U.S. patent application number 12/681320 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-18 for portable apparatus for the steam treatment of hair.
This patent application is currently assigned to SEB S.A.. Invention is credited to Gerald Serresvives, Benedicte Simond.
Application Number | 20100288298 12/681320 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39401026 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100288298 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Serresvives; Gerald ; et
al. |
November 18, 2010 |
Portable Apparatus for the Steam Treatment of Hair
Abstract
A portable apparatus for the steam treatment of hair, comprising
a housing including a liquid tank, a means for supplying a steam
generator with liquid, one or more openings for dispensing the
steam thus generated towards a lock of hair, and a hair shaping
device that comprises at least one treatment surface brought into
contact with said lock of hair. The generator is supplied with
liquid by an electric pump.
Inventors: |
Serresvives; Gerald; (Bois
d'Arlod, FR) ; Simond; Benedicte;
(Marcellaz-Albanais, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE WEBB LAW FIRM, P.C.
700 KOPPERS BUILDING, 436 SEVENTH AVENUE
PITTSBURGH
PA
15219
US
|
Assignee: |
SEB S.A.
Ecully
FR
|
Family ID: |
39401026 |
Appl. No.: |
12/681320 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
October 2, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR08/01373 |
371 Date: |
May 26, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/272 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2/36 20130101; A45D
2/001 20130101; A45D 1/04 20130101; A45D 19/0041 20210101; A45D
2001/008 20130101; A45D 19/16 20130101; A45D 1/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/272 |
International
Class: |
A45D 19/16 20060101
A45D019/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 3, 2007 |
FR |
07 06927 |
Claims
1. Portable apparatus for the steam treatment of hair comprising a
housing (1) consisting of a liquid tank (4), means for supplying
liquid (6) for a steam generator (8), one or a plurality of
openings (12) for dispensing the steam generated to a lock of hair,
and a hair shaping device (30) comprising at least one treatment
surface (31) coming into contact with said lock of hair,
characterized in that the generator is supplied with liquid by an
electric pump (5).
2. Apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that the flow rate of
the steam generated is greater than 5 g/min, and preferably in the
range of between 10 g/min and 60 g/min.
3. Apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that the electric pump (5) is a piezoelectric pump.
4. Apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said steam generator comprises a vaporization chamber (10)
connected to the dispensing openings by one or a plurality of pipes
(14) less than 3 cm long in each case.
5. Apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that it comprises a control device (23) for adjusting the flow
of liquid directed to the generator (8).
6. Apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that the treatment surface (31) has a generally elongate shape
coming into contact with said lock of hair and further
characterized in that said steam dispensing openings are adjacent
to the hair shaping device (30).
7. Apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that the steam path is defined by a plurality of uniformly
distributed openings (12) parallel to the treatment surface (31) of
the hair shaping device (30) aiming the steam in a direction
perpendicular to that of their shaping by said device.
8. Apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that the hair shaping device (30) comprises at least one
electric heating element in thermal contact with the treatment
surface (31).
9. Apparatus as in claim 8, characterized in that the hair shaping
device (30) comprises controls for the heating element that are
independent of those for the steam.
10. Apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that the hair shaping device is detachable from the housing of
the apparatus.
11. Apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that the liquid contained in the tank is a treatment
product.
12. Apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that it comprises a supplementary liquid tank adjacent to or
associated with the hair shaping device.
13. Apparatus as in claim 12, characterized in that the liquid
contained in the supplementary tank is different from the liquid
contained in the tank for supplying the steam generator.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a portable apparatus for
the treatment and/or shaping of hair employing means for generating
steam in conjunction with a device for shaping hair by contact
provided for untangling, styling, or setting hair in connection
with steam.
[0002] Apparatuses for the steam treatment of hair are known to the
prior art, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,501, in which
the apparatus is a curling iron consisting of a housing bearing a
mandrel having a conical base fastened to the housing and
projecting to form a cylindrical tip section equipped with
peripheral steam outlet openings. The conical base receives the
steam from a generator associated with the housing, and the steam
then follows the longitudinal axis of the mandrel towards the
outlet openings thereof. The cylindrical section is inserted in a
curler on which the hair is wound and then steam treated in that
state. A disadvantage resides in this apparatus in that the steam
transfer takes place remotely from the steam outlet opening of the
generator, which results in load losses and hence a diminished
steam outflow. Furthermore, such an arrangement of the steam outlet
remotely from the generator also leads to condensation. As a
result, aside from the reduced steam yield, a return pipe must be
provided to the tank, which in turn complicates the construction of
the apparatus. Furthermore, because the water is supplied to the
tank inside the generator by means of a hand pump, the steam
chamber is often flooded, particularly when the person using the
apparatus and wanting a greater steam flow presses the pump trigger
too often. This results not only in a very irregular steam flow but
also water discharges, which are annoying and even hazardous to the
person using the apparatus.
[0003] To remedy these disadvantages, the document WO 2004/002262
describes a solution in which the apparatus is a flat iron
consisting of two jaws that are elastically jointed at one of their
ends. According to this document, the steam generating means form a
sandwich structure, which is contained in one of the jaws. More
particularly, one jaw has a tank for the treatment liquid, which
impregnates a lock of hair placed in contact with the heating
element of the jaw for vaporizing said liquid, which then passes
through openings provided for this purpose in the treatment surface
designed to contact the hair. Although this device generates a more
stable steam flow than the apparatus of the preceding document, the
main disadvantage of this apparatus resides in the fact that, in
spite of its rather complicated structure, it only generates a very
weak steam flow, notably less than 2 g/min. A treatment performed
with such a steam flow does not produce any observable effects on
the hair, which must then be subjected to a supplementary, rather
powerful heat treatment in order to give it a certain style, and of
which the very high temperature dries out the hair and may damage
it.
[0004] The object of the present invention is to remedy, at least
partially, these disadvantages and to propose an apparatus for
treating hair by contact capable of delivering a continuous,
uniform supply of steam suitable for a thorough and effective hair
treatment, which also possesses a simple construction and is safe
to operate.
[0005] Another object of the invention is an apparatus for treating
hair by contact designed for rapidly delivering a regulated supply
of steam to the hair being treated, which can also be disconnected
from a possible supplementary source of heat and/or mechanical
tensioning and/or chemicals.
[0006] Another object of the invention is an apparatus for treating
hair by contact in conjunction with steam which is reliable in
operation, which is designed to avoid condensation, and which can
be manufactured easily and economically.
[0007] These objects are achieved with a portable steam hair
treatment apparatus comprising a housing consisting of a liquid
tank, means for supplying liquid to a steam generator, one or a
plurality of openings for dispensing the steam generated to a lock
of hair, and a hair shaping device comprising at least one
treatment surface coming into contact with said lock of hair,
wherein the generator is supplied with liquid by an electric
pump.
[0008] Such a steam generator fed by an electric pump makes it
possible to supply a significant flow of steam quickly, uniformly,
and continuously to the lock of hair being treated, hence resulting
in a durable and thorough treatment of the latter. By using an
electric pump in which the maximum flow supplied is advantageously
calculated as a function of the maximum heating power of the
vaporization chamber, the liquid introduced into the chamber by the
pump is immediately and completely turned into steam, thus
preventing a discharge of non-vaporized liquid droplets from the
dispensing openings. Furthermore, such an apparatus is portable,
thus enabling the steam outlet to be arranged as closely as
possible to the steam generation elements of the housing in order
to eliminate condensation, while simplifying the construction of
the apparatus and making it easier to manipulate.
[0009] Advantageously, the flow rate of the steam generated is
greater than 5 g/min and preferably in the range of between 10
g/min and 60 g/min.
[0010] In performing laboratory tests with a steam flow greater
than 5 g/min and capable of going as high 100 g/min on locks of
hair, either in the natural state or coated with cosmetics, it was
observed that the effect of the treatment was clearly visible on
the treated lock, as the hair had already been well prepared for a
subsequent treatment by a strong steam flow, which had, for
example, cleaned and uniformly moisturized it. This effect
persisted even on locks subsequently treated with a hair shaping
device employing a mechanical action and/or heat, because the hair
that had already been moisturized in a more controlled manner
retained its shaping for a longer time, with remarkable results in
terms of its appearance, particularly sheen and color, which were
uniform throughout.
[0011] By performing the same tests on several types of locks, it
was observed that the flow range of between 10 g/min and 60 g/min
gave the best results in terms of opening scales and moisturizing
the hair for most of the hair types analyzed.
[0012] A hair shaping device is understood to mean a device
designed to come into contact with hair, at least temporarily
and/or locally, in order to untangle it, style it or simply keep it
in contact with a treatment surface such as, for example: a comb, a
cylinder impregnated with a hairstyling product, such as a coloring
agent, a flat iron with jointed mobile or fixed arms, a curling
iron with a cylindrical heating mandrel possibly cooperating with
at least one heating plate oppositely arranged relative thereto, a
straightening head comprising a plurality of parallel treatment
surfaces arranged side by side, etc.
[0013] The electric pump is advantageously a piezoelectric
pump.
[0014] This arrangement makes it possible to obtain an electric
pump supplying a significant flow rate at a low manufacturing cost.
Furthermore, this type of pump is very compact and can be
integrated easily in the apparatus in less space.
[0015] Preference is given to the generator comprising a
vaporization chamber connected to dispensing openings by one or a
plurality of pipes less than 3 cm long in each case.
[0016] The vaporization chamber is thus positioned as closely as
possible to the steam dispensing or outlet openings, hence making
it possible to steam treat the lock of hair directly from the
outlet of the vaporization chamber via one or a plurality of pipes.
As these steam pipes exiting the vaporization chamber are very
short in length, they dispense the steam in such a way that
condensates cannot form, which could otherwise interfere with
and/or cancel the action of the steam on the lock or impair the
utility of the apparatus, as the condensates in a worst case
scenario could burn the person who is using the apparatus or is
receiving the treatment.
[0017] Advantageously, the apparatus has a control device for
regulating the flow rate of liquid supplied to the generator.
[0018] Such a device for regulating the flow rate of liquid
supplied by the pump to the vaporization chamber makes it possible
to adapt the flow rate of the steam generated according to the type
of treatment and/or to the type of hair being treated with the
apparatus.
[0019] Advantageously, the treatment surface has a generally
elongate shape coming into contact with a lock of hair and said
steam dispensing openings are adjacent to the hair shaping
device.
[0020] The direction of the hair shaping is generally defined by
the generally elongate treatment surface of the hair shaping
device, a surface that generally treats the width of a lock with
its longest side. By arrangement of the dispensing openings in the
vicinity of the edge of the hair shaping device, the steam is
prevented from reaching the interior of the device, thus
effectively separating the steam treatment function from another
hair shaping function such as, for example, a treatment involving
the application of heat and/or tension or pressure to the hair,
and/or a hairstyling product such as a fixation agent, etc., for an
improved result on the lock being treated.
[0021] Advantageously, the steam path is defined via a plurality of
openings uniformly distributed parallel to the treatment surface of
the hair shaping device, which aim the steam in a direction
perpendicular to that of their hair shaping by said device.
[0022] A steam path arriving perpendicular to the width of a lock
of hair hence enables a quick and moreover, a homogeneous treatment
of the lock when the steam is dispensed by outlet openings covering
the width of the lock.
[0023] Preference is given to the hair shaping device comprising at
least one electric heating element in thermal contact with the
treatment surface.
[0024] Such a device comprising its own heating element independent
from that of the steam generator enables the achievement of a
durable hair shaping, for example a straightening, curling, or
crimping. When steam is applied to a lock of hair after it has been
shaped by a device exerting a thermal action, even in combination
with a mechanical action on the lock, the steam remoisturizes the
hair in order to compensate for the desiccation linked to the
application of a hot instrument to the hair.
[0025] Preference is given to the hair shaping device having
controls for the heating element that are independent from those
for the steam.
[0026] This makes it possible to separate the two functions, hence
enabling the operating parameters for each function to be adjusted
independently.
[0027] Advantageously, the hair shaping device is detachable from
the housing of the apparatus.
[0028] This constitutes a simple and economical means for enabling
the apparatus to be used with the same hair shaping device or even
with a plurality of hair shaping devices by either a right-handed
or a left-handed person.
[0029] This also makes it possible to apply steam alone, without
shaping beforehand or afterwards. In this case, the steam shield is
integrated with the body of the apparatus and not with the hair
shaping device.
[0030] Preference is given to the liquid in the tank being a
treatment product.
[0031] Treatment liquid is understood to mean any liquid capable of
being vaporized by the generator and then capable of being applied
to the hair in vapor form for care, shaping, colorization,
de-colorization, etc. This liquid is water in a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
[0032] In another embodiment of the invention, the apparatus has a
supplementary liquid tank adjacent to or associated with the hair
shaping device.
[0033] This supplementary tank may thus be associated with either
the apparatus or the hair shaping device and it allows a liquid
that is not necessarily vaporized by the steam generator of the
apparatus to be applied to the hair, for example, during an
application in which the liquid from the supplementary tank is
brought into contact with the treated lock.
[0034] Advantageously, the liquid contained in the supplementary
tank is different from the liquid contained in the tank for
supplying the steam generator.
[0035] This makes it possible to apply a cosmetic liquid, such as a
hairstyling or colorization agent, in addition to the steam
treatment.
[0036] Hence, in the case wherein the cosmetic was applied prior to
the steam application, the steam serves as a transport medium for
the cosmetic, enabling it to penetrate to the core of the hair via
the opening of the scales, wherein the subsequent mechanical
treatment closes the scales again and performs a type of
cauterization of the hair to fix the cosmetic.
[0037] Furthermore, in the case wherein the cosmetic was applied
after the mechanical and thermal treatment of the hair, the steam
is used as a transport medium, thus protecting the cosmetic from
exposure to very high temperatures and thus from thermal
degradation.
[0038] The dispensing opening or openings are advantageously
arranged on one of the ends of the housing of the apparatus, and
the latter comprises a deflector oppositely arranged relative to
the dispensing opening or openings.
[0039] This deflector functions as a steam shield by being
oppositely positioned relative to the steam outlet, while leaving a
space to accommodate a lock of hair. On one hand, this deflector
makes it possible to protect to the scalp of the person receiving
the treatment and on the other hand, to redirect the steam to the
back of the lock and thus treat it on both of its sides with a
steam outlet located on only one of its sides.
[0040] Preference is given to the vaporization chamber being in
thermal contact with an electric heating element, of which the
power is within the range of between 600 W and 1000 W.
[0041] This makes it possible to obtain a rapid temperature
increase in the vaporization chamber to around 150.degree. C. for
vaporizing, preferably instantaneously, the liquid introduced into
the chamber by the pump.
[0042] Advantageously, the steam generator consists of a bottom
plate equipped with a liquid intake opening and at least one outlet
opening for the steam generated, and a top plate, wherein the steam
is made to circulate between the two plates by at least one baffle
circuit having a length in the range of between 100 mm and 200
mm.
[0043] Such baffle circuits make it possible to increase the
contact time and to vary the displacement direction of the liquid
in contact with the hot wall of the generator and to improve
appreciably the heat transfer during boiling. The vaporization
chamber is thus superheated, and all of the water droplets carried
by the flow are vaporized before they reach the steam outlet
openings of the chamber.
[0044] In a first alternate embodiment of the invention, the
dispensing openings are adjacent to the hair shaping device and
disposed upstream relative thereto.
[0045] "Upstream" is understood to mean that, in the treatment
operation, a portion of the lock of hair first undergoes the steam
application before undergoing the shaping treatment.
[0046] Tests performed by treating a lock of hair with steam
emitted upstream of the hair shaping device have shown that the
steam opens the scales of the hair and thoroughly cleans it. The
mechanical action subsequently exerted by the hair shaping device
rids the hair of any remaining impurities, such as those from an
earlier treatment and/or care process.
[0047] The laboratory tests also showed that the steam emitted
upstream of the hair shaping device, when the latter comprises a
cosmetic dispensing system, enhances the penetration of said
cosmetic into the interior of the hair, thus improving the
deep-penetrating action of said cosmetic.
[0048] It has also been observed that treating the lock of hair
with a device exerting a thermal action in addition to the
mechanical action after the steam application keeps the hair from
drying out, as the hair is pre-coated with a layer of moisture.
Obviously this layer is vaporized during the styling process, but
it rather than the water contained in the core of the hair is
vaporized, thus protecting the hair from any desiccation linked to
the application of a hot hair shaping device.
[0049] Lastly, the laboratory tests also showed that the steam
emitted upstream of the hair shaping device sufficiently
moisturizes the hair, thus protecting it from significant
desiccation during the action of the hair shaping device, which may
be heated to a high temperature, for example, 230.degree. C.
[0050] In a second alternate embodiment of the invention, said
dispensing openings are adjacent to the hair shaping device and
disposed downstream thereof.
[0051] "Downstream" is understood to mean that, in the treatment
operation, a portion of the lock of hair first undergoes the
shaping treatment before undergoing the steam application.
[0052] Tests performed with an apparatus configured according to
this variant of the invention have shown that, after a mechanical
shaping of the lock, the steam remoisturizes the hair to compensate
for the desiccation linked to the application of the hot treatment
surface of a shaping device on the hair.
[0053] Advantageously, the housing comprises a body that extends
downwards to form a handle, wherein the hair shaping device is
oppositely arranged relative to the handle and the steam path
exiting from the dispensing openings is aligned along the
longitudinal axis of the body of the housing.
[0054] Such a configuration of the housing ensures both ergonomic
use and effective treatment of the hair by the steam.
[0055] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hair shaping
device has two jointed arms displaceable in opposite directions and
in each case having a hair treatment surface, wherein at least one
of the arms has a heating element in thermal contact with said
treatment surface.
[0056] Such a device ensures an effective, long-lasting
straightening of the hair.
[0057] The invention will become more clear by studying a special
embodiment of the invention and its variants, which are in no way
limiting and which are illustrated in the appended figures,
wherein:
[0058] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable apparatus for the
steam treatment of hair according to a special embodiment of the
invention comprising a hair shaping device illustrated in the
closed position;
[0059] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1,
with the hair shaping device in the open position;
[0060] FIG. 3a is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1
without the hair shaping device, the housing and the cover of the
vaporization chamber having been removed from the apparatus; FIG.
3b is a magnified view of a detail of FIG. 3a;
[0061] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a hair shaping device of the
apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0062] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus for the steam
treatment of hair according to a variant of the embodiment of the
apparatus of FIG. 1.
[0063] FIG. 6 is a cutaway view of the pump of the apparatus for
the steam treatment of hair of FIG. 1.
[0064] The appended figures, except for FIGS. 4 and 6, illustrate a
portable apparatus for the steam treatment of hair consisting of a
plastic housing 1 comprising a body 2 with a downwardly projecting
extension forming a handle 3 receiving a detachable water tank 4 of
which the top wall forms the top part of the handle. The extension
of the housing 1 also contains means for supplying power 6 (FIG.
3a) to a steam generator 8 contained in the body 2 of the housing
1. The steam generator 8 consists of a chamber 10 for, e.g.,
instantaneous vaporization associated with an electric heating
element 9; said elements are visible in FIG. 3a.
[0065] According to the invention, the steam generator is supplied
by an electric pump and is configured in such a way as to be able
to generate a steam flow as great as 100 g/min.
[0066] The supply means 6 in particular comprise an electric pump
5, which can be seen in FIGS. 3a and 6, and which is started by a
control switch 7. The circuit connecting the electric pump 5 to the
tank 4 and to the generator 8 can also be discerned in FIG. 3a. The
electric pump 5 hence has an inlet opening 16 connected by a first
pipe 17 to the tank 4 and a discharge opening 18 directing the
water coming from the tank 4 through a circuit supplying the steam
generator 8. More particularly, the circuit supplying the steam
generator 8 has a second pipe 19 leading to a junction dividing the
supply circuit into a first pipe branch 20 connected to an inlet
opening 21 in the vaporization chamber 10 of the steam generator 8
and a second pipe branch 22 connected to the tank 4 and allowing a
portion of the water coming from the pump 5 to be piped to the tank
4. The passage of the first pipe branch 20 is smaller than that of
the second pipe branch 22, the latter being made of a flexible
hose, the apparatus further comprising a mechanism 23 for
controlling the flow of the water piped into the generator 8. The
control mechanism 23 comprises means for compressing the flexible
hose of the second pipe branch 22, which passes through a
cylindrical housing 25. More particularly, by turning a knurled
knob 24 the control mechanism 23 actuates a toggle lever inside the
housing 25, which lever presses on the outer surface of the
flexible hose.
[0067] When the pump 5 is started by the control switch 7, it sucks
the water from the tank 4 via the first pipe 17 and pipes the water
via the second pipe 19, the water flow conducted by this circuit
thus being divided into a first, weak flow piped to the generator 8
and a stronger flow piped to the tank. The flow of water to the
generator 8 can be increased by turning the knob 24 to compress the
return hose to the tank 4.
[0068] As can be seen in FIGS. 3a and 6, the pump 5 is a
piezoelectric pump comprising a circular chamber 61 having a bottom
wall formed by a flexible, brass membrane 62. A ceramic
piezoelectric element 63 is attached to the membrane 62, on the
outside of the circular chamber 61. The circular chamber 61
comprises a top wall equipped with an inlet opening 16 connected to
the tank 4 and a discharge opening 18 connected to the vaporization
chamber 10.
[0069] The piezoelectric pump 5 has an electric terminal 68
attached to the membrane 62 and an electric terminal 69 attached to
the piezoelectric element 63. The pump 5 is powered by an
alternative voltage applied to its terminals 68, 69.
[0070] During the positive alternation of the signal, the
piezoelectric element 63 bends, pulling the membrane 62 in such a
way that the volume of the circular chamber 61 is increased. The
discharge opening 18 has a one-way valve 67 that closes and
prevents the suctioning of the water residing downstream of the
valve 67. The inlet opening 16 likewise has a one-way valve 66 that
opens and thus allows the water residing in the inlet opening 16,
coming from the tank 4, to be sucked into the circular chamber
61.
[0071] During the negative alternation of the signal, the
piezoelectric element 63 bends, pulling the membrane 62 in such a
way that the volume of the circular chamber 61 is decreased. The
valve 66 of the inlet opening 16 closes, while at the same time the
valve 67 of the discharge opening 18 opens. The water thus passes
from the circular chamber 61 to the vaporization chamber 10.
[0072] According to FIG. 3b, the vaporization chamber 10 comprises
an enclosed compartment formed between a bottom plate 50 of a
generally rectangular shape and a top plate (not shown for the sake
of greater clarity), wherein the two plates are fastened together
on their four corners by screws 52. A silicone gasket 51 disposed
between the two plates ensures that the inside of the vaporization
chamber 10 is sealed.
[0073] The bottom plate 50 is equipped with a plurality of raised
sections forming baffles, which ensure that the fluid is directed
from a water inlet to the steam outlet openings of the chamber.
Water enters the vaporization chamber 10 via the inlet opening 21
located in the middle of a front wall 53. The flow of the incoming
water is divided, then the droplets of water and steam are directed
by the raised sections of the bottom plate 50 along the two
symmetrical, labyrinthine paths 55 and 56, which are arranged on
either side of the axis of the chamber passing through the central
inlet opening 21. Each of the paths 55, 56 has a length of ca. 150
mm for increasing the heating zone of the chamber, in order to turn
the water entering the vaporization chamber 10 into steam. The two
paths 55, 56 rejoin each other in a buffer zone 57 located right in
front of a back wall 54 of the chamber. The buffer zone 57 forms a
dispensing chamber for the steam exiting via the openings 58. In
the illustrated example, there are five openings 58 in the back
wall 54 that lead to five pipes 14 via five inner nozzles
integrally formed with the chamber as a single component. Each pipe
14 is fastened in a leak-proof manner at one of its ends to the
outlet of a nozzle and has on its opposite end a spray jet aligned
with a dispensing opening 12 of the housing of the apparatus. In
addition, the inner walls of the vaporization chamber 10 are
covered with a layer formed from a granular coating, which is
designed to increase the contact surface between the walls and the
water droplets inside the chamber and thus improve the diffusion of
the droplets on the heating surface of the chamber. Such a
vaporization chamber is capable of instantaneously generating dry
steam from the outlet.
[0074] The steam generator 8 is constructed from an aluminum or
aluminum alloy block possessing good thermal inertia qualities and
forming a calorie reservoir for the vaporization chamber 10,
enabling rapid vaporization of the water when the pump is turned
on. The vaporization chamber 10 and the electric heating element 9
form a monoblock unit. In the example illustrated in the figures,
the electric heating element 9 is a 900 W armored resistor.
Electrical power is supplied to the apparatus via an electric cord
15, and the power supply to the heating element 9 is controlled by
an on/off switch on the apparatus.
[0075] The water flowing into the vaporization chamber 10 is
rapidly turned into steam by the latter as it flows along the path
of the baffles of said instantaneous vaporization chamber 10. The
steam exits the vaporization chamber 10 via a plurality of openings
formed in a back wall of said vaporization chamber opposite the
wall accommodating the inlet opening 21. Each of the steam outlet
openings of the vaporization chamber 10 communicates with a pipe 14
for dispensing the steam outside the apparatus. In FIG. 3b it is
hence possible to discern five short pipes 14, each of which is,
for example, ca. 1 cm long, enabling the steam to be dispensed
immediately after exiting the vaporization chamber 10.
[0076] As can be discerned more clearly in FIG. 2, the bottom part
of the body 2 of the housing 1 on the side opposite the handle 3 is
closed by a flat side 11 having a plurality of steam dispensing
openings 12, each of which openings communicates with the outlet of
a pipe 14.
[0077] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the
steam dispensing openings 12 are adjacent to a hair shaping device
30. Hence the top part of the body 2 advantageously receives the
hair shaping device 30, the latter having at least one treatment
surface 31 located in the extension parallel to, even set back a
few millimeters from, the flat side 11 of the housing 1.
[0078] The hair shaping device 30 can be more easily discerned in
FIG. 4 and it consists of two arms 33, 34 joint-mounted about a
hinge 35 and held in an open position, or in a closed position in a
variant, by a compression spring (not shown in the drawings). It is
hence possible to discern a top arm 33 having, on its free end, a
flared insertion shoe 36 that extends to form a flat, rectangular
treatment surface 31 in contact with a heating element. On its free
end, the bottom arm 34 likewise has a flared insertion shoe 37 that
extends to form a flat, rectangular treatment surface 32 in contact
with a heating element.
[0079] Each treatment surface 31, 32 is constituted by a metal
plate that makes thermal contact with an electric heating element
(not shown in the drawings), which can be a resistance, CTP,
infrared, etc. heating element and which is positioned against the
treatment surface and inside the plastic bodies 38 and 39,
respectively, of each arm 33, 34. Each electric heating element can
have its own control mechanism and is supplied with power by an
electric cord 40. Provision is made of the heating element for
heating the plates to temperatures ranging from 90.degree. C. to
230.degree. C. In a variant, the apparatus has a single electric
cord 15 for supplying electricity to the steam generator 8 and to
the heating plates of the hair shaping device 30. The treatment
surface 31, 32 is made of a heat conducting material and may be
polished, coated with an enamel, a ceramic material, a layer of
glass, etc.
[0080] The arms 33, 34 are hence elastically mobile and capable of
pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of
their respective treatment surfaces 31, 32 between an open and a
closed position. Hence a lock of hair can be inserted between the
treatment surfaces 31, 32 of the arms 33, 34 when the arms are in
the open position, and the lock can then be subjected to pressure
in order to bring it into contact with said treatment surfaces 31,
32 when the arms are in the closed position, which closing is
possible by pressing on the outer surface of the bodies 38, 39 of
the arms. The flat treatment surfaces 31, 32 thus straighten the
lock with which they come into contact.
[0081] In another alternate embodiment of the hair shaping device
30, the jaws are closed at rest and it is necessary to introduce
the lock manually between the treatment surfaces 31, 32 by
stretching it out and then pushing it between the two plates with
the aid of the insertion shoes 36, 37. Advantageously, a control
mechanism for opening the plates wide enough so that the lock can
be more easily inserted is conceivable, wherein said mechanism
could be actuated, for example, from the handle or in the vicinity
of the handle of the apparatus.
[0082] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the
bottom arm 34 comprises a deflector 42 in turn comprising a wall 43
arranged set back from, but parallel to the treatment surface 32.
The wall 43 forms a steam shield that protects the scalp from the
action of the steam while diverting the steam towards the lock
being treated. Another advantage of diverting the steam in this
manner is that the front and the back of the lock can be
impregnated with steam from a steam outlet arranged on just one
side.
[0083] According to another advantageous aspect of the invention,
the top arm 33 has a mounting bracket 45 on the body 2 of the
housing 1 of the apparatus, more particularly a fastener that can
be detached by means of a screw 46 cooperating with a threaded
borehole in the top part of the body 2 of the apparatus. This
detachable fastener makes it possible, by unscrewing the screw 46,
to switch from a positioning that is suitable for use by a
right-handed person, as shown in the figures, to another
positioning wherein the device is rotated 180.degree. about the
longitudinal axis of the body 2 for enabling a left-handed person
to use the apparatus. This hair shaping device can be replaced by
another device, such as one comprising a cylindrical curling
element cooperating with a pivoting fastening clip for the hair,
with this device then being inserted in the mounting bracket 45 and
attached to the body 2 of the housing 1 of the apparatus. The
detachable fastener for the hair shaping device 30 also makes it
possible to use the steam treatment apparatus alone, without a hair
shaping device attached to its steam-emitting end.
[0084] FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the deflector
42, notably by solidly connecting it to the body 2 of the housing 1
of the apparatus. More particularly, the deflector 42 has the
general shape of a tuning fork and comprises a back wall 44
penetrated by dispensing openings 12 and extending to form an elbow
connecting it to a deflection wall 43 spaced apart from said back
wall. The deflection wall 43 is disposed remotely from and parallel
to the back wall 44 and ends in a tip that curves back towards the
latter. Such a deflector allows a lock of hair to pass between its
parallel walls while protecting the scalp, and at the same time
ensures that the steam is directed to the lock via the deflection
wall. Advantageously, such a deflector can be made of plastic. The
apparatus of FIG. 5 can be used alone for hair treatments, as the
hair shaping device 30 is detachable.
[0085] In operation, the hair shaping device 30 is turned on by
pressing a control switch, and a light (not shown in the drawings)
can indicate when the heating plates have reached the correct
temperature. A lock of hair is then introduced between the arms 33,
34 of the hair shaping device 30 applying a pressure force to the
lock, then the control switch 7 is pressed, and the apparatus
starts to generate steam instantaneously. The apparatus is then
moved along the lock, administering a steam treatment followed
immediately by a straightening through contact with the treatment
surfaces 31, 32 of the hair shaping device.
[0086] Because the controls of the device are independent from
those of the apparatus, the latter can also be used with the
straightening plates at ambient temperature or very slightly
heated. This makes it possible to clean the lock, simultaneously
ridding it of impurities and moisturizing it.
[0087] In a variant that is not shown in the drawings, the steam
dispensing openings are located above the hair shaping device, in
order to start with a straightening prior to the steam
treatment.
[0088] Obviously, the invention is in no way limited to the
embodiment described and illustrated, which was presented solely by
way of an example. Modifications are possible, notably in terms of
the constitution of the various elements or by substituting
equivalent techniques, without exceeding the scope of protection
for the invention in any way.
* * * * *