WO2009004174A2

WO2009004174A2 - Hair treatment apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2009004174A2
Application number: PCT/FR2008/000748
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eric Bouquet; Fadila Mehenni; Xavier Vacheron
Original assignee: Seb S.A.
Priority date: 2007-06-05
Filing date: 2008-06-03
Publication date: 2009-01-08
Also published as: ES2382251T3; EP2152117A2; BRPI0812273A2; WO2009004174A3; ATE546061T1; CN101677672B; EP2152117B1; FR2916945A1; FR2916945B1; CN101677672A

Abstract

The invention relates to a hair treatment apparatus that comprises a main body (3, 103) with an air inlet (4, 104) and an air outlet (5, 105) having an opening (8, 108) defined by an annular base (31, 131), a treatment device (10, 110) including a housing (27, 127) removably mounted at the end of the air outlet (5, 105) and including a mobile slider (23, 123) and an actuation mechanism (71, 75, 171, 175) adapted for sending a mechanical control to the slider (23, 123) of the treatment device (10, 110).

Description

APPARATUS FOR TREATING HAIR

The present invention relates to a hair treatment apparatus which is intended to carry out specific drying or shaping, in particular the smoothing, of a person's hair, and which can moreover be used with a device generally designed for hair treatment, such as a hair dryer, a styling brush, a straightener, etc.

The generally known methods for treating the hair for shaping or drying generally use hot air blown by a hair dryer or a local application of heat and / or steam from a curling device and / or smooth.

The devices for smoothing the hair type straighteners generally comprise two heated articulating jaws that sandwich a lock of hair and form it by applying heat. The hot plates of these devices, even while being coated with ceramic material, are likely, in the long term, to damage the hair due to their high operating temperature.

US 5,553,632 discloses a hair shaping attachment mounted to the blower end of a hair dryer. The accessory comprises a set of two superposed combs, one of which is fixed and the other is slidably mounted laterally relative to the first. The base of the comb is located above the hot air outlet end of the hair dryer. The moving comb is set in motion by a mechanism connected to a user-drawn cable. In operation, the combs are inserted in the open position in the hair and then the closing mechanism of the combs is actuated, which thus retain the locks of hair between their teeth. The locks thus seized are pulled upwards and dried in position by the flow of air blown by the hair dryer. Such a device ensures, of course, drying the hair in the stretched position and at a lower temperature, but at risk to exert a strong traction on the hair. However, when wicks of different thicknesses penetrate between adjacent teeth, the forces exerted by the teeth on the locks are not uniform and, therefore, only the thickest lock is seized, the smaller wicks nearby being able to , escape outside the combs. This results in a non-uniform, laborious and time-consuming treatment. In addition, proposing only drying in the stretched position of the hair, this document does not address the problem of adjusting the clamping force of the combs. Moreover, the movable comb is connected to an external cable running along the body of the device to a trigger close to the handle, but such an external cable considerably hampers the passage of the device in the hair.

A solution has been proposed in EP 1 124 466 in the name of the applicant where the treatment device is an accessory to be attached to the blower end of a hair dryer, and where the wicks are introduced between the surfaces planes of two adjacent blades which are pushed towards one another by elastic means. According to this document, several elastic blades are arranged side by side, their leading ends having chamfers automatic introduction of hair between the blades. In operation, the front part of the accessory is introduced into the hair, which has the effect of separating the hair into fine locks which are then introduced automatically between the blades adjacent to the accessory. The heat of the air flow blown by the device then shapes the locks of hair caught between the blades. By simply sliding the accessory along the wicks, they can then be smoothed over their entire length. This document also describes a device for adjusting the clamping pressure of the smoothing blades by actuating in rotation a small knurled knob accessible from the side of the device. The setting belongs to the smoothing accessory mounted removably on the device and the actuation of the adjustment button is therefore in the vicinity of the hair. Therefore, this button is inconvenient in operation because it can hang the locks to be treated. Due to its small dimensions, this button is also difficult to handle. In addition, the seizure of the remote control of the body of the device is less intuitive and decreases the firmness of grip of the handle for some users.

Another solution of straightener mounted on a hair dryer and able to treat different hair lengths has been described in the document WO 2007/003795 of the applicant. Operating satisfactorily, the device described does not include a system for adjusting the pressure between the smoothing blades. Furthermore, the control of the device requires the presence of an optical sensor detecting the presence of the hair inside thereof, involving a complex and expensive construction of the device.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages by providing a hair treatment apparatus in which the actuation of the control of a treatment device removably disposed at the end of the device is comfortable and safe. for the user, while retaining the advantage of a protected mechanism of contact with the hair that does not interfere with the passage of the device in the hair.

Another object of the invention is a hair treatment apparatus comprising a treatment device and a device for controlling the smoothing means that can be actuated simply and easily, while being reliable in operation and that is operational at all times. , irrespective of the operating state of the apparatus or that of the smoothing means.

Another object of the invention is a hair treatment device that can ensure an effective and uniform smoothing for all lengths and all types of hair to be treated, while respecting their nature.

Another object of the invention is an ergonomically constructed hair treatment apparatus that is easy and convenient to use for person using it, while allowing a fast and effective treatment of the hair.

Another object of the invention is a hair treatment device which is reliable in operation, while being able to be mass-produced at a lower cost.

These objects are achieved with a hair treatment apparatus having a main body having an air inlet and an air outlet whose opening is delimited by an annular base, a heating element housed in said main body and designed to heat the air, a fan provided in said main body and adapted to blow air towards the heating element, a handle attached to said main body, a treatment device comprising a casing removably mounted at the air outlet end and comprising a mobile walkman, as well as an actuating mechanism designed to send a mechanical control to the walkman of the processing device, because said operating mechanism comprises a first mechanism arranged in the main body of the apparatus presenting a first end connected to the control and a second end movable through a window of the annular base of the air outlet opening and a second mechanism arranged in the processing device and having a first end movable through an opening of the housing and a second end connected to the player, the window of the annular base and the first end of the second mechanism being arranged to come into correspondence when the device of treatment is mounted on the apparatus and the second end of the first mechanism being adapted to cooperate with the first end of the second mechanism, so that the operation of the control is transmitted to the processing device via the first and second mechanisms.

Such an apparatus is therefore adapted to produce a flow of hot air within a main body and send it to an air outlet opening of that body to pass through a hair treatment device. provided at the air outlet of the device, located at the front of the body of the latter. The device treatment is removably arranged at the air outlet of the apparatus and comprises at least one movable player relative to the housing of the treatment device. Such a walkman may be an air outlet opening shutter shutter actuating member of the device, a comb or blade support member moving within the device, a member adapted to control the dispensing of the air outlet opening. a liquid within the device or any member adapted to be supported in motion by the housing of the treatment device and adapted to receive a mechanical control from an actuating mechanism of the apparatus.

According to the invention, the actuating mechanism comprises two separate mechanisms that cooperate together during the establishment of the treatment device on the device. This provides the possibility to mount the operating control of the mobile player anywhere appropriate body of the device, including, but not necessarily on the handle of the device, while retaining the advantages of a mechanism of remote actuation of the device and protected by the housing of the device and a removable treatment device. This removable treatment device can then be replaced by another device or removable accessory requiring or not mechanical actuation control.

Preferably, the second end of the first mechanism is slidably mounted in a given direction and abuts against the first end of the second mechanism which is movable against the restoring force of an elastic member in a direction substantially co-linear with said direction. given.

This solution allows a mechanical power transmission transmission in the given direction, for example at efforts up to 40 N, preferably between 10 and 30 N, at distances for example greater than a few cm, while being simple and reliable construction in operation. The elastic member allows the return to an initial position of the first end of the second mechanism when the transmission of 00748

6 command of the first mechanism is no longer active.

Advantageously, the first end of the second mechanism protrudes through the housing of the treatment device and enters the window of the annular base when the control is active.

Thus, the window of the annular base slidably guides the end of the second mechanism disposed inside the device into the housing of the body of the device for better matching ensuring a secure control transmission between both mechanisms.

Preferably, said direction is parallel to that of the longitudinal axis of the main body of the apparatus.

Such a displacement of the end of the mechanism in a longitudinal direction is advantageously achieved by housing the mechanism and its actuating rod in the tubular main body of the apparatus, parallel to one of its internal walls. Such a mechanism is compact construction, it does not increase the size of the device and does not catch the hair to treat.

Advantageously, the treatment device comprises at least two smoothing elements vis-à-vis cooperating to pinch a lock of hair and said control is designed to change the play and / or the clamping force between the smoothing elements.

By smoothing elements cooperating to pinch a lock of hair, smoothing elements comprising means capable of exerting pressure on the hair inserted between two elements vis-à-vis. Such pressure can be generated by using an elastic device, a magnetic device, a pneumatic device, etc. intended to push the smoothing elements towards each other in contact with the hair. The apparatus comprises a device for moving the smoothing elements of the open state in the closed state or vice versa (by open state it is understood that the elements are spaced apart so that the hair can be introduced between two elements vis-à-vis). The apparatus also comprises a device for adjusting the pressure force exerted on the hair to be treated by the smoothing elements when they are in the closed state in order to adapt it to different types of hair and / or sensitivities. users.

Preferably, said first mechanism comprises a pull rod connected to a device for moving the smoothing elements and to a device for adjusting the clamping force of the smoothing elements arranged one in the extension of the other and connected by a compression spring.

This makes it possible to arrange the two devices in the housing or main body of the device, upstream of the treatment device, which has the advantage of obtaining a compact device and of clearing the treatment zone of the hair adjacent to the device of the device. smoothing any device or piece that could hang the hair. The compression spring acts as a coupling to functionally connect the two controls, that of movement and that of adjusting the pressure between the clamping elements.

Advantageously, the displacement device is actuated by a trigger belonging to the handle of the device.

This allows easy operation of the device, including its device for moving the smoothing elements, the user using the same hand that holds the device by the handle to actuate the trigger.

Preferably, said trigger is mounted hingedly pivoted about a horizontal axis of the handle and drives the pull tab (60) by means of two intermediate articulated arms.

It would have been possible, of course, to use a trigger with horizontal sliding movement (or 008/0007 ₄ 8

8 parallel to the flow of air blown by the device). However, it is preferred a pivoting mounting of the trigger which allows, by means of the intermediate articulated arms, to obtain a longitudinal displacement of the zipper, for less effort and less movement when actuating the trigger.

Advantageously, said adjusting device comprises a control ring designed to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the main body of the apparatus arranged in the vicinity of the air intake opening of the main body of generally cylindrical shape of the apparatus and comprises a linear motion adjusting member which is adapted to vary the clamping force between the smoothing members when the control ring is rotated.

Thus, by rotating the control ring of the adjusting device around the longitudinal axis of the air flow, the pressure force is varied on the wick in order to adapt it to the desired smoothing operation depending on the type and / or the state of the hair to be treated, continuously or intermittently, and this with an adjusting device comprising a control part easily manipulated, the person using it can then, with one hand, hold the device directed to the hair and, with the other hand, to intuitively vary the clamping force, without effort and without having to look closely at the apparatus. However, an arrangement is preferred at the back of the body, because, on the one hand, it is the furthest place from the hair and therefore there is no hair catching possible with the control ring and on the other hand, the ring can thus rotate, inside or outside the body of cylindrical general shape of the apparatus, in an open area thereof where it does not interfere with other functional components of the device, such as the fan, the heating element, etc.

Thus, the control member can be directly driven in translation by cooperating with an adjacent actuating means, for example a cam, the turn of a screw, or any other complementary piece able to directly transform the rotational movement around the longitudinal axis of the airflow of the control ring in a linear movement for example, parallel to the axis of the air flow of the control member then acting on the smoothing elements. Such a rotary movement of a large-diameter control ring then makes it possible to reduce the linear displacement of the control member and thus to obtain a fine adjustment of the clamping pressure of the smoothing elements.

Preferably, the smoothing elements are normally closed by being pushed against each other by the force of an elastic means and said displacement device is a device for opening the smoothing elements.

The smoothing elements are normally closed in the state of rest, while each being provided with means for automatically introducing the locks of hair, the locks thus removing the smoothing elements by being introduced inside them , for an easy and intuitive use of the device. The device provided with such a smoothing device is passed through the hair which then naturally spread the smoothing elements and allow the device to perform a treatment from the hair root to the end of the treated wick which is then extracted alone from the device.

According to another embodiment, the smoothing elements are normally open while being separated from each other by the force of a return means and the first mechanism is a closing mechanism of the smoothing elements.

This arrangement makes it possible to easily introduce the locks of hair between the smoothing elements, the latter being removed and to close them with the aid of the first mechanism. In this embodiment, the pressure exerted on the hair to be treated by the smoothing elements when in the closed state is proportional to the force exerted by the person on the first mechanism. Thus, the person can correct the pressure variations between the beginning of treatment where the locks are larger and the end of treatment where the ends of the locks are smaller. Indeed, in the embodiment where the smoothing elements are normally closed, the pressure at the beginning of treatment on the hair is higher, the smoothing elements are further apart by the locks at the end of treatment where the smoothing elements are very close together, the ends of the locks being smaller.

Advantageously, said first mechanism comprises a trigger pivotally mounted in the handle, provided with a pusher able to slide a rod forward when pressing on said trigger.

This makes it possible to arrange the first mechanism in the housing or main body of the apparatus, upstream of the treatment device, which has the advantage of obtaining a compact apparatus and of clearing the treatment zone of the hair adjacent to the device of smoothing any device or piece that could hang the hair.

Advantageously, the smoothing elements are formed of a fixed blade and a movable blade supported by the player, the movable blade being mounted on the player under the thrust of a first return spring.

It would have been possible, of course, to use two mobile smoothing elements that one would have moved to move from the open state to the closed state or vice versa after the introduction of a lock of hair between the two. However, for reasons of constructive simplicity, it is preferable to make one of the smoothing elements movable by mounting it on a walkman or rod which can then, when actuated, drive the movable element. The blade shape of the smoothing elements allows a flat smoothing, during a contact against a plane of the treated hair, which allows a good shaping of the lock of hair, without however apply a too important constraint . A possibility of additional displacement of the movable blade is offered by mounting on the player against the force of a return spring. This allows a better adaptation to the thickness of the wick introduced between the elements of smoothing by compression of the return spring when the wick bears against an adjacent fixed blade. Preferably, the player is mounted by means of a second return spring in the housing of the treatment device.

This makes it possible to have an actuation in one direction of the walkman by the second end of the second mechanism, the return being done under the thrust of the second return spring, for a simplified and economical constructive solution of the drive means of the player.

Advantageously, the processing device comprises a row of several pairs of fixed and movable blades mounted side by side transversely to the axis of said player.

Such a smoothing device comprising, for example, a row of seven pairs of smoothing elements makes it possible to treat several strands simultaneously, thus offering increased efficiency and a considerable time saving in the treatment of the hair, the apparatus nevertheless remaining of use. very easy.

Preferably, said row is arranged in the center of the air outlet opening and a row of pins is arranged on each side of the row of smoothing elements, set back from the attacking portion of these this.

The row of smoothing elements being placed in the center of the air outlet opening, the smoothing elements benefit from the air blown by the apparatus which can arrive either at their base or at their lateral flanks. , at the base and at their side flanks for a faster and more effective shaping of the hair. The rows of pins make it possible to better grasp the hair and guide it in the interval defined between two smoothing elements. Moreover, by their arrangement set back with respect to the leading or front part of the smoothing elements, the latter are thus able to come first in contact with the hair, in particular the shorter ones, thus allowing their insertion between the elements of the hair. smoothing, without these short hair being forced to go through the pins. This arrangement in withdrawal of the pins therefore allows the smoothing of very short hair, the profile of the attacking part fixed blades and movable blades with slopes promoting hair grip closer to the root and then their insertion between the fixed blades and movable.

Advantageously, the movable blades move in a direction transverse to that of the flow of air blown by the apparatus.

This makes it possible to insert the wick to be treated in a direction perpendicular to the flow of air blown by the apparatus so that it fully benefits over its length from the frontal arrival of the air flow.

Preferably, the second mechanism comprises a secondary zipper connected by a lever to the player.

The secondary zipper moving parallel to the air flow allows its arrangement along one of the walls of the housing of the removable device, in the extension of the main body of the generally tubular device, without increasing the bulk thereof . The lever forms a return member ensuring the transmission of the control movement to the smoothing elements moving transversely to the air flow.

The invention will be better understood with the study of the embodiments taken in no way limiting and illustrated in the accompanying figures in which:

- Figure 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2a is a partial top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2b is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus with the plane AA of FIG. 2a, the apparatus being shown with the elements of FIG. smoothing in the closed position; FIG. 3a is a partial top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3b is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus with the plane BB of FIG. 3a, the apparatus being shown with the elements of FIG. Smoothing in the open position. FIG. 4a is a partial top view of a second embodiment of the apparatus of the invention and FIG. 4b is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus with the plane CC of FIG. 4a, FIG. apparatus being shown with the smoothing elements in the open position.

The hair treatment apparatus shown in the accompanying figures 1 to 3b is of the hair dryer type 1 provided with a treatment device 10. The hair dryer

1 comprises a tubular main body 3, of generally cylindrical shape, enclosing a fan actuated by an electric motor (not shown in the drawings) and arranged to produce an air flow oriented along the longitudinal axis

2 of the main body 3 of the apparatus between an air inlet end 4 and an air outlet end 5. The apparatus also comprises an electric heating element (not shown in the drawings) arranged in the main body 3 upstream of the air outlet. The main body 3 is extended downwards by a gripping handle 6 enclosing the electric control and connection part of the appliance to the power supply, the handle 6 being furthermore provided with control and selection buttons for the power supply mode. operation, including adjustment of the blown air flow, the temperature of the device, etc. The main body 3 and the handle 6 are made by assembling, in a vertical plane, two shells 7 symmetrical (for the sake of clarity, only a single shell being shown in the drawings) made of a plastic material by an injection technique.

As best seen in Figure 1, the processing device 10 is arranged at the air outlet end 5 of the main body 3 of the apparatus and comprises at least two smoothing elements 11,12 facing each other and cooperating to pinch a lock of hair. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the processing device 10 comprises a hollow housing 27 having a tubular rear portion 30 removably connected to an annular base 31 of the main body 3 of the apparatus. The base 31 can thus be provided with elastic hooks 32 which fit into corresponding ribs formed on the inner surface of the rear portion 30 of the housing 27 of the device. 008/0007 ₄ 8

14

The housing 27 has a front portion 37 formed by a succession of arches 33, for example 7 arches, separated by interstices 34 and extending centrally and along the entire length of the front portion 37 of the housing 27. The arches 33 have a triangular general profile, their outer rim or leading portion having inclined slopes each (for example at an angle of 30 to 40 ° with a median plane passing through their apex) towards a gap 34 neighbor. This inclination of the rims of the vaults 33 makes it possible to guide and facilitate the insertion of the hair into a gap 34. Inside, each vault 33 has an inner wall forming a fixed blade 21, a niche 44 being provided behind this wall, on within the vault 33. (Fig. 2b and Fig. 3b). The vaults 33 are parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal axis 2 of the main body 3 of the apparatus. The row of arches 33 is disposed in the central part of the housing 27 of the treatment device 10, two lateral openings 36 of air outlet being provided on either side of the row of arches 33. pins 29 (Fig. 1, Fig. 2a, Fig. 3a) is attached to the base of the row of vaults 33, on either side of the latter. The row of pins makes an angle of about 30 ° with the longitudinal axis of the main body of the apparatus and serves to order and possibly tension the hair before introduction into the treatment device 10. The top pins 29 is set back from that of the vaults 33 (Fig. 2a, Fig. 3a) in order to be able to adapt the treatment device 10 to the treatment of very short hair.

As best seen in Figures 2b and 3b, the housing 27 of the processing device 10 supports at its ends a walkman 23 in turn supporting a plurality of movable blades 22. Each movable blade is mounted on the player 23 under the constraint of a first return spring 24, for example a compression spring. A row of movable blades 22 is made by stacking on the player 23: a first return spring 24 fixed at one of its ends by a washer 26 on the player 23, the other end of the spring coming to bear on a blade mobile 22, followed by another spring 24 and a movable blade 22, and so on until complete the row of movable blades 22, for example seven movable blades 22 parallel to each other. The movable blades 22 have a generally triangular shape (Fig.1) having a flat face 20 of contact with a fixed blade 21 vis-à-vis. The movable blades 22 are arranged so that their flat faces 20 are perpendicular to the axis of the player 23 and parallel to the longitudinal axis 2 of the main body 3 of the apparatus.

The player 23 is a cylindrical rod having a first end 38 held by a flange 39, the opposite end 40 being held, it, by a fork 41 (fig.1). The player 23 is mounted with a possibility of displacement along its longitudinal axis under the thrust of a second return spring 25 mounted between its first end 38 and the flange 39. When the player 23 is mounted inside the housing 27 of the processing device 10, the movable blades 22 are inserted between the fixed blades 21. Two side covers 42,43 complete the housing 27 by superimposing it at its lateral ends. The processing device 10 thus comprises a row 28 of several pairs of fixed blades 21 and mobile 22 mounted side by side perpendicular to the axis of the player 23, row arranged in the center of the opening 8 of the air outlet of the apparatus.

According to the invention, the apparatus comprises two distinct mechanisms for actuating the player 23, a first mechanism 71 arranged in the main body 3 of the apparatus and a second mechanism 75 arranged in the case 27 of the processing device 10.

The first mechanism 71 comprises a device for moving the pinching elements which, in the example shown in the drawings, is an opening device 51 of the smoothing elements 11, 12 connected to a device 14 for adjusting the clamping force of the clamping elements. smoothing elements 11,12.

The adjusting device 14 of the clamping force of the smoothing elements 11, 12 belongs to the main body 3 of the apparatus and comprises a control ring 15 arranged at the air inlet end 4 in the main body 3 of the device. The ring 15 has a generally annular shape with a rim striated 45 protruding outside the main body 3 of the apparatus and a ribbed inner portion located inside the main body 3. The ribbed inner portion comprises a circular rib 46 for guiding in rotation about the longitudinal axis 2 of the main body 3 of the apparatus and a second rib 47 concentric and of the same diameter as the first. The second rib 47 comprises a helical ramp 18 protruding towards the inside of the body 3, which ramp, in the example shown in the figures, extends over approximately a quarter of the circumference of the rib 47. The helical ramp 18 comes to the contact of a pin 19 of an adjusting member 17. In the example shown in the figures, to reduce the friction with the ramp 18, the pin 19 is replaced by a roller which rotates about a vertical axis (perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body 3). As best seen in FIG. 1, the adjusting member 17 comprises, on each of its lateral sides, a guide ramp 48 arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body 3, providing it with a sliding displacement in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 during the rotation of the control ring 15. The adjustment member 17 is held in contact with the ramp 18 of the control ring 15, by means of the roller or the pin 19, by a spring 50 , for example a compression spring arranged in the center and in the extension of the front part of the adjusting member 17.

The fixed blades 21 and mobile 22 are normally closed, their processing surfaces being in contact with each other (the state of the device at rest is understood, the device being mounted on the apparatus and no control member not being activated). The opening device 51 comprises an opening mechanism with several articulated arms actuated from the handle 6 by a trigger 52. The trigger 52 is rotatably mounted about a first pivot axis 53, a torsion spring (not shown in FIGS. drawings) being provided to ensure the return of the trigger in its rest position. The pivot axis 53 is transverse to the longitudinal axis 2 of the main body 3 of the apparatus. The trigger 52 has a protuberance 49 on its inner side opposite to that external support. A rocker 54 is a doubly articulated arm rotatably mounted at one of its ends around the first pivot axis 53 and at the opposite end around a second pivot axis 56, parallel to FR2008 / 000748

The rod 53 is also double articulated in rotation around the second pivot axis 56 at one of its ends and around a third pivot axis 57, parallel to the axis 56, at the end of the axis 53. opposite end.

The opening device 51 further includes a pull tab 60 having a front portion forming a longitudinal rod 59 extended at the rear by a first end 58 having guide rails 61 in a slideway provided for this purpose in the main body 3 of the apparatus and arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis 2 thereof. The first end 58 is aligned with the spring 50 and therefore with the adjusting member 17, the rear end of the first end 58 coming to bear on the helical spring 50. The rear end of the pull tab 60 further comprises a lower arm 65 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod 59 being shifted downward towards the handle, the rear end of the lower arm 65 being mounted on the third pivot axis 57. The rod 59 of the zipper 60 ends with a second end 66 with a rounded tip. For example, the compression force measured at the end of the pull tab 60 is between 2.7 N / mm and 3.7 N / mm.

The second mechanism 75 has a first end formed by a first end 67 of a secondary zipper 62 and a second end formed by the fork 41 supporting the player 23. The fork 41 has a U-shape, the two parallel branches having in the center an internal notch in which is introduced the arm of a cranked lever 63, as will be explained later.

The second end 66 of the pull tab 60 comes into contact with the secondary pull tab 62 belonging to the housing 27 of the treatment device 10. The secondary pull tab 62 has an elongate shape, of oval cross-section, and is provided with guide rails 77 in which slides ribs made inside the housing 27 (not visible in the drawings). The first end 67 of the secondary zipper 62 is caused to pass through an oval-shaped window 78 made in the annular base 31 made at the outlet of the main body 3 of the apparatus. The first end 67 has in the center a recessed impression in which contacts the second end 66 of the pull tab 60. The secondary pull tab 62 also has a second end 76 with a rounded end, which in turn engages the lower arm 68 of a lever 63 pivotally mounted about an arranged raised axis 64 in a direction parallel to the fixed blades 21 and movable 22 (or transverse to the axis of the player 23). The lever 63 comprises two upper arms 70 making an angle of about 90 ° with the lower arm 68 and bearing in internal notches of the fork 41 supporting the player 23.

The operation of the opening device will now be described more particularly with reference to FIG. 3b: when the user actuates the trigger 52 towards the inside of the handle 6, the trigger 52 rotates around the first pivot axis 53 and its protuberance 49 comes into contact with the rocker 54 at its point of articulation about the second pivot axis 56. The protrusion 49 then pivots the rocker 54 about the first pivot axis 53 which then drives the link 55 and moves it towards the rear. The rearward movement of the rod 55 causes the sliding of the puller 60 towards the rear in a direction parallel to that of the longitudinal axis 2 of the body 3 of the apparatus. The main spring 50 is then compressed and the second return spring 25 pushes the player 23 and the secondary puller 62 moves towards the body of the device by remaining in contact with the pull tab 60. The movable blades 22 are then discarded adjacent fixed blades 21. As seen in Figure 3b, the interstices 34 are disengaged, a movable blade 22 being housed in the recess 44 of a fixed blade 21 adjacent.

Conversely, when the trigger 52 is released, it returns to its initial position under the thrust of a torsion spring arranged around the axis of pivoting of the trigger 52, the pull tab 60 then being pushed towards the before by the force of the spring 50 which is greater than that of the second return spring 25 which is thus compressed. The movable blades 22 are thus in contact with the fixed blades 21, the control being transmitted from the body of the apparatus by the pull tab 60 abutting against the secondary pull tab 62. T / FR2008 / 000748

19

The operation of the adjustment device will now be described more particularly with reference to FIG. 2b: when the user turns the control ring 15, its helical ramp 18 pushes the lug 19 and therefore the adjustment member 17 forwardly. it compresses the main spring 50 which then applies more force to the pull tab 60. The pull tab 60 in turn pushes the secondary pull tab 62 which tilts the lever 63 which pushes the fork 41 with the player 23 upwardly. . The movement of the player 23 with the movable blades 22 towards the fixed blades 21 increases the clamping force at their contact.

In the minimum adjustment position, the main spring 50 is slightly compressed and the fixed blades 21 and movable 22 of the treatment device are contacted by closing almost without pressure.

In the maximum setting position, the main spring 50 is strongly compressed and the fixed and movable blades of the treatment device are closed with pressure.

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the opening device 51 can be actuated in any adjustment position of the adjusting device 14.

Because the trigger 52 and the rocker 54 are not permanently connected, but they only touch each other when the trigger 52 is moved, the position of the latter does not change when the control ring 15 is manipulated. It should be noted that, the distance between the protrusion 49 of the trigger 52 and the pivoting end around the second pivot axis 56 of the rocker 54 varies as a function of the compression state of the main spring 50, the latter being sufficiently important to avoid permanent contact between the two. Thus, by pressing the trigger 52, the zipper

60 is pushed back, it compresses the main spring 50 and allows the opening of the blades 21, 22 of the processing device 10 in all the positions of the control ring 15.

As an example, clamping force measurements on the hair have been performed in the laboratory. Thus, the tensile force exerted on a braid of calibrated nylon threads having a diameter of 0.6 mm close to that of the hair and placed between all the blades of the treatment device was measured using a dynamometer. Thus, with the adjusting device of the invention, the tensile force on the experimental braid can vary between 180g and 640g for a shift of a quarter turn of the control ring 15. Fine adjustments can be made in modifying the shape and / or the dimensions of the ramp of the control ring 15.

In a second embodiment, a hair dryer 101 shown in Figures 4a and 4b comprises a main body 103 and a processing device 110 of similar construction to the processing device 10 of the first embodiment. The hair dryer 101 contains a fan powered by an electric motor (not shown in the drawings) and arranged to produce a flow of air oriented along the longitudinal axis 102 of the main body 103 of the apparatus between an inlet end 104 and an air outlet end 105. The apparatus also comprises an electric heating element (not shown in the drawings) arranged in the main body 103 upstream of the air outlet port. The main body 103 is extended downwardly by a handle 106.

The processing device 110 is arranged at the air outlet end 105 of the main body 103 of the apparatus and comprises at least two smoothing elements 111, 112 constituted by a plurality of fixed blades 121 and a plurality of movable blades. 122 facing each other and cooperating to pinch a lock of hair.

A housing 127 has a front portion made by a succession of arches 133, for example 7 arches. Inside, each vault 133 has a fixed blade wall 121. The row of arches 133 is disposed in the central part of the housing 127 of the treatment device 110, two lateral openings 136 of air outlet being provided on each side. On the other hand, a row of pins 129 is attached to the base of the row of arches 133, on either side of the latter. The housing 127 of the processing device 110 supports at its ends a walkman 123 which in turn supports the movable blades 122. Each movable blade is mounted on the walkman 123 under the constraint of a first return spring 124, for example a spring of compression. A row of movable blades 122 is made by stacking on the player 123 the first return spring 124 fixed at one of its ends by a washer 126 on the player 123, the other end of the spring coming to bear on a movable blade 122, followed by another spring 124 and a movable blade 122, and so on until complete the row of movable blades 122, for example seven movable blades 122 parallel to each other.

The player 123 is a cylindrical rod having a first end held by a flange 139, the opposite end being held, it, by a fork 141. The player 123 is mounted with a possibility of displacement along its longitudinal axis under the thrust of a return spring 125 mounted between its first end and the flange 139. When the player 123 is mounted inside the housing 127 of the processing device 110, the movable blades 122 are inserted between the fixed blades 121. The processing device 110 thus comprises a row 128 of several pairs of fixed blades 121 and movable 122 mounted side by side perpendicular to the axis of the player 123, row arranged in the center of an opening 108 of the air outlet of the apparatus.

The fixed and movable blades 121 and 122 are normally open, their treatment surfaces being spaced from each other under the thrust of the return spring 125 (it is understood the state of the device at rest, the device being mounted on the device and no actuator being actuated).

According to the invention, the apparatus comprises two distinct mechanisms for actuating the player 123, a first mechanism 171 arranged in the main body 103 of the apparatus and a second mechanism 175 arranged in the case 127 of the processing device 110. The first mechanism 171 comprises a trigger 152 rotatably mounted about a pivot axis 153. The pivot axis 153 is transverse to the longitudinal axis 102 of the main body 103 of the apparatus. The trigger further comprises a pusher 160 cooperating with a first end 158 of a longitudinal rod 159 guided in the main body 103 of the apparatus and arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis 102 thereof. The rod 159 ends with a second end 166 with a rounded end. A return spring 150 is arranged on the rod 159.

The second mechanism 175 has a first end formed by a first end 167 of a secondary zipper 162 and a second end constituted by the fork 141 supporting the player 123. The fork 141 has a U-shape, the two parallel branches having in the center an internal notch into which the arm of an elbow lever 163 is inserted.

The second end 166 of the rod 159 comes into contact with the secondary zipper 162 belonging to the housing 127 of the treatment device 110. The secondary zipper 162 slides inside the housing 127. The first end 167 of the secondary zipper 162 is brought through a window 178 formed in the annular base 131 made at the outlet of the main body 103 of the apparatus. The first end 167 has in the center an indentation in which the second end 166 of the rod 159 comes into contact with the rod 159. The secondary zipper 162 also has a second end 176 with a rounded tip which comes into contact with a lower arm of the lever 163 mounted to pivot about a raised axis arranged in a direction parallel to the fixed blades 121 and movable 122 (or transverse to the axis of the player 123). The two upper arms make an angle of about 90 ° with the lower arms.

In operation, when the user actuates the trigger 152 inwardly of the handle 106, the trigger 152 rotates about the pivot axis 153 and the pusher 160 slides the rod 159 forwards in a direction parallel to that of the longitudinal axis 102 of the body 103 of the apparatus. The secondary zipper 162 then also moves forward, causing the blades to close T / FR2008 / 000748

23 movable 122 against the fixed blades 121 adjacent.

Conversely, when the trigger 152 is released, it returns to its initial position under the thrust of the spring 150 via the rod 159. The return spring 125 pushes the player 123 thus moving the movable blades 122 of the fixed blades 121.

Other variants and embodiments of the invention may be envisaged without departing from the scope of these claims.

Thus, it is possible to replace the thrust against the elastic return means between the two mechanisms by effecting the cooperation between the two mechanisms 71, 75 by a reversible attachment of the second end 66 of the first mechanism 71 with the first end 67 of the second mechanism 75, for example with a frictional engagement or by magnetic attraction. However, the cooperation between these two ends must be performed automatically when the treatment device is mounted on the device.

Furthermore, the control is performed in the form of a trigger 52 placed on the handle 6, but it is possible to realize it also in the form of a push button mounted on the main body 3 of the device.

Claims

B.0859ext1 CLAIMS

Hair treatment apparatus comprising a main body (3,103) having an air inlet (4,104) and an air outlet (5,105) whose opening (8,108) is delimited by an annular base (31,131) a heating element housed in said main body (3,103) and designed to heat the air, a fan provided in said main body (3,103) and adapted to blow air towards the heating element, a handle (6,106) attached to said heater main body (3,103), a processing device (10,110) having a housing (27,127) removably mounted at the air outlet end (5,105) and comprising a movable sliding device (23,123) and an actuating mechanism (71, 75, 171, 175) adapted to send a mechanical control to the player (23, 123) of the processing device (10, 110), characterized in that said actuating mechanism (71, 75, 171, 175) comprises a first mechanism (71, 171 ) arranged in the main body (3,103) of the apparatus having a first end end (58,158) connected to the control and a second end (66,166) movable through a window (78,178) of the annular base (31,131) of the air outlet opening

(8,108) and a second mechanism (75,175) arranged in the processing device (10,110) and having a first end movable through an opening of the housing (27,127) and a second end connected to the walkman (23,123), the window (78,178). of the annular base (31, 131) and the first end of the second mechanism (75, 175) being arranged to correspond when the processing device (10, 110) is mounted on the apparatus and the second end (66, 166) of the first mechanism ( 71, 171) being adapted to cooperate with the first end of the second mechanism (75, 175), so that the operation of the control is transmitted to the processing device (10, 110) via the first and second mechanisms.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the second R2008 / 000748

End (66,166) of the first mechanism (71,171) is slidably mounted in a given direction and abuts against the first end of the second mechanism (75,175) which is movable against the restoring force of a resilient member in one direction substantially collinear with said given direction.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the first end of the second mechanism (75,175) protrudes through the housing (27,127) of the treatment device (10,110) and enters the window (78,178) of the annular base ( 31, 131) when the command is active.

4. Apparatus according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that said direction is parallel to that of the longitudinal axis (2,102) of the main body (3,103) of the apparatus.

5. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the treatment device comprises at least two smoothing elements (11, 12, 111, 112) vis-à-vis cooperating to pinch a lock of hair and that said command is adapted to modify the play and / or the clamping force between the smoothing elements (11, 12, 111, 112).

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that said first mechanism (71) comprises a pull tab (60) connected to a device for moving the smoothing elements (11, 12) and to a control device (14) of the clamping force of the smoothing elements arranged one in the extension of the other being connected by a compression spring (50).

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the displacement device is actuated by a trigger (52) belonging to the handle (6) of the apparatus.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that said trigger (52) is articulated pivotally about a horizontal axis of the handle and drives the pull tab (60) by means of two intermediate articulated arms.

9. Apparatus according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that said adjusting device (14) comprises a control ring (15) designed to rotate about the longitudinal axis (2) of the main body (3) of the apparatus arranged in proximity to the air intake opening (4) of the generally cylindrical main body (3) of the apparatus and comprises a linear motion adjusting member (17) which is for varying the clamping force between the smoothing elements when the control ring (15) is rotated.

10. Apparatus according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the smoothing elements (11,12) are normally closed by being pushed against each other by the force of an elastic means and said moving device is an opening device (51) for smoothing elements (11, 12).

11. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the smoothing elements (111, 112) are normally open by being separated from each other by the force of a return means and that the first mechanism (171 ) is a closing mechanism of the smoothing elements (111, 112).

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that said first mechanism (171) comprises a trigger (152) pivotally mounted in the handle (106), provided with a pusher (160) adapted to slide a rod (159). forward when pressing said trigger (152).

13. Apparatus according to one of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that the smoothing elements (11,12,111,112) are formed of a fixed blade (21, 121) and a movable blade (22,122) supported by the player (23,123), the movable blade (22,122) being mounted on the player (23,123) under pressure a first return spring (24,124).

14. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the player (23,123) is mounted by means of a second return spring (25,125) in the housing (27,127) of the processing device (10,110).

15. Apparatus according to one of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that the processing device (10,110) comprises a row (28,128) of several pairs of fixed blades (21, 121) and movable (22,122) mounted side by side transversely to the axis of said player (23,123).

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that said row (28,128) is arranged in the center of the air outlet opening (8,108) and a row of pins (29,129) is arranged on each side of the row (28,128) of smoothing elements, set back from the leading portion thereof.

17. Apparatus according to one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the movable blades (22,122) move in a direction transverse to that of the air flow blown by the apparatus.

18. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second mechanism comprises a secondary pull (62,162) connected by a lever (63,163) to the player (23,123).