Patent Publication Number: US-6662811-B2

Title: Device for applying an additive to hair

Description:
The invention relates to a device for applying an additive to hair, comprising a longitudinally extending base part for making contact with the hair during operation, which base part comprises a distribution system for additive, which distribution system has an inlet which is connected to an additive dispenser and has outlets for applying the additive to the hair during operation. 
     The invention further relates to an electric hairstyler comprising power supply means and a handle, and comprising a device for applying an additive to hair, which device comprises a longitudinally extending base part for making contact with the hair during operation, which base part comprises a distribution system for additive, which distribution system has an inlet which is connected to an additive dispenser and has outlets for applying the additive to the hair during operation. 
     A device for applying an additive to hair of the type defined in the opening paragraphs is known from EP 0 523 460 B1. The base part of this known device is formed by a comb body with comb teeth. The comb body and the comb teeth are hollow and thus form the distribution system for the distribution of additive, which in this known device is a hairstyling foam. The inlet is a discharging tube in the hollow comb body, which tube is connected to the additive dispenser comprising a jet operating portion and a container. The outlets of the distribution system, through which the foam is applied to the hair during operation, are formed by apertures in the ends of the hollow comb teeth. By activating a button during operation, foam is forced from the dispenser through the foam-discharging tube and the hollow comb body, through the hollow comb teeth to the apertures in said comb teeth, and thus directed to the hair. A disadvantage of the known device is that the additive, and especially foam, is not distributed evenly over the hair by the device. The even distribution of additive over the hair is important if a good hairstyling result is to be achieved with the device. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a device for applying an additive to hair of the type defined in the opening paragraphs which is improved as regards its hairstyling performance. 
     To achieve this object, a device for applying an additive to hair according to the invention is characterized in that a flow path is present between the inlet and each outlet, which flow path comprises at least one ramification point, said flow paths having a substantially identical flow resistance, measured from the inlet to each outlet. Because of the fact that each flow path has a substantially identical flow resistance from the inlet to the relevant outlet, additive originating from the inlet and following the flow paths to each outlet during operation experiences a substantially equal deceleration along each flow path. The additive thus reaches all outlets practically simultaneously, and the additive flowrate is substantially the same through each outlet. As a result of this, the additive is distributed evenly over the hair, which benefits a good hairstyling result. 
     An embodiment of a device for applying an additive to hair according to the invention is characterized in that the flow paths each comprise an identical sequence of flow channels and flow channel ramification points, corresponding flow channels of said sequences having identical lengths and cross sections, and corresponding flow channel ramification points of said sequences having an identical number of branches. It is advantageous when the substantially identical flow resistance of the flow path from the inlet to each outlet is obtained in this way, since the flow resistances in the flow paths are identical to a high degree. The construction of the distribution system is thus comparatively simple, which benefits an easy and cost-effective manufacture. 
     An embodiment of a device for applying an additive to hair according to the invention is characterized in that the flow paths are provided as slots on a cylindrical carrier element which are covered by a cylindrical covering element, and which merge into openings in the covering element. The distribution system is thus composed of only two parts, which parts can be manufactured efficiently in mass production and are easy to assemble. The distribution system can thus be realized in a comparatively simple and cost-effective way. Next to that, the cylindrical covering element serves a double function. On the one hand its inner circumferential area covers the slots forming the flow paths in the distribution system, and on the other hand its outer circumferential area can accommodate additional hairstyling elements such as brush hairs or pins. 
     It is advantageous when the carrier element and the covering element are detachably connected to each other. The use of an additive, and especially foam, in this device involves a risk of obstruction of the flow paths or the outlets, or both, owing to additive remaining in the distribution system after operation. This remaining additive adversely affects the flow resistances of the flow paths and the even distribution of additive over the hair by the device. By offering the possibility to detach the carrier element and the covering element from each other, both parts can be cleaned individually. Consequently the distribution system can be kept clean and a good hairstyling performance of the device is secured. 
     An embodiment of a device for applying an additive to hair according to the invention is characterized in that the flow paths are provided as channels provided in a longitudinally extending flat support, which channels extend from the inlet to hollow protuberances, which hollow protuberances extend from a surface of said support to the outlets. Since the flow paths are formed by channels communicating with hollow protuberances, it is prevented that additive leaks away from the flow paths while moving from the inlet to each outlet during operation. It is prevented in this way that additive leaks from the distribution system into other parts of the device, which could damage the operation and the performance of the device. 
     An embodiment of a device for applying an additive to hair according to the invention is characterized in that the base part has a first end on which a handle is provided and a second end on which the additive dispenser is provided. When a user holds the device by the handle at one end of the base part during operation and brings the base part into contact with the hair, the additive dispenser at the other end of the base part will protrude at least partly from the contacted hair locks. The additive dispenser can thus be easily activated by the user. Next to that, the additive dispenser is thus easily accessible, so that it can be refilled or detached from the device in a simple manner. 
     According to the invention, an electric hairstyler of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraphs is characterized in that the device for applying an additive is a device according to the invention. The advantages of styling the hair electrically, for example by means of heating elements or air, are enhanced by the advantage of applying additive evenly over the hair. An effective styling and setting of the hair can thus be achieved with a hairstyler according to the invention. 
     In an electric hairstyler according to the invention comprising a carrier element and a covering element detachably connected to each other, it is advantageous when the carrier element and the covering element are connected to the handle during operation, and are detachable from the handle only while attached to each other. A potentially dangerous situation arises if one of the respective elements should stay attached to the handle after the other part has been detached. A user who wants to clean both elements after use of the hairstyler with additive can clean the one loose part safely with, for example, water. The handle with the power supply means, to which the other part is still attached, should not come into contact with liquids because it could still be plugged in inadvertently. If the carrier element and the covering element can only be detached from the handle when they are attached to each other, the elements can both be cleaned individually only after being detached from the handle containing the electrical components. This benefits the safety of use of the device. 
     It is advantageous when the covering element comprises a tongue which fits in a slot in the carrier element and which is fastened in said slot by means of the handle as long as the carrier element is connected to the handle. It is only after detaching of both the carrier element and the covering element from the handle that the tongue of the covering element is no longer fixed in the slot in the carrier element by the handle and can be accordingly disengaged from the carrier element. 
     An embodiment of an electric hairstyler according to the invention is characterized in that the handle comprises a fan unit and the base part comprises air transport channels extending from the handle to air outlets provided in the base part. The styling of hair by means of air, such as blowing hot or cold air or both, is thus combined with the even distribution of additive over the hair, resulting in a hairstyler which offers a good hairstyling performance. 
    
    
     The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of an electric hairstyler according to the invention comprising a first embodiment of a device for applying an additive to hair according to the invention, 
     FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the electric hairstyler taken on the line II—II in FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the electric hairstyler taken on the line III—III in FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 4 a  is a perspective view of a carrier element and a covering element of a second embodiment of a device for applying an additive to hair according to the invention, 
     FIG. 4 b  diagrammatically shows part of the carrier element of FIG. 4 a , 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a carrier element and a covering element of a third embodiment of a device for applying an additive to hair according to the invention, 
     FIG. 6 a  is a diagrammatic view of a detachable connection of a carrier element and a covering element of a fourth embodiment of a device for applying an additive to hair according to the invention with a handle of an electric hairstyler according to the invention, 
     FIG. 6 b  shows part of the connection of FIG. 6 a  in detail. 
    
    
     FIGS. 1,  2  and  3  show a first embodiment of a device  1  for applying an additive to hair according to the invention, provided in an electric hairstyler  41  according to the invention. The device  1  comprises a longitudinally extending base part  2  for making contact with the hair during operation, the base part  2  comprising a distribution system  3  for additive. In this embodiment, the base part  2  is provided with brush pins  62  on its entire outer circumferential surface. However, variations in elements and areas on the base part where these elements are provided are possible. Brush pins may alternatively be provided on, for example, only one half of the outer circumferential surface of the base part  2 , or brush hairs may be provided instead of pins. The distribution system  3  has an inlet  4  which is connected to an additive dispenser  5 . The additive dispenser  5  in this embodiment contains a foam pump  51  and an additive container  52  which are schematically shown in FIG.  2 . The additive dispenser  5  may be of a type which is known per se, depending on the additive to be used. The distribution system  3  further has outlets  6  for applying the additive to the hair during operation. A flow path  7 ,  7 ′ is present between said inlet  4  and each outlet  6 , which flow path comprises at least one ramification point  8 . Said flow paths  7 ,  7 ′ have a substantially identical flow resistance, measured from the inlet  4  to each outlet  6 . When during operation a user activates the device by pressing on a button  53  on the additive dispenser  5 , foam is created by the foam pump  51  within the additive dispenser  5  and is directed to the inlet  4 . From the inlet  4 , foam flows through a central tube  33  which ends in the ramification point  8 . From this ramification point  8 , foam flows along the branches  27 ,  27 ′ of the flow paths  7  and  7 ′ to each outlet  6 . The foam is subject to a substantially identical flow resistance when flowing along these flow paths  7 ,  7 ′ from the inlet  4  to each outlet  6 . The foam thus reaches all outlets  6  practically simultaneously, and leaves said outlets  6  at substantially equal flowrates. This results in an even distribution of the foam over the hair, which benefits a good hairstyling result. The base part  2  furthermore has a first end  23  on which a handle  24  is provided and a second end  25  on which the additive dispenser  5  is provided. A user can hold the hairstyler by the handle  24  with one hand and bring the base part  2  easily into contact with the hair. Since the additive dispenser  5  is provided on the other end of the base part  2 , the user still has easy access to the dispenser  5  for activating it by pressing the button  53  with the other hand. The additive dispenser  5  can thus also be easily detached from the base part  2 , for example for replacement or refilling. 
     The electric hairstyler  41  further comprises power supply means  42 . As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the handle  24  in this embodiment comprises a fan unit  43 , and the base part  2  comprises air transport channels  44  extending from the handle  24  to air outlets  46  provided in the base part  2 . The power supply means  42  and the fan unit  43  are of a type which is known per se and are shown diagrammatically only here. The hair can thus be treated by means of hot or cold air, which is distributed from the fan unit  43  through the air transport channels  44  over the air outlets  46  and is thus directed to the hair, as indicated in FIG. 3 by the dotted arrows, while at the same time the hair can be treated by means of the foam. This foam, indicated by the wrinkled arrows in FIG. 3, is evenly distributed over the hair. A good hairstyling result can be achieved in this manner. The order in which air and foam are applied may be varied, and the foam-applying function and the air-applying function can also be used individually with the electrical hairstyler  41 . 
     As can be seen in FIG. 4 a  showing a second embodiment of a device  1 ′ for applying an additive to hair according to the invention, the flow paths  7 ,  7 ′ are provided as slots  9  on a cylindrical carrier element  10  which are covered by a cylindrical covering element  11 . These slots  9  merge into openings  16 , forming the outlets of the distribution system, in the covering element  11 . The covering element  11  and the carrier element  10  are detachably connected to one another, which is further illustrated in FIG.  6  and its description. The covering element  11  can thus be detached from the carrier element  10  after use, and the parts can be cleaned to remove any foam residue. This benefits a proper flow of foam through the distribution system  3  during a next use of the device  1 . FIG. 4 b  diagrammatically shows part of the carrier element  10  with the flow paths  7 ,  7 ′ in a developed view. As can be seen, the flow paths  7  and  7 ′, indicated respectively with a dotted line and a continuous line, and each and every other flow path between the inlet  4  and one of the respective openings  16 , comprise an identical sequence of flow channels  17  and  17 ′ and flow channel ramification points  18 ,  28 , and  18 ′,  28 ′. Corresponding flow channels  17  and  17 ′ of said sequences have identical lengths a,b,c,d,e and cross sections A,B,C,D,E; and corresponding flow channel ramification points  18  and  18 ′, and  28  and  28 ′, of said sequences have an identical number of branches. This measure keeps the flow resistance of the flow paths  7 ,  7 ′ substantially identical in a comparatively simple and reliable manner, while many modifications may be created in an easy and cost-effective manufacture. The construction can thus be adapted to, for example, the desired number and position of outlets. As can be seen in FIG. 4 a , only one half of the circumferential area of the carrier element  10  is provided with slots  9  in this embodiment, which merge into openings  16  correspondingly positioned on the covering element  11 . It is noted that the additive dispenser  5  in this embodiment is provided in the same way as in the preceding embodiment and is not further shown here. 
     FIG. 5 shows a carrier element  20  and a covering element  11 ′ of a third embodiment of a device  1 ″ for applying an additive to hair according to the invention. In this embodiment, the flow paths are provided as channels  19  provided in a longitudinally extending flat support  20 . The channels  19  extend from the inlet  4  to hollow protuberances  21 , which hollow protuberances  21  extend from a surface  22  of said support  20  to the outlets  6 , the latter being formed by openings  16  in the covering element  11 ′. The covering element  11 ′ in this embodiment also serves to accommodate hairstyling elements such as pins, and to provide air outlets to the hair, so that the device is suitable for use in an electric hairstyler with a fan unit. In this embodiment, the covering element  11 ′ and the carrier element  20  are again detachably connected to one another. 
     It is noted that the second and the third embodiment of the device  1  for applying an additive to hair according to the invention, provided with the additive dispenser  5  as described above, may be used on its own, or in combination with an electric hairstyler. When the carrier element  10 ,  20  and the covering element  11 ,  11 ′ are provided in an electrical hairstyler, the carrier element and the covering element are connected to the handle during operation. It is advantageous when these parts are detachable from the handle only while attached to each other. 
     FIG. 6 a  diagrammatically shows a detachable connection  90  of a carrier element  10 ′ and a covering element  11 ″ of a fourth embodiment of a device  1 ′″ for applying an additive according to the invention, with the handle  24  of the electric hairstyler  41  according to the invention. The parts of the carrier element  10 ′ and the covering element  11 ″ related to the distribution of additive are shown diagrammatically. FIG. 6 b  shows a detail of the connection  90  enclosed in the dotted rectangle of FIG. 6 a . The covering element  11 ″ comprises a tongue  91  which fits in a slot  92  in the carrier element  10 ′ and which is fastened in said slot  92  as long as the carrier element  10 ′ is connected to the handle  24 . Only after the handle  24  and the assembly of the carrier element  10 ′ and the covering element  11 ″ are separated, as indicated with arrow  1 , can the covering element  11 ″ be detached from the carrier element  10 ′, as indicated with arrow  2 . If one of the elements should stay attached to the handle after use, which accommodates the electrical components, the element connected to the handle could be exposed to liquid during cleaning with the handle still being plugged in. This would lead to a hazardous situation for the user. Since in this preferred embodiment these elements are detachable from one another only after detachment of both elements from the handle, both elements can be cleaned separately only after being detached from the handle, and a safe handling of the device is safeguarded thereby also after operation. 
     It is observed that additive originating from the inlet and following the flow paths to each outlet reaches all outlets practically simultaneously and with an equal flow rate during operation, because each flow path has a substantially identical flow resistance from the inlet to each outlet in a device for applying an additive to hair according to the invention. As a result of this the additive is distributed evenly over the hair by the device, which benefits a good hairstyling result. It is noted that the substantially identical flow resistance of the flow paths can be obtained in various ways. The flow paths may be given mutually differing lengths, cross sections and numbers of ramification points, as long as the resulting flow resistances of the flow paths from the inlet to each outlet stay substantially identical. 
     It is furthermore observed that the device for applying an additive to hair according to the invention is especially suitable for the even distribution of foam over the hair. However, said device is also suitable for an even distribution of other additives over the hair, for example hair lotion, hair tonic or hair conditioner. Also hair dyes, for which an even distribution over the hair is essential to achieve an optimal coloring effect on the hair, may be distributed advantageously over the hair with the device for applying an additive to hair according to the invention.