U.S. patent application number 15/645375 was filed with the patent office on 2018-01-18 for hair iron.
The applicant listed for this patent is OHGI Technological Creation Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Takehiko OHGI, Tatsuhiko OHGI.
Application Number | 20180014618 15/645375 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60942260 |
Filed Date | 2018-01-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180014618 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
OHGI; Takehiko ; et
al. |
January 18, 2018 |
HAIR IRON
Abstract
A hair iron 1 includes a first arm 21 and a second arm 22 to
give a treatment by holding hair between the first arm 21 and the
second arm 22. The hair iron 1 includes a first contact part 41
that comes into contact with hair during the treatment, a second
contact part 42, and heaters 71 and 72 that heat the first contact
part 41 and the second contact part 42, respectively. The first
contact part 41 is disposed inside an opening 21a, which is
provided in a portion of the first arm 21, the portion facing the
second arm 22, while the second contact part 42 is disposed inside
an opening 22a, which is provided in a portion of the second arm
22, the portion facing the first arm 21. The first contact part 41
and the second contact part 42 include a substrate 411 and a
substrate 421, respectively, each of which is made from isotropic
high-density graphite.
Inventors: |
OHGI; Takehiko; (Otsu-shi,
JP) ; OHGI; Tatsuhiko; (Otsu-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
OHGI Technological Creation Co., Ltd. |
Otsu-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
60942260 |
Appl. No.: |
15/645375 |
Filed: |
July 10, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2001/004 20130101;
A45D 2/001 20130101; A45D 1/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 1/04 20060101
A45D001/04; A45D 2/00 20060101 A45D002/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 13, 2016 |
JP |
2016-138217 |
Apr 5, 2017 |
JP |
2017-075553 |
Claims
1. A hair iron comprising an elongated first arm and an elongated
second arm, wherein one end of the second arm along a longitudinal
direction is pivotally attached to one end of the first arm along a
longitudinal direction, and another end of the second arm is
movable in a direction along which the other end of the second arm
comes closer to, or away from, another end of the first arm, and
wherein a treatment is given by holding hair between the first arm
and the second arm, the hair iron comprising: a first contact part
that is disposed in a portion of the first arm, and comes into
contact with hair during the treatment, the portion facing the
second arm; a second contact part that is disposed in a portion of
the second arm, and comes into contact with hair during the
treatment, the portion facing the first arm; and a heater that
heats at least one of the first contact part and the second contact
part, wherein at least one of the first contact part and the second
contact part includes a portion made from a material containing
graphite.
2. The hair iron according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of
the first contact part and the second contact part including a
portion made from a material containing graphite comprises a DLC
film that covers at least part of a surface of the portion.
3. The hair iron according to claim 1, further comprising: a cooler
that cools at least one of the first contact part and the second
contact part.
4. A hair iron comprising: a contact part that is tubular in shape,
and comes into contact with hair during a treatment; a clipping
part that is disposed lateral to the contact part, and presses hair
against the contact part during a treatment; and a heater that
heats the contact part, wherein the contact part includes a portion
made from a material containing graphite.
5. The hair iron according to claim 4, wherein the contact part
comprises a DLC film that covers at least part of a surface of the
portion.
6. The hair iron according to claim 4, further comprising: a cooler
that cools the contact part.
7. The hair iron according to claim 2, further comprising: a cooler
that cools at least one of the first contact part and the second
contact part.
8. The hair iron according to claim 5, further comprising: a cooler
that cools the contact part.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent
Application No. 2016-138217, filed on Jul. 13, 2016, and Japanese
Patent Application No. 2017-075553, filed on Apr. 5, 2017, of which
the entirety of the disclosures is incorporated by reference
herein.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a hair iron.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A hair iron equipped with an elastic member that is made
from multi-element mineral powder containing far-infrared emitting
material powder and is disposed on part of a hair holder is already
proposed (see Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Kokai
Publication No. 2010-233830, for example). Such a hair iron has
effects of facilitating application of a conditioner into hair as
well as facilitating blood circulation in the scalp. These effects
are exerted by warming the hair and/or the scalp from the inside
during a treatment with far-infrared rays emitted from the
far-infrared emitting material powder contained in the elastic
member. Examples of an employed far-infrared emitting material
include ceramic such as alumina or titania.
SUMMARY
[0004] The elastic member described in Unexamined Japanese Patent
Application Kokai Publication No. 2010-233830, however, has a
relatively low content of the far-infrared emitting material
powder, since the far-infrared emitting material powder is
dispersed into a substrate made of silicone or the like. Thus, the
hair iron may possibly fail to emit far-infrared rays in the amount
enough to warm the hair and/or the scalp from the inside to the
extent that the effects of facilitating application of a
conditioner into the hair and facilitating blood circulation in the
scalp are fully exerted.
[0005] Alternatively, another possible hair iron may include a hair
holder that is entirely made from a ceramic far-infrared emitting
material. In such a case, however, the hair holder may be heavy and
impose a greater burden on the user of the hair iron.
[0006] A hair iron according to a first aspect of the present
disclosure is:
[0007] a hair iron including an elongated first arm and an
elongated second arm, wherein one end of the second arm along a
longitudinal direction is pivotally attached to one end of the
first arm along a longitudinal direction, and another end of the
second arm is movable in a direction along which the other end of
the second arm comes closer to, or away from, another end of the
first arm, and wherein a treatment is given by holding hair between
the first arm and the second arm, the hair iron including:
[0008] a first contact part that is disposed in a portion of the
first arm, and comes into contact with hair during a treatment, the
portion facing the second arm;
[0009] a second contact part that is disposed in a portion of the
second arm, and comes into contact with hair during the treatment,
the portion facing the first arm; and
[0010] a heater that heats at least one of the first contact part
and the second contact part,
[0011] wherein at least one of the first contact part and the
second contact part includes a portion made from a material
containing graphite.
[0012] A hair iron according to a second aspect of the present
disclosure includes:
[0013] a contact part that is tubular in shape, and comes into
contact with hair during a treatment;
[0014] a clipping part that is disposed lateral to the contact
part, and presses hair against the contact part during the
treatment; and
[0015] a heater that heats the contact part,
[0016] wherein the contact part includes a portion made from a
material containing graphite.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] A more complete understanding of this application can be
obtained when the following detailed description is considered in
conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
[0018] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a hair iron according to a
first embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the region A1 enclosed
in a dotted line in FIG. 1A;
[0020] FIG. 2A is a side view of a hair iron according to a second
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0021] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A in
FIG. 2A;
[0022] FIG. 3A is a partial cross-sectional view of a hair iron
according to a variation;
[0023] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken perpendicular to a
longitudinal direction of first and second contact parts of a hair
iron according to another variation;
[0024] FIG. 4A is a partial cross-sectional view of a hair iron
according to the variation;
[0025] FIG. 4B is a side view of the hair iron according to another
variation;
[0026] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the hair iron according to
a variation;
[0027] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of a region A2 enclosed in
a dotted line in FIG. 5A;
[0028] FIG. 6A is a side view of a hair iron according to a
variation; and
[0029] FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of a region A3 enclosed in
a dotted line in FIG. 6A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] Individual embodiments of the present disclosure will now be
described with reference to the drawings.
First Embodiment
[0031] A hair iron according to the present embodiment includes a
contact part that is made from isotropic high-density graphite, and
comes into contact with hair when the hair is held between arms to
give a treatment. Hence, the contact part emits far-infrared rays
when heated. With the far-infrared rays emitted from the contact
part, the hair and/or a scalp is warmed from the inside.
[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the hair iron 1 according to the
present embodiment includes a first arm 21, a second arm 22, a
first contact part 41, and a second contact part 42, to give a
treatment by holding hair between the first and second arms 21 and
22. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the hair iron 1 further includes a
heater 71 that heats the first contact part 41, a heater 72 that
heats the second contact part 42, and a power supply 8 that
supplies electric power to the heaters 71 and 72. Note that FIG. 1B
is a cross-sectional view of a region Al enclosed in a dotted line
in FIG. 1A.
[0033] Each of the first arm 21 and the second arm 22 is in the
shape of an elongated box. One end (right end in FIG. 1A) of the
second arm 22 along a longitudinal direction is pivotally attached
via a hinge 3 to one end (right end in FIG. 1A) of the first arm 21
along the longitudinal direction. Thus, the second arm 22 is
movable in a direction along which other end (left end in FIG. 1A)
of the second arm 22 comes closer to, or away from, other end (left
end in FIG. 1A) of the first arm 21. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the
first arm 21 includes an opening 21a formed in a portion facing the
second arm 22, and the first contact part 41 is disposed inside the
opening 21a. Likewise, the second arm 22 includes an opening 22a
formed in a portion facing the first arm 21, and the second contact
part 42 is disposed inside the opening 22a. A power cord 6
connecting to an external power source is led out from one end
(right end in FIG. 1A) of the first arm 21.
[0034] The first contact part 41 and the second contact part 42 are
the members that come into contact with hair during the treatment.
The first contact part 41 is disposed inside the opening 21a, which
is provided in a portion of the first arm 21, the portion facing
the second arm 22. The second contact part 42 is disposed inside
the opening 22a, which is provided in a portion of the second arm
22, the portion facing the first arm 21. The first contact part 41
includes a substrate 411, which is formed from isotropic
high-density graphite into an elongated plate, and a diamond-like
carbon (DLC) film 412, which is a coating applied to a portion of
surfaces of the substrate 411, the portion being exposed to the
outside of the first arm 21. The second contact part 42 includes a
substrate 421, which is formed from isotropic high-density graphite
into an elongated plate, and a DLC film 422, which is a coating
applied to a portion of surfaces of the substrate 421, the portion
being exposed to the outside of the second arm 22. The substrates
411 and 421 are produced by, for example, using a method similar to
the method for producing a "carbon formed body" described in
Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Kokai Publication No.
2012-100777. The DLC films 412 and 422 are formed by using the
chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or vacuum evaporation method. A
thermal insulating member 5 is located between the first contact
part 41 and an edge of the opening 21a in the first arm 21. A
thermal insulating member 5 is also located between the second
contact part 42 and an edge of the opening 22a in the second arm
22. These thermal insulating members prevent heat from transferring
from the first and second contact parts 41 and 42 to the first and
second arms 21 and 22.
[0035] The heaters 71 and 72 each include a ceramic heater. The
power supply 8, which is connected to the heaters 71 and 72 via
conductive lines 81 and 82, passes a direct current to the heater
71 via the conductive line 81, and passes a direct current to the
heater 72 via the conductive line 82. The power supply 8 includes a
rectifying and smoothing circuit that converts an alternating
current supplied from an external alternating-current source via a
power supply line 83 into a direct current, and also includes a
step-down circuit that decreases an output voltage coming from the
rectifying and smoothing circuit. The heaters 71 and 72 and the
power supply 8 constitute a heating section that heats the first
and second contact parts 41 and 42.
[0036] In the hair iron 1 according to the present embodiment, the
first contact part 41 and the second contact part 42 include the
substrate 411 and the substrate 421, respectively, each of which is
made from isotropic high-density graphite. As a result, each of the
first contact part 41 and the second contact part 42 can emit a
larger amount of far-infrared rays compared with, for example, a
configuration in which ceramic powder, which is a far-infrared
emitting material, is dispersed into substrates in the first and
second contact parts. Therefore, the effect of warming the hair
and/or the scalp from the inside during the treatment is
enhanced.
[0037] In addition, ceramic such as alumina or silicon dioxide has
a density of approximately 2.2 to 4.1 Mg/m.sup.3, while isotropic
high-density graphite has a lower density of 1.7 to 2.0 Mg/m.sup.3
than ceramic. Accordingly, the first contact part 41 and the second
contact part 42 are lighter in weight per unit volume compared
with, for example, a configuration in which the first and second
contact parts are made from ceramic, which is a far-infrared
emitting material. Thus, the advantage of making the hair iron 1
lighter to reduce the burden imposed on the user of the hair iron 1
is present.
[0038] In addition, the DLC film 412 on the surface of the first
contact part 41 is exposed, while the DLC film 422 on the surface
of the second contact part 42 is also exposed. Thus, a sliding
resistance between hair and each of the first and second contact
parts 41 and 42 can be reduced, the sliding resistance being caused
when the user moves the hair iron 1 with the hair held between the
first and second contact parts 41 and 42, thereby achieving smooth
movement of the hair iron 1.
[0039] Furthermore, in the case where the hair iron 1 according to
the present embodiment is primarily intended to warm the hair
and/or the scalp from the inside with far-infrared rays emitted
from the first and second contact parts 41 and 42, electric power
to be supplied to the heaters 71 and 72 can be reduced. In such a
case, a device of a lower output can be used as the power supply 8,
which is thus can be made smaller.
Second Embodiment
[0040] A hair iron according to the present embodiment has the
function to heat a cylindrical contact part of the hair iron, which
comes into contact with hair during a treatment, to be capable of
creating curls or waves in hair with the heated contact part around
which the hair is wound. The contact part is made from isotropic
high-density graphite, and emits far-infrared rays when heated.
[0041] As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the hair iron 201 according to
the present embodiment includes a handle 202, a contact part 241, a
clipping part 242, a power supply 8, and a cap 209. As illustrated
in FIG. 2B, the hair iron 201 further includes a heater 207 for
heating a contact part 241. To the heater 207, electric power is
supplied from the power supply 8. As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the
handle 202 is formed in the shape of an elongated box, and the
power supply 8 is contained inside the handle 202. A power cord 206
connecting to an external power source is led out from one end
(bottom end in FIG. 2A) of the handle 202.
[0042] The contact part 241 is cylindrical in shape, and comes into
contact with hair during the treatment. One end (bottom end in FIG.
2A) of the contact part 241 is fastened to the other end (top end
in FIG. 2A) of the handle 202 via a thermal insulating member 205.
Thus, heat is hindered from transferring from the contact part 241
to the handle 202. The contact part 241 is substantially
cylindrical in shape. The contact part 241 may be in a cylindrical
shape having, for example, an outer diameter of 5 cm and an inner
diameter of 3 cm. The contact part 241 includes a substrate 241a,
which is made from isotropic high-density graphite into a
cylindrical shape, and a DLC film 241b, which is a coating applied
to an outer surface of the substrate 241a. The substrate 241a and
the DLC film 241b are formed by using methods similar to those for
forming the substrates 411 and 421 and the DLC films 412 and 422 as
described in the first embodiment.
[0043] The clipping part 242, which is disposed lateral to the
contact part 241, presses hair against the contact part 241 during
the treatment. The clipping part 242 includes an elongated presser
2421, a support 2422, a hinge 2423, and a lever 2424. As
illustrated in FIG. 2B, the presser 2421 is in a curved shape along
a lateral side of the contact part 241. The support 2422, which is
fastened to the handle 202 via the hinge 2423, supports the presser
2421. The presser 2421 can pivot on the hinge 2423. In addition, a
spring (not illustrated) is connected to the presser 2421 to urge
the presser 2421 in a direction along which the presser 2421
presses the lateral side of the contact part 241. When the user
holds the handle 202 and presses the lever 2424 with the user's
thumb or the like, the presser 2421 pivots on the hinge 2423 to be
away from the lateral side of the contact part 241. Each of the
presser 2421, the support 2422, and the hinge 2423 is made from a
metal such as titanium. The lever 2424 is made from a resin
material. Note that materials for the presser 2421 and the support
2422 are not limited to metals. For example, the presser 2421 and
the support 2422 may be made from materials containing graphite,
such as isotropic graphite, a carbon fiber composite material
(carbon fiber reinforced carbon composite (C/C composite), which is
obtained by sintering a mixture of carbon fibers and resin
materials), or anisotropic graphite.
[0044] The heater 207, which includes a ceramic heater, is attached
to an inner surface of the contact part 241. As with the first
embodiment, the power supply 8 is connected to the heater 207 to
pass a direct current to the heater 207. The heater 207 and the
power supply 8 constitute a heating section that heats the contact
part 241. The cap 209 is fastened to the other end (top end in FIG.
2A) of the contact part 241 via the thermal insulating member
205.
[0045] In the hair iron 201 according to the present embodiment,
the contact part 241 includes the substrate 241a, which is made
from isotropic high-density graphite. Hence, the effect of warming
the hair and/or the scalp from the inside during the treatment is
enhanced, as with the first embodiment. Like the first embodiment,
the hair iron 201 can be made lighter compared with, for example, a
configuration in which the contact part 241 is made from ceramic.
In addition, the DLC film 241b on the surface of the contact part
241 is exposed. Hence, a sliding resistance between the contact
part 241 and hair can be reduced, the sliding resistance being
caused when the user releases the hair that is wound around the
contact part 241, thereby achieving smooth release of the hair that
is around the contact part 241.
[0046] (Variations)
[0047] Embodiments of the present disclosure have been described
above, but the present disclosure is not limited to the
configurations of the foregoing embodiments. For example, as seen
in FIG. 3A illustrating a hair iron 301, a heat transferrer 391 may
be located between the first contact part 41 and the heater 71,
while a heat transferrer 392 may be located between the second
contact part 42 and the heater 72. Note that in FIG. 3A, symbols
identical to those in FIG. 1B are given to components similar to
those in the first embodiment. Each of the heat transferrers 391
and 392 is made from a metal such as copper or iron.
[0048] The first embodiment is described above by using an example
in which the first contact part 41 and the second contact part 42
include the substrate 411 and the substrate 421, respectively, each
of which is made from isotropic high-density graphite. The first
embodiment is not limited thereto, and the portion made from
isotropic high-density graphite may only be included in either one
of the first contact part 41 and the second contact part 42.
[0049] The above-described hair iron 1 according to the first
embodiment includes the first contact part 41 and the second
contact part 42, whose surfaces facing each other are substantially
flat. However, the shape of the surfaces of the first and second
contact parts facing each other may not necessarily be flat. For
example, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, each of the surfaces of a first
contact part 541 and a second contact part 542 facing each other
may be curved to have a convex shape in a direction along which the
surfaces come closer to each other. Note that in FIG. 3B, symbols
identical to those in FIG. 1B are given to components similar to
those in the first embodiment. The first and second contact parts
541 and 542 include substrates 5411 and 5421, respectively, which
have curved surfaces coated with the DLC films 412 and 422,
respectively.
[0050] Concerning the hair iron 1 described in the first
embodiment, a plurality of grooves may be formed on at least one of
the surface of the first contact part 41 and the surface of the
second contact part 42, the grooves extending in a transverse
direction of the first and second contact parts 41 and 42. For
example, as seen in FIG. 4A illustrating a hair iron 601, a
plurality of grooves 6413 and 6423 may be formed on a surface of
the substrate 6411 in a first contact part 641 and on a surface of
the substrate 6421 in a second contact part 642, respectively, the
grooves extending in the transverse direction of the first and
second contact parts 641 and 642. Note that in FIG. 4A, symbols
identical to those in FIG. 1B are given to components similar to
those of the hair iron 1 according to the first embodiment. No
specific limitation is imposed on the depth and width of the
grooves 6413 and 6423. In the hair iron 601, the plurality of
grooves 6413 on the first contact part 641 and the plurality of
grooves 6423 on the second contact part 642 are positioned to be
shifted from each other in the longitudinal direction of the first
and second contact parts 641 and 642.
[0051] The present configuration allows the user to comb the hair
that is engaged inside the grooves 6413 of the first contact part
641 or inside the grooves 6423 of the second contact part 642,
thereby increasing the area of contact between the hair and the
first contact part 641 or the second contact part 642. Therefore,
hair can be warmed more efficiently.
[0052] Concerning the hair iron 201 described in the second
embodiment, a plurality of grooves may be formed on the contact
part 241, the grooves extending in a circumferential direction of
the contact part 241. For example, as seen in FIG. 4B illustrating
a hair iron 701, a plurality of grooves 7243 may be formed on a
surface of a contact part 7241, the grooves extending in the
circumferential direction of a surface of a contact part 7241. Note
that in FIG. 4B, symbols identical to those in FIG. 2A are given to
components similar to those of the hair iron 201 according to the
second embodiment.
[0053] The present configuration allows the user to wind the hair
around the contact part 7241 with the hair engaged inside the
grooves 7243 of the contact part 7241, thereby increasing the area
of contact between the hair and the contact part 7241. Therefore,
hair can be warmed more efficiently.
[0054] The second embodiment is described above by using an example
in which the contact part 7241 is cylindrical, but the contact part
7241 may be in another shape. For example, the contact part 7241
may be in a tubular shape having a polygonal cross section.
[0055] The embodiments are described above by using an example in
which the power supply 8 receives electric power supplied from an
external power source, but the embodiments are not limited to the
example. For example, the hair iron may include a power storage
part from which the power supply 8 receives electric power. In such
a case, the hair iron can be used even in a place where no power
supply equipment, such as an electrical outlet, is available, and
thus a hair iron convenient to use for users can be provided.
[0056] The embodiments are described by using an example in which
the first contact part 41, the second contact part 42, and the
contact part 241 are made from isotropic graphite, but materials
for the first contact part 41, the second contact part 42, and the
contact part 241 are not limited to isotropic graphite. For
example, the first contact part 41, the second contact part 42, and
the contact part 241 may be made from a carbon fiber composite
material (carbon composite) or anisotropic graphite. While ceramic
has a thermal conductivity of 20 to 40 W/(mK), isotropic graphite,
anisotropic graphite, and carbon composite have thermal
conductivities of approximately 150 W/(mK), 170 W/(mK), and 100
W/(mK), respectively. Thus, compared with the case where the first
contact part 41, the second contact part 42, or the contact part
241 is made from ceramic, heat is more easily propagated throughout
the first contact part 41, the second contact part 42, or the
contact part 241. Hence, the portions to be heated in the first
contact part 41, the second contact part 42, and the contact part
241 can be made smaller, and accordingly the heaters 71, 72, and
207 can be made smaller. Therefore, energy savings are achieved by
the reduced energy loss in the heaters 71, 72, and 207. In
addition, a material containing graphite, such as isotropic
graphite, anisotropic graphite, or carbon composite, emits not only
far-infrared rays but also near-infrared rays. As a result, hair
can be warmed from both inside and outside.
[0057] The first embodiment is described above by using an example
in which the hair iron 1 includes the heaters 71 and 72 to have the
function to heat the first and second contact parts 41 and 42. The
second embodiment is described above by using an example in which
the hair iron 201 includes the heater 207 to have the function to
heat the contact part 241. However, the hair iron may be configured
otherwise. For example, as seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrating a
hair iron 801, a cooler 8072 for cooling the second contact part 42
may be included. Note that in FIGS. 5A and 5B, symbols identical to
those in FIGS. 1A and 1B are given to components similar to those
in the first embodiment. The hair iron 801 includes a heatsink 8221
for dissipating out of a second arm 8022 the heat discharged from
the cooler 8072, and also includes a thermal insulating member 8222
for preventing heat from transferring from the heatsink 8221 to the
second arm 8022. A window 8022a is formed on part of the second arm
8022 for exposing part of the heatsink 8221. A power supply 808 is
connected to the cooler 8072 via a conductive line 8081. The power
supply 808 includes a rectifying and smoothing circuit that
converts an alternating current supplied from an external
alternating-current source via a power supply line 8083 into a
direct current, and also includes a step-down circuit that
decreases an output voltage coming from the rectifying and
smoothing circuit. On the second arm 8022, a sliding switch 8223 is
disposed near the hinge 3. The switch 8223 is capable of switching
between the state where the power supply 8 supplies electric power
to the heater 71 to heat the first contact part 41 and the state
where the power supply 808 supplies electric power to the cooler
8072 to cool the second contact part 42, in response to a sliding
operation performed by the user.
[0058] The cooler 8072 includes a Peltier element 8721 and a heat
transferrer 8722. The Peltier element 8721 is a flat-shaped
thermoelectric conversion element that uses the Peltier effect to
create uneven heat at an electrified junction of two different
metals or semiconductors. As the Peltier element 8721, an element
creating a temperature difference of, for example, approximately
30.degree. C. between the electrified heat absorber 8721a and heat
rejector 8721b may be employed. The heat transferrer 8722 is formed
into a bar from a metal such as copper or from graphite. One face
of the heat transferrer 8722 is in surface contact with the second
contact part 42, while another face of the heat transferrer 8722 is
in contact with the heat absorber 8721a of the Peltier element
8721. As a result, the heat absorber 8721a of the Peltier element
8721 is thermally coupled to the second contact part 42. The
heatsink 8221 is made from a metal such as copper or from graphite,
contacts the heat rejector 8721b of the Peltier element 8721, and
is partially exposed to the outside. Note that the heatsink 8221
may be formed of, for example, a layered body made by stacking
graphite sheets that are made from expanded graphite.
[0059] Alternatively, as seen in FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrating a
hair iron 901, the hair iron may include a cooler 9207 for cooling
the contact part 241. Note that in FIGS. 6A and 6B, symbols
identical to those in FIGS. 2A and 2B or FIGS. 5A and 5B are given
to components similar to those in the second embodiment or the
variation illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The hair iron 901
includes a heatsink 9243 for dissipating out of a handle 9202 the
heat discharged from the cooler 9207, and also includes a thermal
insulating member 9244 for preventing heat from transferring from
the heatsink 9243 to the handle 9202. A window 9202a is formed on
part of the handle 9202 for exposing part of the heatsink 9243. The
power supply 808 is connected to the cooler 9207 via a conductive
line (not illustrated). On the handle 9202, a sliding switch 9221
is disposed. The switch 9221 is capable of switching between the
state where the power supply 8 supplies electric power to the
heater 207 to heat the contact part 241 and the state where the
power supply 808 supplies electric power to the cooler 9207 to cool
the contact part 241, in response to a sliding operation performed
by the user.
[0060] The cooler 9207 includes a Peltier element 9271 and a heat
transferrer 9272. The heat transferrer 9272 is formed into a bar
from a metal such as copper or from graphite. One end of the heat
transferrer 9272 contacts the contact part 241, while other end
contacts a heat absorber 9271a of the Peltier element 9271. As a
result, the heat absorber 9271a of the Peltier element 9271 is
thermally coupled to the contact part 241. The heatsink 9243 is
made from a metal such as copper or from graphite, contacts a heat
rejector 9271b of the Peltier element 9271, and is partially
exposed to the outside.
[0061] The present configuration allows the second contact part 42
or the contact part 241 to be cooled, thereby giving cool feeling
to users.
[0062] Note that the variation illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B is
described above by using an example in which the hair iron 801
includes the heater 71 for heating the first contact part 41 and
the cooler 8072 for cooling the second contact part 42, but the
hair iron may be configured otherwise. For example, the hair iron
may include a cooler for cooling both the first and second contact
parts 41 and 42.
[0063] The embodiments are described above by using an example in
which the substrate 411 in the first contact part 41, the substrate
421 in the second contact part 42, or the substrate 241a in the
contact part 241 is made from isotropic high-density graphite.
However, the embodiments are not limited to the example, and the
substrate 411, 421, or 241a may be made from, for example,
anisotropic graphite. Alternatively, the substrate 411, 421, or
241a may be made from a carbon fiber composite material (C/C
composite).
[0064] Embodiments and variations according to the present
disclosure have been described above (including additional notes;
the same applies to the following), but the present disclosure is
not limited to these embodiments and variations. The present
disclosure includes any appropriate combination of the embodiments
and variations, as well as including any appropriate modification
thereto.
[0065] The foregoing describes some example embodiments for
explanatory purposes. Although the foregoing discussion has
presented specific embodiments, persons skilled in the art will
recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without
departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in
an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. This detailed
description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and
the scope of the invention is defined only by the included claims,
along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are
entitled.
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