US3752399A

US3752399A - Apparatus for treating human hair

Info

Publication number: US3752399A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Neale; H Gotch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-08-31
Filing date: 1972-05-15
Publication date: 1973-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-14

Abstract

Means for controlling the outflow of two fluids having different physical and/or chemical characteristics, particularly hot and cold water for the treatment of hair, to provide discrete sprays of said fluids from an array of jet ports, which includes A BODY MEMBER HAVING TWO SETS OF FLUID PASSAGES WHICH ARE ADAPTED TO COMMUNICATE RESPECTIVELY WITH SOURCES OF THE TWO FLUIDS UNDER PRESSURE; A CLOSURE MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED RELATIVE TO THE BODY MEMBER AND CARRYING THE ARRAY OF JET PORTS WHICH ARE SO LOCATED THAT, DURING RELATIVE SLIDING MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE CLOSURE MEMBER AND BODY MEMBER, THEY SIMULTANEOUSLY MOVE SEQUENTIALLY INTO AND OUT OF COMMUNICATION WITH PASSAGES OF THE TWO SETS ALTERNATELY SO THAT THE TWO FLUIDS CAN PASS ALTERNATELY THROUGH THE JET PORTS TO PROVIDE DISTINCT AND SEQUENTIAL IMPULSES OF THE TWO FLUIDS ALTERNATELY.

Description

United States Patent Neale et al.

[ Aug. 14, 1973 I APPARATUS FOR TREATING HUMAN HAIR [75] Inventors: Michael John Neale; Henry Edward Gotch, both of Herriard, England Assignee: Rene Andre Louis Moulard, London,

England Filed: May 15, 1972 Appl. No.: 253,645

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 68,452, Aug. 31, 1970, Pat. No. 3,701,475.

[52] US. Cl 239/101, 4/159, 128/66, l37/624.l4

Int. Cl B05b l/l4 Field of Search 239/11, 101, 102, 239/99, 444, 445, 541; 137/112, 624.14;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/ 1965 Wallace et a1. 132/9 X 3/1971 Pauliukonis l37/624.14 X 3/1971 Pauliukonis l37/624.l4 X

Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Michael Mar Attorney-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher ABSTRACT Means for controlling the outflow of two fluids having different physical and/or chemical characteristics, particularly hot and cold water for the treatment of hair, to provide discrete sprays of said fluids from an array of jet ports, which includes a body member having two sets of fluid passages which are adapted to communicate respectively with sources of the two fluids under pressure;

a closure member slidably mounted relative to the body member and carrying the array of jet ports which are so located that, during relative sliding movement between the closure member and body member, they simultaneously move sequentially into and out of communication with passages of the two sets alternately so that the two fluids can pass alternately through the jet ports to provide distinct and sequential impulses of the two fluids alternately.

10 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures I T l 9 40 46 119, 119/51 il9 (i/9/ i gal Patented Au 14, 1973 3,752,399

7 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I

Patented Aug. 14, 1973 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 NOE V Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,752,399

7 Sheets-Sheet 3 JFW F FIGS Patented Aug. 14, 1973 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 QUE m mQE G Fli R Q Patented Aug. 14, 1973 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,752,399

7 Sheets-Sheet 6 APPARATUS FOR TREATING HUMAN HAIR This is adivision of application Ser. No. 68,452, filed Aug. 31, 1970 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,475.

This invention relates to apparatus for, and a method of, spraying fluids and is particularly directed towards the control of cyclic outflow of fluid to provide a spray from a plurality of orifices, nozzles and like fluid outlets which will be hereinafter collectively termed jet ports. The control of outflow of fluid, especially liquid, to provide a spray is of particular importance in the treatment of hair in situ on the head of a human subject and the invention is mainly concerned wth apparatus and method for facilitating such treatment but is not intended to be necessarily restricted to such application.

Although the present invention is capable of being utilised to control the cyclic outflow of gaseous medium it has particular application to controlling the alternate and sequential outflow of the two liquids having different physical and/or chemical characteristics (for example two liquids having the same chemical composition but at different temperatures or pressures) in ordered sequence from a common set of jet ports. It is to be realised that throughout this specification a reference to a liquid" also includes that liquid when having substances dissolved in it as, for example, water having a, hair shampoo or medicant dissolved in it.

By the present invention there is provided apparatus for controlling the outflow of two fluids having different physical and/or chemical characteristics to provide discrete sprays of said fluids from an array of jet ports, which includes a body member having two sets of fluid passages, the two sets being adapted to communicate respectively with sources of the two fluids under pressure; a closure member slidably mounted relative to the body member and carrying the array of jet ports, the jet ports being so located that, during relative sliding movement between the closure member and body member, they simultaneously move sequentially into and out of communication with passages of the two sets alternately so that the two fluids can pass alternately through the jet ports to provide distinct and sequential impulses of the two fluids alternately.

Conveniently the body member has an array of adjacent channels and the closure member is mounted on the body member so that the fluid passages are formed between channels and the closure member and said members are slidable relative to each other. The fluid passages are arranged to form two sets, each set being adapted to contain a fluid having a characteristic which differs from the fluid in the other set, and passages of the sets are arranged sequentially so that no pair of adjacent conduits contain the same fluid. The jet ports are located in the closure member so that, during relative sliding movement between the closure member and body member, they communicate sequentially and discretely with each set of fluid passages and, in any relative position between the body member and closure member which results in an impulse of fluid being sprayed, fluid of the same characteristic is passed through each of the jet ports and, further,-by continued relative movement between the body member and closure member each impulse of fluid of one characteristic is followed by an impulse of fluid of the other characteristic.

Preferably the fluid passages in the two sets are ar-,

ranged substantially parallel and alternately disposed with respect to each other and spaced by lands so that any pair of adjacent fluid passages contain different fluids. Flow control is effected at the jet ports themselves and during relative movement between the jet ports and the fluid passages the jet ports are simultaneously brought into registration alternately and sequentially with each of the two sets of fluid conduits. It is of considerable importance that flow control is efl'ected at the jet ports since by such an arrangement relative movement between the body member and closure member imparts a wiping action over the ends of the jet ports and cleans or clears them, thereby providing a self cleaning spray device. Relative movement between the jet ports and the fluid passages can be continuous in one sense of direction or can be oscillatory.

For convenience of description and simplicity of exposition, the present invention will hereinafter be described in relation to the alternate projection of hot and cold liquids, it is to be realised however that this must not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention in any way.

In its simplest form, the invention comprises two plain surface members sliding one upon the other in which jet ports in regular pattern are provided in one member and two alternating sets of fluid passages are provided in the other member. One set of fluid passages is connected with a source of hot liquid and the other with a source of cold liquid. The relative disposition of the jet ports and fluid passages is such that linear to and fro sliding movement of one member across the other will bring each jet port into register with hot and cold liquid in the fluid passages alternately. As previously mentioned the fluid passages are conveniently formed by an array of channels interspaced by lands in one member which channels are effectively closed by the member having the jet ports. In a construction of the present invention which utilises a to-and-fro sliding movement between the jet ports and the fluid passages, one member is arranged so that it can reciprocate through a stroke which permits the jet ports to simultaneously and alternately communicate with the hot and cold liquid passages. Since hot and cold liquids are separately located in any pair of adjacent fluid passages and the jet ports are located to communicate simultaneously and alternately with a hot liquid conduit and a cold liquid passage, it will be apparent that if the channels are made wider in the direction of reciprocation than the width of the lands which separate them and the stroke of relative movement between the two members is made longer than the width of a channel and shorter than the width of a channel and two lands, means can be provided by which the disposition of one member relative to the other member can be adjusted so that during reciprocation of one member relative to the other member any one of three conditions can be achieved, a first condition in which the jet ports communicate solely and intermittently with the cold water passages, a second condition in which the jet ports communicate alternately with hot and cold water passages and a third condition in which the jet ports communicate solely and intermittently with the hot water passages. By suitable adjustment of the two members from the first to the third conditions, the jet ports communicate alternately between the cold and hot water passages and the time period of each impulse of cold water decreases whilst the time period of each impulse of hot water increases in proportion until the third condition is reached. By incorporating such adjustment means in the apparatus of the present invention, it will be apparent that all hot water impulses can be obtained or all cold water impulses obtained or a combination of alternate hot and cold water impulses obtained as may be required. Selection of one of the three conditions can be achieved by adjusting one member relative to the other member so that the channels (or fluid passages) are effectively displaced relative to the jet ports in the direction of reciprocation by a pre-selected amount to change, in effect, the centre about which relative reciprocation takes place between the jet ports and the hot and cold water passages.

As will be readily understood from the aforegoing description the present invention can be applied to mating members which are conveniently cylindrical or part hemispherical in shape, fit closely one within the other and have the required channels formed in the mating face of the inner member and having jet ports pierced in the outer member.

Relative sliding movement between the two members is conveniently achieved by fluid pressure and, particularly in constructions where reciprocal sliding movement is provided between the two members, the apparatus can incorporate valve means whereby water pressure is passed alternately into a pair of variable volume chambers provided in the apparatus to cause the chambers to expand and contract respectively and alternately and thereby impart reciprocal movement between the body member and closure member.

The spray apparatus of the present invention is conveniently constructed from a plastics material. When employing cylindrical or part hemispherical members it is preferred that the inner member is made of a rigid material (as for example stainless steel or a fibre reinforced plastics) and the outer member is made of a resilient material (as for example of rubber or neoprene) so as to ensure close over-all fitting of the mating surfaces without demanding a high degree of accuracy in the shape of the mating curved surfaces.

The spray apparatus of the invention is particularly useful for applying treatment to hair in situ on the head of a human subject and especial benefit has been found by applying impulses of hot and cold water alternately to the hair. Such treatment may include shampooing, shampoo-rinsing, scalp stimulating and hair conditioning with aqueous solutions.

The spray apparatus when intended to be used for hair treatment may be portable and designed to be hand-held or may be mounted as, for example, in a suitable cabinet. Such a cabinet preferably defines a chamber within which the spray apparatus is mounted to direct alternate hot and cold water impulses onto the hair and scalp which are located in the chamber through an aperture in the cabinet and sealing means is provided in the aperture to form a seal between the head and cabinet. The sealing means preferably comprises a flexible waterproof curtain carried by the cabinet which curtain has a boundary surface partly or wholly defining a hole within which the head can be located whilst in the aperture of the cabinet and in which the length of the boundary surface is contractable or expandable to adjust the size of the hole to accommodate, and form a seal with, different head sizes.

The length of the boundary surface of the curtain may be adjustable by a draw-string which can be carried within the curtain adjacent its boundary surface. The curtain is preferably made of a resilient material and secured to the cabinet in sealed manner so that when the draw-string is tightened to shorten the length of the boundary surface and form a seal with the head the curtain expands, and when the draw-string is released or lengthened the curtain contracts to enlarge the hole.

Alternatively the flexible curtain may be secured to the cabinet in sealed manner and define an expandable chamber which is co-extensivewith the boundary surface and is adapted to communicate with a source of fluid (which will usually comprise air or water) under pressure so that it can be inflated to change the length of the boundary surface and thereby form a seal with the head. Advantageously, in such a sealing arrangement the flexible curtain is of a resilient material.

The boundary surface of the curtain is preferably of a soft resilient nature to cushion the head and to deform to the profile around the head during sealing so that an efficient seal is formed with the head. Alternatively, the boundary surface of the curtain can be provided with a co-extensive cushioning element of soft resilient material. The cushioning element may be removably attached to the curtain along its boundary surface and several such elements can be provided which are personal to each client. By providing a personal cushioning element for each client hygienic conditions are maintained during use of the apparatus and each element can be so shaped to suit a particular head profile.

In one form of construction, the boundary surface of the curtain can define the hole but it may be preferred that the boundary surface extends along almost the whole peripheral length of the hole and the remaining peripheral part length of the hole is defined by a shaped member carried by the cabinet. The shaped member is conveniently adapted to provide a neck or forehead rest so that a subject being treated can relax with the head on the rest whilst the hair and scalp are sealed in the chamber.

When intended to be used in the treatment of hair, the spray apparatus is preferably incorporated in a hydraulic control system by which one set of fluid passages is adapted to communicate with a source of hot water under pressure and the other set of fluid passages are adapted to communicate with a source of cold water under pressure. Frequently the temperature of the hot water used in treatment would be sufficient to scald a subject if prolonged contact were to be maintained or if such contact were not to be intermittently relieved by cold water impulses. To minimise the danger of scalding the hydraulic control system preferably includes fail-safe means whereby if the pressurised supply of cold water to its respective set of fluid passages fails the supply of pressurised hot water through its respective set of fluid passeages is automatically terminated.

In one form of achieving a fail-safe system, the hot water is pressurised for projection through the jet ports solely by water pressure derived from the cold water pressure source so that, if the cold water pressure fails, the hot water pressure fails simultaneously and no water is projected through the jet ports. In achieving such a system the cold water supply to the apparatus can be pumped directly to its respective set of fluid passages and also pumped into the hot water supply. By use of a single pump which is common to both the hot and cold water supplies, and pressurising the hot water supply from the cold water supply, it will be apparent that if either the pump or the cold water supply fails the flow of hot water to the spray apparatus will also fail.

In a further form of achieving a fail-safe system valve means may be provided in the hydraulic control system which valve means is normally biased to a closed condition in which it cuts off the supply of hot water to its respective set of fluid passages but is retained against I its bias by water pressure in the cold water supply to a condition in which it is open and permits the flow of hot water to its respective set of fluid passages. Consequently if the cold water pressure fails the flow of hot water to the nozzles is automatically cut off. Such valve means conveniently comprises a shuttle valve which is reciprocated by cold water pressure to alternately project hot and cold water impulses through the jet ports. To provide a fail-safe arrangement and shuttle of the valve can be spring or otherwise biased so that, in the absence of cold water pressure, the shuttle adopts a position in which the jet ports are cut off from communication with the hot water passages.

Preferably both the above mentioned forms of failsafe means are incorporated in a hydraulic control system for the apparatus of the present invention in which case the cold water pressure both induces the flow of hot water to its respective set of fluid passages (and thereby to the jet ports) and also biases normally closed valve means to an open condition also in which hot water is supplied to its respective set of fluid passages so that if the supply or pressure of cold water fails, both the pressure and supply of hot water to the jet ports simultaneously fails.

Several embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only; with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a spray device constructed in accordance with the present invention and which is intended to spray alternate impulses of hot and cold water;

FIG. 2 is an axial section through the device in FIG. 1 which section is taken on the line Il-II of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a radial section taken on the line A-A of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are axial sections through component parts of the device shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are sections taken on the lines C-C and B-B respectively of FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively;

FIG. 8 is an axial section to illustrate a modification to the device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is an axial section through a further embodiment of the invention and illustrates a spray device intended to spray alternate impulses of hot and cold water;

FIG. 10 illustrates a cabinet within which the devices shown in FIGS. 1, 8 or 9 may be mounted for the treatment of hair and scalp and shows a convenient arrangement by which treatment may be applied to the hair of a human subject;

FIG. 11 illustrates a front part of the cabinet shown in FIG. 10 in which sealing means comprising a resilient curtain and draw-string arrangement is provided to form a peripheral seal with the head of the subject being treated;

FIG. 12 shows the curtain and draw-string which is incorporated in the sealing means shown in FIG. 11',

FIG. 13 is a section taken on the line XIII-XIII of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 diagrammatically illustrates a water supply system suitable for use with a spray device as shown in FIG. 9 and which may be incorporated in the treatment cabinet as shown in FIG. 10.

Where possible throughout the following description the same parts or members which are referred to in each of the figures have been accorded the same references.

Referring flrstly to FIGS. 1 to 7, the spray device comprises a tubular shuttle 1 (see FIG. 2) which is cylindrical in form and is slidably mounted for axial movement on a sleeve 2a carried by a rod 2 through a pair of axially spaced flange members 3 and 4. The flange members 3 and 4 are secured in annular rebates provided in the ends of the shuttle 1 and each flange member has axially-extending holes 5. The assembly comprising the shuttle 1 and flange members 3 and 4 are retained for sliding movement on the sleeve of the rod 2 between a pair of nuts 6 and 7 located on the rod 2 so that one end of the shuttle stroke is determined when the flange member 3 abuts the nut 6 and the other end is determined when the flange member 4 abuts the nut 7. The nuts 6 and 7 restrain the sleeve 20 against axial movement on the rod 2.

The shuttle 1 is slidably mounted within a cylindrical housing 8. The ends of the housing 8 are closed by

caps

9 and 10 which are in screw threaded and sealed engagement therewith. The rod 2 (or an extension thereof) projects through an aperture in the cap 10 and is encircled by an annular flange 15 provided on the cap 10 on the side thereof remote from the shuttle l. The rod 2 further projects through a securing nut 11 (which is in screw threaded engagement with the flange 15) to an adjustment knob 12. The rod 2 is secured to the knob 12 between a shoulder 13a on the rod and nuts 13 screwed on the rod. The rod 2 is inhibited from axial movement relative to the adjustment knob 12 but is free running in the knob 12 to be capable of axial rotation relative thereto. The knob 12 is in screw threaded engagement with the securing nut 11 to be axially adjustable relative thereto. The nut 11 houses an annular plunger 14 of rigid material. The plunger 14 encircles the rod 2 and is axially slidable within the annular flange 15 which extends from the cap 10. Located in the annular flange 15 between the cap 10 and plunger 14 is a sealing ring 16 which encircles the rod 2 so that, when the nut 11 is screwed into the flange 15, the plunger 14 compresses the sealing ring 16 thereby increasing its sealing effect. It will be apparent that screwed movement of the adjustment knob 12 on the nut 11 imparts axial displacement of the rod 2 relative to the end caps 9 and 10 (and thereby the housing 8). Axial displacement of the nuts 6 and 7 by displacement of the rod 2 results in a change in the effective centre of reciprocation for the shuttle 1 relative to the housing 8. In addition to increasing the sealing effect of the ring 16, compression thereof by the nut l 1 increases the degree of friction applied by the ring 16 to the rod 2 and thereby affords a convenient means of varying the feel to rotation of the adjustment knob 12. If necessary a lock-nut (not shown) may be carried on the flange to lock the nut 11 at a required position.

Provided in the external cylindrical surface of the shuttle 1 is an array of channels 17 which are axially spaced by lands 17a. The chanels 17 extend circumferentially around the shuttle 1 in radial planes thereof, are equally spaced and of the same widths axially where they communicate with the inner cylindrical surface of the housing 8. The channels 17 define, with the inner cylindrical surface of the housing 8 an axial array of water passages which, for convenience of description, will be considered as two

sets

18 and 19. As will be seen from FIG. 2 the water passages of the two sets are alternate throughout the axial array for reasons which will later become apparent. Preferably O-ring seals (not shown) are carried by the shuttle 1 to provide liquid tight seals between adjacent water passages formed by the channels 17, such O-ring seals being located between the inner cylindrical surface of the housing 8 and the lands 17a on the shuttle between the channels.

The axial width of each of the channels 17 at the position where they communicate with the inner cylindrical surface of the housing 8 is larger than the axial width of the land 17a which separates each channel from its, or an adjacent, channel 17.

The housing 8 is provided with an external coupling member 20 by which a hot water pipe 21 (see FIG. 3) is coupled in sealed manner to communicate with an aperture 22 provided in the wall of the housing 8. The

housing 8 is provided with a further external coupling member by which a cold water pipe 24 is coupled in sealed manner to communicate with an aperture 25 provided in the wall of the housing 8. The

apparatus

22 and 25 are diametrically opposed.

Provided in the external cylindrical surface of the shuttle 1 are two axially extending recesses 26 and 27 (see FIG. 3). The

recesses

26 and 27 are diametrically located in the shuttle 1 and extend axially through each of the channels 17. Each of the water passages in set 19 is sealed (for example by a plug insert 28a) from the recess 27 at the position where the recess 27 opens into each passage of set 19; however, each plug insert 28a is itself recessed to provide communication between water passages of the set 18 by way of the recess 27. Similarly each of the water passages on set 18 is sealed by a plug insert (not shown) from the recess 26 at the position where the recess 26 opens into each passage of set 18; however, each of these plug inserts is itself recessed to provide communication between water passages of the set 19 by way of the recess 26. The shuttle l is orientated in its housing 8 so that the hot pipe 21 is in constant communication through the aperture 22 with the recess 26 and the cold pipe 24 is in constant communication through the aperture 25 with the recess 27. Consequently hot water is passed into the passages of set 19 and cold water is passed into the passages of set 18.

Housed in the shuttle 1 and axially slidable relative thereto is a tubular valve member 28 of cylindrical form. The valve member 28 is axially slidable with the shuttle 1 relative to the rod 2 between the flange members 3 and 4 but is connected to the rod 2 by a pair of axially spaced spring or Belleville washers 29.

Defined in the valve member 28 is a vent chamber 30 which is formed between the Washers 29 and is in constant communication with a vent pipe 31. The vent pipe 31 is mounted in a coupling 32 provided on the housing 8 and extends in sealed manner through the wall of the housing 8. The vent pipe 31 communicates with the vent chamber 30 through an aperture 33 (FIG. 4) provided in the wall of the shuttle 1 and an aperture 34 (FIG. 5) provided in the wall of the valve member 28. The

apertures

33 and 34 are axially elongated to permit axial sliding movement of the shuttle 1 and the valve member 28 between the nuts 6 and 7 relative to the vent pipe irrespective of any axial displacement of the nuts 6 and 7 relative to the housing 8. The ends of the channels 17 which open into the aperture 33 are sealed from communication therewith by plugs 35.

Formed within the apparatus are two variable volume chambers X and Y. The chamber X is defined between the opposed surfaces of the end cap 9 and the spring washer 29 which is adjacent thereto and the inner exposed surfaces of the valve member 28, shuttle 1 and housing 8 between the cap 9 and said washer 29. Similarly the chamber Y is defined between the opposed surfaces of the end cap 10 and the adjacent spring washer 29 and the inner exposed surfaces of the valve member 28, shuttle 1 and housing 8 between the cap 10 and said washer. The annular ends of the shuttle 1 are in constant communication with their respective chambers X and Y.

Located in the wall of the shuttle 1 at a position between the flange members 3 and 4 are a pair of axially spaced

ports

36a and 37a. The ports 36:: and 37a are situated adjacent the flange members 3 and 4 respectively and respectively communicate through

passages

36 and 37 in the shuttle to an axially extending passage 38 provided in the shuttle 1. The passage 38 communicates with the vent chamber 30. The passage 38 is formed (see FIGS. 4 and 6) between an axially extending channel in the surface of the shuttle l and the inner surface of the housing 8 and communicates with the vent chamber by way of the

apertures

33 and 34. The channels 17 are sealed from the passage 38 by plug inserts in a similar manner to that shown at 35 in FIG. 3. The

ports

36a and 37a are controlled by the outer cylindrical surface of the valve member 28. The axial length of the valve member 28 and its length of stroke between the flange members 3 and 4 is arranged so that at one end of stroke the port 37a is closed and the port 36a is open to chamber X, at the other end of stroke port 36a is closed and port 37a is open to chamber Y and at no position does the valve member simultaneously close both

ports

36a and 37a.

The shuttle 1 has a further pair of axially spaced

passages

39 and 40 which respectively communicate between two cold water passages of set 18 and axially spaced

ports

41 and 42 provided on the inner cylindrical surface of the shuttle and located adjacent the flange members 3 and 4 respectively. A pair of axially spaced

passages

43 and 44 are provided in and extend through the wall of the valve member 28 to communicate with chambers X and Y respectively (see FIGS. 5 and 7 The

ports

41 and 42 and

passages

43 and 44 are so located that when the valve member 28 abuts the flange member 4 the ports 42 and passage 44 are in register whilst the port 41 is closed by the valve member 28, when the valve member 28 abuts the flange member 3 the port 41 and passage 43 are in register whilst the port 42 is closed by the valve member 28, and at no time does passage 43 communicate with port 41 simultaneously with passage 44 communicating with port 42.

We will now consider the manner by which axial and cyclic reciprocation is imparted to the shuttle 1 relative to the housing 8 between the nuts 6 and 7. With cold water under pressure in the set of passages 18, hot water under pressure in the set of passages 19 and the apparatus in the condition so that the shuttle is at the right hand end of its stroke, the port 41 is closed by the valve member 28 whilst the passage 44 in the valve member 28 is in register with the port 42, cold water communicates from cold water passage in set 18 to the chamber Y. The port 37a is closed to the chamber Y by the valve member 28 whilst the port 36a is open to the chamber X which is thereby vented. The pressure of cold walter in chamber Y on the annular ends of the shuttle 1 causes the shuttle 1 and valve member 28 to move axially relative to the housing 8 leftwardly in the drawing until the position shown in FIG. 2 is reached. Since the end of the valve member 28 abuts the flange member 4 it moves axially with the shuttle 1 but in so doing flexes the spring washers 29. When the shuttle 1 is located at the end of its stroke leftwardly the passage 44 and port 42 are still in register and cold water pressure builds up in the chamber Y which pressure acts on the spring washer 29 in that chamber and eventually the spring washers 29 effectively reverse and flip the valve member 28 to the opposite end of its stroke in the shuttle 1 (so that the valve member 28 abuts the flange member 3). As the valve member reverses, passage 44 moves out of communication with the port 42 and, when port 42 is closed by the valve member 28, passage 43 moves into registration with the port 41 whilst the port 37a is opened to the chamber Y and port 36a is closed by the valve member 28. The chamber Y now communicates with the vent pipe 31 by way of port 37a,

passages

37, 38,

apertures

33, 34 and vent chamber 30 whilst the chamber X is open to cold water pressure in the passage of set 18 by way of the passage 40, port 41 and passage 43. Cold water pressure on the ends of the shuttle 1 in the chamber X move the shuttle l andvalve member 28 rightwardly relative to the housing 8 until the shuttle reaches the end of its stroke in this direction. During relative movement between the valve member 28 and the rod 2 the spring washers 29 are flexed and the build-up of cold water pressure in the chamber X causes the spring washers 29 to effectively reverse and flip the valve member 28 rightwardly relative to the shuttle l to the end of its stroke (at which position the valve member 28 abuts the flange member 4). Reversal of the valve member 28 causes the passage 43 to move out of communication with the port 41 and thereafter the passage 44 to move into communication with the port 42 whilst the port 36a is opened to the chamber X and the port 37a is closed by the valve member 28. Cold water pressure now communicates with the chamber Y and water pressure on the end of the shuttle moves the shuttle and valve member leftwardly relative to the housing 8 thereby returning the apparatus to the condition shown in FIG. 2. A further cycle commences for movement of the shuttle l and valve member 28 which cycle is repetitive whilst cold water pressure is passed to the apparatus by way of the pipe 24.

It will be apparent that the speed or frequency of reciprocation of the shuttle 1 is controllable by adjustment of the cold water flow. However, if it is inconvenient to provide adjustment of the cold water flow on the pressure side, the cold water can be passed into the apparatus under constant pressure and the speed of reciprocation of the shuttle 1 controlled by incorporating an adjustable restrictor valve in the vent pipe 31.

The housing 8 is provided with several groups of jet ports (each of which group is shown generally at 45 in FIG. l and one group is shown in FIG. 3) which are axially spaced along the housing. The jet ports in each group are located in a radial plane of the shuttle and are circumferentially spaced in the part of the housing between the

coupling members

20 and 23 and on the side thereof remote from the vent pipe 31 so that each jet port 46 passes through the wall of the housing 8 at a position in which it is capable of communicating with hot or cold water in the sets of

passages

18 and 19 during reciprocation of the shuttle l. Conveniently each jet port 46 is charnfered where it opens into the outer surface of the housing 8.

The channels 17 are at the inner surface of the housing 8, equally spaced and of the same axial width and the groups of jet ports are axially spaced in the housing by a distance approximately equal to double the axial width of a channel 17 and its adjacent land 17a measured axially on the inner surface of the housing.

The stroke of the shuttle 1 as determined by the axial spacing between the opposed faces of the nuts 6 and 7 is arranged to be approximately equal to the width of a channel 17 and an adjacent land 17a measured axially on the inner surface of the housing 1.

With the apparatus arranged in the position illustrated in FIG. 2, the shuttle 1 is located at the end of its stroke leftwardly in the figure, all the jet ports 46 are closed by the lands 17a and each water passage which is located immediately adjacent, and to the left of, a land 17a which closes a jet port 46 is of the set 18 and contains cold water. If reciprocation of the shuttle l is commenced as above described, movement of the shuttle 1 from the position shown in FIG. 2 rightwardly to the opposite end of its stroke causes each of the cold water passages 18 to move into and out of communication with a jet port 46. When the shuttle 1 reaches the end of its stroke rightwardly, each jet port is closed by the land 17a immediately adjacent and trailing the cold water passage 18 with which it was in communication. When the shuttle ll reverses each of the jet ports again moves into and out of communication with the same cold water passage 18 and it will be apparent that in this condition only cold water impulses are sprayed through the groups of jet ports.

Rotation of the adjustment knob 12 to move the rod 2 rightwardly and axially relative to the housing 8 effectively changes the centre about which the shuttle 1 reciprocates relative to each of the jet ports 46. By such adjustment a condition is attainable whereby each jet port 46 initially communicates with a cold water passage 18 and movement of the shuttle l rightwardly during its reciprocation causes each jet port to be closed by a land 17a and re-opened to communicate with a hot water passage prior to reversal of the shuttle l. Consequently alternate impulses of hot and cold water are sprayed through the jet ports 46. As the centre about which the shuttle 1 reciprocates is moved further to the right by adjustment of the knob 12 in FIG. 2, the period of each cold water impulse decreases whilst the period of each hot water impulse increases in proportion until a condition is attained in which only impulses of hot water from the passage of set 19 are sprayed through the jet ports during reciprocation of the shuttle 1. Consequently by suitable adjustment of the knob 12 any required impulses of water can be sprayed which impulses can be all hot, all cold, or alternately hot and cold in any required ratio.

In the embodiment above described and illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 the channels 17 in the shuttle l are located in radial planes of the shuttle and 'as such the adjustment in water impulses from all hot impulses through any percentage of hot and cold impulses to all cold impulses (or vice-versa) is obtained by axial adjustment of the centre about which the shuttle l reciprocates relative to the housing 8. Such adjustment for hot and/or cold water impulses can alternatively be obtained by maintaining the centre about which the shuttle 1 reciprocates fixed relative to the housing 8 and axially adjusting the effective centre about which a given channel oscillates relative to a given jet port during reciprocation of the shuttle. The device above described and illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7 can be modified to incorporate such alternative means of adjustment by use of a cylindrical shuttle in the surface of which is an array of parallel channels. Each of the channels extends fully or partly around the shuttle and lies in a plane at an acute angle to the axis of the shuttle and the jet ports in each group are peripherally spaced to lie in a plane parallel with the channels. The modified shuttle is mounted to reciprocate axially relative to the housing having the aforementioned modified jet port arrangement and is capable of adjustable axial rotation relative to the housing so that, by such axial rotation, the centre about which each channel effectively reciprocates is axially displaced relative to a given jet port. A construction to incorporate such control of the water impulses will now be considered with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 8 the array of channels 17 in the cylindrical surface of the shuttle 1 are parallel and lie in planes at an acute angle to the axis of the shuttle 1. Preferably the planes within which the channels 17 lie are at an angle of 45 with the axis of the shuttle but it will be appreciated that the angle of the channels relative to the axis of the shuttle can be increased or decreased as necessary to provide impulse control. For efficient impulse control (that is in a construction by which any ratio of hot and cold water pulses can be provided from all hot to all cold pulses) the channels 17 should extend at an angle so that for permitted axial rotation of the shuttle 1 relative to the housing 8 through an angle of not more than 180 (preferably in the region of 45), a given land 17a between two adjacent channels 17 is axially displaced relative to a given jet port 46 by a distance approximately equal to the combined axial width of a land and a channel measured on the inner surface of the housing 8.

The shuttle 1 is mounted on the rod 2 by the flange members 3 and 4 to exhibit axial sliding movement on the rod 2. To provide impulse control it is necessary for the shuttle l to be axially rotatable relative to the housing 8 through a predetermined angle and in the present example, the rod 2 is splined at 47 and 47a. The

splines

47 and 47a slidably and respectively engage with complementary recesses provided in the flange members 3 and 4 so thatthe shuttle 1 can slide axially on the rod 2 but can be axially rotated within the housing 8 by rotation of the rod 2 from the knob 48.

The channels 17 form with the inner surface of the housing 8 the two sets of

water passages

18 and 19. The

sets of

passages

18 and 19 respectively contain cold and hot water and the water is passed into these passages in a similar manner to that above described for the construction shown in FIG. 2 and reciprocation of the shuttle 1 and valve member 28 is similarly achieved. In FIG. 8 the ends of stroke for the shuttle l are determined by the flange members 3 and 4 abutting stops on the rod 2.

For convenience of description the ports and passages for controlling reciprocation of the shuttle l and valve member 28 and for passing water into the

passage

18 and 19 have been omitted from FIG. 8, it being realised that the location, design and operation of such ports and passages will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art and having an understanding of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2. It should be borne in mind that ports which are intended to co-operate during operation of the apparatus must be capable of so doing for any angular position (between predetermined limits) of the shuttle with respect to the housing. In the construction'shown in FIG. 8 only minor modification is necessary to the porting to supply water to the

passages

18 and 19 since the valve member 28 will rotate with the shuttle 1 during adjustment.

The groups 45 of jet ports 46 are axially spaced in the housing 8. The jet ports of each group are situated at peripherally spaced positions in the housing and are located in a plane parallel to the planes of the channels 17' (as indicated at 46a).

With the shuttle 1 located in the position shown in FIG. 8, from the foregoing description with reference to FIG. 2 it will be apparent that reciprocation of the shuttle moves each cold water passage of set 18 into and out of communication with the jet ports 46 and consequently only cold water impulses are sprayed. When the shuttle l is partially rotated the channels 17 may be effectively moved rightwardly in the drawing relative to the jet ports and reciprocation of the shuttle causes alternate impulses of cold and hot water to be sprayed through each jet port. Further rotation of the shuttle 1 may increase the period of each hot water impulse and proportionally decrease the period of each cold water impulse and, by suitable adjustment of axial rotation for the shuttle relative to the housing, the condition may be reached in which only impulses of hot water are sprayed through the jet ports.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the spray device 49 is constructed to provide impulses of hot and cold water alternately in a similar manner to that above described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 but has a considerably simplified arrangement for imparting axial reciprocal movement to the shuttle 1 in its housing 8.

The shuttle l in spray device 49 has its end part lengths of reduced diameter to provide

annular clearances

50 and 51 from the inner cylindrical surface of the housing 8. The

clearances

50 and 51 extend from the ends of the shuttle to the lands 17a adjacent thereto. The ends of the shuttle have cylindrical recesses 52 and 53 which are co-axial with the shuttle and slidably receive pistons 54 and 55 respectively. The pistons 54, 55 have

axial bores

56, 57 respectively which extend through them and through

piston rods

58, 59 by which the pistons are respectively carried in

end caps

60 and 61 of the housing 8. The piston rods are fixedly mounted to the end caps 60 and 61 with the

bores

56, 57 extending through them and the end caps are removably attached to the housing 8 as, for example, by

screw threads 62. O-ring fluid seals 63 are, provided between the pistons and their cylindrical recesses, betweenthe end caps and housing, and between the lands 17a of the shuttle and the housing 8.

Extending diametrically through the shuttle at the reducedendpart to communicate with the clearance 51 is a bore 64. In the shuttle 1, the bore 64 communicates with an axially extending passage 65 having an array of branch passages 66 which respectively communicate with the arrayof cold water passages of set 18 formed in the annular channels 17. Similarly extending diametfricallythroughthe shuttle at the other reduced end part to communicate with the clearance 50 is a bore 67. The bore 67 communicates with an axially extending passage 68 having an array of branch passages 69 which respectively communicate with the array of hot water passages of set 19 formed in the annular channels 17.

Housed in the bore 57 and extending therefrom to abut the shuttle l in the cylindrical recess 53 is a spring 70. The spring 70 is retained in the bore by a spigot 71 which is axially adjustable in the bore, as for example, .by screw threaded engagement 72 with the piston rod 59. The spring 70 biases the shuttle leftwardly in, and relative to the housing 8 and it will be apparent that the biasing force may be varied by adjusting the compression on the spring between the end of the spigot 71 and the shuttle, such adjustment being effected by axial movement of the spigot in the bore 57. I

Conveniently the length of stroke of the shuttle 1 is determined, in one axial direction, by the end of the shuttle abutting the sealing rings 63 located between the end cap 60 and housing 8 and, in the other axial direction, by the end of the shuttle abutting the sealing ring 63 located between the end cap 61 and the housing 8.

In a similar manner to the embodiment described in FIG. 1, the jet ports in FIG. 9 are arranged in five axially spaced groups 45, the jet ports in each group being circumferentially spaced around the housing to lie in the same radial plane.

The length of stroke of the shuttle 1 is arranged to be approximately equal to the total width of a channel 17 and an adjacent land 17a measured axially at the periphery of the shuttle. In the embodiment illustrated, the shuttle is so arranged that, at the mid-point of its stroke, the jet ports 46 in each group 45 are closed by a land 17a.

With the shuttle at the left end of its stroke each group 45 of the jet ports communicate with a cold water passage of the set 18 (except for the group of jet ports at the right end of the housing which communicates with the clearance 51) and with the shuttle at the right end of its stroke each group 45 of the jet ports communicate with a hot water passage of the set 19 (except for the group of jet ports at the left end of the housing which communicate with the clearance 50).

The end cap 60 has a hot water imput conduit 73, the end cap 61 has a cold water imput conduit 74 and the bore 56 is adapted to be connected to water pressure impulse generating means shown generally at 75. The generating means 75 conveniently comprises a source of cold water under pressure which is intermittently opened by electromagnetic valve means to communicate with the bore 56 and the valve means, when closed, connects the bore 56 to a reservoir or sink (not shown).

In operation of the spray device shown in FIG. 9, the

conduits

73 and 74 are coupled to hot and cold water supplies respectively and the bore 56 to the water impulse generating means 75. A water impulse is passed to the recess 52 which moves the shuttle to'the end of its stroke rightwardly, thereby opening the jet ports to hot water by way of the passages in set 19, passages 69, 68, 67 and clearance 50 (or directly by way of clearance 50). Whilst the shuttle moves rightwardly the spring 70 is energised and, at the end of the water impulse, the spring 70 moves the shuttle to the end of its stroke leftwardly, thereby opening the jet ports to cold water by way of the passages in set 18, passages66, 65, 64 and clearance 51 (or directly by way of clearance 5 1 It will be apparent that so long as water pressure impulses are applied to the bore 56, impulses of hot and cold water are alternately sprayed through the jet ports 46. The time periods for which, and frequency at which, such hot and cold water impulses are sprayed may be selectively varied by adjusting the time period for which each water pressure impulse is applied to bore 56 and the frequency of such water pressure impulses. For example if each water pressure impulse is applied for a long time period with a short time period between such impulses, then each hot water spray is for a long duration and each cold water spray is for a short duration; alternatively if each water pressure impulse is applied for a short time period with a long time period between such impulses, then each hot water spray is for a short duration and each cold water spray is for a long duration. To a certain extent the time periods between the alternate hot and cold water sprays (that is with no spray) may be carried by adjustment of either or both the tension in spring 70 and pressure of the water impulses applied to the bore 56.

It will be noted that the shuttle 1 in spray device 49 is biased by the spring 70 to a condition in which the jet ports communicate with the cold water passages in set 18 (or clearance 51). By such an arrangement it is ensured that, if the water pressure to the bore 56 should fail, the shuttle will automatically become located at the end of its stroke and in a position to spray cold water, thereby minimising the danger of scalding.

By the spray devices above described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 the control of liquid impulses through the jet ports is achieved at the inlets to the jet ports (on the inner side of the housing wall) by movement of the shuttle. Relative sliding movement between the shuttle and housing causes the lands 17a (or O-ring seals 63 carried thereby) to impart a wiping action over the jet ports which serves to clear them during operation and thereby provide self-cleaning spray devices.

The spray devices above described and illustrated in FIGS. 1, 8 and 9 are particularly suitable for treating the human body as, for example, by providing a stimulating or messaging effect with alternate impulses of hot and cold water, and may be suitably mounted for such purpose or portable and intended to be hand-held during use. Considerable benefits have been achieved using the alternate hot and cold water spray devices for treating human hair in situ on the head and, by way of example, apparatus incorporating spray devices as above described with reference to FIG. 9, and suitable for eflecting such treatment of the hair in an enclosed chamber will now be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 14.

Referring particularly to FIG. the hair treatment apparatus comprises a base part 76 which carries a cabinet shown generally at 77. The cabinet 77 defines a chamber 78 within which are located spray devices (not shown but constructed and arranged to operate in the manner above described with reference to FIG. 9) through which water (or other liquid) required for the treatment of hair is intended to be projected into the chamber. The chamber 78 has a fluid outlet (not shown). The base part 76 conveniently provides a housing for a liquid control system and associated electrical control circuits such as heaters, timing units and the like by which liquid flow to the spray devices can be controlled as required. The flow of liquid to the spray devices through the liquid control system is conveniently controlled at a panel 79 mounted on the cabinet 77.

The cabinet 77 has a forwardly disposed wall 80 defining an aperture 81 through which the hair and scalp of the subject 82 is located in the chamber 78. The jet ports of the spray devices are situated to project the treatment liquid onto the hair and scalp in the chamber. Conveniently the cabinet 77 includes windows 83 so that treatment can be observed in the chamber 78.

To minimise leakage of liquid from the chamber 78 through the aperture 81, means is provided which is adapted to form a seal between the cabinet 77 and the head of the subject in the aperture 81. In the present example, such means includes a flexible and waterproof curtain of resilient material 84 which is secured in sealed manner to the wall 80 and extends into the aperture 81. The curtain 84 may be a thin sheet of rubber (although other materials having similar elastomeric properties can be used) and is maintained in sealing engagement with the wall 80, conveniently by a clamping arrangement (not shown) on the inner face of the wall 80. The curtain 84 has a boundary surface 85 (see FIG. 13) which partly defines a hole 86 within which the head of the subject is located whilst in the aperture 81. The boundary surface 85 extends along almost the whole peripheral length of the hole 86 and the remaining peripheral part length of the hole 86 is defined by a saddle member 87 which is secured to the cabinet 77 at the lower part of the aperture 81. The saddle member 87 is so shaped to provide a neck rest for the subject 82 during treatment. The member 87 is conveniently moulded from a suitable plastics which may be resilient to conform with the shape of, and thereby form a seal with, the subject's neck. Carried within the curtain 84 adjacent its boundary surface 85 is a drawstring 88. The draw-string 88 extends along the length of the boundary surface and its ends extend from the curtain 84 to a winding mechanism shown generally at 89. The winding mechanism 84 conveniently comprises a manually rotatable shaft in the base part 76 to which the ends of the draw-string are attached so that rotation of the shaft in one direction draws in the string 88 and thereby contracts the length of the boundary surface 85 and expands the curtain 84 (thereby decreasing the size of the hole 86) and rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction feeds out the string 88 to permit the curtain 84 to contract and increase the size of the hole 86. If necessary the draw-string 88 can be guided over suitably arranged pulley wheels or shaped surfaces in the cabinet and base part to control the direction in which the string is drawn.

Removably attached to the curtain 84 at its boundary surface is a cushioning element 90. The cushioning element 90 is of a soft resilient material (for example sponge rubber or plastics) and is co-extensive with the boundary surface so that as the string 88 is drawn in to form a seal between the curtain 84 and the subjects head the cushioning element deforms to follow the profile of the subjects head thereby forming an efficient seal with it. As indicated in FIG. 13, the cushioning ele ment 90 has a channel into which the boundary surface 85 is inserted so that the element is retained on the curtain by frictional engagement or an interference fit. By providing for easy attachment and detachment between the curtain 84 and the cushioning element 90, each subject may be provided with their personal cushioning element which, in addition to facilitating hygienic treatment, may be shaped to a particular profile to form an efficient seal with the head of its subject.

As above mentioned, the base part 76 conveniently houses control systems for the spray devices in the cabinet 77 and a liquid control system for the spray devices will now be described with reference to FIG. 14. For convenience only one spray device 49 is shown in FIG. 14, it being realised that several such devices may be provided suitably mounted in the cabinet to direct liquid onto the subjects hair; conveniently when using several spray devices the respective liquid inlets of the devices are connected in parallel.

The hair treatment liquid control system in FIG. 14 is intended to provide shampoo wash and/or hair rinse, scalp stimulation and massage and has a fresh cold water intake 91 which communicates through an on/off valve 92 with a rinse pump 93. The water output from pump 93 is passed by way of conduit 94 and on/off valve 95 to a hot water storage tank 96 having thermostatically controlled electrical heaters (not shown) and also by way of conduit 97 and valve 75 to the bore 56 (see above with reference to FIG. 9) of the spray device 49.

Branching from the conduit 97 upstream of the valve 75 is the cold water conduit 74 for the spray device 49 and the tank 96 has an outlet 98 which communicates with the hot water conduit 73 for the spray device.

The spray device 49 is mounted over a sink 99 in the chamber of the treatment cabinet. Located below the sink and communicating with it through a filter 100 is a shampoo water .tank 101 having thermostatically controlled electrical heaters (not shown). The tank 101 communicates at 101a with a conduit 102 which provides liquid input for a shampoo pump 103. The output from pump 103 communicates through passage 104 with the outlet 98 of the hot water tank 96 and through passage 105 with the conduit 97. The conduit 102 leads to a waste outlet 106 and communicates with a flexible siphon tube 107 leading into the sink 99.

Balance valves 108, non-return or check valves 109 and a pressure regulating valve 110 are incorporated in the liquid control system where indicated. The

valves

92, 95 and 75 are electromagnetically operated as by solenoid coils incorporated in an electrical control system of the equipment. The electrical control system of the solenoid valves, timing devices for spray operation and thermostats for the water tanks is such as to provide automatically a desired course of treatment as, for example, shampoo wash followed by rinse/scalp massage. The arrangement and construction of a suitable electrical control system will be apparent to persons skilled in the art and having an understanding of a desired course of hair treatment and, by way of example, such a course of treatment will now be described.

The tank 101 is filled with water containing a required hair shampoo and the tank 96 tilled with fresh water, the water in both tanks is heated to a predetermined temperature. The subject whose hair is to be treated is positioned as shown in FIG. and the head seal applied. The pump 103 and valve 75 are now operated and operation of valve 75 causes the bore 56 to be continuously and alternately connected to the conduit 97 and to exhaust or waste. Consequently shampoo water'is drawn from the tank 101 by way of passages 101a and 102 and pumped into conduit 97 and into conduit 73. The shampoo water pressure, through valve 75, provides the pressure impulse necessary to reciprocate the shuttle in spray device 49 which in turn provides an impulsed spray of shampoo water through the jet ports onto the subjects hair by way of

conduits

73 and 75. The sprayed shampoo water passes through the filter 100 back to the tank 101 for recirculation. After a predetermined time period the pump 103 is stopped to discontinue the shampoo wash. If required the valve 75 may be maintained in an inoperative condition so that the conduit 56 is open to exhaust or waste; in such case the jet ports only communicate with shampoo water in the conduit 74 and a continuous spray is achieved.

At the end of the shampoo wash, pump 93 is operated and fresh water under pressure passed into the bottom of the hot water storage tank 96 and through conduit 97. The valve 75 is now operated to drive the shuttle of spray device 49 by fresh water pressure impulses and cold fresh water is intermittantly sprayed when the jet ports communicate with conduit 74. Simultaneously withthe cold water spray, hot water is displaced from tank 96 through outlet 98 by cold water under pressure from the pump 93 entering the tank from passage 95. Consequently hot water under pressure passes into the conduit 73 and hot fresh water is intermittently sprayed (alternately with the cold water impulses) when the jet ports communicate with conduit 73. At the end of a predetermined time period the pump 93 is stopped to discontinue the alternate hot and cold impulses of fresh water.

Frequently the temperature of the hot water in tank 96 is sufficient to scald the subject if prolonged contact were to be maintained or if such contact was not intermittently relieved by cold water impulses, for this reason it is preferable to arrange the valve 75 so that at the commencement of treatment the time period of each hot water impulse is relatively short in comparison with the time period of each cold water impuse, the time periods of the impulses may then be increased and decreased as required without discomforting the subject. The hydraulic control system shown in FIG. 14 incorporates a fail safe feature in which the hot water in the tank 96 is pressurised for its projection through the jet ports solely by pressure derived from the cold water output of the pump 93. Consequently, if the cold water pressure fails, the hot water pressure fails simultaneously and no water is projected through the jet ports. In addition, and as above described with reference to FIG. 9, if the valve 75 should fail to operate or the water input thereto cease so that no water pressure impulses are passed to drive the shuttle in spray device 49, the spray device automatically adopts a condition so that the jet ports communicate solely with the cold water conduit 74.

For beneficial treatment of the hair it has been determined that the hot water should have a temperature in the range of 40 to C whilst the cold water should have a temperature in the range of 0 to 15 C. The preferred temperature of the hot water is in the region of 50 to 60 C whilst that of the cold water is in the region of 8 to 10 C. As will be appreciated from the aforegoing the time period and temperature of each impulse of hot water must be carefully balanced with the time period and temperature of each impulse of cold water to ensure that the subject is not scalded. It is desirable that any combination of time periods of each impulse of the hot water and cold water shall be easily adjustable as required, ranging from a continuous hot water spray to a continuous cold water spray. However, it has been determined that beneficial treatment results if, for a given cycle of the hot and cold water impulses, the cold water impulse or impulses occupy from 40 to percent of the cycle time whilst the hot water impulse or impulses range from 5 to 60 percent of the cycle time. Similarly, it is preferable if the frequency of the cycle of hot and cold water impulses is adjustable and it has been determined that beneficial treatment results if this frequency is in the range of 10 to 180 cycles per minute thereby providing a range for the time period of each cycle of hot and cold water impulses of 6 seconds to one-half second.

In one course of hair treatment using alternate hot and coldwater impulses beneficial results have been achieved using a cycle time slightly greater than 2.5 seconds of which the time period for each cold water impulse was 2.0 seconds and for each hot water impulse 0.5 seconds. The jet ports are situated in the treatment cabinet to be as close as convenient to the hair and scalp of the subject and provide jets of water the velocity of which is adjustable but is preferably in the range 10 to feet per second. To achieve such spray velocities the jet ports are preferably circular apertures the diameters of which lie in the range 0.005 inches to 0.030 inches and the pressure of water entering the or each spray device 49 through

conduits

73 and 74 should be variable between 10 and 70 pounds per square inch. The preferred diameter of each jet port is 0.014 inches and the preferred water pressure in

conduits

73 and 75 is 40 pounds per square inch.

1 claim:

1. Apparatus for controlling the outflow of two fluids having different physical and/or chemical characteristics to provide discrete sprays of said fluids from an array of jet ports, which includes a body member having two sets of fluid passages, one

of said sets comprising a first array of fluid passages, the second of said sets comprising a second array of fluid passages and the fluid passages in the first array being alternately disposed with respect to the fluid passages in the second array, said two sets of fluid passages being adapted to communicate respectively with sources of the two fluids under pressure; closure member slidably mounted relative to said body member and carrying an array of jet ports, said jet ports being so located that, during relative sliding movement between the said closure member and said body member, they simultaneously move sequentially and alternately into and out of communication with the arrays of passages of the said two sets whereby the two fluids can pass alternately through the said jet ports to provide distinct and sequential impulses of the two fluids.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and including fluid pressure operated drive means for imparting the relative sliding movement between said body member and said closure member, said drive means being adapted to be driven by fluid pressure derived from at least one pressure source of the said two fluids.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the said body member has an array of substantially parallel channels interspaced by lands of the body member and the said closure member is mounted on the body member so that the fluid passages of the two sets are formed between the channels and the closure member, alternate channels in said body member being in communication to provide the said two sets of fluid passages and wherein, during relative movement between the body member and closure member, the array of jet ports in the closure member are caused to communicate alternately with fluid passages of the two sets, and the land of the closure member impart a wiping motion over the said jet ports to provide a clearing action at the fluid inlet ends of said jet ports.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said body member comprises a cylindrical shuttle slidable within a complementary cylindrical housing, said array of jet ports being axially spaced uniformly in the wall of the housing, and in which the array of channels in said shuttle are axially spaced uniformly and extend around the cylindrical surface thereof.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said shuttle is adapted to be axially reciprocated in said housing to cause the said two sets of fluid passages formed between said shuttle and housing to move alternately and sequentially into and out of communication with the said array of jet ports.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein means is provided to axially adjust the centre of reciprocation of said shuttle relative to said housing and thereby permit adjustment of the relative time periods for which the array of jet ports communicate with the passages in the two sets alternately during reciprocation of said shuttle.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said channels in the shuttle are located in parallel planes which extend at an acute angle to the axis of the shuttle and said shuttle is axially rotatable in said housing and means is provided for adjusting the shuttle to and securing it at, a desired position of axial rotation so that,

by such rotational adjustment, the centre of reciprocation of the said two sets of fluid passages may be effectively axially adjusted with respect to the array of jet ports and thereby provide adjustment of the relative time periods for which the array of jet ports communicate with the passages in the said two sets alternately during reciprocation of the shuttle.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 and including fluid pressure operated drive means for imparting the relative sliding movement between said body member and said closure member, said drive means being adapted to be driven by fluid pressure derived from one pressure source of the said two fluids, said shuttle being spring biased in one sense of axial direction relative to the housing so that when said drive means is inoperative, the shuttle is automatically located at a predetermined end of stroke in which the jet ports communicate with one set of the fluid passages, and wherein the shuttle is adapted to be axially moved in the opposite sense of direction and against its spring biasing by fluid pressure derived from an impulse generator so that axial reciprocation may be effected by intermittently applying fluid impulses to the shuttle from the generator.

9. Apparatus for treating hair in situ on the head of a human subject which includes spray apparatus as claimed in claim I mounted to spray fluid impulses from said jet ports into a chamber defined by a cabinet; a cabinet having an aperture through which the hair and scalp can be located in the chamber, and wherein sealing means is provided which is associated with the cabinet and is adapted to form a peripheral seal between the head part of the subject in the aperture and the cabinet.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which alternate impulses of hot and cold liquid are to be sprayed at the said jet ports and a hydraulic control system is provided in which one set of fluid passages is adapted to communicate with a source of hot liquid under pressure and the other set of fluid passages is adapted to communicate with a source of cold liquid under pressure, said hydraulic control system incorporating failsafe means whereby if the pressurised supply of cold liquid to the jet ports fails the supply of pressurised hot liquid to the jet ports is automatically terminated and in which the source of hot liquid is pressurised solely by liquid pressure derived from the source of cold liquid under pressure so that, if the cold liquid pressure fails,

the hot liquid pressure fails simultaneously.

i t 18 t t

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling the outflow of two fluids having different physical and/or chemical characteristics to provide discrete sprays of said fluids from An array of jet ports, which includes a body member having two sets of fluid passages, one of said sets comprising a first array of fluid passages, the second of said sets comprising a second array of fluid passages and the fluid passages in the first array being alternately disposed with respect to the fluid passages in the second array, said two sets of fluid passages being adapted to communicate respectively with sources of the two fluids under pressure; a closure member slidably mounted relative to said body member and carrying an array of jet ports, said jet ports being so located that, during relative sliding movement between the said closure member and said body member, they simultaneously move sequentially and alternately into and out of communication with the arrays of passages of the said two sets whereby the two fluids can pass alternately through the said jet ports to provide distinct and sequential impulses of the two fluids.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said channels in the shuttle are located in parallel planes which extend at an acute angle to the axis of the shuttle and said shuttle is axially rotatable in said housing and means is provided for adjusting the shuttle to and securing it at, a desired position of axial rotation so that, by such rotational adjustment, the centre of reciprocation of the said two sets of fluid passages may be effectively axially adjusted with respect to the array of jet ports and thereby provide adjustment of the relative time periods for which the array of jet ports communicate with the passages in the said two sets alternately during reciprocation of the shuttle.

9. Apparatus for treating hair in situ on the head of a human subject which includes spray apparatus as claimed in claim 1 mounted to spray fluid impulses from said jet ports into a chamber defined by a cabinet; a cabinet having an aperture through which the hair and scalp can be located in the chamber, and wherein sealing means is provided which is associated with the cabinet and is adapted to form a peripheral seal between the head part of the subject in the aperture and the cabinet.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which alternate impulses of hot and cold liquid are to be sprayed at the said jet ports and a hydraulic control system is provided in which one set of fluid passages is adapted to communicate with a source of hot liquid under pressure and the other set of fluid passages is adapted to communicate with a source of cold liquid under pressure, said hydraulic control system incorporating fail-safe means whereby if the pressurised supply of cold liquid to the jet ports fails the supply of pressurised hot liquid to the jet ports is automatically terminated and in which the source of hot liquid is pressurised solely by liquid pressure derived from the source of cold liquid under pressure so that, if the cold liquid pressure fails, the hot liquid pressure fails simultaneously.