Patent Application
20160324290
The present invention relates to devices for treating the hair, and more particularly, but not exclusively, those intended for shaping the hair, in particular for straightening, curling or crimping the hair, comprising a refill of cosmetic product.
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, until the two arms are opened and the lock of hair is removed, to the heat output by the heating element.
The 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.
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.
There is also an advantage in having a sufficient quantity of haircare product to apply without changing the refill so as to make it possible not only to style thicker hair but also to reuse a single refill a number of times.
According to a first of its aspects, a subject of the invention is a refill for an appliance for treating the hair, extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising:
The reservoir in the refill makes it possible to have a quantity of haircare product that is sufficient for dispensing a plurality of doses of product.
The overlap between the reservoir and the dispensing end piece makes it possible to have a more compact refill that is easy to handle.
The expression “longitudinal end of the reservoir” should be understood as meaning the longitudinal ends between which the reservoir extends when it is full.
The supply port may extend along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the refill and is preferably located in the first or the last quarter of the length of the reservoir.
The refill may be longer than it is thick.
It is possible for the refill not to have a pivoting flap for access to the reservoir, the reservoir being in particular non-removable.
The refill preferably comprises a rigid or semi-rigid body that has a first housing and a second housing that are separated by a separating wall which is preferably rigid or semi-rigid, in particular made of the same material as the rigid or semi-rigid body. Preferably, the first housing contains the dispensing end piece and the second housing contains the reservoir or at least partially defines the latter, the supply port being made through the separating wall, preferably in the vicinity of one of the longitudinal ends of the refill.
Preferably, the internal volume of the reservoir varies while the refill is being used.
The maximum capacity of the reservoir is preferably between 2 ml and 20 ml.
The reservoir may be in the form of a flexible pouch received in the second housing. The flexible pouch is preferably fastened at at least two separate locations to a wall that at least partially defines the second housing, in particular to the separating wall.
The reservoir may be delimited at least partially by a flexible wall, and at least partially by a rigid or semi-rigid wall, including in particular the abovementioned separating wall and/or the rigid or semi-rigid body.
The second housing may comprise a wall that has at least one, preferably longitudinal, groove opening onto the supply port so as to make it easier for the haircare product to flow within the reservoir towards the supply port, in particular when the flexible diaphragm tends to press against the separating wall.
The supply port may be at least partially defined by at least one duct that leads into the reservoir, in particular in the vicinity of one of the longitudinal ends of the reservoir.
The duct may be provided laterally with at least one slot or cutout that makes it easier for the haircare product to pass into the supply port. The duct may extend as far as the dispensing end piece, the latter preferably being produced from an extension of the duct.
The haircare product is preferably in the fluid state, that is to say liquid, at room temperature or a higher temperature, between 25 and 95° C. for example. In this case, the product can initially be in the solid or pasty state at room temperature in the reservoir and be heated up within the reservoir in order to make it sufficiently fluid to be dispensed by a dispensing mechanism provided to supply the dispensing end piece. The product is thus fluid in the reservoir at the time of application. Preferably, the product is liquid at room temperature.
When the product is initially solid in the refill and heated in order to be fluidized, the region around the applicator member is preferably non-heating so as to more easily control the temperature of the product.
The dispensing end piece is preferably pre-filled with the haircare product. This can avoid the need to actuate a dispensing mechanism a number of times before the refill is used for the first time.
In a variant, the dispensing end piece can be filled at least partially, and better still entirely, with product while the refill is being introduced into the appliance, in particular when the internal volume of the reservoir decreases when the refill is fitted in the appliance.
The dispensing end piece preferably has at least one dispensing orifice, better still a plurality of dispensing orifices, that preferably consist(s) of at least one slot, better still a plurality of slots having edges that are joined at rest, in particular orifices made through a deformable wall, preferably a wall defined by a portion of a flexible duct.
Preferably, said at least one orifice for dispensing the haircare product does not lead into the reservoir.
Preferably, the rigid or semi-rigid body has a longitudinal opening on that side of the first housing that is opposite that of the separating wall and the dispensing orifices open into said longitudinal opening, allowing the product to be dispensed.
The refill preferably comprises an applicator member that is supplied with product by the dispensing end piece, the applicator member preferably at least partially covering the dispensing end piece.
The applicator member may comprise a porous material and/or a material that is able to release or diffuse the cosmetic product, in particular an open-cell foam.
The applicator member may be mounted in a fixed or removable manner on the rigid or semi-rigid body, in particular over the opening in the latter, at least partially covering the dispensing end piece so as to allow the product contained in the dispensing end piece to impregnate the applicator member through the longitudinal opening. Preferably, the applicator member comes into contact with the dispensing end piece.
Preferably, the applicator member has a length less than that of the refill.
The dispensing end piece is preferably made so as to be filled with product when the dispensing mechanism is actuated, by increasing in volume by elastic deformation under the pressure of the product. Thus, product can collect in the dispensing end piece in order to be dispensed once the filling action has stopped. This makes it possible to supply the applicator member in a delayed manner, to avoid the need to collect a large amount of product within the applicator member itself, and thus to reduce losses of product during the changing thereof.
If desired, the applicator member may be produced with a relatively small thickness, for example less than or equal to 10 mm.
The refill preferably comprises one or more components of a pump for supplying the dispensing end piece with product coming from the reservoir, in particular at least one peristaltic pump tube or a flap-valve pump that forms a part of the dispensing mechanism for supplying the applicator member with product.
The peristaltic pump tube may be formed by a portion of a flexible duct that connects the dispensing end piece to the reservoir.
Preferably, the reservoir has a pressing element which is in particular guided in movement by notches in the rigid or semi-rigid body and is intended to press against the peristaltic pump tube in order to deliver a dose of product.
The volume of haircare product delivered at the dispensing end piece on each actuation of the pump may be between 0.01 ml and 0.5 ml.
The refill may comprise a vent that is made through the rigid or semi-rigid body, makes it possible to place the reservoir containing the haircare product under atmospheric pressure and leads in particular into the second housing.
The refill may comprise a member for closing the refill when not in use, in particular a membrane seal or cover intended to at least partially cover the applicator member.
A further subject of the invention is a device for treating the hair, comprising:
The use of a refill allows the user to be able to apply different haircare products easily by simply changing the refill.
The two arms extend along respective longitudinal axes and are preferably connected by a hinge present at their proximal end, this hinge defining a rotation axis that is oriented preferably perpendicularly to a plane defined by the longitudinal axes of the arms.
The two arms may define half-handles that are extended towards their distal end by jaws.
The maximum thickness of the arms, measured at the jaws, is preferably greater than that measured at the half-handles; the maximum thickness of each arm is preferably between 10 and 40 mm, better still between 17 mm and 32 mm.
The refill preferably has a length less than or equal to two thirds of the length of the corresponding arm, better still less than or equal to half the length of the arm, the refill being located at the front of the device.
The arm carrying the refill and the refill preferably extend along respective longitudinal axes that are parallel to one another.
The refill may be received in a housing for incorporating the refill into the arm. Preferably, the housing is a slideway and the refill is incorporated into the arm by sliding longitudinally in said slideway. Preferably, the refill comprises a lateral extension intended to slide in the slideway and to hold the refill on the arm.
The housing may have an opening that extends preferably along the longitudinal axis of the arm, giving onto the other arm, this opening allowing the application of the haircare product, in particular through the applicator member carried by the refill.
The device may have an electrical switch on the same arm as the refill, said switch being actuated by the refill, making it possible in particular to detect the presence of the latter on the arm.
The refill may comprise an extension that is visible from the outside of the device when it is in position on said arm, making it possible to visually verify that the refill is present.
The refill is disposed such that the applicator member comes into contact with the hair when the arms are closed. The arm opposite the one that carries the refill may define a counter-bearing surface such that the hair is pressed against the applicator member with a certain pressure by the counter-bearing surface.
Preferably, the device is produced such that the applicator member is supplied automatically with product while the device is being used. Thus, the user does not have to worry about exerting a particular action on the device in order to apply the product. The closure of the arms can actuate the pump, which makes it possible to supply the applicator member with product, in particular with a dose of product. A dose of product is preferably between 0.01 ml and 0.5 ml.
The applicator member is preferably supplied with product with provisional collection of product under pressure by the dispensing end piece. The presence of the product under pressure within the dispensing end piece, once the jaws have been moved together, makes it possible to continue supplying the applicator member with product while the device is moved along a lock of hair with the jaws moved together.
The arm opposite the one that carries the refill may have a steam outlet, and preferably also a comb. It may prove advantageous to use two combs, located respectively downstream and upstream of the region for applying the cosmetic product, so as to promote the homogeneous distribution of the product on the hair.
These combs are advantageously parallel to one another and may have the same number of teeth.
If appropriate, the device is produced so as to allow at least one of the combs, better still each comb, to be fastened in a removable manner.
Preferably, in particular when the hair is intended to be straightened, the device comprises a heating element intended to come into contact with the hair, and better still two heating elements, each disposed on an 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 combing and/or straightening by the heating element(s). Thus, the hair introduced between the arms can come into contact with the applicator member before being exposed to the steam and to the heating elements while the lock is being moved between the arms of the device.
A further subject of the invention is a device for treating the hair, comprising:
The device may be a straightener having flat heating elements, in particular which come into contact in the closed position.
The invention may be better understood from reading the following detailed description of non-limiting implementation examples thereof and from examining the appended drawing, in which:
This handpiece 2 has two jaws 3 and 4 that are able to move with respect to one another between a spaced-apart configuration (not shown) for the introduction between said jaws of a lock of hair, and a moved-together configuration for treatment, illustrated in
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 an articulation 8, 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 31 cm and define, between the articulation 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.
The upper arm 5 and lower arm 6 extend along respective longitudinal axes X1 and X2, illustrated in
An elastic return member (not visible) is preferably provided to return the jaws 3 and 4 to a spaced-apart configuration, this elastic return member being for example a spring disposed around an articulation pin 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 an articulation is largely preferred for the ergonomics it provides.
The jaws 3 and 4 define between one another 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.
In the example in question, the handpiece 2 is configured to apply a cosmetic product, to treat the hair by way of steam and to carry out a heat treatment of the hair by contact with one or more hot surfaces.
The direction D of movement of the handpiece 2 over the hair, illustrated in
The handpiece 2 is connected by a line 13, 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 ensures the electric power supply to the handpiece 2 and also its supply with water in order to generate steam, and may also carry out additional functions of processing electrical signals received from the handpiece 2. The line 13 which connects the handpiece 2 to the base station can thus comprise various electrical conductors and a water supply pipe.
A user interface (not shown in the figures) can be present on the handpiece 2 so as to allow the user for example to start up certain components thereof, or not.
The application of the cosmetic product is ensured by an applicator member 15 disposed so as to come into contact with the hair extending through the treatment region.
The applicator member 15 is supplied with product with the aid of a dispensing mechanism which is actuated automatically during the use of the handpiece 2, for example in order to apply a quantity of product to the hair, such that a mass of one gram of hair made up of hair with a length of 20 cm receives between 0.015 and 0.4 g, better still between 0.01 and 0.2 g of product in the case of a care product, or even more in the case of thermal straightening, dyeing or chemical straightening products, the quantity received then being for example between 0.5 and 10 g.
As illustrated in
The handpiece 2 may be designed to automatically detect the presence of the refill 20 in the slideway 33.
This detection may be carried out for example electronically, by virtue of a contactor actuated by the refill 20 when the latter is fitted on the handpiece 2.
The refill 20 may optionally be produced so as to have an extension 45 which is easily accessible from the outside of the device, the user being able to know, by seeing this extension, that the refill is present in the device, in particular when the slideway 33 is covering the refill 20. This extension may also allow the refill to be grasped so as to facilitate the removal thereof from the slideway 33.
An example of a refill 20 that can be used in particular with a handpiece 2 as illustrated in
The refill 20 shown in
The refill 20 extends along a longitudinal axis Xrech.
Preferably, the refill 20 comprises a rigid or semi-rigid body 25 comprising a first housing 27 and a second housing 29 that are separated by a wall 31. The first housing 27 may comprise the dispensing end piece 53 and the second housing 29 may comprise the reservoir 23. The separating wall 31 is preferably made of a rigid or semi-rigid material. It may be integral with the rigid or semi-rigid body 25.
The rigid or semi-rigid body 25 has two longitudinal ends. The first end 26a is located on the side at which the refill is introduced into the slideway 33 and the second end 26b is located on the opposite side.
Preferably, the first housing 27 and the second housing 29 are at least partially superposed.
The reservoir 23 extends at least partially between the abscissae x1 and x2, as illustrated in
The dispensing end piece 53 extends at least partially, preferably entirely, between the abscissae x1 and x2 of the longitudinal ends of the reservoir 23.
The axis Xrech is preferably rectilinear, as illustrated.
As illustrated in
The rigid or semi-rigid body 25 may comprise a lateral extension that allows the refill to slide and be fastened in the slideway 33. Preferably, the lateral extension comprises at least one upright 36 that is shaped so as to engage behind the lip 35 and an extension 42 that is disposed, when the refill 20 is introduced into the slideway 33, on the jaw 3.
The lateral extension 42 makes it possible to hold the refill 20 in place such that it cannot disengage from the jaw 3 other than by sliding along the axis X1 of the arm 5 towards the distal part of the jaw 3.
Preferably, the lateral extension is formed such that the refill 20 cannot slide out of the slideway 33 under the effect of its own weight. The surfaces in contact may be rough and/or the lateral extension may clamp the lip 35 between the upright 36 and the extension 42 so as to increase the frictional forces between the slideway 33 and the lateral extension and prevent the refill 20 from sliding without the application of a force greater than a given force, directed along the longitudinal axis Xrech of the refill 20.
As illustrated in the Figures, the rigid or semi-rigid body 25 is preferably made up of at least two rigidly assembled parts. The first part 25a forms the second housing 29 and is closed by the second part 25b comprising the separating wall 31.
The first part 25a may have on its covered contour a step 28 intended to receive the second part 25b.
The rigid or semi-rigid shell 25 may be thermoformed.
The separating wall 31 is passed through by a port 41 for fluidic communication between the reservoir 23 and the dispensing end piece 53. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Preferably, the port 41 is disposed in the vicinity of the end 26a, inside the device when the refill 20 is mounted on the slideway 33.
The rigid or semi-rigid body 25, in particular the second part 25b, preferably has a longitudinal opening 60 substantially along its entire length.
The first part 25a may have a vent 95 that opens into the second housing 29 receiving the reservoir 23.
In the example in question and as can be seen in particular in
A duct 65 connects the reservoir 23 to the dispensing end piece 53.
As illustrated in
When the duct 65 protrudes from the side of the reservoir, it preferably comprises a slot or a cutout 70 that makes it easier for the product to flow from the reservoir 23 to the dispensing end piece 53.
In a variant, as illustrated in
The dispensing end piece 53 is preferably designed to deliver the product in one direction through at least one dispensing orifice 68 that is visible in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Preferably, the dispensing end piece 53 is elastically deformable such that the internal volume can be increased in order to collect product coming from the reservoir 23 before it is dispensed, and the dispensing orifice(s) 68 is/are designed to only open following such an increase in volume. Thus, it is possible to spread out the dispensing of product over a period of time greater than that for which the action of filling the dispensing end piece 53 lasts.
Prolonged dispensing of the product is useful in order to ensure application that is as homogeneous as possible right along the treated lock and to reduce the risk of product being present in a quantity that is not suitable.
Preferably, the system for supplying the applicator member 15 is designed such that the dispensing of the product after the jaws 3 and 4 have been moved together lasts more than 10 s, in particular between 10 and 30 s, for example around 20 s, i.e. more or less the average duration of treatment of a lock for most users.
A particularly simple and effective way of obtaining prolonged dispensing of the product is to use an elastomeric material to produce the dispensing end piece 53, with a tubular shape closed at one end, and for example having a hardness of Shore 55, and to provide it, as illustrated in
The dispensing end piece 53 comprises for example a tubular body with a wall thickness of between 0.3 and 2 mm, for example with an inside diameter of 3.2 mm and an outside diameter of 5 mm, and made of silicone or some other material such as EPDM (rubber).
As illustrated, the dispensing end piece preferably consists at least partially of an extension of the duct 65.
The applicator member 15 can be fastened to the rigid or semi-rigid body 25 in various ways. The applicator member 15 may for example be retained on the rigid or semi-rigid body 25 by friction or in a variant be retained by adhesive bonding or welding or with the aid of an additional holding element (not illustrated). In particular, the applicator member 15 may be wedged in the longitudinal opening 60 made in the rigid or semi-rigid body 25 and partially receive the dispensing end piece 53.
The applicator member 15 may be held in a removable or non-removable manner. The applicator member 15 can be fastened to the rigid or semi-rigid body 25 in various ways. The applicator member 15 may for example be retained on the rigid or semi-rigid body 25 by friction or in a variant be retained by adhesive bonding or welding or with the aid of an additional holding element (not illustrated). In particular, the applicator member 15 may be wedged in the opening 60 of elongate shape that is made in the rigid or semi-rigid body 25.
The applicator member 15 may be held in a removable or non-removable manner on the second part 25b of the rigid or semi-rigid body 25. It is advantageous to be able to change the applicator member 15 from one use to another without having to replace the refill 20 as a whole, in particular for reasons of hygiene or in order for it to be possible to place the applicator member 15 in a closed container between two uses so as to avoid drying out thereof.
The refill 20 preferably carries the applicator member 15.
Preferably, the length of the applicator member 15 is less than the length of the refill 20.
The applicator member 15 is preferably set against the longitudinal end 26b of the rigid or semi-rigid body 25. The part 60a of the longitudinal opening 60 may comprise at least one component of a pump, in particular of a peristaltic pump or flap-valve pump, in particular a peristaltic pump tube.
The pump component may be a peristaltic pump tube, in particular formed by a portion of the duct 65 connecting the reservoir 23 to the dispensing end piece 53.
As illustrated in
Preferably, the applicator member 15 comes into contact with the dispensing end piece 53 next to the orifices 68 so as to absorb the product delivered thereby as soon as it exits.
The reservoir 23 disposed in the second housing 29 of the rigid or semi-rigid body 25 may be at least partially rigid or flexible. When the reservoir 23 has a flexible wall 73, as illustrated in
In a variant, the reservoir 23 is defined at least partially by the separating wall 31. For example, as illustrated in
The flexible wall 73 may be an elastically deformable diaphragm.
The vent 95 makes it possible to have an intake of air into the reservoir 23 so as to allow the reservoir 23 to empty by changing volume.
The reservoir 23 may be single-use. In a variant, the refill 20 may comprise a valve (not illustrated) for filling the reservoir 23, making it possible to fill the reservoir 23 when the latter is empty or partially empty.
Filling of the dispensing end piece 53 under pressure can be carried out in various ways.
As illustrated in
A particularly simple and effective way of producing this pump is to use a system as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The relief 96 may be carried by an adjusting member (not illustrated), such as a slider or a knob, the rotation or movement of which acts on the degree of protrusion and/or the position of the relief 96 which acts on the pressing element 95. In a variant, the flow rate is adjusted at the arm which carries the reservoir, by virtue for example of an adjusting member which restricts the flow of the product to a greater or lesser extent or which pushes back, to a greater or lesser extent, a counter-bearing surface against which the flexible duct 65 is compressed by the pressing element 95 during the operation of the peristaltic pump.
The adjusting member can make it possible to adjust the pressing element 95 into an extreme position for operation of the device without cosmetic product being dispensed. By virtue of the adjusting member, the user benefits from the possibility of acting on the flow rate of cosmetic product delivered on each closure of the jaws 3 and 4. The adjustment can be carried out continuously or incrementally, depending on the manner in which the adjusting member is able to move on the lower arm 6.
The supply system may be realized so as to cause a dose of product to be dispensed only after the jaws have been moved together a predefined number of times.
A window may be provided, if appropriate, so as to allow the user to see the degree of emptying of the reservoir 23. In a variant, each action of moving the jaws 3 and 4 together increments a counter which is initialized on the installation of a new refill 20, this counter being able to be used to warn the user that complete emptying of the reservoir 23 is imminent. The counter may also be used to signal to the user that the product is ready to be dispensed, when a particular number of actuations of the jaws 3 and 4 is necessary before the product impregnates the applicator member 15, given the dead volume which it is necessary to start filling before the product is dispensed. When the moving together of the jaws 3 and 4 is detected electrically, counting can be effected electronically by the base station.
In a further variant, the system for supplying the applicator member 15 with product is driven in a motorized manner by virtue of an electric motor housed in the arm 5, or possibly in the assembly that forms a refill 20.
If appropriate, the refill 20 may comprise an identifier recognized by the device, this allowing at least one of the following additional functions:
The refill 20 can be identified mechanically and/or electronically. In the latter case, the refill 20 may carry an electronic chip in which the useful information is contained and one of the arms 5 or 6 may carry corresponding reading means.
In the examples illustrated, the heat treatment is ensured by two heating elements 120 and 122, visible in
The plates of the heating elements 120 and 122 are made of any material suitable for the treatment to be carried out, for example a metal, ceramic or glass.
The surface state of the plates of the heating elements 120 and 122, in the region of contact with the hair, depends on the desired treatment, and preferably the plates are smooth when the device is intended to straighten the hair.
The length of the plates defines the extent of the treatment region perpendicularly to the direction D of movement of the handpiece 2 relative to the hair. The hot surfaces 125 defined by the plates are for example flat and have a rectangular contour.
One of the plates is for example mounted in a fixed manner on the corresponding arm while the other is mounted in an articulated manner, for example with the aid of a ball joint, so as to allow the plates to extend parallel to one another and to a median treatment plane in the closed configuration of the jaws. If appropriate, at least one of the plates is disposed on one of the arms 5 and 6, being supported by a structure that forms a spring.
The heating elements 120 and 122 may each comprise an electrical resistor electrically powered by the base station, preferably with temperature regulation by virtue of one or more sensors disposed in the vicinity of the heating resistors or in contact with the plates.
Treatment with steam is ensured by virtue of a vaporization member consisting of a resistive element provided in an evaporation chamber supplied with water by the base station. The latter may comprise an electrically driven pump, preferably a peristaltic pump, that draws up water to be sent to the handpiece 2 from a reservoir of water. The pump is for example as disclosed in the publication FR 2 967 018.
The evaporation chamber may be produced in accordance with the teaching in the application EP 2449909A1 or otherwise, and may communicate with at least one steam outlet.
The evaporation chamber is disposed on one of the arms, namely the lower arm 6 in the example in question, and the steam outlet is provided on the same arm 6.
In the example illustrated, the steam outlet is in the form of a ramp 128 with a shape that is elongate in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis X2 of the lower arm 6.
The ramp 128 may have a number of orifices for spraying steam, for example between 6 and 10 orifices, which are preferably distributed evenly along the ramp 128 and each have an axis oriented substantially perpendicularly to the median treatment plane.
The vaporization member is electrically powered by the base station and a temperature sensor is advantageously disposed in the evaporation chamber. The base station may be produced so as to control the electric power supply of the vaporization member in order to keep the temperature of the steam leaving the evaporation chamber at a value of between 110° C. and 130° C.
Preferably, as illustrated in
The counter-bearing surface 130 may help to channel the steam exiting the ramp 128 towards the hair.
When the jaws 3 and 4 are closed, the counter-bearing surface 130 comes into abutment against the applicator member 15 and preferably, the counter-bearing surface 130 slightly compresses the applicator member 15, for example over a distance k of between 1 and 5 mm.
The radius of curvature r of the counter-bearing surface 130, measured about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arm, is for example between 2 and 10 mm.
The counter-bearing surface 130 may be able to move relative to the jaw 4 which carries it, and its movement may be controlled by a regulating member, for example the one that regulates the quantity of product dispensed while the arms 5 and 6 are moved together. Preferably, this regulating member acts on the height of the counter-bearing surface 130. When the regulating member is in a position not actuating the pump, the counter-bearing surface can reach its maximum height and thus be in a position of maximum compression of the applicator member 15. This configuration can make it possible to wipe the applicator member after use.
The counter-bearing surface 130 may also be defined by a member designed to define a protective cap for the applicator member 15 when not in use. This member can thus cover the applicator member 15 partially, and preferably entirely, in order to promote the preservation of the product still impregnating the applicator member 15.
The handpiece 2 may comprise a comb 133, illustrated in
The presence of the comb 133 is advantageous in that it divides the lock into bundles, this tending to increase the contact surface of the hair with the hot surfaces 125 and to improve the straightening action. In addition, by dividing the lock, the surface area for exchange with the steam and the cosmetic product is also increased, to the benefit of the effectiveness of the treatment. The comb 133 can also help to increase the traction exerted on the hair, and this can improve the shaping thereof, in particular in the case of straightening. The comb can also help to homogenize the product deposited upstream on the hair by the applicator member 15.
Preferably, the device is produced such that a portion of hair introduced between the jaws 3 and 4 and moving relative thereto when the handpiece 2 is drawn from the root of the hair to the end thereof in the direction D, is successively subjected to exposure to the cosmetic product, by passing between the applicator member 15 and the counter-bearing surface 130, to the steam by passing in line with the ramp 128 for spraying steam, and to a heat treatment by passing between the hot surfaces 125.
The handpiece 2 may advantageously have on its top a marker, visible to the user, such as an arrow, informing said user of the correct direction of movement of the device.
The steam treatment can improve the penetration of the product deposited upstream on the hair. The heat treatment makes it possible to dry the hair and to fix its shape.
Numerous modifications can be made to the device that has just been described, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In a variant that is not illustrated, the heating elements 120 and 122 and the associated hot surfaces 125 are absent, the device being designed to only effect the application of the cosmetic product and the exposure to the steam, for example in the context of haircare or a dyeing treatment.
There may be multiple heating elements 120 and 122 on each of the arms 5 and 6, this being able to allow the handpiece 2 to be used in any direction of movement on the hair, if appropriate. The device may also retain a preferred direction of movement D during the treatment, even when there are multiple heating elements 120 and 122 on each of the arms 5 or 6.
The heating elements 120 and 122 carried by one and the same arm 5 or 6 may comprise plates with an identical width and operate simultaneously.
In order to obtain a symmetrical treatment regardless of the direction of movement, the device may comprise two steam outlets on either side of the member 15 for applying cosmetic product and between the hot surfaces 120 and 122.
If there are multiple heating elements 120 and 122 on each of the arms 5 and 6, the member 15 for applying cosmetic product may be disposed away from the heating elements 120 and 122, only one steam outlet being present between the plates.
The movement over the hair is preferably carried out so as to ensure that the cosmetic product is deposited first.
In a variant that is not illustrated, at least one of the heating elements 120 and 122 is produced so as to be able to rotate in contact with the hair when the handpiece 2 is moved along the lock to be treated, and is in the form for example of a rotary cylinder. The other heating element 120 and 122 may have a concave curved shape, suitable for accommodating the roller when the jaws 3 and 4 are moved together.
The steam spraying direction may be non-perpendicular to the median treatment plane, in order to increase the area impacted by the jet of steam, with an inclination of 0 to 20° with respect to the normal, for example. The jet exiting each outlet orifice of the ramp (also known as a nozzle) may be sufficiently divergent to result in substantially uniform exposure of the lock in the direction of its width.
The device according to the invention is preferably used with a base station; in a variant, the handpiece 2 is autonomous, comprising the reserve of water necessary for producing steam.
The cosmetic product applied by the device according to the invention may be any type of haircare product. The expression cosmetic haircare product denotes a composition comprising one or more active ingredients for haircare use, and in particular a product as defined in directive 93/35/EEC dated 14 Jun. 1993. Water in liquid or gaseous form which does not contain any additives for haircare use does not constitute a cosmetic product within the meaning of the present invention. The cosmetic product may be intended to make it easier to shape the hair. Examples of active ingredients are given for example in the publication US 2010/0307528 A1, in paragraphs [0031] and [0032]. The product may have an aqueous or non-aqueous base.
In the examples which have just been described, the cosmetic product is not heated other than by heat losses due to the presence of the heating elements 120 and 122 and the spraying of steam between the jaws 3 and 4. In one variant, the cosmetic product is heated by a specific heating means so as to raise the temperature thereof prior to application, for example a heating resistor printed onto a sleeve through which the product passes or which is disposed on the reservoir or in contact therewith. This increase in temperature may have the effect of decreasing its viscosity and making it easier to apply.
The applicator member 15 may be produced in some other way than with a foam, for example with a felt, a frit or a brush.
On account of the longitudinal configuration of the refill 20, the dispensing of product through the evenly distributed dispensing orifices 68 of constant size is not uniform. The dispensing orifices 68 in the vicinity of the reservoir 23 are subjected to a greater pressure than those located at the end and, as a result, open more, dispensing more product towards the applicator member 15. The following variants make it possible to make the dispensing of product towards the applicator member 15 along the dispensing end piece 53 more uniform.
The dispensing orifices 68 of the dispensing end piece 53 are, in a variant as illustrated in
The dispensing orifices 68 of the dispensing end piece 53 have, in a further variant as illustrated in
The counter-bearing surface 130 is, in a variant, inclined obliquely with respect to the applicator member 15 so as to exert a variable pressure on the applicator member 15. Preferably, the pressure exerted on the applicator member 15 by the counter-bearing surface 130 increases with increasing distance from the reservoir 23 so as to allow product to be applied uniformly to the lock of hair introduced between the upper arm 5 and lower arm 6.
The device can be used by moving the jaws 3 and 4 along a lock in order to straighten the hair. The device can also be used by winding the lock around a jaw 3 or 4 and unwinding it by sliding it over this jaw 3 or 4 in order to curl the hair.
The device can be used in the hot state without steam production or without the heating elements 120 or 122 being activated.
In one variant, the steam outlet and the applicator member 15 occupy substantially the same position relative to the direction of movement D of the device over the lock of hair. In this case, the steam outlet orifice(s) is/are formed for example through a counter-bearing surface against which the applicator member 15 bears when the jaws 3 and 4 are closed.
In the examples illustrated, the generation of steam takes place on the lower arm 6 and the application of product on the upper arm 5. This arrangement can be reversed.
It is possible for the dispensing end piece 53 not to be deformable and the product may be dispensed only during the moving-together movement of the jaws 3 and 4. A deformable chamber for collecting the product may also be interposed in the path of the product between the duct 65 against which the pressing element 95 and the dispensing end piece 53 bear, this chamber being formed for example by a portion of deformable tube or by a diaphragm that is deformable or able to move without inherent elasticity but comes into abutment against an elastic return member which deforms in order to accompany the increase in volume and which generates the pressure necessary to continue dispensing the product once the jaws 3 and 4 have been moved together.
The housing in the device that receives the refill may comprise at least one light source. This source may allow the user to see that the refill is present while the device is in operation.
When the refill is made at least partially of a material that makes it possible to see the cosmetic product contained in the interior thereof, the light source can make it easier for the user to determine the level of cosmetic product remaining in the refill.
Thus, it may prove to be advantageous to produce the refill with at least a portion of the reservoir made of a transparent or translucent material, and to dispose the light source so as to light the reservoir.
In a variant, the refill 20 may be provided with a removable closure member (not illustrated) to be fitted on the applicator member 15 when not in use.
This closure member may be designed to be fitted on the applicator member 15 before or after the introduction of the refill 20 into the handpiece 2, consisting for example of a cap designed to be fastened hermetically to the handpiece 2 or the refill 20.
In a variant, the closure member is a membrane seal to be removed when the handpiece 2 is used for the first time or when the refill 20 is fitted into the handpiece 2.
In a variant that is not illustrated, the upper arm 5, in particular the jaw 3, comprises a pivoting flap 18 which can take up the open configuration, allowing a refill 20 according to the invention to be fitted and to be removed once the product has been used up, and a closed configuration for using the device to treat the hair.
In a variant that is not illustrated, one of the lip 35 and the upright 36 has a depression for receiving at least one relief carried by the other of the lip 35 and the upright 36 and/or one of the top of the jaw 3 and the flat extension 41 may have a depression for receiving at least one relief carried by the other of the top of the jaw 3 and the extension 42. The presence of the depression and the complementary relief may make it possible to block the refill in position so as to prevent it from sliding out of the jaw.
In a variant that is not illustrated, the refill comprises a flap-valve pump and the handpiece is produced so as to actuate this flap-valve pump for example when the two arms have been moved together or, in a variant, with the aid of an actuating member which can be actuated by the user independently of the moving together of the arms. The flap-valve pump may comprise a diaphragm which is positioned opposite an actuating member which is, for example, height-adjustable so as to be able to control the quantity of product delivered by the pump on each actuation. The flap-valve pump comprises a body which is made in one piece with end pieces which serve to connect to the reservoir and to the dispensing end piece, respectively. The flap-valve pump comprises a pumping chamber partially delimited by the diaphragm. The end piece for connecting to the reservoir may house an inlet valve which opens when the volume of the pumping chamber increases and which closes again when this volume decreases during the actuation of the diaphragm. The pump may also comprise an outlet valve which can be integrated into the pump, being for example located in the region of the end piece for connecting to the duct. An anti-backflow valve may be present between the reservoir and the pumping chamber, opening in the direction of flow from the reservoir to the pumping chamber.
In a variant, the outlet valve is formed by the dispensing orifice(s) of the dispensing end piece, which open under the effect of the pressure of product upstream and close again when the pressure has decreased, by virtue of the inherent elasticity of the material of which the duct is made.
When the diaphragm is deformed by bearing on the actuating relief on the lower arm, the internal volume of the pumping chamber decreases. The inlet valve is closed and the product is flushed towards the dispensing end piece. The outlet orifice(s) may open under the effect of the pressure of the product and then close again when the pressure decreases following the discharging of the product.
When the actuating relief moves away from the diaphragm, the latter returns to its initial shape by inherent elasticity, resulting in the increase in volume of the pumping chamber, which returns to its initial volume. The corresponding reduction in pressure causes the inlet valve to open and product coming from the reservoir to be admitted.
The expression “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one”, and the limits are included in all the ranges of values indicated.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1363588 | Dec 2013 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2014/067155 | 12/19/2014 | WO | 00 |
