Patent Description:
In the field of hairstyling, it is commonplace to use hairbrushes. Numerous improvements to traditional hairbrushes have been proposed. Among these improvements, the conjoint use of heat has been the subject of numerous proposals. Among the documents that mention the use of heat, the patent applications <CIT> and <CIT> can be cited, which mention blowing hot air. The patent applications <CIT> and <CIT> may also be mentioned, which mention heating at the base of the bristles or combing teeth of the brush. Lastly, the patent application <CIT> may be mentioned, which mentions heated teeth. None of those documents mentions the conjoint use of steam.

The patent application <CIT> mentions a comb of which the teeth may be perforated in order to output steam which comes into contact with the hair.

Alternatively, the brush does not have steam outlet nozzles, and the teeth are heated by a heating resistor without steam being applied. Such a brush with steam-heated perforated teeth is difficult to manufacture and limits the temperature imparted to the hair. It may also result in uneven treatment due to steam being over-concentrated locally in certain parts of the hair.

There also exist documents that describe hairstyling brushes that output steam through the base carrying the bristles or teeth during the treatment, the base acting as a heating means. Thus, it is possible to cite the documents <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>,<CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>. None of those documents mentions that the bristles or teeth may themselves be heated independently of the output of steam.

The patent application <CIT> describes a brush having a plurality of spikes that are heated by a heating resistor in the base and having steam outlets between the spikes. In that document, the steam outlets and the spikes are distributed over the entire surface of the brush. Such a brush therefore does not allow steam to be applied to a limited part of the head of hair and the action of the steam to be separated from the action of the dry heat.

The patent application <CIT> describes a hair iron device having two movable arms, each said arms having multiple protruding portions arranged in a plurality of rows. Said rows of protruding portions surrounding steam jetting holes for one arm and steam suction holes for the other arm, the protruding portions being heated by electric heaters.

<CIT> discloses a hair brush comprising a handle and an elongate body provided with bristles and four steam outlets in the centre of the body surrounded by the bristles, wherein no bristle is present in the zone wherein the four steam outlets are present.

<CIT> discloses a brush for treating the hair comprising a hair combing zone provided with bristles and a steam outlet zone in the middle of the combing zone, wherein there is a plurality of steam outlets opening into the brush onto a common steam dispensing chamber.

There is therefore a need for a brush that exhibits an improved treatment performance, in particular in terms of combing, which is relatively uniform and durable, while being safe.

The present invention meets this need with the aid of a brush for treating the hair, in particular for straightening, according to claim <NUM> and a method of treating the hair according to claim <NUM>.

A "brush" is understood to be a device for treating the hair that is constituted of a single arm bearing a plurality of teeth, between which the hair is received when the brush passes through the head of hair. The brush may have a single row of teeth or have preferably a plurality of rows of teeth.

"Teeth" are understood to be elements protruding from the brush and extending from the treatment surface of the brush, between which the hair is received when the brush passes through the head of hair. The teeth may have any shape.

A "heated combing zone" is understood to be a zone with at least two teeth that does not have a steam outlet, as is specified above. It is not excluded for the brush to have other elements except for a steam outlet in the heated combing zone, in particular an applicator member for applying cosmetic product. The heated combing zone is delimited on the brush by the external edges of the teeth heated by the heating means, which are at the periphery of the heated combing zone.

A "steam outlet zone" is understood to be a zone with at least one steam outlet. It is not excluded for the brush to have other elements in the steam outlet zone different from teeth, in particular an applicator member for applying cosmetic product, as will be shown below.

Such a brush makes it possible to treat the hair effectively by performing on the hair at least one simultaneous heating/combing step and at least one step of applying steam to one and the same lock of hair, the two steps being temporally offset.

The fact that the steam outlet zone is on the same treatment surface allows the two treatment steps to be carried out, successively, in a single action on one and the same lock of hair when the brush passes through the hair.

The fact that the two zones are separate from one another makes it possible to separate the application of steam from combing and from the application of dry heat by the heated combing zone, thereby improving the treatment of the hair.

The brush has an elongate shape along a main axis.

Preferably, the brush has a handle and a head, the head bearing the treatment surface. The handle makes it easier to hold the brush and allows additional elements to be added to the brush, in particular a user interface, a water or cosmetic product reservoir and/or one or more sensors.

The head of the brush may have any shape in cross section. Preferably, the head of the brush has a substantially polygonal, in particular substantially rectangular or substantially square, substantially oval, or substantially circular cross section.

Preferably, the brush has a treatment surface, the teeth extending from the treatment surface. Preferably, this treatment surface is flat or domed towards the outside. Preferably, this treatment surface has a substantially polygonal, in particular rectangular or square, circular or oval outline.

Preferably, the heated combing zone is elongate along a longitudinal axis, in particular an axis parallel to the main axis of the brush.

Preferably, the heated hair combing zone extend over more than <NUM>%, better still more than <NUM>%, of the treatment surface of the brush.

The teeth of the heated combing zone extend along at least one row of teeth, better still two rows of teeth, preferably each extending along the main axis of the brush.

Preferably, the brush has a substantially rectangular shape and the teeth extend in several rows of teeth, each extending along the main axis of the brush in the case of a brush having a treatment surface with a substantially rectangular outline.

The means for heating the teeth of the heated combing area may comprise at least one active element heating the tooth extending at least partially under the treatment surface of the heated combing area, in particular being in direct contact with the teeth and/or the treatment surface in the heated combing area.

Preferably, the row or rows of teeth in the heated combing zone each have at least <NUM> teeth, better still between <NUM> and <NUM> teeth, even better still between <NUM> and <NUM> teeth.

Preferably, the teeth have a height of between <NUM> and <NUM>, better still between <NUM> and <NUM>.

The largest dimension of the teeth extending into the heated combing area which are heated by the heating means, in cross section of the tooth, is between <NUM> and <NUM>, preferably between <NUM> and <NUM>.

The ratio between the height of a tooth and its largest cross-sectional dimension is greater than <NUM>, preferably greater than <NUM>.

Preferably, the at least two teeth heated by the heating means do not have surface protuberances.

Preferably, each tooth of the at least two teeth heated by the heating means is in one piece.

Preferably, the teeth heated by the heating means are attached to the treatment surface of the brush, in particular fixed in holes in the treatment surface.

The teeth may extend perpendicularly to the treatment surface or be inclined with respect to said treatment surface.

Preferably, the teeth of one row are spaced apart from one another by a distance of between <NUM> and <NUM>, better still between <NUM> and <NUM>. The spacing is measured between the longitudinal axes of the teeth.

The teeth heated by the heating means are made of a heat conducting material, in particular of iron, aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, graphite, or ceramic. The teeth may be provided with a coating chosen from ceramic, tourmaline, elastomer, metal alloy and anodized coating materials. This makes it possible for the teeth to be heated easily by the heating means, and for the hair to be in contact with hot surfaces in the heated combing zone.

Said teeth may have, at their ends, a protective element made of insulating material in order to limit the heat in contact with the scalp. In this case, during operation, the temperature at the ends of the teeth may be less than or equal to <NUM>, preferably less than or equal to <NUM>, better still less than <NUM>.

The brush is configured such that, during operation, the temperature of the teeth half-way up is from <NUM> to <NUM>, better still from <NUM> to <NUM>, even better still from <NUM> to <NUM>.

Preferably, the heat-conductive material has a thermal conductivity greater than <NUM> Wm-<NUM>K-<NUM> , better than <NUM> Wm-<NUM>K-<NUM> , better than <NUM> Wm-<NUM>K-<NUM>. Preferably, the thermally conductive material is selected from metals, in particular copper, aluminium, iron and steel. Alternatively, the heat-conducting material may be ceramic.

Some of the teeth may be made from a material with low heat conductivity, for example from elastomer or plastic.

Preferably, the material with low heat conductivity has a thermal conductivity comprised between <NUM>,<NUM> and <NUM>,<NUM> Wm-<NUM>K-<NUM>.

The brush may have, along an axis perpendicular to the main axis of the brush, alternating rows of teeth made of a heat conducting material and rows of teeth made of a material that is a poor heat conductor.

The teeth made from a material that is a poor heat conductor may have a different height, in particular be taller, than the teeth made of a heat conducting material. The fact that there are teeth that are poor heat conductors and are taller than the heat conducting teeth makes it possible to limit contact between the scalp and the heat conducting teeth, the teeth that are poor heat conductors coming into contact with the scalp.

Preferably, the heating means have at least one heating element in the body of the brush in order to heat the teeth by heat conduction, or the brush has a heating element in each of the heated teeth, in particular constituting the core of the corresponding tooth.

The heating means may be heating resistors or any other heating means.

Preferably, the steam outlet zone extends over more than <NUM>% of the greatest dimension of the treatment surface of the brush.

Preferably, the steam outlet zone extends along a length substantially equal to that of the adjacent heated combing zone or zones.

The steam outlet zone has a plurality of steam outlets distributed over the steam outlet zone along a single row of steam outlets. The steam outlets open into the brush onto a common steam dispensing chamber.

The steam outlet zone is situated at the periphery of the single heated combing zone.

Preferably, at least one steam outlet is at a distance of less than or equal to <NUM>, better still less than or equal to <NUM>, from at least one heated spike of the heated combing zone.

Each steam outlet extends at least partially along the heated combing zone.

Preferably, the brush has a steam spraying system configured to supply the steam outlet zone, in particular the steam outlets, at a steam flow rate of less than or equal to <NUM> mLmin-<NUM>, better still between <NUM> and <NUM> mLmin-<NUM>, even better still between <NUM> et <NUM> mLmin-<NUM>, preferably between <NUM> et <NUM> mLmin-<NUM>.

Preferably, the brush has a steam spraying system configured such that the speed of the steam output by the steam outlets is between <NUM>/s and <NUM>/s, better still between <NUM>/s and <NUM>/s and even better still between <NUM>/s and <NUM>/s. A lower speed of steam output does not allow the steam to penetrate sufficiently into the hair for effective treatment and a higher speed of steam output can entail a risk of scalp discomfort, the steam not having time to cool before reaching the scalp.

The steam outlet zone does not have teeth.

The brush may have a steam containment groove in which the steam outlets communicate. This makes it possible to contain the steam in a closed space, making it easier to apply.

The brush preferably has at least one vaporization chamber. The vaporization chamber may be in the head of the brush or in the handle.

The steam outlets may have any shape, in particular substantially square, substantially rectangular, substantially round or ovoid.

Each steam outlet has an opening smaller than or equal to <NUM><NUM>, better still smaller than or equal to <NUM><NUM>, even better still smaller than <NUM><NUM>, very preferably smaller than <NUM><NUM>.

The brush may have a reservoir of product to be vaporized, in particular water, in particular having a volume ranging from <NUM> to <NUM>. The reservoir may be in the handle or in the head.

The brush may have a pump between the water reservoir and the steam outlet zone, in particular between the reservoir and the vaporization chamber.

The brush comprises a single steam outlet area, the brush comprising in the steam outlet area a single row of steam outlets aligned with each other along the longitudinal axis of the steam outlet area.

The brush may have at least one zone for application of a cosmetic product, which is preferably separate from the heated combing zone and from the steam outlet zone, the product application zone having an applicator member for applying a cosmetic product.

The applicator member for applying cosmetic product is disposed so as to come into contact with the hair. The applicator member for applying cosmetic product is preferably porous, elastically compressible, and may advantageously be made from an open-cell cellular material such as a PE (polyethylene) foam for example. The applicator member may be made from any material that is able to release or diffuse the cosmetic product.

The brush may have a cosmetic product reservoir.

Preferably, the cosmetic product delivered is in the fluid state. The expression "in the fluid state" should be understood as meaning liquid at ambient temperature (<NUM>) or at a higher temperature, between <NUM> and <NUM> for example, and at atmospheric pressure. In this case, the product may initially be in the solid or pasty state at ambient temperature in the reservoir and be heated up within the reservoir in order to make it sufficiently fluid to be dispensed by the dispensing mechanism provided to supply the applicator member. The product is thus fluid in the reservoir at the time of application.

The reservoir may be equipped with an electrical resistor, for example a fine screen-printed resistor, making it possible to bring the temperature of its contents to above <NUM> for example.

The cosmetic product may be a composition for cleaning, dyeing, bleaching, conditioning or shaping the hair. Preferably, the cosmetic product is a hair shaping composition, in particular a composition for curling, setting or preferably relaxing or straightening the hair.

The cosmetic product may contain one or more active agents chosen from reducing agents and in particular thiols, oxidizing agents and in particular hydrogen peroxide or persalts such as persulfates, coloring agents and in particular pigments, direct dyes or oxidation dyes, temporary shaping agents and in particular styling polymers that are preferably anionic, amphoteric or nonionic, conditioning agents and in particular silicones, mineral or plant oils, plant waxes, cationic surfactants or cationic polymers, alkaline agents or acids.

Even more preferably, the cosmetic product contains one or more agents chosen from oxidizing agents, reducing agents or alkaline agents of the hydroxide type.

The brush may have a combing zone which is separate from the heated combing and steam outlet zone and does not have a heating element. Preferably, the combing zone has a single row of teeth, in particular spikes. Preferably, the combing zone is configured to be upstream of the steam outlet zone and of the heated combing zone while the hair is being brushed. This makes brushing easier, thereby improving the treatment of the hair.

The invention also meets this need by way of a method for treating the hair with a brush, in particular with the brush as described above, having:.

the step of simultaneous heating and combing and the application of steam being carried out on a lock of hair by passing the brush through the hair once.

The features of the device described above apply to the method in combination with or separately from each other and independently of the brush or in combination with the brush.

In the above method, the application of steam is temporally separate from the application of dry heat by the simultaneous heating and combing zone, the steam outlet and heated combing zone being separate from one another.

The method may be repeated several times for the complete treatment of part or all of the head of hair.

Preferably, the brush is moved through the hair at a speed of between <NUM>/s and <NUM>/s.

The method may involve applying a cosmetic product to the lock of hair before or after using the brush of the invention, and preferably before.

The method may involve one or more steps of rinsing the hair.

<FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> do not illustrate the invention.

<FIG> illustrate an example of a brush <NUM>.

The brush <NUM> has a gripping handle <NUM> and a treatment head <NUM>. The head <NUM> has a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners. However, this does not have to be the case. The head could be polygonal, oval or round in particular.

The head <NUM> forms a treatment surface <NUM> intended to come into contact with the hair during brushing.

The head <NUM> has teeth <NUM> arranged along a plurality of rows that extend from the treatment surface <NUM>. The rows of teeth <NUM> extend along a main axis X of the brush. The rows of teeth may have from <NUM> to <NUM> teeth, and in this case <NUM> teeth have been shown for illustrative purposes. The teeth may be attached to the brush, being made in particular of a different material from the treatment surface.

The head <NUM> also has a plurality of steam outlets <NUM> which may be interposed between the teeth <NUM> of one of the rows of teeth, in this case the central row. In a variant according to the invention, not illustrated, the steam outlets may be arranged in a row without any tooth in between the steam outlets.

In the case illustrated, the zones of the treatment surface of the brush that do not have steam outlets constitute heated combing zones C. The zone of the brush having the steam outlets, , constitutes a steam outlet zone V that extends along the heated combing zones C along the majority of the length of the latter. The heated combing zones C cover more than <NUM>% of the treatment surface <NUM> of the brush intended to come into contact with the hair.

The steam outlet zone, delimited by the lateral edges of the peripheral steam outlets, is elongate along an axis of extension E, in particular parallel to the main axis X. The steam outlet zone extends along a length e greater than or equal to <NUM>% of the dimension s of the treatment surface along this axis.

In the embodiments illustrated, all of the teeth are identical, but this does not have to be the case. For example, the teeth may exhibit different materials, heights, shapes or orientations.

Preferably, the teeth <NUM> each extend along a longitudinal axis Y. The longitudinal axis Y of each tooth <NUM> may form an angle α with the treatment surface <NUM> of between <NUM> and <NUM>°, for example substantially equal to <NUM>°.

The teeth <NUM> are spaced apart from one another by a distance d, measured between the longitudinal axes Y of the teeth, less than or equal to <NUM>, preferably between <NUM> and <NUM>.

Preferably, the height h of the teeth <NUM> is less than or equal to <NUM>, better still between <NUM> and <NUM>, even better still between <NUM> and <NUM>.

As can be seen in the <FIG>, the teeth <NUM> of the heated combing zones C are heated by heating means. The brush <NUM> has in particular one or more heating resistors <NUM>, in particular in the head, and the teeth <NUM> are heated by heat conduction from the head to the distal end of the teeth <NUM>. Preferably, the teeth are made of a heat conducting material, in particular of iron, aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, graphite or ceramic, optionally provided with a coating.

Preferably, the electrical heating resistor or resistors are situated in the head of the brush.

The brush <NUM> may have a system, not illustrated here, for regulating the temperature by virtue of one or more sensors disposed in the vicinity of the heating resistor or resistors or in contact with the brush and/or at the end of at least one of the teeth.

In a variant, as illustrated in <FIG>, the heating resistor or resistors <NUM> extend into the teeth <NUM> in the form of a heating core <NUM>.

The source of heat is not limited to the one which has just been described.

The steam outlets are supplied with steam, in the example illustrated, by an elongate rail <NUM> that extends in a direction parallel to the main axis X and is arranged in the head of the brush.

The steam outlets <NUM> are orifices that open onto the rail, for example between <NUM> and <NUM> orifices, which are preferably spaced apart evenly along the rail <NUM> and each have an axis oriented substantially perpendicularly to the median treatment plane such that the steam is output perpendicularly to the treatment surface along an axis W.

The steam outlets <NUM> may have any shape, in particular square, rectangular, round or ovoid.

The rail <NUM> is supplied with steam by a vaporization chamber <NUM>, heated by a heating element, which is itself supplied with product to be vaporized by a reservoir <NUM>. The reservoir may be in the brush, in particular the handle or the head, as illustrated in <FIG>, or be remote therefrom in an external base <NUM> to which the brush is connected by a line supplying product to be vaporized <NUM>, as is illustrated in <FIG>.

The reservoir of product to be vaporized, in particular water, may have a volume of between <NUM> and <NUM> when it is in the handle or in the head of the brush.

Preferably, the steam outlets have a steam flow rate of between <NUM> and <NUM>. min-<NUM>, the steam being emitted at the mouth of the steam outlets at a speed of between <NUM>/s and <NUM>/s.

When the brush is being used, it is passed through the hair at a speed of between <NUM>/s and <NUM>/s. The hair may or may not be combed before the brush is used.

The embodiments in <FIG> differ from the preceding embodiment in terms of the shape and positioning of the steam outlet zone <NUM> and do not illustrate the invention.

In a variant, as illustrated in particular in <FIG>, the brush may have a single steam outlet <NUM> extending along more or less the entire length of the steam outlet zone parallel to the rows of teeth. Preferably, the steam outlet has an opening greater than or equal to <NUM><NUM>.

According to the claimed invention, the steam outlet zone V is positioned elsewhere on the brush. It may be upstream of a single heated combing zone, as illustrated in <FIG>, or downstream of the latter, as illustrated in <FIG>.

The device may have a plurality of steam outlet zones V which are separated from one another by a heated combing zone C, in particular two steam outlet zones V which are separated from one another by a heated combing zone C, as is illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>.

According to the claimed invention, the two steam outlet zones may be positioned at the periphery of the treatment surface <NUM>, on either side of a single heated combing zone, as is illustrated in <FIG>.

The or at least one of the steam outlet zones V may have a steam containment groove <NUM> into which the steam outlet or outlets extend, as is illustrated in <FIG>.

The steam outlet zone or zones V may extend along only a part of the length of the heated combing zone, as is illustrated in <FIG>.

In the example in <FIG>, the teeth <NUM> are inclined by an angle α of between <NUM>° and <NUM>° with respect to the treatment surface <NUM>. The steam outlet or outlets <NUM> may output steam at an angle to the treatment surface <NUM> other than <NUM>°, in particular between <NUM>° and <NUM>°, for example substantially equal to the angle of extension of the teeth <NUM>.

According to the claimed invention, in the variant in <FIG>, the brush has at least one additional treatment zone A, preferably separate from the steam outlet zone or zones and/or from the heated combing zone or zones.

The additional treatment zone A may be an unheated combing zone having a comb <NUM> at a temperature less than or equal to <NUM> when the brush is in operation. Preferably, the comb <NUM> is disposed upstream of the steam outlet or outlets <NUM>.

The additional treatment zone may be a zone for application of a cosmetic product, having an applicator member <NUM> for applying a cosmetic product.

The applicator member <NUM> for applying a cosmetic product is disposed so as to come into contact with the hair. The applicator member <NUM> for applying a cosmetic product is preferably porous, elastically compressible, and may advantageously be made of an open-cell cellular material, such as a PE (polyethylene) foam for example. The applicator member may be made from any material that is able to release or diffuse the cosmetic product.

The brush may have a cosmetic product reservoir, which is not shown.

Preferably, the cosmetic product is in the fluid state at the time of use.

The cosmetic product reservoir may be equipped with an electrical resistor, for example a fine screen-printed resistor, making it possible to bring the temperature of its contents to <NUM>-<NUM>, for example in order to liquefy it.

Preferably, the cosmetic product is a hair shaping composition, in particular a composition for curling or setting and, preferably, relaxing or straightening the hair.

The cosmetic product may contain one or more active agents chosen from reducing agents and in particular thiols, oxidizing agents and in particular hydrogen peroxide or persalts such as persulfates, coloring agents such as pigments, direct dyes or oxidation dyes, temporary shaping agents such as styling polymers that are preferably anionic, amphoteric or nonionic, conditioning agents such as silicones, mineral or plant oils, plant waxes, cationic surfactants and cationic polymers, alkaline agents or acids.

In the example in <FIG>, the brush has teeth 23a made of a heat conducting material and longer teeth 23b made of a material that is a poor heat conductor. The teeth 23a and 23b may alternate within one and the same row, as illustrated in <FIG>. In a variant, the brush has, perpendicularly to the main axis X, alternating rows of teeth 23a made of a heat conducting material and rows of teeth 23b made of a material that is a poor heat conductor.

Numerous modifications can be made to the examples that have just been described.

For example, it is possible for the brush not to have a handle, the back of the brush being used to grip the brush.

The brush may have several different additional treatment zones, which are or are not separate from one another.

Numerous modifications can be made to the examples that have just been described, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The steam outlet zone may have heated teeth like the heated combing zone.

Claim 1:
Brush (<NUM>) for treating the hair, in particular for straightening, having an elongate shape along a main axis (X), the brush having:
- a single heated hair combing zone (C), without a steam outlet, in which the brush (<NUM>) has:
∘ a plurality of teeth (<NUM>) made of a heat conducting material, the teeth (<NUM>) extending along one row of teeth extending along the main axis of the brush (<NUM>), and
<NUM>] heating means (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising at least one active element heating at least two teeth of the plurality of teeth (<NUM>) extending at least partially under the heated combing zone for heating,
- a single steam outlet zone (V), without any tooth, in which the brush (<NUM>) has a single row of a plurality of steam outlets (<NUM>) aligned with each other along a longitudinal axis of the steam outlet zone, the steam outlets (<NUM>) opening into the brush (<NUM>) onto a common steam dispensing chamber (<NUM>), the steam outlet zone (V) being separated from the single heated hair combing zone (C) and being situated at the periphery of the single heated hair combing zone (C), the row of steam outlets extending along the main axis (X) of the brush and along the heated combing zone (C).