EP3506789A1

EP3506789A1 - Hairstyling apparatus equipped with a device for triggering a counting unit

Info

Publication number: EP3506789A1
Application number: EP17765237.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jacky Chelle; Baptiste Bonnemaire; Régis FEREYRE
Original assignee: SEB SA
Current assignee: SEB SA
Priority date: 2016-09-01
Filing date: 2017-08-11
Publication date: 2019-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 2037-08-11
Also published as: CN107811388B; RU2019107118A; CN207837025U; FR3055195B1; KR102322367B1; RU2019107118A3; RU2734816C2; EP3506789B1; FR3055195A1; KR20190041515A; WO2018042101A1; CN107811388A

Abstract

The invention concerns a hairstyling apparatus (1) for curling hair comprising a mandrel (3), a tank (10) of liquid, a wick (13) communicating with the tank so as to be imbibed with liquid, a heating element (21) incorporated into the mandrel and means for guiding the wick (13) configured to allow it to move from a passive position to an active position in which said wick is in contact with the heating element (21) in order to create steam. The apparatus (1) comprises a unit for counting time, a detection system (33, 38) for detecting the active position of the wick (13) configured to trigger the counting unit when it passes into the active position, and a signalling system configured to emit a signal to a user when the counting unit reaches a set time.

Description

HAIRSTONING APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH A TRIGGER DEVICE

A COUNTING UNIT Technical Area

The present invention relates to the field of hairdressing appliances for curling hair, and particularly to such hairdressing appliances equipped with a steam production system which comprises a liquid reservoir, a wick impregnated with the liquid and a heating element on which comes into contact said wick.

In addition, such a hairdressing appliance comprises a mandrel and a tile, these elements being articulated to form a clamp so as to allow the pinch of a lock of hair to wrap around the mandrel and thus loop it.

State of the art

It is known patent applications WO0167915A2 and EP1894488A1 relating to such hairdressing appliances having the above characteristics, which allows to generate steam during the completion of the looping of the lock of hair.

The liquid reservoir is arranged at the end of the mandrel and the wick impregnated with liquid is integral with the reservoir and communicates therewith so as to be soaked with said liquid. A heating element is placed in the mandrel. Guiding means are arranged between the reservoir and the mandrel so as to allow the displacement of the reservoir and the wick between a passive position and an active position in which the wick is in contact with the heating element for the creation of steam. This steam is generated by manually moving the tank and the wick. During the looping operation of the lock of hair, the user must pinch the lock of hair, wrap it around the mandrel and then hold down the reservoir so that the wick soaked in liquid remains in contact with the heating element. way to generate steam continuously. This makes the current hairdressers with such characteristics uncomfortable. In addition, the user must count himself the duration of vaporization of the lock of hair in order to achieve treatment of the lock of hair curly vaporization for a suitable period, this period must be neither too short for the treatment is effective, not too long not to degrade the hair. This requires extra attention from the user during styling. In addition, the time of application of the steam is very variable, depending on the counting speed of the user.

Summary of the invention

The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

A primary objective is to facilitate the use of the apparatus by avoiding the user having to count the time of application of the steam during the looping operation.

To this end, the invention relates to a hair styling device for looping the hair comprising a mandrel, a liquid reservoir, a wick communicating with the reservoir so as to be soaked with liquid, a heating element integrated in the mandrel and means for guiding the wick configured to enable its movement from a passive position to an active position in which said wick is in contact with the heating element for steam generation. Electrical means for activating said heating element. In addition, the hairdressing apparatus comprises a counting unit of a duration, a system for detecting the active position of the wick configured to trigger the counting unit as soon as the active position is entered and a signaling system configured to send a signal to a user when the counting unit reaches a defined duration. Thus, the design of the hairdressing apparatus according to the invention makes it possible to start a count of a duration as soon as the wick goes into the active position, which prevents the user from having to count the duration of application of the steam. and having to activate an additional button to start said counting, all these operations being launched automatically when the user manipulates the hairdressing apparatus to move the wick soaked with liquid in the active position.

In a preferred embodiment of the hairdressing apparatus according to the invention, the wick impregnated with liquid is integral with the reservoir. In addition, the guide means are configured to move the reservoir and the wick from the passive position to the active position. Preferably, the reservoir is positioned at the distal end of the mandrel. Thus, the user actuates the reservoir to move the wick to the active position. According to a first variant of the hairdressing apparatus which is the subject of the invention, the heating element comprises a vaporization plate against which the wick comes into contact in the active position. In addition, the detection system comprises means for detecting a temperature drop of said vaporization plate, said temperature drop being representative of the beginning of the vaporization step.

According to a second variant of the hairdressing apparatus that is the subject of the invention, the detection system comprises a switch arranged in the mandrel and means for connecting the switch to the counting unit. In addition, the hairdressing apparatus is configured so that the passage in the active position allows to directly actuate the switch.

According to a third variant of the hairdressing apparatus which is the subject of the invention, the hairdressing apparatus comprises a body, the detection system comprising at least one bead extending inside the mandrel and a switch arranged in the body. allowing the manipulation of said apparatus, the body being extended by the mandrel. In addition, the hairdressing apparatus is configured so that the passage in the active position allows to actuate the switch through the at least one rod.

According to the hairdressing apparatus object of the invention, it comprises a tile hinged on the apparatus to form a clamp with the mandrel, so as to move the tile between a free position of the mandrel, allowing the positioning of a lock of hair, and a bearing position against the mandrel, allowing the pinch of the lock of hair to then perform the looping operation.

According to the hairdressing apparatus object of the invention, it comprises a locking / unlocking system configured to maintain the active position of the wick when the tile is in the bearing position against the mandrel and to allow the release from the wick to the passive position, when the tile is in the disengaged position of the mandrel. This keeps the wick permanently in the active position without requiring additional manipulation of the device throughout the vaporization step.

In an embodiment of the hairdressing apparatus, the reservoir is integral with the wick and moves therewith from the passive position to the active position. In addition, the locking / unlocking system comprises a first locking element disposed on the reservoir and arranged to cooperate with a second locking element disposed at a distal end of the tile. These locking elements ensure the maintenance in position of the tank vis-à-vis the tile when said tile is in the bearing position against the mandrel and said tank is moved to the active position. Preferably, according to this embodiment of the hairdressing apparatus, the first locking member and the second locking member are configured to snap into each other. However, variants of first and second locking elements could be envisaged, without departing from the scope of the invention. Preferably, the first locking member comprises a U-shaped elastic piece provided with a constriction and the second locking member comprises a pad arranged on an inner face of the tile. The shrinkage maintains the elastic piece engaged on the stud. According to the hairdressing appliance, the locking / unlocking system comprises means for returning the lock to said passive position. This ensures an automatic stopping of the steam, without requiring additional manipulation of the hair styling apparatus. Preferably, the return means comprise a spring.

According to the hairdressing apparatus object of the invention, it comprises a unit for controlling the temperature of the heating element. In addition, the detection system is configured to trigger the control unit during the transition to the active position of the wick.

In one embodiment of the hairdressing apparatus, the signaling system is configured to emit a sound signal. However, variants can be envisaged with a signaling system configured to emit a visual signal.

Brief description of the figures

The following description of a preferred non-limiting embodiment of the hairdressing appliance and its variants highlights the features that are the subject of the present invention. This description is based on figures, among which: FIG. 1 illustrates an overall view of a hairdressing appliance with a tile resting against a mandrel;

Figure 2 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the hairdressing apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the distal end of the hairdressing apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 4 illustrates a view of the liquid reservoir at the end of the mandrel, showing a female locking member; Figure 5 illustrates a view of the end of the tile, showing a male locking member;

Figures 6 to 8 show three variants of a detection system of the active position of the wick. detailed description

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hairdressing appliance 1 comprises a body 2, a mandrel 3, a tile 4. The body 2 is configured to manipulate said hairdressing appliance 1 during its use. The mandrel 3 is cylindrical and extends the body 2 along a longitudinal axis X. The tile 4 is circular in shape adapted to that of the mandrel 3. The proximal end 5 of the tile 4 is attached to a handling finger 6 which is articulated vis-à-vis the distal end 7 of the body 2. A pressure on the rear portion 8 of the handling finger 6 allows the tile 4 to move to an unobstructed position of the mandrel 3, to allow the introduction of a wick between a mandrel 3 and a tile 4. A spring 9, arranged between the distal end 7 of the body 2 and the handling finger 6, makes it possible to move the tile 4 in the bearing position against the mandrel 3, such that illustrated in FIG. 1, when one stops pressing on said manipulating finger 6, which allows pinching of a lock of hair (not shown) positioned between said mandrel 3 and said tile 4.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the hairstyling device 1 comprises a reservoir 10 which has an opening 11 at its proximal end 12. This opening 11 makes it possible to fill the reservoir 10 with liquid. A wick 13 is mounted in a tubular piece 14 which is fixed with the reservoir 10 at this proximal end 12, said wick 13 communicating with the opening January 1, which allows to imbibe. The reservoir 10 and the tubular part 14 are mounted in sliding connection on the distal end 15 of the mandrel 3, which makes it possible to translate said elements and the wick 13 along the longitudinal axis X, vis-à-vis said mandrel 3, so as to move the assembly (reservoir 10, tubular piece 14 and wick 13) of an active position in which the proximal end 16 of the wick 13 bears against a spray plate 17, as illustrated in FIG. 3, allowing the creation of steam, to a passive position in which the proximal end 16 of the wick 13 is disengaged from said spraying plate 17. A spring 18 arranged in the bottom 19 of the tubular piece 14 bears against the distal end 20 of the wick 13 to hold it properly resting against the spray plate 17 in said active position. The vaporizer plate 17 is in contact with a heating element 21, for example a thermistor with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC), which allows to heat said vaporization plate 17 by thermal conduction. The heating element 21 furthermore makes it possible to heat the mandrel 3.

A locking / unlocking system 22 is arranged on the hairdressing apparatus 1 to hold the reservoir 10, the tubular piece 14 and the wick 13 in the aforementioned active position. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, this locking / unlocking system 22 is implemented between the contour wall 23 of the reservoir 10 and the distal end 24 of the tile 4. The contour wall 23 comprises a groove 25 which opens onto its proximal end 26, as illustrated in FIG. 4. This groove 25 receives a U-shaped elastic piece 27, said elastic piece 27 having a constriction 28, as illustrated in FIG. constitutes a first locking element. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a stud 29 extends on the side of the inner face 30 of the tile 4, at its distal end 24. The stud 29 constitutes a second locking element configured to be housed in the elastic part 27. When the tile 4 bears against the mandrel 3, in the pinching position of a lock of hair, and the tank 10 is in the passive position, the stud 29 is positioned in the groove 25 outside the the resilient piece 27. When the reservoir 10 is then moved into the active position, said elastic piece 27 engages on the stud 29 until the constriction 28 projects beyond said stud 29, thus allowing the latching of the elastic part 27 on the pad 29 or vice versa, which ensures the maintenance of the reservoir 10 in this active position and, consequently, the maintenance of the wick 13 impregnated with liquid against the spray plate 17.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, return means 31 such as a spring are arranged between the spray plate 17 and the tubular piece 14, this spring making it possible to exert a force on said tubular piece 14, in the direction of a arrow 32. The snap of the stud 29 in the resilient piece 27 ensures the holding in position of the tank 10 vis-à-vis the tile 4, despite this force exerted by said spring. On the contrary, when the tile 4 is moved in the position cleared from the mandrel 3 by the user, the stud 29 disengages from the elastic piece 27, which allows the spring to push back the tubular piece 14 and the tank 10 (and the wick 13) in the passive position, stopping the production of steam.

Advantageously, the hairstyling apparatus 1 comprises a system for detecting the active position of the reservoir 10, the tubular piece 14 and the wick 13, according to which steam is generated. In a first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, this detection system comprises means 33 for detecting a temperature drop of said vaporizer plate 17, these detection means 33 themselves comprising a temperature sensor, preferably a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor. This temperature sensor is positioned in contact with the internal face 34 of the vaporization plate 17, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 6. When the proximal end 16 of the wick 13 comes into contact with the external face 35 of the plate of FIG. vaporization 17, said vaporization plate 17 undergoes a sudden drop in temperature, which is detected by the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor transmits the information of the drop in temperature to an electronic control unit 36, shown in FIG. 2, integrating a counting unit which has a duration, for example of ten seconds, during which the creation must be maintained. of steam and heating of the mandrel 3 after the lock of hair wrapped around said mandrel 3. This duration can be set by the user according to indexed values of the duration of exposure to steam, for example 5, 8 or 10 seconds this setting being accessible from a user interface disposed on the hairdressing appliance 1. Once the time has elapsed, the counting unit transmits the information to the electronic control unit 36 which triggers a sound signaling system, for example a emitter of beeps, or even a signal light, indicating the user to release the tile 4 vis-à-vis the mandrel 3, to clear the tank 10 and the wick 13 in passive position and thus stop the creation of steam, before removing the lock of curly hair. The implementation of such an electronic control unit 36 is within the reach of the skilled person, it is therefore not detailed.

The reservoir 10 is removable from the distal end 15 of the mandrel, which allows access to the opening 1 1 on said reservoir 10, to perform its filling liquid. For this, the proximal end 12 of the reservoir 10 is removably assembled, in particular by snapping, with the bottom 19 of the tubular part 14. Other filling variants of the reservoir 10 are conceivable without departing from the scope of the invention. . For example, it would be possible to provide a cover (not shown) for opening the distal end 37 of the reservoir 10 to fill it with liquid without having to disassemble said reservoir 10 with respect to the distal end 15 of the mandrel 3.

FIG. 7 schematizes a second embodiment variant of a system for detecting the active position of the reservoir 10, of the tubular piece 14 and of the wick 13 in contact with the spray part 17. According to this variant, the detection system comprises a switch 38 arranged at the distal end 15 inside the mandrel 3. This switch 38 is connected by connection means 39 such as a cable to the housing electronic control unit 36 which integrates the counting unit and which is housed in the body 2 of the hairdressing appliance 1, said cable passing through the mandrel 3 over its entire length. A portion 40 of the reservoir 10 is configured to actuate a push button 41 of the switch 38 during the displacement of the reservoir 10, the tubular piece 14 and the bit 13 in the active position, the switch then triggering the unit of counting (not shown) located in the electronic control box 36.

FIG. 8 schematizes a third variant embodiment of a detection system of the active position of the reservoir 10, of the tubular piece 14 and of the wick 13 in contact with the spray part 17. According to this variant, the detection system comprises a switch 38 arranged at the distal end 7 inside the body 2 of the hairdressing appliance 1. This switch 38 is connected by connection means 39 such as a cable to the electronic control box 36 which integrates the counting unit and which is housed in the body 2 of the hairdressing appliance 1. A rod 42 is arranged in the mandrel 3 and extends over its entire length, the rod 42 comprising a head 43 at a first end, disposed at the distal end 15 of the mandrel 3 and a finger 44 at a second end. disposed in the body 2 near the push button 41 of the switch 38. This rod 42 is mounted in translation along the mandrel 3, a return spring 45 for bringing said rod 42 in the initial position. A portion 40 of the reservoir 10 is configured to push the head 43 during the displacement of the reservoir 10, the tubular piece 14 and the bit 13 in the active position, thereby allowing the finger 44 to operate a push button 41 of the switch 38, the switch 38 then triggering the counting unit (not shown) located in the electronic control box 36. It is also possible to provide variants similar to that of FIG. 8, with more than one rod 42, by example two or three rods evenly distributed around the mandrel 3, so as to properly distribute the forces on the tank 10 and not to affect the guidance thereof during its movement in the active position.

The various variants of the detection system of the active position of the wick 13 described above with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, or even any other variant, thus make it possible to trigger a counting unit (not shown) arranged in the control box. 36, to trigger a signaling system after a certain period of time, for example set at ten seconds. In addition to this function, the hairdressing appliance 1 comprises a control unit (not shown) of the temperature of the heating element 21, which is integrated in the electronic control unit 36. The system for detecting the active position of the wick 13 also allows triggering this control unit when switching to the active position, coincident with the triggering of the counting unit. Said control unit then increases the temperature of the heating element 21 and therefore that of the vaporization plate 17, thus making it possible to compensate for the slight temperature drop generated during the contact of the wick 13 with said vaporization plate 17, which guarantees a suitable production of steam as soon as the wick 13 passes into the active position.

The preceding description makes it possible to grasp the essence of the invention without limiting its scope. Thus, other variants can still be envisaged, particularly as regards the implementation of the locking / unlocking system to ensure the maintenance of the reservoir 10, the tubular part 14 and the bit 13 in the active position. This locking / unlocking system could for example be designed between the reservoir 10 or the tubular part 14, on the one hand, and the distal end 15 of the mandrel 3, independently of the position of the tile 4.

Variations could also be envisaged in which only the wick 13 moves to come into contact with the spray plate 17, the reservoir 10 remaining fixed on the hairdressing apparatus 1. In this case the hairdressing apparatus 1 would comprise means of displacement (not shown) of the wick 13 adapted to come into contact with the vaporizer plate 17. In this case could provide a detection system similar to that shown in Figure 6, or a switch 38 similar to that shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the pushbutton 41 of which would be actuated by said means for moving the wick 13.

It would also be possible to replace the sound signaling system, for example a beep transmitter, with a visual signaling system, for example permanent or flashing light, or even other signaling systems. Other variants remain possible, without departing from the scope of the invention. One could in particular provide a hairdressing apparatus 1 without locking / unlocking system 22 as described above, the user having to maintain in this case a support with the finger on the reservoir 10 to maintain the active position of the wick 13 in support against the vaporizer plate 17, as long as the defined duration has not elapsed. Once the audible signal is triggered, the user can then release the reservoir 10 which automatically returns to the passive position, with the wick 13 released from the spray plate 17, by means of a return spring.

Claims

Hair styling apparatus (1) comprising a mandrel (3), a reservoir (10) of liquid, a wick (13) communicating with the reservoir so as to be soaked with liquid, a heating element (21) integrated in the mandrel and wick guide means (13) configured to move from a passive position to an active position in which said wick is in contact with the heating element (21) for creating steam, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a counting unit of a duration, a detection system (33, 38) of the active position of the wick (13) configured to trigger the counting unit as soon as it moves into the active position and a signaling system configured to transmit a signal to a user when the counting unit reaches a defined duration.

Hairdressing appliance (1) according to claim 1, wherein the wick (13) is integral with the reservoir (10), the guide means being configured to move the reservoir and the wick from the passive position to the active position.

Hairdressing appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the heating element (21) comprises a vaporization plate (17) against which the wick (13) comes into contact in the active position, the system detection device (33, 38) comprising means (33) for detecting a temperature drop of said vaporization plate.

Hairdressing appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the detection system (33, 38) comprises a switch (38) arranged in the mandrel (3) and connecting means (39) of the switch to the counting unit, said apparatus (1) being configured so that the transition to the active position allows to directly actuate the switch (38).

Hairdressing appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, which comprises a body (2) extended by the mandrel (3), the detection system (33, 38) comprising at least one rod (42) s' extending inside the mandrel (3) and a switch (38) arranged in the body (2), said apparatus (1) being configured so that the passage in the active position allows to actuate the switch (38) by the biasing the at least one rod (42).

Hairdressing appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which comprises a tile (4) articulated on the appliance to form a clamp with the mandrel (3) so as to move the tile between a free position of the mandrel. and a bearing position against the mandrel. 7. Hairdressing apparatus (1) according to claim 6, which comprises a locking / unlocking system (22) configured to maintain the active position of the wick (13) when the tile (4) is in the support position against the mandrel (3) and to allow the release of the wick to the passive position of the wick when the tile (4) is in the disengaged position of the mandrel (3). 8. Hairdressing appliance (1) according to claim 7, wherein the reservoir (10) is integral with the wick (13) and the locking / unlocking system (22) comprises a first locking element (27) disposed on the reservoir (10) and arranged to cooperate with a second locking element (29) disposed at a distal end (24) of the tile (4), said locking elements (27, 29) ensuring the holding in position of the reservoir (10). ) vis-à-vis the tile (4) when said tile is in the bearing position against the mandrel (3) and said tank is moved to the active position.

The hairdressing apparatus (1) according to claim 8, wherein the first locking member (27) and the second locking member (29) are configured to snap into each other.

The hairdressing apparatus (1) according to claim 9, wherein the first locking member (27) comprises a U-shaped elastic piece provided with a constriction (28) and the second locking member (29) comprises a pad arranged on an inner face (30) of the tile (4), the constriction (28) ensuring the holding of the resilient piece engaged on the pad.

1 1. Hairdressing appliance (1) according to one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the locking / unlocking system (22) comprises return means (31) of the wick (13) to said passive position.

Hairdressing appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which comprises a unit for controlling the temperature of the heating element (21), the detection system (33, 38) being configured to trigger the unit. when the bit (13) is moved to the active position.

Hairdressing appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the signaling system is configured to emit a sound signal.