Patent Publication Number: US-8122896-B2

Title: Hair-straightening device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a hair-straightening device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The classic way to straighten hair is to use a hairdryer and a brush. However, this procedure can take a long time. Alternatively, it is known to use a so-called straightening iron. Such straightening irons are preferably applied to more or less dry hair, i.e. after drying of the hair with, for example, a hairdryer. Since the straightening irons operate at high temperatures and in direct contact with the hair to be straightened, there is a dehumidifying effect that can lead to brittle hair. 
     The term hair-straightening as used herein is intended to encompass all actions that lead to a certain hair-straightening effect, even if the hair does not become perfectly straight as is possibly the case, for example, with straightening irons. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a hair-straightening device which is easy and fast to use and which at least reduces the dehumidifying effect in comparison with straightening irons. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above object is achieved by a hair-straightening device comprising: an air inlet portion for receiving an air stream having a first direction, a brush or comb having a plurality of tines and intended to be moved in a moving direction, and means for redirecting the air stream into a second direction, wherein the angle enclosed by the moving direction and the second direction is smaller than 50 degrees, preferably smaller than 30 degrees, and most preferably smaller than 20 degrees. The hair-straightening device in accordance with the invention may, for example, be attached to a conventional hairdryer and/or hairstyler capable of generating the air stream. Hair-drying and hair-straightening are preferably performed simultaneously. In accordance with the invention, the entire air stream is preferably redirected into the second direction. Apart from some turbulences or swirls which cannot be avoided at least in some cases, essentially the entire air stream is thus redirected into the direction towards the hair tips. Ideally, the moving direction, the second direction, and the direction towards the hair tips are parallel. 
     It is preferred that at least some of the tines are formed by a plurality of parallel blades. In such a case, the parallel blades facilitate the redirecting of the air stream into the second direction, and a uniform redirected air stream can be created. 
     The means for redirecting the air stream may comprise at least one air baffle arranged essentially perpendicularly, at least in portions, to at least some of the blades. With such a configuration pressure losses can be minimized. 
     It is regarded as advantageous that the baffle is curved at least in portions. Turbulences or swirls created during the air redirection process can be minimized thereby as compared, for example, with solutions where the baffle comprises one or more kinks. 
     In highly preferred embodiments, the brush or comb is moveable with respect to the air inlet portion. The brush or comb can thus be optimally aligned when moved in contact with the scalp. This effect can be enhanced if the geometry of the portions of the blades forming the tines is adapted to the geometry of a human head, i.e. if these portions are not straight but slightly curved. 
     It is further preferred in this connection that the brush or comb is pivotable about an axis perpendicular to the moving direction. It is, for example, possible that the axis extends perpendicularly through the blades that form the brush or comb. 
     In accordance with a further improvement, the brush or comb is spring-biased with respect to the inlet portion. This renders it possible for the brush or comb to follow the contour of the head as long as it is in contact therewith, and that the brush or comb assumes a defined position with respect to the inlet portion (and, for example, the handle of the hairdryer) when not in direct contact with the head. 
     Preferably, the inlet portion comprises coupling means for coupling the straightening device to a hairdryer and/or hairstyler. The hairdryer or hairstyler may comprise corresponding coupling mean at least in some cases, for example in the air outlet region. The coupling means may provide a frictional or a matching-shape closure. For example, it is possible to use snap-in or interlocking coupling elements. It is also possible to provide the hair-straightening device in accordance with the invention with universal adapter means enabling an attachment to usual hairdryers and/or hairstylers. 
     These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the hair-straightening device in accordance with the invention attached to a hairdryer; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the hair-straightening device of  FIG. 1  detached from the hairdryer; 
         FIG. 3A  shows a moveable brush or comb in its resting position; 
         FIG. 3B  shows the brush or comb in a pivoted position; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the hair-straightening device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevation of the hair-straightening device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional side view of the hair-straightening device of  FIG. 1  taken on the intersection line A-A shown in  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional side view corresponding to that of  FIG. 6  and schematically illustrating the operation of the hair-straightening device in accordance with the invention, wherein only the hair-straightening device  10  is shown and the hairdryer is omitted for the sake of simplicity. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Equal reference numerals in the following description denote equal parts, which parts are described only once at least in some cases to avoid repetitions. 
       FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the hair-straightening device  10  in accordance with the invention attached to a hairdryer  100  in the air outlet portion thereof. The air stream leaves the hairdryer  100  and enters the hair-straightening device  10  in a first direction  14 . By moving the hairdryer  100  one can move the hair-straightening device  10  in a preferred moving direction  20 . Within the hair-straightening device  10  there are provided means (not visible in  FIG. 1 ) for redirecting the air stream into a second direction  20 . The angle α enclosed by the moving direction  20  and the second direction  26  of the redirected air stream is smaller than 50 degrees, preferably smaller than 30 degrees, and most preferably smaller than 20 degrees. The second direction  26  of the redirected air stream is thus directed towards the hair tips, and this provides the hair-straightening effect. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 2 to 6 , to describe the hair-straightening device  10  in greater detail. The hair-straightening device  10  comprises an inlet portion  12  and a comb  16 . The comb  16  comprises a plurality of tines  18  formed by parallel blades having tapered end portions  32 . The comb  16  and the inlet portion  12  are moveable with respect to each other, since the comb is pivotable about an axis  28  perpendicular to the moving direction  20 . The possible movement of the comb  16  with respect to the inlet portion  12  is restricted by abutments  34  and  36  (see particularly  FIGS. 3A and 3B  showing two side elevations of the hair-straightening device  10 , wherein the upper part of  FIG. 3A  shows the moveable comb  16  in its resting position and the lower part of  FIG. 3B  shows the comb  16  in a pivoted position). The comb  16  is spring-biased with respect to the inlet portion  12  by means of at least one spring  38  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). The inlet portion  12  comprises coupling means  30  for attaching the hair-straightening device  10  to a hairdryer comprising corresponding coupling means in its air outlet region. The coupling means may be formed, for example, by recesses  30  provided in the inlet portion  12  and intended to interact with snap-in tongues provided in the air outlet region of the hairdryer. As may be best seen in  FIG. 6 , the means for redirecting the air stream into the second direction  26  are formed by two baffles  22 ,  24  in the illustrated case. These baffles  22 ,  24  are curved, with the upper portions thereof extending essentially perpendicularly to the moving direction  20 . 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional side view corresponding to that of  FIG. 6  and schematically illustrating the operation of the hair-straightening device  10  in accordance with the invention, wherein only the hair-straightening device  10  is shown and the hairdryer is omitted for simplicity&#39;s sake. As may be seen, the second direction  26  of the redirected air stream is essentially towards the tips of hair  40  to be straightened. In the illustrated case the air stream component redirected by the front baffle  22  encloses a slightly smaller angle with the moving direction  20  than the air stream component redirected by the rear baffle  24 . In the illustrated case, this is due to the different curvatures of the baffles  22 ,  24 . If the individual air stream components from the front and rear baffles  22 ,  24  respectively comprise (slightly) different directions  26   1 ,  26   2 , then, as regards the definitions outlined in the claims, the vector sum of these directions  26   1 ,  26   2  shall be regarded as the common direction  26  of the redirected air stream. 
     Finally, it is to be noted that equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.