Patent Description:
Numerous apparatuses for shaping hair, in particular straightening irons, tongs or hair straighteners, are known, as described, for example, in <CIT>.

Usually, hair straighteners consist of two arms that are connected together with the aid of a hinge that makes it possible to open and close said arms and of a heating device comprising at least one heating element arranged on the arms. During operations for treating a lock of hair, the latter is introduced between the two arms in the open position and then the two arms are closed manually over the lock of hair. This lock is then subjected to the heat emitted by the heating element, until the two arms are opened and the lock of hair is removed.

To obtain better shaping results, the heating element may be combined with at least one comb, which might or might not be a heating comb, which allows the strands of hair to be separated as they pass between the arms and friction to be applied in order to bring about more uniform results. An apparatus of this type is, for example, described in application <CIT>, the apparatus comprising a friction bar that is mounted movably with respect to the straightening surface and able to interact with a friction counter-bar when the arms are in the closed position, thereby defining a tensile region that creates a tensile force greater than the tensile force created by the treatment region as the apparatus is moved over a lock of hair.

<CIT> discloses a device for shaping hair comprising a heating plate for heating the hair, a temperature sensor and a heat control circuit, the surface of the heating plate potentially comprising a silicone strip. Similar devices are described in <CIT> and <CIT>.

<CIT> discloses a device for shaping hair comprising two arms, each having a contact surface, one contact surface having two strips made of a friction material.

The known apparatuses are not entirely satisfactory when it comes to obtaining sufficient friction between the lock of hair and the heating device during shaping which leads to insufficient hair alignment.

There is therefore a need for a hair-shaping apparatus that allows better shaping, and in particular more effective and uniform straightening, to be obtained.

The invention aims to meet this need entirely or in part, and it does so by virtue of an apparatus for shaping hair according to claim <NUM>.

By virtue of the invention, with the addition of friction created by each strip, the movement of the apparatus relative to the lock of hair may be slowed down which allows more uniform and more effective straightening of the hair to be obtained.

The term "hair" encompasses human or corresponding animal, but preferably human, keratin fibers and also synthetic fibers known as "extensions" which are sometimes added to an individual's natural head of hair by various means, especially by adhesive bonding, in order for example to modify the appearance of an individual's natural head of hair and the synthetic or non-synthetic fibers of a wig.

What is meant by "contact surface" is a surface for treating hair, preferably a straightening surface, for example formed by a straightening plate, which is advantageously a heating plate, as will be described hereinafter. Each treatment surface is intended to come into contact with at least one lock of hair during the hair treatment. The contact surfaces are preferably planar and arranged parallel to one another in the moved-together configuration. The contact surfaces may be made of an inorganic material, for example a metal or a ceramic, being made, for example, of anodized aluminium or of aluminium with a ceramic surface treatment.

Said at least one strip is preferably not movable relative to the contact surface to which it is attached. It should be noted that it has a specific elasticity depending on the friction material used. It preferably has a continuous and planar friction surface, in particular one that is free of reliefs, for example free of teeth.

The height by which said at least one strip protrudes is preferably between <NUM> and <NUM>, preferably substantially equal to <NUM>, in the spaced-apart configuration of the arms.

The silicone elastomer might or might not be fluorinated. The silicone elastomer is, in particular, chosen from the group formed of vinyl methyl silicone (VMQ), poly vinyl methyl silicone (PVMQ), fluoro vinyl methyl silicone (FVMQ) and methyl silicone (MQ), preferably vinyl methyl silicone (VMQ).

The fluoroelastomer (FKM) belongs, for example, to the ranges marketed under the names Viton® by Chemours Company, Tecnoflon® by Solvay and Kalrez® by DuPont. The perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) belongs, for example, to the ranges marketed under the names Tecnoflon® and Kalrez®.

These materials (silicone elastomer, fluoroelastomer and perfluoroelastomer) which may form the friction material are elastic. They are also able to withstand continuous use at more than <NUM>.

Said at least one strip is preferably free of any material other than the friction material. In particular, said at least one strip may consist entirely of a synthetic polymer and be free of any mineral or multi-mineral element or infrared powder.

The friction material preferably has a Shore A hardness of between <NUM> and <NUM> Shore A, in particular substantially equal to <NUM> Shore A.

The clamping force of the arms in the moved-together configuration, i.e. the pinching force exerted when using the apparatus on a lock of hair, this lock of hair being engaged between the arms in the moved-together configuration, may be between <NUM> N and <NUM> N, being, for example, equal to <NUM> N, <NUM> N or <NUM> N. The tension of the lock of hair may be between <NUM> N and <NUM> N for a clamping force of <NUM> N and a temperature of said at least one surface equal to <NUM>. The speed at which the lock of hair passes through the apparatus is preferably about <NUM>/s.

The width of said at least one strip may be between <NUM> and <NUM>, in particular between <NUM> and <NUM>, preferably between <NUM> and <NUM>, preferably being substantially equal to <NUM>.

Said at least one strip may take any shape, for example a sinusoidal shape. As a variant, said at least one strip has a friction surface of rectilinear longitudinal axis, in particular rectangular in shape, extending preferably longitudinally along an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the contact surface to which it is attached.

The friction surface of said at least one strip advantageously covers an area smaller than <NUM>% of the surface area of the contact surface to which it is attached, preferably smaller than <NUM>%, more preferably smaller than <NUM>%.

In one particular embodiment, one of the contact surfaces comprises a single strip and the other of the contact surfaces comprises two strips that are arranged so as to flank the single strip in the moved-together configuration of the arms.

In this case, the single strip may be arranged equidistantly from the lateral edges of the contact surface to which it is attached, and the two strips are respectively attached with the same distance from the lateral edges of the contact surface to which they are attached.

In another embodiment, not according to the invention, each contact surface comprises two strips.

When at least one of the contact surfaces comprises two strips, these extend advantageously parallel to one another.

Said at least one strip may extend heightwise along an axis perpendicular to the contact surface to which it is attached.

Said at least one strip may take the shape of a parallelepiped of substantially square or rectangular cross section.

As a variant, said at least one strip has a substantially trapezoidal cross section, with a width of the friction surface of said at least one strip intended to come into contact with the lock of hair that is smaller than the width of the surface opposite thereto.

In this case, the edges of said at least one strip each form, with the friction surface, an angle of between <NUM>° and <NUM>°, preferably between <NUM>° and <NUM>°, the angle formed between one of the edges and the friction surface of said at least one strip preferably being equal to the angle formed between the other of the edges and the friction surface of said at least one strip.

In one particular embodiment, each contact surface may comprise at least one groove for accommodating said at least one strip. In this case, said at least one groove may have a substantially trapezoidal cross section, with a width that decreases from the bottom in the direction of the opening of the groove. The exterior shape of the portion of the strip that is accommodated in the groove may be designed to conform to the shape of the groove. The strip may slip into the groove or be force-fitted into the groove.

In another embodiment, said at least one strip is attached to the contact surface as an overthickness, in which case the contact surface may be free of any relief for accommodating said at least one strip. In this case, a surface treatment with the deposition of a thin layer of friction material may be envisaged to produce such a strip.

In this case, said at least one strip may be attached to the contact surface by bonding the friction material or by way of a coating process. What is meant by "coating process" is a process comprising the spraying of a deposit in non-polymerized form onto the contact surface and then heating or irradiating this deposit so as to polymerize it into the friction material in order to attach it to the contact surface.

The apparatus is preferably a straightening iron.

The apparatus preferably comprises a heating device so as to heat said at least one contact surface, which is a heating surface. The overall heating power of the apparatus may be between <NUM> W and <NUM> W.

The apparatus may comprise a steam-issuing device that may be used, in particular, when passing the lock of hair between the contact surfaces.

The apparatus may comprise one or more combs, which might or might not be removable.

Another subject of the invention, according to another aspect thereof, is a process for treating hair implementing the apparatus as defined above and comprising the steps of introducing a lock of hair between the arms in the spaced-apart configuration thereof, applying a clamping force to the arms so that they transition to the moved-together configuration while pinching the lock of hair and exerting a clamping force, and then moving the apparatus relative to the lock of hair, preferably in the direction from the roots to the ends of the hair. The process may comprise reiterating the steps mentioned until the hair, or a portion thereof, has been treated.

The treatment process is preferably implemented at a temperature of said at least one contact surface, which is a heating surface, of between <NUM> and <NUM>, better between <NUM> and <NUM>.

The clamping force of the arms in the moved-together configuration while pinching the lock of hair may be between <NUM> N and <NUM> N, being, for example, equal to <NUM> N, <NUM> N or <NUM> N. The tension of the lock of hair may be between <NUM> N and <NUM> N for a clamping force of <NUM> N and a temperature of said at least one heating contact surface equal to <NUM>. The speed at which the lock of hair passes through the apparatus is preferably about <NUM>/s.

The treatment process may be carried out with or without the use of at least one cosmetic composition which may be applied before, during or after the shaping of the hair, but preferably before. The treatment process advantageously consists in straightening the hair.

The treatment process may further be implemented in the presence of steam, for example originating from the apparatus.

The invention may be understood more clearly on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting implementation examples thereof and on examining the appended drawing, in which:.

In the rest of the description, elements that are identical or have identical functions bear the same reference signs. For the sake of conciseness of the present description, they are not described for each of the figures, only the differences between the embodiments being described.

A handpiece <NUM> of an example of a hair-shaping apparatus <NUM> is shown in <FIG>.

This handpiece <NUM> has two arms <NUM> and <NUM> which are movable with respect to one another between a spaced-apart configuration visible in <FIG> for introducing a lock of hair between them and a moved-together configuration, shown in <FIG>, for treating the lock of hair.

The arm <NUM> forms an upper arm and the arm <NUM> forms a lower arm in this example. They are connected to one another at one end by a joint <NUM>, the handpiece <NUM> thus forming tongs.

The arms <NUM> and <NUM> define respective half-handles <NUM> and <NUM> on which the user may press in order to move the arms <NUM> and <NUM> together so as to make them go from the spaced-apart configuration to the moved-together configuration.

An elastic return member (not visible) is preferably provided to return the arms <NUM> and <NUM> to the spaced-apart configuration, this elastic return member being, for example, a spring arranged around a pin of the joint <NUM>.

The invention is not limited to one particular way of connecting the arms <NUM> and <NUM> together. They may be made movable in another way without departing from the scope of the present invention. However, the presence of a joint is greatly preferred for the ergonomics that it affords.

The arms <NUM> and <NUM> each bear, in an end portion opposite the joint <NUM>, a contact surface <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. The contact surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> face one another, being arranged opposite one another. At least one of the contact surfaces, in the example illustrated both contact surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>, is (are) heating surfaces. The contact surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> form an outer surface of two plates <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, of substantially rectangular shape which will be presented further below.

The arms <NUM> and <NUM> extend along respective longitudinal axes X and Y. The contact surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> take the shape of a rectangle that is elongated along these same respective longitudinal axes X and Y.

The arms <NUM> and <NUM> define between them, with the contact surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>, a region for treating the hair, said region being intended to receive a lock of hair to be treated, the handpiece <NUM> being moved along said lock of hair during the treatment, for example in the direction from the root to the end of the hair.

In the example in question, the handpiece <NUM> is configured to carry out a heat treatment on the hair by contact with the two heating contact surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>.

The direction of movement of the handpiece <NUM> over the hair is preferably substantially perpendicular to the arms <NUM> and <NUM>.

The handpiece <NUM> may be connected, on the joint <NUM> side, by a line (not visible in the example in question) to a base station (not shown) that is fixed during the treatment and is connected to the mains, or may be connected directly to the mains.

This base station supplies power to the handpiece <NUM> and may also carry out additional functions of processing electrical signals received from the handpiece <NUM>. The line that connects the handpiece <NUM> to the base station may thus comprise various electrical conductors.

A user interface (not shown in the figures) may be present on the handpiece <NUM> so as to allow the user, for example, to start up or not to start up certain components thereof.

According to the invention, at least one strip <NUM> made of a friction material is attached to each of the contact surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> so as to protrude from the contact surface <NUM> or <NUM> to which it is attached by a height H (visible in <FIG> and also in <FIG>), which is strictly greater than <NUM> even when the arms <NUM> and <NUM> are in the moved-together configuration, as can be seen in particular in <FIG>, and smaller than <NUM>. Said at least one strip <NUM> attached to one of the contact surfaces <NUM> or <NUM> is arranged so as to be offset with respect to said at least one strip <NUM> attached to the other of the contact surfaces <NUM> or <NUM> when the arms <NUM> and <NUM> are in the moved-together configuration, as can be seen in particular in <FIG>. In the example in question, the contact surface <NUM> comprises a single strip 12a (visible in <FIG> in particular) while the contact surface <NUM> comprises two strips 12b and 12c (visible in <FIG> and <FIG>, among others), which are arranged on either side of the strip 12a when the arms <NUM> and <NUM> are in the moved-together position. The strips 12b and 12c are arranged close to the lateral edges <NUM> of the contact surface <NUM>, equidistantly therefrom. The strip 12a is arranged at the centre of the contact surface <NUM>.

In the example illustrated, the friction material forming the strips <NUM> is a silicone elastomer, in this instance vinyl methyl silicone known by the abbreviation VMQ. This friction material has a Shore A hardness of <NUM> Shore A.

The presence of these strips <NUM> on the contact surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> makes it possible, when the handpiece <NUM> is moved relative to the lock of hair, to slow the speed of movement down and to obtain better shaping, in particular straightening, results.

The width of the strips <NUM> is, in this embodiment, the same for the three strips 12a, 12b and 12c and is equal, in this example, to <NUM>.

The contact surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>, made of a metal or ceramic material, in this example of anodized aluminium, take the shape of a rectangle that is elongated along the longitudinal axis of the arms <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. In the example illustrated, each strip <NUM> extends along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arm <NUM> or <NUM>. Each strip <NUM> has a friction surface <NUM> of rectilinear longitudinal axis, in this example rectangular in shape, and extends over the entire length of the contact surface <NUM> or <NUM> to which it is attached. In the example illustrated, the contact surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> are planar around the one or more strips <NUM>.

However, each contact surface <NUM> or <NUM> comprises one or two grooves <NUM> extending longitudinally from one longitudinal edge <NUM> to the other longitudinal edge <NUM> of the contact surface <NUM> or <NUM>. Each groove <NUM> forms a recessed relief and is intended to accommodate a strip <NUM>. The number of grooves <NUM> in a contact surface is equal to the number of strips present on this contact surface, preferably one or two per contact surface.

In the example illustrated, the grooves <NUM> have a substantially trapezoidal cross section, as more clearly visible in <FIG>, with a width that decreases from the bottom <NUM> of the groove <NUM> in the direction of the opening <NUM> of the groove <NUM>.

Each strip <NUM> is substantially trapezoidal in shape and/or conforms to the substantially trapezoidal shape of the groove <NUM> in which it is accommodated, projecting from the opening <NUM> of the groove by a height H, protruding with respect to the corresponding contact surface <NUM> or <NUM>, as explained above.

The lateral edges <NUM> and <NUM> of the strip <NUM> each form, with the friction surface <NUM> of the strip, an angle α and β of between <NUM>° and <NUM>° in this example, these two angles α and β being equal to one another in the example illustrated. The trapezium in which the substantially trapezoidal shape of each strip <NUM> is inscribed is an isosceles trapezium in this example.

The angles of the substantially trapezoidal shapes formed by the strips <NUM> are slightly rounded, in this example in a more pronounced manner on the bottom <NUM> side of the groove <NUM>.

The width of the friction surface <NUM> of the strip is smaller than the width of the opposite surface <NUM>, in contact with the bottom <NUM> of the groove <NUM>.

Each strip <NUM> extends heightwise along an axis Z perpendicular to the contact surface <NUM> or <NUM> to which it is attached, as illustrated, for example, in <FIG>.

Still in the example illustrated, the friction surface <NUM> of the or each strip <NUM> occupies an area smaller than <NUM>% of the surface area of the contact surface <NUM> or <NUM> to which it is attached. In other words, each strip <NUM> should not occupy an area greater than <NUM>% of the surface area of the contact surface <NUM> or <NUM>. For example, if there are two strips <NUM> on one of the contact surfaces, the total area occupied by these two strips <NUM> could not occupy an area greater than <NUM>% of the total area of the contact surface.

The strips 12b and 12c are parallel to one another in this example.

The strips <NUM> extend heightwise perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X or Y of the arm <NUM> or <NUM>, corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the contact surface <NUM> or <NUM>, respectively.

It is the friction surfaces <NUM> of the strips <NUM> which come into contact with the hair. As a lock of hair passes through when the arms <NUM> and <NUM> are in the moved-together configuration, the strips <NUM> may be squashed to a certain extent, thereby decreasing the height H, which nonetheless remains strictly greater than <NUM>, preferably greater than <NUM>, when the arms <NUM> and <NUM> are in the moved-together configuration.

In the example illustrated, the contact surface <NUM> forms the outer surface of the plate <NUM> forming, in this example, a heating device <NUM> of the apparatus, more clearly visible in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, comprising a compartment <NUM> accommodating a heating element <NUM> which is electrically connected using electrical wires (not visible), via the line mentioned above, to the base station or to the mains. The compartment <NUM> and the heating element <NUM> both take, in this example, a parallelepipedal shape and extend parallel, as can be seen, to the contact surface <NUM>.

The heating device <NUM> takes, as can be seen in <FIG>, a shape that allows the incorporation of the grooves <NUM>, with lateral edges <NUM> of the contact surface <NUM> that are rectilinear over most of the contact surface <NUM> but which are rounded moving away from the contact surface <NUM>, and through-openings <NUM> which flank the compartment <NUM>. The through-openings <NUM> could be replaced with a solid material instead without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the example illustrated, the contact surface <NUM> forms the outer surface of the plate <NUM> forming, in this example, a heating device <NUM>, similar to the heating device <NUM>, comprising a compartment <NUM> accommodating a heating element <NUM> which is electrically connected using electrical wires <NUM> (visible in <FIG>), via the line mentioned above, to the base station or to the mains. The compartment <NUM> and the heating element <NUM> both take, in this example, a parallelepipedal shape and extend parallel, as can be seen, to the contact surface <NUM>. The heating device <NUM> takes, as can be seen in <FIG>, a shape that allows the incorporation of the groove <NUM>, with lateral edges <NUM> of the contact surface <NUM> that are rectilinear over most of the contact surface <NUM> but which are rounded moving away from the contact surface <NUM>, and through-openings <NUM> which flank the compartment <NUM>. The through-openings <NUM> could be replaced with a solid material instead without departing from the scope of the invention.

During use, a lock of hair is introduced between the arms <NUM> and <NUM> in the spaced-apart configuration thereof, a clamping force which may be between <NUM> N and <NUM> N, for example <NUM> N, is applied to the arms <NUM> and <NUM> via the half-handles <NUM> and <NUM> so as to move the arms <NUM> and <NUM> to the moved-together configuration while pinching the lock of hair. Next, the apparatus <NUM> is moved relative to the lock of hair, preferably in the direction from the roots to the ends of the hair. Needless to say, these steps may be reiterated with other locks of hair until the hair, or a portion thereof, has been treated.

The temperature of the heating contact surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> is, for example, equal to <NUM>.

The tension of the lock of hair, with the presence of the strips <NUM>, is between <NUM> N and <NUM> N for a clamping force of <NUM> N. The temperature of said at least one contact surface is equal to <NUM>. The speed at which the lock of hair passes through the apparatus is about <NUM>/s. For a treated hair length of <NUM>, the speed of movement will be about <NUM>.

Needless to say, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described, but by the appended claims.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, which is not according to the invention, each contact surface <NUM> and <NUM> comprises two strips <NUM>, these being arranged in such a way that, when the arms <NUM> and <NUM> are in the moved-together configuration, the two strips <NUM> attached to the contact surface <NUM> are not superposed onto the strips <NUM> attached to the contact surface <NUM>. In this example, the distance from one strip <NUM> to the closest lateral edge <NUM> of the contact surface is different from the distance from the other strip <NUM> to the closest lateral edge <NUM> of the contact surface, whichever contact surface <NUM> or <NUM> is considered. In other words, for a given contact surface, the strips <NUM> are not located equidistantly from the lateral edges <NUM> closest to this contact surface.

The one or more strips <NUM> may take a different shape, for example a sinusoidal shape, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The strip <NUM> may take, in cross section, a rectangular shape, for example, as illustrated in <FIG>.

The apparatus may be designed to apply steam and/or a cosmetic product to the hair.

The friction material may be a fluoroelastomer or a perfluoroelastomer.

Claim 1:
Apparatus (<NUM>) for shaping hair, comprising:
- two arms (<NUM>, <NUM>) that are able to move with respect to one another and are able to assume a spaced-apart configuration for introducing a lock of hair between them and a moved-together configuration for treating the lock of hair, the arms (<NUM>, <NUM>) being movable along the lock in this moved-together configuration,
- two contact surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>) borne by the two arms (<NUM>, <NUM>), respectively, arranged facing one another, at least one of the contact surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>) being a heating surface,
- at least one strip (<NUM>, 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) made of a friction material comprising a silicone elastomer, a fluoroelastomer or a perfluoroelastomer, and attached to each of the contact surfaces (<NUM>, <NUM>) so as to protrude from the contact surface (<NUM>; <NUM>) to which it is attached by a height (H) that is strictly greater than <NUM> even in the moved-together configuration of the arms (<NUM>, <NUM>) and smaller than <NUM>,
- one of the contact surfaces (<NUM>; <NUM>) comprising a single strip (<NUM>, 12a) and the other of the contact surfaces (<NUM>; <NUM>) comprising two strips (<NUM>, 12b, 12c) that are arranged so as to flank the single strip (<NUM>, 12a) in the moved-together configuration of the arms (<NUM>, <NUM>).