Patent Publication Number: US-2019174908-A1

Title: Device for automatically treating hair

Description:
The invention relates to a device for automatically treating hair, particularly for combing hair. 
     Particularly among people with naturally frizzy hair, a large number prefer to wear their hair straight. Known techniques for temporarily straightening curly or frizzy hair can be subdivided into chemical treatments using a chemical agent developed for this purpose, mechanical treatments (for instance using a flat iron which heats the hair), and combinations thereof. 
     Many users prefer a mechanical treatment, because frequent use of chemical agents can result in hair damage and skin complaints. Some people are also allergic to some chemical agents. Manually combing the hair (or having it combed) until it straightens is a labour-intensive, time-consuming and generally painful treatment. 
     There is a permanent need for a technique to straighten curly or frizzy hair, which is efficient and comfortable. 
     A known device for automatically brushing/detangling a coat of an animal is known from the international patent application WO-A2-2015/005781 of the same inventors. This automatic brushing device comprises a rotatably drivable brush belt and is provided with a suction means for suctioning hair from the brush belt, so that soiling of the brush belt is prevented. 
     DE-U1-20 2004 009333 is the most closely related prior art. EP-A2-2 823 730 and US-A1-2007/199170 are recognized as further prior art. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for treating hair, wherein said drawbacks do not occur, or at least do so to lesser extent. 
     Said object is achieved according to the invention with the device according to claim  1  and the cartridge according to claim  16 . 
     The invention relates to a device for treating hair, comprising a carrier, a number of pins extending from the carrier, and an ejector which is reciprocally displaceable along at least one pin. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the carrier is an endless conveyor which is drivable in a circuit in a longitudinal direction thereof. 
     According to a further preferred embodiment, the ejector is provided with a protrusion which can be engaged in a guide. 
     According to yet another preferred embodiment, the guide is arranged all around the endless conveyor, and this guide follows a curve having a varying distance to the endless conveyor. 
     According to yet another preferred embodiment, the drive drives the movement of the carrier and the drive drives the movement of the ejector via the guide. 
     According to yet another preferred embodiment, an inclining guide surface is provided adjacently of the guide. 
     According to yet another preferred embodiment, the device comprises a housing in which the guide is arranged. 
     Further advantageous embodiments form the subject-matter of the dependent claims. 
    
    
     
       Preferred embodiments of the present invention are further elucidated in the following description with reference to the drawing, in which: 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views of a device according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cut-away perspective view of the device according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a part of the cartridge shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of the use of the device; 
         FIG. 6  is a detail view of the situation of use shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic detail view of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are cut-away perspective views of a device according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of the device shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of the device shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a partly exploded perspective view of a cartridge shown in  FIG. 11 ; and 
         FIGS. 13-15  are schematic representations of successive steps of the assemblies of the cartridge shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     Device  1 ,  101  for treating hair according to the invention comprises a carrier  2  and a number of pins  12  extending from carrier  2 , and an ejector  16  which is reciprocally displaceable along at least one pin  12 . In the shown embodiments all pins  12  are in each case provided with such an ejector  16 . Devices  1 ,  101  are hair treating devices that are so compact that they are portable and manually operable. 
     Pins  12 , also referred to as bristles or teeth, are preferably stiff pins. In the shown embodiment pins  12  are manufactured from steel, such as spring steel. Each pin  12  is optionally provided with a plastic coating. Pins  12  can alternatively be manufactured from a plastic. 
     Pins  12  for instance have a section of 0.1-2 mm, such as 0.5-1 mm. Pins  12  preferably have substantially the same section over their whole length, i.e. the section has substantially the same shape and diameter over the whole length of a pin  12 . Pins  12  can alternatively comprise on their free outer end a slightly thickened portion, so that a portion of pin  12  comprising the free outer end is 5-15% thicker than the thickness of the pin  12  outside this portion. The free outer end of pins  12  is preferably blunt, the free outer end has for instance a rounded shape. 
     Device  1 ,  101  is a manual apparatus. Device  1 ,  101  is in particular portable. 
     When treating hair, such as combing or brushing thereof, hairs will come loose to greater or lesser extent depending on the organism (human or animal) and the hair length (short or long), which hairs will tend to accumulate around pins  12 . These hairs can be brought out of engagement with pins  12  with the ejectors  16  which are reciprocally displaceable along pins  12 , whereby soiling in device  1 ,  101  is reduced. 
     In the shown embodiments ejectors  16  are provided with two recesses  18 , each surrounding a number of pins  12  at a time, as can be clearly seen in  FIGS. 13-15 . During the upward and downward movement of ejectors  16  along pins  12  the recess  18  moves relative to pins  12 . Providing a recess  18  which surrounds a number of pins  12  at a time simplifies the assembly of cartridge  64  compared to an embodiment wherein each pin  12  would for instance have to be passed through a corresponding unique recess. 
     Two preferred embodiments are described below. A first preferred embodiment, which is shown in  FIGS. 1-9 , relates to the application of automatically treating human hair. The second preferred embodiment, which is shown in  FIGS. 8-15 , was developed for the application of automatically treating an animal coat. This second preferred embodiment is for instance provided with a suction nozzle  160  to which a suction hose (not shown) can be connected. 
     Although both preferred embodiments are optimized for their specific field of application, they have a largely corresponding construction. Corresponding reference numerals are therefore used for corresponding measures. 
     Both preferred embodiments comprise a drive  36 ,  136  for driving the movement of ejector  16 . Although it is theoretically possible to provide each pin  12  with an individual ejector  16 , device  1 ,  101  is simplified when ejectors  16  extend along a row of pins  12  at a time, wherein ejectors  16  are displaceable along each of the pins  12  in the row of pins  12 . 
     Although a reciprocally movable carrier  2  can be applied, the carriers  2  of both shown preferred embodiments are embodied as an endless conveyor  4  which is drivable in a circuit in a longitudinal direction thereof. Carrier  2  more particularly comprises a belt  6 . 
     Ejector  16  is provided with a protrusion  20  which can be engaged in a guide  26 . Ejectors  16  are more particularly provided on both outer ends with such a protrusion  20 , so that a uniform support is provided. 
     Guide  26  is arranged all around the endless conveyor  4 , i.e. belt  6 , and follows a curve having a varying distance to belt  6 . More specifically, the distance between guide  26  and the surface of belt  6  from which pins  12  extend from belt  6  varies. When drive  36 ,  136  drives belt  6  in a drive direction D, the movement of belt  6  will drive the movement of ejectors  16  via guide  26 . The drive direction D of carrier  2 , i.e. belt  6 , and the drive direction U of ejectors  16  are oriented substantially transversely of each other. In other words, ejectors  16  move in a direction substantially perpendicularly of the surface of belt  6 . 
     Both preferred embodiments comprise a housing  46 ,  146  which differs depending on the field of application and will therefore be elucidated individually in the following. Both housings  46 ,  146  are provided with a first housing part  48 ,  148  and a second housing part  50 ,  150 . The first and second housing parts  48 ,  148 ,  50 ,  150  enclose a space in which a removable cartridge  64  can be received. Arranged in this cartridge  64  are the above discussed carrier  2 , the number of pins  12  protruding from carrier  2  and the one or more than one ejector  16  which is reciprocally displaceable along at least one pin  12 . 
     Because cartridge  64  is received in housing  46 ,  146  in exchangeable manner, it can easily be removed for cleaning thereof or be exchanged for another cartridge  64 . 
     Although it is possible to envisage guide  26  being arranged in housing  46 ,  146 , for instance on a wall of housing  46 ,  146 , it is particularly advantageous for guide  26  to be arranged, as in the shown preferred embodiments, on a side wall of cartridge  64 . This makes cartridge  64  removable from housing  46 ,  146  together with the ejectors  16  arranged around pins  12 , while the positioning of ejectors  16  around pins  12  remains guaranteed. This for instance prevents ejectors  16  being able to slide off pins  12 . 
     In both preferred embodiments belt  6  is shown provided in the housing  46 ,  146  at an angle. During use such an angle is realized between belt  6  and the skin lying under the hair. This angle preferably lies in the range of 1°-70°, more preferably in the range of 1°-50°, still more preferably in the range of 1°-40° and most preferably in the range of 20°-30°. It has been found that this further improves the operation of hair grooming device  1 ,  101  according to the invention. 
     The first preferred embodiment, which is shown in  FIGS. 1-9 , relates to the application of automatically treating human hair, and is particularly suitable for temporarily straightening curly or frizzy hair. Housing  46  has some similarities with the shape of an egg, whereby it lies comfortably in the hand. Because a strap  56  received in a slot  54  is displaceable in the slot  54  ( FIG. 1 ), the space between strap  56  and housing  46  can be varied so that device  1  can be adjusted to different hand sizes. Housing  46  comprises a first housing part  48  and a second housing part  50 . A switch  58  is provided on the rear side of housing  46 . 
     The perspective bottom view of  FIG. 2  shows that housing  46  comprises an opening on the underside, through which hairs can come into contact with pins  12  for the purpose of treating the hairs. Device  1  can for this purpose be moved over a head ( FIG. 5 ), whereby different hairs in each case come into contact with pins  12  ( FIG. 6 ). 
       FIG. 3  shows how cartridge  64  is receivable in housing  46 . Cartridge  64  has a base  66 . Arranged in base  66  are two shafts  10 , around which reversing rollers  8  are rotatable. Arranged around reversing rollers  8  is the belt  6 , which is drivable in a circuit by means of driving at least one reversing roller  8 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 3  a drive  36  in the form of an electric motor  38  is arranged in the left-hand reversing roller  8 . This drive is connected via a cable  40  to a battery (not shown). 
     In the detail view of  FIG. 4  base  66  and the guides  26  of ejectors  16  arranged on either side of base  66  are omitted. Although ejectors  16  would in practice move downward over pins  12  as a result of the force of gravity,  FIG. 4  intentionally shows the situation as according to  FIG. 3 , i.e. in accordance with the situation where the guide  26 , shown at some distance from protrusions  20  of ejectors  16 , would be in engagement with protrusions  20 . 
     Guide  26  follows a curve having a varying distance to belt  6 . Because ejectors  16  are reciprocally displaceable along pins  12 , and protrusions  20  of ejectors  16  engage in guide  26 , ejectors  16  will be urged into the shown positions by guide  26 . When belt  6  is driven, ejectors  16  will move reciprocally along pins  12  in a drive direction U of ejectors  16 , substantially transversely of the drive direction D of belt  6 .  FIG. 7  shows a simplified view, wherein only a few of the pins  12  around the periphery of belt  6  are shown for the sake of clarity. 
     In the shown embodiment ejectors  16  have some thickness, whereby they can remain in engagement with pins  12  while an upper surface of ejector  16  extends beyond the outer end of pins  12  remote from belt  6 . A full ejection of possible hairs is hereby achieved. 
     The second preferred embodiment, which is shown in  FIGS. 8-15 , was developed for the application of automatically treating a coat of an animal. While it suffices when treating human hair to periodically remove cartridge  64  from housing  46 ,  146  and suck it clean, for instance using a vacuum cleaner, the degree of soiling which can occur in treatment of a coat of an animal is of a much greater order. For this reason the housing  101  according to a second preferred embodiment is provided with a suction nozzle  160  to which a suction hose (not shown) can be connected. The hairs removed from pins  12  with ejectors  16  can be suctioned out of housing  146  through suction opening  162 . 
     Housing  146  according to the second preferred embodiment comprises a first housing part  148  and a second housing part  150  which can be fastened releasably to each other so that cartridge  64  can be removed from housing  146  again. 
     Housing  146  is further provided with a handle  152  in which a battery  144  can be received. Operating a switch  158  enables device  101  to be switched on and off. Drive  36  once again comprises an electric motor  38 , and a gear transmission  142  is provided for driving belt  6  with the pins  12  extending from belt  6 . 
     Provided adjacently of guide  26  is an inclining guide surface  28  which forms a guide surface for protrusions  20  of ejectors  16  ( FIG. 12 ) during assembly of cartridge  64 . Ejectors  16  are guided via inclining guide surface  28  into guide  26 , as shown in successive steps in  FIGS. 13-15 . 
       FIGS. 12-15  moreover show that a stop surface is provided which holds ejectors  16  in engagement with pins  12  at all times. 
     Although they show preferred embodiments of the invention, the above described embodiments are intended solely for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and not to limit the scope of the invention in any way. When measures in the claims are followed by reference numerals, such reference numerals serve only to contribute toward understanding of the claims, but are in no way limitative of the scope of protection. It is particularly noted that the skilled person can combine technical measures of the different embodiments. The inclining guide surfaces  28  according to the second preferred embodiment can thus for instance also be applied in the first preferred embodiment. The rights described are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.