RU2779906C2 - Hair styling device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: hairdressing tools.

SUBSTANCE: hair styling device contains a handle containing light source (L) for light input (Li) into luminescent unit (LU), it may contain a set of replaceable luminescent units (LU), each of which is adapted for corresponding type of hair styling, wherein replaceable luminescent units (LU) impact with optical radiation on hair (H), and they are made with the possibility of being inserted into the handle.

EFFECT: obtaining a hair styling device.

8 cl, 4 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to a hair styling device for photothermally reshaping hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

WO 2017153121 (patent attorney ref. 2016PF00294), incorporated herein by reference, discloses a hair styling device that comprises a pulsed light emitting diode (LED) or an array of LEDs capable of supplying optical energy to hair, wherein the output wavelength is in range of 400-900 nm, with good results in the range of 400-650 nm and preferably in the range of 450-550 nm, the pulse width is in the range of 50-300 ms, preferably between 50 and 200 ms, for example in the range of 100-200 ms or 50-100 ms, an LED pulse shaper circuit for driving the LED/LEDs, a control system for controlling the LED pulse shaper, in particular controlling the electrical parameters of the pulse, including voltage, pulse duration and duty cycle of the pulse, a contact surface for contact with hair, made with the possibility of contact with hair and holding hair in advance arbitrarily predetermined shape, for example, flat, cylindrical, during exposure to pulsed light radiation provided by the LED, and an optical screen configured to block stray light during light exposure to the hair.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hair styling device. The present invention is defined by independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a hair styling device comprising a luminescent unit for providing optical radiation to the hair. In a preferred embodiment, the luminescent unit is configured to convert a first wavelength of light from a light source into a second wavelength of outgoing light exiting the luminescent unit. Preferably, the luminescent block is configured to prevent light from escaping from the luminous block, except where hair touches the luminous block, such as by having mirrors at the ends of the luminous block. The luminescent block preferably contains a diffuser element. The refractive index of the luminescent block may be from 1.3 to 1.7, preferably from 1.3 to 1.42. Preferably, the luminescent unit provides a plurality of processing compartments. The hair styling device preferably includes a handle containing a light source for introducing light into the luminescent unit, and may contain a plurality of interchangeable luminescent units, each of which is adapted for the corresponding type of hair styling, and replaceable luminescent units (luminescent units, LU) are made with the possibility of introducing into the pen.

When photothermally changing the shape of the hair, it is difficult to provide a uniform light intensity for a sufficiently large bundle of hair due to design limitations and the inherent parameters of the light source. The present invention describes a method for exposing hair to uniform light without design limitations. Embodiments of the invention are based on the use of a luminescent unit to retain light in the light guide and distribute the light intensity evenly to the hair with several design possibilities. The shape of the luminescent block is preferably adapted to the type of hair styling performed by the hair styling device.

These and other aspects of the invention will be understood and explained with reference to the embodiments of the invention described later in this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1-4 depict embodiments of the invention.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 illustrates the principles used in embodiments of the invention. When photothermally changing the shape of the hair, it is difficult to provide a uniform light intensity for a sufficiently large bundle of hair due to design limitations and the inherent parameters of the light source. Embodiments expose the hair to H uniform light without design constraints. Embodiments of the invention are based on the use of a luminescent unit LU to hold the light in the light guide and can provide a uniform distribution of light intensity to the hair with several design possibilities. The luminescent unit comprises a light-transmitting body, the light-transmitting body comprising one or more radiation input surfaces and a luminescent material capable of converting at least a portion of the light from the light source into the converted light.

On FIG. 1, the light sources L send light Li to the luminescent unit LU, which here has the form of a luminescent rod. Light sources L can be arrays of light-emitting diodes (LED) or organic light emitting diodes (OLED), or lasers. The luminescent block contains a luminescent dye LD and mirrors M on both ends of the luminescent rod. Due to the presence of the luminescent dye LD, the incoming light Li is converted into converted light CL. Where the hair H touches the luminous unit LU, the outgoing light EL exits the luminous unit LU.

The light sources L emit light Li towards the luminescent block LU. The LD fluorescent dye inside the LU luminescent unit converts light into second wavelength light and emits light in all directions. Wavelength conversion is an important aspect of some embodiments and provides the advantage that sufficient light is retained in the fiber. The type of wavelength used is of secondary importance in this case, as potentially any wavelength can be used for hair styling. An example of a wavelength conversion would be from ultraviolet (UV) (<400 nm) to blue light (~450-520 nm). UV is considered unsafe in the standard configuration, but due to the use of conversion, the light exiting the device is in a safe range. Alternatively, blue light (~450 nm) is converted to infrared (>700 nm), in which case the light coming out of the device is invisible to the user, while blue light LEDs can provide more input power. The refractive index of the luminescent block may be from 1.3 to 1.7, preferably from 1.3 to 1.42.

Some of this re-emitted light is retained in the light guide of the luminescent rod due to total internal reflection and travels along the luminescent block LU because the material is transparent to this re-emitted wavelength. Total internal reflection is a phenomenon in which no energy is lost. When the hair H comes into contact with the side of the luminescent block LU, a portion of the converted light CL escapes into the hair H due to disturbed internal reflection.

Mirrors M are located on both ends of the luminous unit LU to cause the light to move back and forth inside the luminous unit LU while the main light output comes from contact with the hair. Thus, the potential light emission from the surface is always uniform since only a small part of the light can escape when the hair comes into contact with the luminescent unit LU. In other words, this solves the problem associated with the non-uniformity of light from the light source.

Based on these principles, several embodiments can be obtained for reshaping the hair. For example, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the luminescent block LU is made in the form of a cylinder or rod, where the hair H can be wound around the rod so that they are laid at a distance of no more than ~200 μm from the rod.

In other embodiments, the implementation of the luminescent block LU forms a comb-like structure. This can be done by an array of multiple luminescent rods (FIG. 3), or by having a first location where light is emitted into the luminescent rod, with the luminescent rod splitting into multiple branches (FIG. 4). Preferably, the treatment compartments formed from the arms of the luminescent unit LU are sized to allow hair to be styled in 5 to 15 layers, for example about 10 layers of hair. On FIG. 3 and 4 the hair H is shown in different processing compartments.

In some embodiments, the implementation of the hair tufts may be located opposite the light source. Such embodiments have the advantage of using both converted light and direct light from a light source to heat the hair, which reduces light loss.

In other embodiments, the energy loss during light conversion is used to heat the entire fluorescent rod to provide two types of hair heating (photothermal and diffusion), thereby maximizing the efficiency of the device.

In other embodiments, the implementation of the surface that emits light in the direction of the hair, may be covered with a diffusing element, allowing light to exit the rod without contact with the hair. The diffusing element can be a material (eg Teflon) or a microstructure.

In some embodiments, the implementation of the light-transmitting body is preferably ceramic, but can also be made of glass, crystal, or crystal, or polymer. The light transmission inside the light-transmitting body without the dopant would preferably be close to 100% for the light emitted by the LED and the light converted by the dopant.

этого материала обычно составляет более 80%, а затухание фотолюминесценции <300 мкс.In some embodiments, the implementation of the luminescent material may be a fluorescent or phosphorescent material or quantum dots. Representative fluorophores are presented by C. Tummeltshammer, A. Taylor, AJ Kenyon, I. Papakonstantinou in "Losses in luminescent solar concentrators unveiled" in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Volume 144, January 2016, pp. 40-47 . More preferably, a ceramic doped with a luminescent material (ceramic garnet) would be the most suitable material. They are usually represented as A ₃ B ₅ O ₁₂ :Cr, where A in particular is gadolinium (Gd) and yttrium (Y) and B in particular is aluminum (Al) or gallium (Ga). In addition, a sensitizer such as Ce ³⁺ may be added to improve light absorption. A typical material may be, for example, Gd ₃ Ga ₅ O ₁₂ :Cr.

of this material is usually more than 80%, and the attenuation of photoluminescence is <300 μs.

In addition, quantum dots can be used. Quantum dots are small crystals of semiconductor material, typically only a few nanometers wide or in diameter. When excited by incident light, a quantum dot emits light whose color is determined by the size and material of the crystal. Most of the known visible quantum dots are based on cadmium selenide (CdSe) with a shell such as cadmium sulfide (CdS) and zinc sulfide (ZnS). Can also be used quantum dots without cadmium, such as indium phosphide (InP), copper and indium sulfide (CuInS ₂ ) and/or silver and indium sulfide (AgInS ₂ ). In addition, the emission color can be easily adjusted by changing the size of the quantum dots.

In addition, organic phosphors can be used. Examples of suitable organic phosphor materials are organic luminescent materials based on perylene derivatives, such as those sold under the trade name Lumogen® by BASF. Examples of suitable compounds include, but are not limited to, Lumogen® Red F305, Lumogen® Orange F240, Lumogen® Yellow F083 and Lumogen® F170.

Preferably, the concentration of luminescent centers in the transducer material is high enough to provide greater than 99% conversion. This means that the absorption length for incident (LED) light must be less than 0.22 times the thickness of the plate.

In some embodiments, two or more types of luminescent material may be used to obtain a wider spectral range.

In the case where the LEDs emit ultraviolet light, an additional filter can be placed on the output surface for safety reasons. In the unfiltered configuration, the LEDs are placed far enough from the exit surface that the UV light propagating inside the light-transmitting housing has close to 100% conversion.

For use as a hair straightener, the hair styling apparatus may simply be a type of optical comb in which heating and reshaping are performed in processing compartments. For use as a curling device, the treatment compartments can be curved, for example around a rod in which the LEDs are located. A rod with LEDs inside but no processing compartments is mentioned in earlier application PCT/EP2018/073508 (patent attorney ref. 2017PF02405), incorporated herein by reference.

In one embodiment, luminescent units LU having respective specific curling and straightening shapes can be interchanged. The main unit or handle contains only the light source L, and the luminescent unit LU is an additional device. Different accessories may have different diameters.

In an embodiment of the invention, pulsed LEDs are used for hair styling. The output wavelength is preferably in the range of 400 to 900 nm, and more preferably in the range of 450 to 550 nm. The pulse width is preferably less than or equal to 200 ms, and more preferably less than or equal to 100 ms. In order to prevent hair damage, the cumulative energy flux density at the output of the hair surface is preferably in the range of 1 J/cm ² to 10 J/cm ² , more preferably in the range of 3 J/cm ² to 7 J/cm ² , and most preferably in range from 4 to 6 J/cm ² .

In an embodiment, not only optical energy, but also heat from the LEDs (e.g., heat from LED heat sinks or heat derived from optical energy outside of the wavelength range suitable for hair styling) is used to heat the contact surface that is in contact with the hair, so that less optical energy is required from LEDs in a suitable wavelength range to heat hair above its glass transition temperature, which is necessary for hair styling, as described in more detail in earlier application PCT/EP2018/073508 (reference 2017PF02405 patent attorneys). An optical radiation source (eg, one or more LEDs) may be configured to irradiate the hair using a single radiation pulse having a duration of at least 0.1 s. In an alternative embodiment, the optical radiation source may be configured to irradiate the hair using at least two radiation pulses, with the interval between successive pulses being less than 5 s, preferably less than 1 s, and more preferably less than 0.3 s.

It should be noted that the above-described embodiments are illustrative and not limiting of the present invention, and many alternative embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art within the scope of the appended claims. In one embodiment, the light source is turned on and off (flashing) to form a pulsed wave (PW) to change the output optical radiation so that the hair can receive the required optical energy to increase the temperature required for styling. In an alternative embodiment, the light source is turned on (not turned off) to form a continuous wave (CW) in combination with suitable light source control to ensure that the hair is not overexposed to light energy by adjusting the current through the LEDs during operation to limit output optical radiation. In the claims, no parenthesized references are to be construed as limiting the claims. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. An element in the singular does not preclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The present invention may be implemented with hardware containing several separate elements and/or with a processor programmed accordingly. In a claim listing multiple means, some of these means may be implemented by the same piece of equipment. The mere fact that certain measures are set forth in dependent claims that differ from each other and do not refer to each other does not mean that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims (11)

1. Device (S) for styling hair, made with the possibility of curling and/or straightening hair, containing: a light source (L) comprising one or more light emitting diodes or organic light emitting diodes, and luminescent unit (LU) to ensure the effect of optical radiation on the hair (H), wherein the light source (L) is configured to emit light (Li) towards the luminescent unit (LU). 2. The hair styling device (S) according to claim 1, wherein the luminescent unit (LU) is configured to convert a first wavelength of light (Li) from a light source (L) into a second wavelength of outgoing light (EL) emerging from luminescent unit (LU). 3. The hair styling device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the luminescent unit (LU) is configured to prevent light from escaping from the luminous unit (LU) except where the hair (H) touches the luminous unit (LU). 4. The hair styling device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the luminescent unit (LU) comprises a diffusing element. 5. The hair styling device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the refractive index of the luminescent unit (LU) is from 1.3 to 1.7, preferably from 1.3 to 1.42. 6. A hair styling device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the luminescent unit (LU) provides a plurality of treatment compartments. 7. A hair styling device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a handle that has said light source (L) for introducing said light (Li) into a luminescent unit (LU). 8. Hair styling device according to claim 7, comprising a plurality of interchangeable luminescent units (LU), each of which is adapted for the corresponding type of hair styling, and the replaceable luminescent units (LU) are made with the possibility of insertion into the handle.

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