EP2765884B1 - Steam hairdressing appliance having a controlled pump - Google Patents

Description

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a hairdressing apparatus using steam, intended for shaping by contact with the hair, in particular the smoothing, wrapping or embossing of a person's hair.

State of the art

Two types of hairdressing apparatus are traditionally known for smoothing or curling or embossing, the surfaces of which pinch the hair are flat or curved or uneven and are heated or heated.

The devices of the type pliers to smooth or loop or emboss usually comprise two pivoting jaws each having an end supporting a treatment surface, at least one of the treatment surfaces being heated, the other being provided to bring the hair in contact with the first, in particular by passing from an opening position of the jaws allowing the insertion of the hair to a closed position for their contact with the heating part.

The other end of the jaws form two half-handles acting as a gripping area and to move from the open position to the closing position. The passage is done manually by pressing the two half-handles articulated of the device towards one another to bring the treatment surfaces in contact with the hair. Smoothing a lock of hair is done by moving the device along the wick, from the root to the tip. The wrap of a lock of hair is made by at least partially winding the wick around the treatment surface (s) and applying heat to fix the loop mainly in static.

It is provided in such devices, to improve the shaping of the hair, to additionally use steam sprayed on the hair.

US3702616 describes a hairdressing apparatus with an internal reservoir and a means vaporization of the fluid contained in the reservoir. This reservoir can be associated with a pump controlled by manual actuation of the user who thus chooses its application of steam. Thus with manual control, it takes a few seconds for the pump to start, move the amount of fluid and vaporize it.

WO2004002262 describes a steam curling iron with an internal reservoir for storing the water to be sprayed, this reservoir is in contact with a flat porous element bringing the liquid from the reservoir into contact with the heating block to be sprayed and with a steam path to outlet ports placed at the iron treatment plate. The reservoir is in the apparatus and the porous element aims to obtain a constant flow of steam. However, this apparatus has the disadvantage that the steam flow can not be stopped, unless there is no more liquid in the tank, or regulated properly.

Therefore no hairdressing apparatus producing steam has compact means, robust, automatic, simple design, secure, able to operate in hot environments, can ensure a continuous or even constant flow of steam, and having a very high steam response fast.

Presentation of the invention

The object of the present invention is to remedy at least in part the aforementioned drawbacks and to provide a shaping device by contact with the hair using steam and having compact means, automatic, and can ensure a flow of steam also as continuous and responsive as possible.

Another object of the invention is a steam hair shaping apparatus capable of controlling and reliably at least one of the operating parameters of the steam.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shaping device for hair shaping that can ensure a constant flow of steam.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hair-forming steam apparatus which is solid, robust in operation and ensures good aging with respect to mechanical deformations for example.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hair-forming steam apparatus that is effective and / or rapid in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for shaping by contact with the hair, steam and / or fluid distribution, and which is sealed in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hair-forming shaping apparatus which ensures operation in any position of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hair-forming shaping apparatus which allows easy and convenient use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hair contact shaping apparatus which is simple in design and inexpensive in design.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safe shaping device for hair shaping, which can operate in hot environments.

These objects are achieved with a steam styling apparatus for shaping hair according to claim 1.

For vaporization efficiency, the end of the fluid transport pipeline from the reservoir to the vaporization chamber enters the vaporization chamber. This heated pipe end is still kept filled with fluid through this microcontroller control, allowing continuous flow and reactive control to the steam making demand. Indeed, by heat and pressure, the water present in this end is "propelled" into the vaporization chamber and the pipe is then empty of fluid, which could defuse the fluid control means. The momentary control of the fluid flow control means makes it possible to fill the end of the fluid pipe. Momentary control means a command lasting a substantial number of seconds.

According to the invention, the control unit, at the end of countdown D1 without receiving the actuating signal, has means for automatically controlling the flow control means for a predetermined momentary duration d1 at least five times shorter than the predetermined counting time D1. This ratio makes it possible to avoid overloading the means for adjusting the fluid flow rate.

According to the invention, at the end of the countdown "D1" (which is the first count) without receiving the actuation signal, the control unit has means for automatically controlling the flow control means on a first momentary duration "D1" at least five times shorter than the duration of the first count D1, and has means to then count down a second predetermined duration D2 at the end of which without receiving the actuating signal, the flow control means are controlled automatically on a second momentary duration d2 identical to the first momentary duration d1. Indeed if after the second count -certes shorter than the first count- the pump or equivalent was not solicited by the operation, the probabilities that the user does not use the device are high, and the pump is activated after a shorter wait.

According to the invention, the compensation means temporally control the adjustment means as a function of: at least the heating temperature setpoint of the vaporization chamber, and / or at least the interior volume of the end of the vaporization chamber; pipeline for transporting the fluid arranged in the vaporization chamber. Indeed, these two parameters play a role in the expulsion from the end of the pipe of the volume of water present. The higher the heating set point temperature of the vaporization chamber, the faster the fluid will be expelled. The interior volume defines the substantially "pushed" amount of fluid in the chamber. Alternatively, the compensation means may control the adjustment means as a function of the pressure inside the chamber and / or the pressure inside the supply line.

According to the invention, the compensation means of the control unit make it possible to temporally control the fluid flow control means according to a predetermined time slot profile. The control is thus made by time pulse on the drive means of the pump, the valve, or similar fluid flow control means. More precisely in a first alternative, the compensation means of the control unit used to control the fluid control means according to a crenellated profile whose predetermined duration of counting is between 8 and 30 seconds and the momentary duration of control of the slot is included between 1 and 5 seconds. More precisely, the compensation means (13 ") of the control unit make it possible to control according to a crenellated profile whose first predetermined duration of counting is between 25 and 30 seconds, whose following duration (s) of counting are between 8 and 12 seconds and whose momentary control time of the slot is identical and equal to 2 seconds

In a second alternative, the compensation means of the control unit make it possible to automatically control the fluid flow control means according to a cyclic time profile. Even more precisely, the compensation means of the control unit make it possible to control according to a cyclic crenellated profile whose complete cycle time is between 25 and 35 seconds, preferably 30 seconds and the momentary duration of control of the slot is between 2 and 5 seconds inclusive, preferably equal to 2 or 3 seconds.

According to the invention, the compensation means of the control unit make it possible to control the fluid flow control means for a complete duration of between 2 and 4 minutes, preferably 3 minutes, as long as the control unit receives no actuation signal from the flow control means. After this elapsed time without receiving an actuation signal, the device exits the compensation cycle.

According to the invention, if during the counting, the control unit receives from the actuating means an actuating signal of the flow control means, then it controls the resetting of the counter at the end of the actuation . And the cycle starts again from the beginning.

According to the invention, the actuating means making it possible to control the Flow control means comprise a manual actuation button. Thus the user has the possibility of controlling the steam production if he wishes, and this command resets the counter as soon as the user releases the button 24.

The hairdressing apparatus according to the invention comprises at least a first treatment surface intended to come into contact with the hair. More specifically, the hairdressing appliance may comprise a first and a second jaw disposed facing each other, the first treatment surface being carried by the first jaw, a second treatment surface carried by the second jaw, the jaws being connected by a hinge so as to move from an open position to a closed position where the surfaces pinch a lock of hair. In this case, alternatively or additionally to the manual actuating button, the actuating means for controlling the flow control means may comprise means for detecting its closed position. Such closure detection can be mechanical or electronic or magnetic.

The fluid flow control means may comprise an electric pump, for example a peristaltic pump, or an electric valve controlled by a motor connected to the control unit.

Brief description of the drawings:

• The invention will be better understood by studying the embodiments taken as non-limiting and illustrated here:
  • The figure 1 illustrates an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention;
  • The figure 2 illustrates a sectional view of the first embodiment of the apparatus;
  • The figure 3 illustrates a sectional view of the second embodiment of the apparatus;
  • The figure 4 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of a vaporization chamber according to the invention;
  • The figure 5 illustrates the block diagram according to the invention of the control steps of the pump.

The hair styling apparatus 1 for shaping hair comprises a first treatment surface 4 intended to come into contact with the hair, fluid flow control means 6, means for vaporizing the fluid 7, steam distribution means 16 for the hair, a control unit 13 for controlling at least the fluid flow control means 6, the fluid flow control means comprising an electric pump or a valve, preferably peristaltic 6.

The heating element (s) 8 of the vaporization chamber may be a thermistor, for example a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) or a ceramic. The chamber or chambers are made of aluminum, may have steam distribution holes 7 ", and be pressed against the heating element 8. The good crushing of the heating element and therefore its optimal operation is done by a spring blade (not shown) for example.

The use of a peristaltic pump makes it possible to obtain a compact, watertight, effective starting device, of high endurance, for a rather low flow rate, a constant possible flow rate, insensitive to the positioning in the space according to the gestures of the user, simple, and providing great security. The peristaltic pump 6 is a pump used for a liquid contained in a flexible tube, it is driven by a clamping system pressing the tube inside the pump 6. The peristaltic pump is sealed and the only element in contact with the fluid is the flexible tube. The risks of leakage are thus limited, and the volume of liquid displaced is proportional to the speed of rotation of the pump. This pump is particularly suitable for dosing, thanks to its flexibility of use and its high accuracy. Thus the pump provides a relatively continuous flow, and even relatively constant, of the order of 1 to 5 mL / min, or between 3 and 4 preferably equal to 3.5 mL / min. The pump is actuated by a motor preferably DC. A pad attached to a rotating wheel crushes a flexible rubber tube, creating suction inside the pump. The volume of liquid moves with the movement of the rotor. The maintenance of this pump is easy because it has a wear part, the tube, easy to change.

The apparatus comprises a first and a second jaw 2, 3 arranged opposite one another, the first treatment surface 4 being carried by the first jaw 2, a second treatment surface 5 carried by the second jaw 3 , the jaws being connected to move from an open position to a closed position so that the surfaces 4,5 pinch a lock of hair. The device obtained can pinch the hair and vaporize the hair. According to the invention, the apparatus may comprise heating means 9 of at least one treatment surface 4,5. The first surface 4 and the second surface 5 of the hair treatment may be flat or curved or corrugated complementary surfaces which, in the closed position of the apparatus, come substantially in correspondence to respectively smooth, curl or emboss the hair. Means for heating at least one treatment surface 4,5 exist and comprise a resistor and / or a thermistor (CTP ......) in direct or indirect contact with one of the walls of the vaporization chamber. The thermistor makes it possible to regulate the heating. The device obtained allows to pinch the hair with heat and steam vapor to the hair. This makes it possible to produce a heated or hot treatment surface by means of heat conduction, for example, with direct or indirect contact.

As illustrated in figure 1 and 2 , the apparatus may comprise two parts: the first part being a portable apparatus 10 comprising the two jaws 2,3, the control unit 13, vaporization means 7, and the second part being a remote base 11 of the portable apparatus 10 may comprise the peristaltic pump 6 and a fluid reservoir 19, at least one fluid communication cord 21 can be provided between the base 11 and the portable device 10. This increases the vaporization capacity and guarantees a device for relatively light and manageable treatment. In addition, the pump will not be subjected to a high temperature because it is remote from the heat source, that is to say vaporization means: the motor driving the pump will not be substantially subjected to a high temperature and the pump tube will not lose in elasticity.

Alternatively to the apparatus in two parts, according to the invention and as illustrated in figure 3 , the apparatus may be more compact and composed of a single piece: the first jaw 2 comprises the control unit 13, a fluid reservoir 19, the peristaltic pump 6, fluid evaporation means 7 and the means of This ensures a relatively compact treatment apparatus.

According to the invention, the apparatus comprises detection means 14, 18 of the passage in the open position and / or the passage in the closed position and the control unit can be programmed to receive from the detection means 14, 18 a signal for controlling, in response to the signal, at least the peristaltic pump 6. This allows to have a reliable automatic control of at least one of the components. For example, steam will never be extracted when the appliance is in the open position. The detection means may be means capable of detecting only an open position and a closed position. This simplifies the use of two informations only without giving information of an intermediate position between that of closing and that of opening. The detection means 14, 18 of the passage in the open position and / or the passage in the closed position may be magnetic detection means. This allows the contact necessary to detect a change of position to be magnetic and not mechanical. This reduces the effort required by the user because the mechanical contact is no longer necessary to detect the change of position. The detection is also done without risk of lack of sealing. The magnetic detection means 14, 18 may comprise a magnetic switch, a Hall effect sensor. More particularly, still according to the invention, the magnetic detection means may comprise a magnetic switch with flexible blade (ILS) arranged in the first jaw 2, a magnet arranged in the second jaw 3 so that the magnet is active on the switch in only one of the two positions. This makes it possible to propose a compact device. One of the elements - the magnet - is inexpensive, compact and requires no particular, and the other element (ILS) is also inexpensive, compact, and can be simply connected in series between the element or elements to be controlled and the control unit.

As illustrated in figure 4 , the vaporization chamber 7 is separated into a first vaporization chamber 7 'is arranged upstream of the second chamber 7 "in the direction of the passage of steam.The internal volume (V1) of the first chamber 7' is greater than the internal volume (V2) of the second chamber 7 ". The baffles 7 "'are distributed parallel to each other in the second chamber The first chamber 7' has a substantially parallelepipedal volume having a section selected from one of the following sections: rectangular section, trapezoidal as illustrated in FIG. figure 4 . The distribution means 16 are arranged laterally to the vaporization means 7 and preferably extend over substantially the entire length of the vaporization means 7. The chambers are made of aluminum. The complete chamber of vaporization has for approximate dimension a length of 83mm, a width of 18mm and a height of 5mm. The first chamber 7 'has a water inlet in the form of a water supply pipe 15 whose orifice is arranged at the first quarter of the length of the first chamber or alternatively at the center of the first chamber (no illustrated) and substantially in the middle with respect to its width. The first vaporization chamber 7 'has a water inlet in the form of a pipe made of material comprising PTFE, Teflon®, silicone, POM, PA. The inner diameter of the inlet pipe measures 3mm and its length in the chamber is 17mm.

Description in operation of the invention:

In operation, when the device is turned on, the user grasps the device and applies it to pinch the lock of hair to be treated.

In operation and as illustrated in figure 5 , when the device is switched on and the pump is activated manually or by straightener, then the microcontroller 13 leaves the counter at 0. As soon as the pump is no longer activated (manually or by detecting closure of the straightener) then the microcontroller 13 controls the first incrementation of the counter. As soon as the counter reaches the first predetermined time of the first zero slot (28 here) then it sends the CPU a momentary actuation signal to the pump (over 2 seconds here). And this count starts again as long as the pump is not operated manually or by detecting closure of the straightener. The second incrementation then begins on a second predetermined duration of 10 seconds. After one or more predetermined time counts (here 28s-2s-10s-2s-10s-2s-10s-2s ...) the unit exits the compensation cycle. If the pump is not reactivated then the product shutdown is controlled. If the pump is reactivated, then the flow chart restarts at the beginning. This allows, in duration of non-activation of the pump (neither manually nor by detecting the closed position of the straightener) to supply momentarily and regularly the inlet pipe 15 of the chamber. Thus the chamber has an effective vaporization by its inlet pipe entering the interior while having a high reactivity to the actuation. No compromise between responsiveness and efficiency is done here.

All the figures illustrate different embodiments without limiting the number of alternatives depending on the selected combinations of the different possible "sets of components" provided according to the invention. Thus the apparatus according to the invention comprises at least one component playing on at least one operating parameter of the apparatus and which can be controlled by the CPU on receipt of the signal representing the opening or closing of the hairdressing apparatus .

Claims (14)

1. Steam hairdressing appliance (1) intended for shaping the hair comprising:

   - at least a first treatment surface (4) intended to come into contact with the hair;

   - a fluid tank (19);

   - a fluid vaporisation chamber (7) with at least one fluid inlet (15) and at least one steam outlet (16) to the hair;

   - a fluid transport pipe (23) between the tank (19) and the vaporisation chamber inlet (15), the end of this pipe (15) being arranged at least partially inside said chamber (7);

   - fluid flow regulating means (6) active on the pipe (23);

   - a control unit (13) for controlling at least the fluid flow regulating means (6);

   - at least one actuation means (14, 18, 24) capable of emitting an actuation signal to the control unit (13) for controlling the flow regulating means (6);
   Characterised in that the control unit (13) comprises a counter (13') for counting down a predetermined countdown duration (D1) and means (13") for compensating non actuation of the flow regulating means (6) in order to, if the actuation signal has not been received by the end of the countdown (D1), automatically control the flow regulating means (6) for a predetermined momentary duration (d1).
2. Hairdressing appliance according to claim 1 where the control unit (13), at the end of the countdown (D1) if the actuation signal has not been received, has means for automatically controlling the flow regulating means (6) for a predetermined momentary duration (d1) at least five times shorter than the predetermined countdown duration (D1).
3. Hairdressing appliance according to claim 1 or 2, where the control unit (13), at the end of the first countdown (D1) if the actuation signal has not been received, has means for automatically controlling the flow regulating means (6) on a first momentary duration (d1) at least five times shorter than the duration of the first countdown (D1), and means for then counting down a second predetermined duration (D2) at the end of which, if the actuation signal has not been received, the flow regulating means (6) are automatically controlled on a second momentary duration (d2) identical to the first momentary duration (d1).
4. Hairdressing appliance according to one of the preceding claim where the compensation means (13") temporally control the regulating means (6) according to at least the heating temperature setpoint of the vaporisation chamber (7).
5. Hairdressing appliance according to one of the preceding claims where the compensation means (13") temporally control the regulating means (6) according to at least the inner volume of the end of the fluid transport pipe (15) arranged in the vaporisation chamber (7).
6. Hairdressing appliance according to one of the preceding claims where the compensation means (13") of the control unit (13) temporally control the fluid flow regulating means (6) according to a predetermined temporal crenellated profile.
7. Hairdressing appliance according to claim 3 where the compensation means (13") of the control unit are used to control the fluid regulating means according to a crenellated profile whose predetermined countdown duration is between 8 and 30 seconds and the momentary duration for controlling the crenel is between 1 and 5 seconds.
8. Hairdressing appliance according to the preceding claim where the compensation means (13") of the control unit are used to control according to a crenellated profile whose first predetermined countdown duration is between 25 and 35 seconds, whose following countdown duration(s) is/are between 8 and 12 seconds and whose momentary duration for controlling the crenel is identical and equal to 2 seconds.
9. Hairdressing appliance according to one of the preceding claims where the compensation means (13") of the control unit are used to control the fluid flow regulating means (6) for a complete duration of between 2 and 4 minutes as long as the control unit (13) does not receive an actuation signal from the flow regulating means (6).
10. Hairdressing appliance according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that, if during the countdown, the control unit (13) receives from the actuation means (14, 18, 24) a signal for actuating the flow regulating means (6), it resets the counter (13') at the end of actuation.
11. Hairdressing appliance according to one of the preceding claims, where the actuation means (14, 18, 24) used to control the flow regulating means (6) comprise a manual actuation button (24).
12. Hairdressing appliance according to one of the preceding claims comprising first and second jaws (2, 3) arranged opposite each other, the first treatment surface (4) being carried by the first jaw (2), a second treatment surface (5) carried by the second jaw (3), the jaws being connected by a hinge (20) so as to move between an open position and a closed position where the surfaces (4,5) grip a lock of hair.
13. Hairdressing appliance according to the preceding claim, where the actuation means (14, 18, 24) used to control the flow regulating means (6) comprise means (14; 18) for detecting its closed position.
14. Hairdressing appliance according to one of the preceding claims where the fluid flow regulating means (6) comprise an electric pump or an electric valve controlled by a motor (6') connected to the control unit (13).

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