FR3055195A1 - HAIRING APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH A DEVICE FOR RELEASING A COUNTER UNIT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a hairdressing device (1) for wrapping the hair comprising a mandrel (3), a reservoir (10) of liquid, a wick (13) communicating with the reservoir so as to be soaked with liquid, an element heater (21) integrated in the mandrel and wick-guiding means (13) configured to enable its movement from a passive position to an active position in which said wick is in contact with the heating element (21) for the creation of steam. The apparatus (1) comprises a counting unit of a duration, a detection system (33, 38) of the active position of the bit (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.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of hairdressing apparatus for achieving curling of the hair, of the “curler” type, and very particularly to such hairdressing apparatus equipped with a steam production system which comprises a liquid reservoir, a wick soaked in liquid and a heating element on which said wick comes into contact.

In addition, such a hairdressing apparatus comprises a mandrel and a tile, these elements being articulated to form a clamp so as to allow the pinching of a lock of hair to wind it around the mandrel and thus curl it.

State of the art

Patent applications WO0167915A2 and EP1894488A1 relating to such hairdressing devices having the above characteristics are known, which makes it possible to generate steam during the curling of the lock of hair.

The liquid reservoir is arranged at the end of the mandrel and the wick soaked in liquid is integral with the reservoir and communicates with it so as to be soaked with said liquid. A heating element is placed in the mandrel. Guide 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 wick.

During the looping operation of the lock of hair, the user must pinch the lock of hair, wrap it around the mandrel then keep the reservoir pressed so that the lock soaked in liquid remains in contact with the heating element, so as to generate steam continuously. This makes current hairdressing devices having such characteristics not very ergonomic.

In addition, the user must count the duration of vaporization of the lock of hair himself in order to carry out a treatment of the curled lock of hair by vaporization for a suitable duration, this duration having to be neither too short for the treatment to be effective, not too long so as not to damage the hair. This requires additional user attention during styling. In addition, the steam application time is very variable, depending on the user's counting speed.

Summary of the invention

The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

A primary objective is to facilitate the use of the device 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 hairdressing apparatus for curling 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 guide the wick configured to allow its displacement from a passive position to an active position in which said wick is in contact with the heating element for the creation of steam. Electrical means are used to activate said heating element.

In addition, the hairdressing apparatus comprises a duration counting unit, a system for detecting the active position of the lock configured to trigger the counting unit as soon as it enters the active position and a signaling system configured for 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 initiate a counting of a duration as soon as the wick passes into the active position, which avoids the user having to count the duration of application of the steam and of having to activate an additional button to start said counting, all of these operations being launched automatically when the user manipulates the hairdressing apparatus to move the lock soaked in liquid in the active position.

In a preferred embodiment of the hairdressing apparatus according to the invention, the wick soaked in 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 hairstyling device 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 start of the vaporization step.

According to a second variant of the hairstyling device which 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 hairdresser is configured so that switching to the active position allows the switch to be actuated directly.

According to a third variant of the hairstyling appliance which is the subject of the invention, the hairstyling appliance comprises a body, the detection system comprising at least one rod extending inside the mandrel and a switch arranged in the body allowing the manipulation of said device, the body being extended by the mandrel. In addition, the hair styling device is configured so that switching to the active position allows the switch to be actuated by means of at least one rod.

According to the hairstyling device which is the subject of the invention, the latter comprises a tile articulated on the appliance to form a clamp with the mandrel, so as to move the tile between a position released from the mandrel, allowing the positioning of a lock of hair, and a support position against the mandrel, allowing the pinch of the lock of hair to be pinched in order to then perform the curling operation.

According to the hairstyling device which is the subject of the invention, it comprises a locking / unlocking system configured to ensure that the drill bit remains in the active position when the tile is in the position of pressing against the mandrel and to allow release from the drill bit to the passive position, when the tile is in the released position of the mandrel. This allows the wick to be kept permanently in the active position without requiring additional manipulation of the device during the entire spraying step.

In one 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 tank and arranged to cooperate with a second locking element disposed at a distal end of the tile. These locking elements maintain the reservoir in position vis-à-vis the tile when said tile is in the position of pressing against the mandrel and when said reservoir is moved to the active position. Preferably, according to this embodiment of the hairdressing apparatus, the first locking element and the second locking element are configured to snap into each other. One could however envisage variants of first and second locking elements, without departing from the scope of the invention. Preferably, the first locking element comprises an elastic U-shaped piece provided with a narrowing and the second locking element comprises a stud arranged on an internal face of the tile. The narrowing maintains the elastic part 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 shutdown of the steam, without requiring additional manipulation of the hair styling device. Preferably, the return means comprise a spring.

According to the hairdressing device which is the subject 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 when the bit enters the active position.

In an embodiment of the hairdressing apparatus, the signaling system is configured to emit an audible signal. However, it is possible to envisage variants 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 characteristics which 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 pressing 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;

FIG. 4 illustrates a view of the liquid reservoir at the end of the mandrel, showing a male locking element;

Figure 5 illustrates a view of the end of the tile, showing a female locking element;

Figures 6 to 8 show schematically three variants of a system for detecting 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 handle 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 of circular shape adapted to that of the mandrel 3. The proximal end 5 of the tile 4 is fixed to a manipulation finger 6 which is articulated vis-à-vis the distal end 7 of the body 2. A pressure on the rear part 8 of the manipulation finger 6 makes it possible to move the tile 4 towards a position released from the mandrel 3, to allow the introduction of a drill bit of hair between the mandrel 3 and the tile 4. A spring 9, arranged between the distal end 7 of the body 2 and the manipulation finger 6, makes it possible to move the tile 4 in the position of support against the mandrel 3, such that 'illustrated in Figure 1, when you stop pressing said manipulation finger 6, which allows the 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 hairdressing appliance 1 comprises a reservoir 10 which has an opening 11 at its proximal end 12. This opening 11 allows the reservoir 10 to be filled with liquid. 13 is mounted in a tubular part 14 which is fixed with the reservoir 10 at this proximal end 12, said wick 13 communicating with the opening 11, which allows it to be soaked. The reservoir 10 and the tubular part 14 are mounted in sliding connection on the distal end 15 of the mandrel 3, which allows said elements and the wick 13 to be translated along the longitudinal axis X, with respect to said mandrel 3, so as to move the assembly (reservoir 10, tubular part 14 and wick 13) from an active position according to which the proximal end 16 of the wick 13 abuts against a vaporization plate 17, as illustrated in FIG. 3, allowing the creation of steam, towards a passive position according to which the proximal end 16 of the wick 13 is released from said vaporization plate 17. A spring 18 arranged in the bottom 19 of the tubular part 14 exerts a support against the distal end 20 of the wick to maintain it in proper abutment against the vaporization plate 17 in said active position. The vaporization plate 17 is in contact with a heating element 21, for example a thermistor with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC), which makes it possible to heat said vaporization plate 17 by thermal conduction. The heating element 21 also makes it possible to heat the mandrel 3.

A locking / unlocking system 22 is arranged on the hairdressing apparatus 1 to maintain the reservoir 10, the tubular part 14 and the wick 13 in the above-mentioned 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 opening onto its proximal end 26, as illustrated in FIG. 4. This groove 25 receives an elastic part 27 in the shape of a U, said elastic part 27 comprising a narrowing 28, as illustrated in FIG. 4. This elastic part 27 constitutes a first locking element. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a stud 29 extends on the side of the internal 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 is in abutment against the mandrel 3, in the pinching position of a lock of hair, and when the reservoir 10 is in the passive position, the stud 29 comes to be positioned in the groove 25 outside of the elastic part 27. When then the reservoir 10 is moved into the active position, said elastic part 27 engages on the pad 29 until the narrowing exceeds said pad 29, thus allowing the latching of the part elastic 27 on the pad 29 or vice versa, which ensures the retention of the reservoir 10 in this active position and, consequently, the maintenance of the wick 13 soaked in liquid against the vaporization plate 17.

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

Advantageously, the hairdressing apparatus 1 comprises a system for detecting the active position of the reservoir 10, of the tubular part 14 and of 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 drop in temperature of said vaporization plate 17, these detection means 33 themselves comprising a temperature sensor, preferably a thermistor with negative temperature coefficient (NTC). 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 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 on the drop in temperature to an electronic control unit 36, represented in FIG. 2, integrating a counting unit which counts a duration, for example of ten seconds, during which the creation must be maintained. steam and heating the mandrel 3 once the lock of hair is wrapped around said mandrel 3. This duration can be adjusted by the user according to indexed values of duration of exposure to vapor, for example 5, 8 or 10 seconds , this adjustment being accessible from a user interface arranged on the hairdressing apparatus 1. Once the duration has elapsed, the counting unit transmits the information to the electronic control unit 36 which triggers an audible signaling system, for example a beeper, or even a light signal, indicating to the user to release the tile 4 vis-à-vis the mandrel 3, in order to release the reservoir 10 and l has wick 13 in the passive position and thus stop the creation of vapor, 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 gives access to the opening 11 on said reservoir 10, for filling it with liquid. For this, the proximal end 12 of the reservoir 10 is assembled in a removable manner, in particular by a snap-fastening, with the bottom 19 of the tubular part 14. Other variants of filling the reservoir 10 can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention . One could for example provide a cover (not illustrated) allowing the distal end 37 of the reservoir 10 to be opened in order 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 shows schematically a second alternative embodiment of a system for detecting the active position of the reservoir 10, of the tubular part 14 and of the wick 13 in contact with the vaporization 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 electronic control unit 36 which integrates the counting unit and which is housed in the body 2 of the hairdressing apparatus 1, said cable passing through the mandrel 3 over its entire length. A part 40 of the reservoir 10 is configured to actuate a push button 41 of the switch 38 during the movement of the reservoir 10, of the tubular part 14 and of the wick 13 in the active position, the switch then triggering the unit of counting (not shown) located in the electronic control unit 36.

FIG. 8 shows schematically a third alternative embodiment of a system for detecting the active position of the reservoir 10, of the tubular part 14 and of the wick 13 in contact with the vaporization 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 apparatus 1. This switch 38 is connected by connection means 39 such as a cable to the electronic control unit 36 which integrates the counting unit and which is housed in the body 2 of the hairdressing apparatus 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 e n translation along the mandrel 3, a return spring 45 for returning said rod 42 to the initial position. A part 40 of the reservoir 10 is configured to push the head 43 during the movement of the reservoir 10, of the tubular part 14 and of the wick 13 in the active position, thus allowing the finger 44 to come and actuate a push button 41 of the switch 38, the switch 38 then triggering the counting unit (not shown) located in the electronic control unit 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 uniformly distributed around the mandrel 3, so as to distribute the forces properly on the reservoir 10 and not to alter the guiding of the latter during its movement in the active position.

The various variants of the system for detecting 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 illustrated) disposed in the control unit. electronic 36, in order to trigger a signaling system after a certain defined duration, for example fixed at ten seconds. In addition to this function, the hairdressing appliance 1 comprises a control unit (not shown) for 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 makes it possible to trigger this control unit when switching to the active position, concomitantly 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 drop in temperature generated during contact of the wick 13 with said vaporization plate 17, which guarantees suitable steam production as soon as said wick 13 goes into the active position.

The foregoing description makes it possible to grasp the essence of the invention, without limiting its scope. Thus, other variants remain possible, in particular with regard to the implementation of the locking / unlocking system to maintain the reservoir 10, the tubular part 14 and the wick 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.

One could also envisage variants where only the wick 13 moves to come into contact with the vaporization plate 17, the reservoir 10 remaining fixed on the hairdressing appliance 1. In this case the hairdressing appliance 1 would include means for displacement (not shown) of the wick 13 adapted to come into contact with the vaporization plate 17. In this case, a detection system similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6 could be provided, or even a switch 38 similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the push button 41 of which would be actuated by said means for moving the wick 13.

The audible signaling system, for example a beeper, could also be replaced by 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 hairstyling device 1 without locking / unlocking system 22 as described above, the user having to in this case keep pressing with the finger on the reservoir 10 to keep the active position of the wick 13 in support against the vaporization plate 17, until the defined time has elapsed. Once the audible signal has been triggered, the user can then release the reservoir 10 which automatically returns to the passive position, with the wick 13 released from the vaporization plate 17, thanks to a return spring.

B. 1752

Claims (13)

1. Hairdressing apparatus (1) for curling the hair 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 means for guiding the wick (13) configured to allow its displacement from a passive position to an active position in which said wick is in contact with the heating element (21) for the creation of steam , characterized in that the apparatus comprises a counting unit for a period of time, a detection system (33, 38) of the active position of the wick (13) configured to trigger the counting unit as soon as it enters the position active and a signaling system configured to send a signal to a user when the counting unit reaches a defined duration. 2. Hairdressing apparatus (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. 3. Hairdressing appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, in which the heating element (21) comprises a vaporization plate (17) against which the wick (13) comes into contact in the active position, the detection system (33, 38) comprising means (33) for detecting a drop in temperature of said vaporization plate. 4. Hairdressing apparatus (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 connection means (39) from the switch to the counting unit, said device (1) being configured so that switching to the active position allows the switch (38) to be actuated directly. 5. Hairdressing apparatus (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) extending inside the mandrel (3) and a switch (38) arranged in the body (2), said apparatus (1) being configured so that switching to the active position makes it possible to actuate the switch (38) through the at least one rod (42). 6. Hairdressing apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which comprises a tile (4) articulated on the device to form a clamp with the mandrel (3) so as to move the tile between a disengaged position of the mandrel and a support position against the mandrel. 7. Hairdressing apparatus (1) according to claim 6, which comprises a locking / unlocking system (22) configured to ensure the maintenance in active position of the wick (13) when the tile (4) is in the support position against the mandrel (3) and to allow disengagement of the drill bit towards the passive position of the drill bit when the tile (4) is in the disengaged position of the mandrel (3). 8. Hairdressing apparatus (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 support position against the mandrel (3) and when said reservoir is moved to the active position. 9. 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. 10. Hairdressing appliance (1) according to claim 9, wherein the first locking element (27) comprises an elastic U-shaped part provided with a narrowing (28) and the second locking element (29) comprises a stud arranged on an internal face (30) of the tile (4), the narrowing (28) ensuring the maintenance of the elastic part engaged on the stud. 11. Hairdressing apparatus (1) according to one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the locking / unlocking system (22) comprises means (31) for returning the lock (13) to said passive position. 12. Hairdressing apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which comprises a heating element temperature control unit (21), the detection system (33, 38) being configured to trigger the unit. when the drill bit (13) is in the active position. 13. Hairdressing appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the signaling system is configured to emit an audible signal.