Patent Publication Number: US-10758020-B2

Title: Device for treating the hair comprising a laterally inserting refill

Description:
The present invention relates to devices for treating the hair, and more particularly, but not exclusively, those intended for shaping the hair, in particular those intended for straightening, curling or crimping the hair, comprising a removable refill of cosmetic product, and to the corresponding refills of cosmetic product. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Usually, hair straighteners consist of two arms that are connected together with the aid of a hinge which makes it possible to open and close said arms, and of at least one heating element disposed on the arms. During operations of styling a lock of hair, said lock is introduced between the two arms in the open position and then the two arms are closed manually over the lock of hair. The lock of hair is then subjected to the heat output by the heating element, until the two arms are opened and the lock of hair is removed. 
     Application WO 2009/078046 describes a hairstyling appliance comprising two arms that are connected together so as to allow the appliance to be opened and closed, at least one heating member and at least one seat for accommodating a hair treatment device, the hair treatment device allowing a haircare product to be dispensed during operation. The hair treatment device is composed of a support material impregnated with a haircare product and suitable for a single use. 
     WO 2009/015027 and US 2009/0025247 disclose a hair-straightening device that makes it possible to apply a haircare product by contact with the hair. The haircare product to be applied is contained in a removable refill for the application thereof. The removable refill comprises a reservoir containing the haircare product in a gelled form, and orifices for dispensing and applying the product, said orifices being made directly through a wall of the reservoir. The refill is introduced into a housing disposed on one of the two arms of the hair straightener, by sliding along the axis of the arm over which it extends. 
     FR 2 999 884 discloses a hair-straightening device that enables steam to be sprayed on the hair. 
     Application WO 2013/045331 discloses an applicator for applying a care substance to the hair, comprising a refill of care substance held in a housing of the applicator. The cartridge comprises a porous support saturated with the care substance. 
     Application WO 2013/090896 relates to an appliance for treating the hair, in particular a hairstyling appliance, comprising a treatment agent support, in particular a saturated porous material, to be applied to the hair or the skin. The support is fixed to an accessory, which is itself mounted in a removable manner on a hair treatment appliance. The support is T-shaped, allowing it to be mounted in a complementary groove in the accessory. 
     Patent application EP 2 397 045 relates to a hair-straightening device comprising a removable accessory having an absorbent material supplied with liquid by a reservoir. 
     There is a need to further improve devices for applying a haircare product such that the user can easily refill the device with haircare product and/or change the haircare product to be applied. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to a first of its aspects, a subject of the invention is a device for treating the hair, comprising:
         a first arm and a second arm that are connected together by a joint and are able to move relative to one another between a closed configuration for treating the hair and a spread configuration for engaging hair to be treated between said arms, and   a removable refill comprising
           a body having a housing, and   a member for applying a cosmetic product received in the housing,
 
the refill comprising at least a first mounting means interacting with at least a second mounting means of the first arm, such that the first and second mounting means are assembled by a movement of the first mounting means, along an axis substantially parallel to the joint, relative to the second mounting means.
   
               

     A refill of this type is easy to mount on the treatment device by simply moving the refill relative to the first arm. It suffices to cause the first mounting means to interact with the second mounting means via a movement of the refill along an axis substantially parallel to the joint between the two arms. 
     In addition, it is possible, if desired, when the refill is mounted on the device in this way, to produce the refill such that it maintains a surface, of non-negligible extent, turned toward the exterior and visible to the user. This surface can serve as a holder for information intended for the user, relating for example to the type of composition contained in the refill and/or acting as a reminder for the user of the refill manufacturer&#39;s trademark. 
     Lastly, the user can easily see that the refill is present. 
     The second mounting means may have at least one surface interacting by snap-fitting and/or friction with a corresponding surface of the first mounting means; better still, the second mounting means has at least two surfaces each interacting by snap-fitting and/or friction with a corresponding surface of the first mounting means. 
     Preferably, one of the first mounting means and of the second mounting means comprises two facing walls that between them enclose a support of the other of the first mounting means and of the second mounting means. The walls are thus positioned on either side of the support and in particular make it possible for the refill to be held on the first arm. Preferably, the first mounting means comprises the two walls and the second mounting means comprises the support. 
     Preferably, the space defined between the two walls and the support are of complementary form such that the two walls are able to engage on either side of the support. The two walls may be substantially parallel and in particular be spaced apart by a distance e of between 0.5 mm and 10 mm, better still between 1 mm and 5 mm. 
     The support may be of a constant thickness d substantially equal to the distance e between the two walls. 
     The refill may be held on the first arm by friction between the first mounting means and the second mounting means and/or by interaction, particularly by snap-fitting, of a locking member of the first mounting means with a complementary locking member of the second mounting means. 
     For example, the walls are capable of being slightly spaced-apart from one another upon mounting of the support between them, such that the refill is locked on the first arm by friction between the walls and the support. 
     In a variant, at least one of the walls comprises a locking relief, forming one of the two locking members, interacting with a complementary relief of the support forming the other of the locking members. Preferably, one of the locking relief and of the complementary relief is a projecting relief and the other of the locking relief and of the complementary relief is a hollowed-out relief. 
     At least one of the walls may comprise at least one guide part taking up mechanical stress and at least one locking part for preventing detachment of the refill. The locking part may comprise at least one locking relief interacting with a complementary relief of the support. 
     The first arm or the refill that carries the support may comprise at least one notch for manually unlocking the locking part, in particular a notch allowing a fingernail to be inserted in a groove or under a rib of one of the walls in order to lift it, with a view to unlocking the locking member. 
     Preferably, the first mounting means is the same length as the second mounting means. The first mounting means may extend over a length substantially equal to the length of the refill. 
     The first mounting means may have a width l of between 0.5 mm and 50 mm, better still between 2 mm and 30 mm. The second mounting means may have a width substantially equal to or greater than that of the first mounting means. 
     The first arm may comprise a recess which receives the refill and in which the first and the second mounting means extend. Preferably, the recess is delimited by two opposite surfaces and a bottom. 
     The first or the second mounting means may extend substantially over the entire length of the recess, in particular between the two opposite surfaces of the latter. 
     In the use position, the refill may extend between the two opposite surfaces and abut against the bottom. Preferably, the length L of the refill is substantially equal to the length of the recess defined between the two opposite surfaces of the latter. 
     The refill may comprise a tongue extending along a surface of the refill oriented toward the exterior of the device when the refill is mounted on the first arm. A tongue of this type enables the user to easily remove the refill from the first arm. Said user is able to take hold of the tongue with his hand and pull it upward in order to disengage the first mounting means from the second mounting means. 
     Preferably, the housing of the application member is oriented toward the second arm. Thus, the application member is facing the second arm and the cosmetic product can be applied to the hair between the two arms after closure of the arms. The second arm may comprise a press member against which the application member bears. 
     Preferably, the application member is made from a porous material or, in particular, from synthetic or natural fibers or foam. 
     The application member is preferably impregnated with cosmetic product, in particular a liquid cosmetic. 
     The application member is preferably configured for applying a product in liquid form to the hair, in particular by contact between the application member and the hair. 
     The arm opposite the one on which the refill is disposed may have a steam outlet. 
     Preferably, in particular when the intention is to straighten the hair, the device comprises a heating element intended to come into contact with the hair, and better still two heating elements, each disposed on a respective arm. This or these heating element(s) may each comprise a plate, made of a material that is a good conductor of heat, that defines a hot surface for bringing into contact with the hair, the temperature of said surface being for example greater than or equal to 95° C., better still between 90 and 230° C. 
     Preferably, product is applied to the lock of hair introduced into the device prior to the application of steam and/or straightening by the heating element(s). Thus, the hair introduced between the arms can come into contact with the application member before being exposed to the steam and to the heating elements while the lock is being moved between the arms of the device. 
     Preferably, the device for treating the hair according to the invention is a straightener having flat heating elements, in particular which come into contact in the closed position. 
     A further subject of the invention is a refill of a device for treating the hair according to the invention. 
    
    
     
       The invention may be better understood from reading the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof and from examining the appended drawing, in which: 
         FIG. 1  schematically shows a perspective view of an example of a device, 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic side view of an example of a refill, 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view on in  FIG. 2 , 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 3  of an example of a device associated with the refill of  FIG. 3 , 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic side view of a variant of a refill, 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view on VI-VI in  FIG. 5 , 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 6  of an example of a device associated with the refill of  FIG. 6 , 
         FIG. 8  schematically and partially shows a top view of a variant of a device, 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view on IX-IX in  FIG. 8 , 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of an example of a device, and 
         FIG. 11  is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the first arm of the device of  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     In the rest of the description, identical or similar elements or elements having identical or similar functions bear the same reference signs in the figures, unless stated otherwise. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show the handpiece  2  of an example of a device for treating the hair according to the invention. 
     This handpiece  2  has two jaws  3  and  4  that are able to move relative to one another between a spread configuration (not shown) for introduction of a lock of hair between said jaws, and a closed configuration for treatment. 
     The jaws  3  and  4  are carried by an upper arm  5  and a lower arm  6 , respectively, which, in the example in question, are connected together at one end by a joint  8  extending along an axis of articulation Y, the handpiece  2  thus forming tongs. 
     The upper arm  5  and lower arm  6  each preferably have a total length of between 22 cm and 37 cm, for example equal to 31 cm, and define, between the joint  8  and the jaws  3  and  4 , respective half-handles  10  and  11  on which the user can press in order to move the jaws  3  and  4  together. 
     An elastic return member (not visible) is preferably provided to return the jaws  3  and  4  to a spread configuration, this elastic return member being, for example, a spring disposed around an axis of the joint  8 . 
     The invention is not limited to a particular manner of connecting the upper arm  5  and lower arm  6  together, and the jaws  3  and  4  may be rendered able to move in some other way without departing from the scope of the present invention. However, the presence of a joint is largely preferred for the ergonomics it provides. 
     The jaws  3  and  4  define between them a region for treating the hair, said region being intended to receive a lock of hair to be treated, the handpiece  2  being moved along said lock during the treatment, for example in the direction from the root to the end of the hair. 
     The handpiece  2  may be configured to apply a cosmetic product, to treat the hair using steam, and then to perform a heat treatment on the hair by contact with two hot surfaces. 
     The direction D of movement of the handpiece  2  over the hair, illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , is preferably substantially perpendicular to the upper arm  5  and lower arm  6 . 
     The handpiece  2  is connected by a lead, in the example in question, to a base station (not shown) that is fixed during the treatment and is connected to the mains. 
     This base station provides electric power to the handpiece  2  and also its supply of water for generating steam, and may also carry out additional functions of processing electrical signals received from the handpiece  2 . The lead that connects the handpiece  2  to the base station may thus comprise various electrical conductors and a water-supply line. 
     A user interface (not shown in the figures) may be present on the handpiece  2  so as, for example, to give the user the option of starting up certain handpiece components. 
     The cosmetic product is applied by a refill  20  carried by one of the two arms  5  or  6 , in this case the upper arm  5 . 
     The refill  20  comprises a body of substantially parallelepipedal form that, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , has a housing  22  for an application member  26 . The housing  22  and the application member  26  are of complementary form. The opening of the housing  22  is oriented toward the other  6  of the arms when the refill  20  is mounted on the arm  5 , such that the application member  26  is able to come into contact with the hair engaged between the two arms  5  and  6 . 
     The application member  26  is preferably made from a porous material, for example a felt, saturated with cosmetic product. 
     When the handpiece  2  is used, the application member  26  adopts the closed configuration, in contact with the hair, and applies the cosmetic product it contains to the hair. The cosmetic product is preferably in liquid form. 
     The length L of the refill  20  illustrated in  FIG. 2  is between 10 mm and 120 mm, better still between 60 mm and 120 mm, even better between 60 mm and 100 mm. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the refill  20  comprises a first mounting means  27  interacting with a second mounting means  29  of the first arm  5  to allow the refill  20  to be mounted on the first arm  5 . The first mounting means  27  is in this case a clip  30  extending perpendicularly to a lateral surface  31  of the refill  20 . The clip  30  is formed by two walls  32  and  34  that extend over the entire length L of the refill  20 . The two walls  32  and  34  are preferably parallel and form a space  38  between them of a thickness e of between 0.5 mm and 10 mm, better still between 1 mm and 5 mm. 
     The width l of the walls  32  and  34 , measured from the lateral surface  31  to their end, is constant and between 0.5 mm and 50 mm, better still between 2 mm and 30 mm. 
     The arm  5  comprises a recess  40  for receiving the refill  20 . The recess  40  is delimited by a front surface  42  and a rear surface  44  that are connected together by a lateral surface  46  defining the bottom of the recess  40 . The recess  40  has a support  48  of the refill  20  forming the second mounting means  29  and having the form of a plate extending longitudinally from the front surface  42  to the rear surface  44  and transversely from the bottom  46  of the recess  40 . The support  48  is of constant thickness d, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , substantially equal to the thickness e of the space  38  between the walls  32  and  34  of the refill  20 . The support  48  may be of a width f smaller than or equal to the width l of the walls  32  and  34 , such that the refill  20  abuts against the bottom  46  of the recess  40 . 
     In a variant, the support  48  may be of a width f greater than the width l of the walls  32  and  34 , such that the support  48  abuts against the lateral surface  31  of the refill  20 . 
     The length of the recess  40  is substantially equal to the length of the refill  20  in order that the latter fits longitudinally in the recess  40 . 
     The refill  20  is introduced by movement along an axis substantially parallel to the axis Y of the joint  8 . The walls  32  and  34  slide on either side of the support  48  until the refill  20  abuts against the bottom  46  of the recess  40  or until the support  48  abuts against the lateral wall  31  of the refill  20 . The refill  20  can be kept in position by friction between the interior surfaces of the walls  32  and  34  and the upper and lower surfaces of the support  48 . The space  38  is, for example, of a thickness e very slightly smaller than the thickness of the support  48 . The positioning of the refill  20  in the recess  40  along the longitudinal axis of the arm  5  is ensured by the contact between the front  33  and rear  35  surfaces of the refill  20  and the front  42  and rear  44  surfaces of the recess  40 . 
     The refill  20  may comprise a tongue  50  extending from the other of the lateral surfaces  51  of the refill  20  and perpendicularly to the latter. The tongue  50  is thus oriented toward the exterior of the handpiece  2  when the refill  20  is in the use position. A tongue  50  of this type makes it easier for the user to position the refill  20  in the recess  40  and to remove it therefrom. In fact, the user is able to grip the tongue  50  in order to push or pull on the refill  20 . 
     The refill may have a width k, excluding the tongue, measured from its lateral surface  51  oriented toward the exterior to the end of the clip  30 , substantially equal to the width of the recess  40 , such that only the tongue  50  is wider than the recess  40 . 
     The example illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 7  differs from that of  FIGS. 1 to 4  in that at least one of the walls  32  and  34 , and in this case the upper wall  34 , has a projecting locking relief  52 , and in that the support  48  has at least one hollowed-out locking relief  54  facing the projecting relief  52 . 
     Upon positioning of the refill  20  on the arm  5 , the projecting relief  52  snap-fits in the hollowed-out relief  52  and enables the refill  20  to be locked onto the support  48 . 
     Preferably, the projecting relief  52  and the hollowed-out relief  54  are such that they prevent the walls  32  and  34  from disengaging from the support  48  under the inherent weight of the refill and such that the force the user has to employ to disengage the walls  32  and  34  of the support  48  is not excessive. 
     The other of the walls  32  or  34 , and in this case the lower wall  32 , may also comprise a second projecting locking relief (not illustrated) and the support  48  may comprise a second hollowed-out locking relief  54  facing the second projecting relief. 
     In a variant, the projecting relief  52  is on the support  48  and the hollowed-out relief  54  is on one of the walls  32  or  34 . 
     The example of  FIGS. 8 and 9  differs from that of  FIGS. 1 to 4  in that at least one of the walls  32  or  34 , in particular the upper wall  34 , comprises at least one guide part  56 , and in this case two guide parts  56 , taking up mechanical stress and at least one locking part  58  preventing detachment of the refill  20 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the locking part  58  may comprise at least one projecting locking relief  52  intended to snap-fit into a hollowed-out locking relief  54  of the support  48 . 
     The first arm  5  may comprise a notch  60  opening into the recess  40  and toward the exterior and the upper wall  34  may comprise a groove or a rib, and in this case a groove  62 , on its end surface facing the notch  60  of the first arm  5 . To unlock the refill, the user is able to slip a fingernail in the groove or under the rib by way of the notch  60  in order to slightly lift the upper wall  34  and to unlock the locking part  58  of the support  48 . 
     The example illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11  differs from that of  FIGS. 1 to 4  in that the clip  30  extends from the arm  5  and the support  48  extends from the refill  20 . 
     As above, one of the walls  32  or  34  may comprise a locking member interacting with a complementary locking member of the support  48  and/or the refill  20  may comprise a tongue  50 . 
     The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments just described, and the features of the various examples may be combined with one another within variants that are not illustrated. 
     The expression “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one”, unless specified to the contrary.