliding surface 22 is preferably made of a suitable metal | made, for example, of corrosion-resistant steel.

In the embodiment shown, the sliding surface 22 of the lower arm 14 is designed to be coolable. For this purpose, in the lower arm 16 there is an expansion chamber designed as a coolant channel or coolant line 24, which extends below the coolable sliding surface 22 and is in thermal contact with it. The coolant channel or coolant line 24 is preferably made of thermally conductive material in order to enable a good temperature exchange with the coolable sliding surface 22. The coolant channel or the coolant line 24 can for example be a copper line which is attached to the sliding surface 22 in a suitable manner, for example by brazing or welding. Alternatively, the coolant channel 24 can also be milled into the material of the arm 14 (e.g. made of hard plastic or glass fiber reinforced plastic or carbon) in order to be covered with the sliding plate with the sliding surface 22 afterwards. It should be noted that the production of the cooling channel or the coolant line can take place with such a simple technology, since the cooling line 24 is not under any high pressure.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the coolant channel or the coolant line 24 preferably runs in a meandering shape below the sliding surface 22, which results in a correspondingly large thermal contact surface between the channel and the sliding surface, which is advantageous for a rapid and uniform temperature exchange is.

9 lu101490

The coolant channel or the coolant line 24 is coupled to an inlet device for the controlled introduction of compressed gas stored in the liquid state into the coolant line 24. In the embodiment shown, the inlet device comprises a pressure chamber 26 for storing compressed gas in the liquid state, which is arranged in the handle 18 of the stretch iron 10, and a controllable expansion valve 28, the expansion valve 28 being arranged between the pressure reservoir 26 and the coolant line 24 and is fluidly connected to it. Before the hair styling device is used, the pressure chamber 26 is acted upon with a compressed gas stored in a liquid state.

When the expansion valve 28 is actuated, e.g. by a pressure lever 30 arranged in the area of the joint, it is briefly opened and the compressed gas stored in the liquid state is introduced into the expansion chamber designed as a coolant channel or coolant line 24. The compressed gas stored in the liquid state is relaxed in the expansion chamber, whereby the gas compressed in the liquid state suddenly boils. Since it has to overcome the specific heat of vaporization of the gas, the gas withdraws the energy required for boiling from the surroundings, which results in a strong cooling of the surrounding parts.

Particularly suitable pressurized gases are gases which are in a liquid state at normal room temperature even at moderate pressure (of a few bar). Carbon dioxide CO », for example, is particularly suitable because it is not explosive and the ozone layer is not damaged. In addition, CO »is liquid even at relatively low pressures (above approx. 5.2 bar pressure at room temperature). When using CO; as a compressed gas, this cools down so much when the pressure is released that it freezes to dry ice or carbon dioxide snow, with a temperature of below -78 ° C. It should be noted that with CO »the sudden boiling results in a favorable cold temperature, which is not too slightly below the operating temperature of the iron (-13 to -18 ° C), but also not much too low, as is the case with liquid nitrogen, for example at -196 ° C. This evaporation cold is used to cool the sliding surfaces of the stretch iron.

10 lu101490

The compressed gas CO »is preferably supplied to the pressure chamber 26 via a compressed gas connection 32 with an inlet valve 34. The pressure chamber 26 can be acted upon, for example, with a connectable gas cartridge 36 which is connected to the compressed gas connection 32 and actuates the inlet valve 34. The gas cartridge 36 can, for example, be a commercially available CO; Trade cartridge with 16g content. Such CO »cartridges are used, for example, in beer dispensing systems for private household use and are inexpensive to obtain. These CO 2 cartridges are provided on the outside of the connection end with a standard thread 38 with which they can be screwed into a corresponding thread 40 of the compressed gas connection 32. This variant is particularly suitable, for example, for private use of the hair styling device.

In another variant of this embodiment, the pressurized gas is applied to the pressure chamber via a large CO gas cylinder connected to the pressurized gas connection 32. The gas bottle can for example take place via a pressurized gas line. This variant is preferred for commercial use in the hairdressing sector. It should be noted that after / filling the pressure chamber with pressurized gas, the gas cylinder is removed from the pressurized gas connection again can be separated, so that the use of the hair shaper then takes place without annoying cables or gas lines. This makes mobile use of the device considerably easier.

It should be noted that in all configurations, i.e. with a gas cartridge or with a connection to a large gas bottle, there are no bothersome cables or gas lines when the hair styling device is actually used. This makes the device ideal for mobile use. The absence of bothersome cables and gas lines also enables fatigue-free | Work.

The straight iron 10 further includes a temperature measuring device for measuring the temperature of the coolable sliding surface, for example a digital thermometer 42 which displays the temperature of the coolable sliding surface 22 on the device. In the embodiment shown, the display of the digital thermometer 42 is arranged on the top of the upper arm 16 and can thus be easily read by the operator. EE ————————

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When the device is used, the pressure lever 30 is used to briefly actuate the relief valve 28 and to bring the sliding surface 22 of the device to a low temperature suitable for hair treatment of, for example, -10 ° C. to -20 ° within a very short time C. This temperature can be read on the display of the digital thermometer 42. Once the desired temperature has been reached, individual strands of hair are treated. If the | The temperature of the sliding surfaces 22 increases too much during the duration of the treatment, this can be reduced again in a very short time by manually actuating the expansion valve 28 again.

In a possible variant, when the hair styling device is in use, the controllable relaxation valve 28 can also be triggered automatically by means of an electronic control 44 as a function of the temperature measured by the digital thermometer 42 if a predetermined temperature on the coolable sliding surface 22 is exceeded. In this variant, the temperature can be kept electronically controlled at a value specified for the hair treatment.

The function of the stretch iron 10 is as follows:

By pressing the rocker arm handle 20, the iron 10 is opened so that the strand of hair to be treated can be inserted between the sliding surfaces 22 of the arms 14, 16. If you let go, a spring presses on the hinge 12, whereby the sliding surfaces 22 are pressed together.

By screwing a COz capsule 36 with 16g filling weight into the connection with screw connection 40, the inlet valve 34 is actuated and the pressure chamber 26 is connected to the space of the COz capsule 36, in which the propellant gas CO; is located. It is under high pressure, which is why it is in liquid form. Above 5.2 bar pressure, CO »is liquid at room temperature. A seal made of Teflon or hard elastomer prevents the propellant gas from escaping unintentionally.

The expansion or boiling valve 28 is opened via the pressure lever 30, as a result of which CO 2 can escape and enter the cooling line 24. The CO, boils suddenly and removes heat energy from the environment, which is why it closes

12 lu101490 a cooling is coming. CO; can even cool down to such an extent that carbon dioxide snow is formed in the air with a temperature of -78 ° C.

The cooling line 24 is directly connected to the lower sliding surface 22. | Both parts are made of copper, for example, or another highly conductive material so that there is no electrochemical corrosion.

As connection possibilities between the cooling line 24 and the sliding surface 22, hard soldering, welding or plates made of deep-drawn copper, which can also be joined together very easily, are possible. In the latter case, the copper line 24 is actually a sheet metal with a pressed-in conduction path on which the sliding sheet metal with the sliding surface 22 is placed.

The temperature of the sliding surfaces 22 can be read off via the digital thermometer 42. If necessary, you operate the pressure lever 30 to by opening the expansion or boiling valve 28 again CO; to be introduced into the cooling line and brought to the boil and the sliding surfaces 22 to cool sufficiently. Optionally, the temperature is automatically regulated by electronics.

It should be noted that the straight iron 10 described above is characterized by simple operation. The device is wireless and therefore mobile, does not require any electricity as it is operated with CO2 capsules 18g. The cold iron and a certain number of CO2 capsules 16g can be carried in a suitcase, for example.

It should also be noted that the low consumption of CO2 allows the device to be used cheaply. In fact, the total heat of boiling of a COz capsule with 16g CO »is approx. 9.1 kJ. The calculated heat absorption of 2 sliding surfaces with a dimension of 6 cm x 11 cm x 0.1 cm each and a cooling of 50 ° C (cooling from 25 ° C to -25 ° C) plus a surcharge for the copper line is 3, 85 kJ for copper sliding surfaces or at 4.44 3.85 kJ for steel sliding surfaces. It can therefore be assumed that a maximum of one CO2 capsule 16g is required per treatment.

13 lu101490 reference symbol list

Track iron

12 joint / hinge

14, 16 arms

18 handle

Rocker arm handle

22 sliding surface

24 refrigerant line | 26 pressure chamber | 28 Expansion valve | Pressure lever | 32 compressed gas connection | 34 inlet valve | 36 gas cartridge | 38 standard thread on gas cartridge | 40 Threads of the compressed gas connection | 42 digital thermometer 44 electronic control |

Claims (9)

14 lu101490 claims 1. Hair styling device, in particular hair straightener or straightening iron, with two arms connected to one another via a joint, at least one of the arms having a coolable sliding surface which is arranged on the respective arm in such a way that it faces the respective other arm, characterized through an expansion chamber, which is in thermal contact with the coolable sliding surface, and an inlet device for the controlled introduction of in | liquid state stored compressed gas in the expansion chamber, whereby the expansion chamber and the inlet device are designed in such a way that the compressed gas is expanded when it is introduced into the tension chamber and from the liquid state to the gaseous state goes. 2. Hair styling device according to claim 1, wherein the relaxation chamber is designed as a coolant channel which extends below the coolable sliding surface and is in thermal contact with it. 3. Hair styling device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the inlet device comprises a pressure reservoir for storing compressed gas in the liquid state and a controllable expansion valve, the expansion valve being connected between the pressure reservoir and the expansion chamber 20 is ordered and fluidly connected to these. 4. Hair styling device according to claim 3, wherein the pressure reservoir comprises a pressure chamber, which is preferably arranged in a handle of the hair styling device, which is connected to the joint, wherein the pressure chamber can be acted upon with a compressed gas stored in a liquid state. 5. The hair styling device according to claim 4, wherein the pressure chamber has a pressure gas connection via which the pressure chamber can be charged with liquid pressure gas by means of a connectable gas cartridge and / or from a connected gas bottle. 6. Hair styling device according to claim 3, wherein the pressure reservoir comprises a gas cartridge with liquid pressurized gas, which is exchangeable to the inlet device | is connected. 15 lu101490 7. Hair styling device according to one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the controllable relaxation valve can be triggered via an actuating device. 8. Hair styling device according to one of claims 3 to 7, with a temperature measuring device for measuring the temperature of the kithibaren sliding surface, wherein the controllable relief valve can be automatically triggered when the hair styling device is in use if a predetermined temperature is exceeded on the cooling sliding surface. 9. Hair styling device according to one of claims 1 to 8, with a temperature measuring device for measuring the temperature of the coolable sliding surface and with a display device for displaying the temperature measured on the coolable sliding surface. | | | a