U.S. patent application number 16/972506 was filed with the patent office on 2021-09-02 for hair appliance with ion generator.
The applicant listed for this patent is KENFORD INDUSTRIAL COMPANY LIMITED. Invention is credited to Michael Wai Ho KEONG.
Application Number | 20210267337 16/972506 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005641604 |
Filed Date | 2021-09-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210267337 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KEONG; Michael Wai Ho |
September 2, 2021 |
HAIR APPLIANCE WITH ION GENERATOR
Abstract
A hair iron comprising an ion generator that generates ions
comprises a slotted nozzle in communication with the ion generator
for generating an ion curtain projecting from at least one side of
a body of the hair iron, alongside and substantially parallel to a
longitudinal edge of the heating element that contacts the hair in
use.
Inventors: |
KEONG; Michael Wai Ho; (Kwai
Chung, N.T., HK) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KENFORD INDUSTRIAL COMPANY LIMITED |
Kwai Chuang, NT |
|
HK |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005641604 |
Appl. No.: |
16/972506 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
June 5, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2019/090134 |
371 Date: |
December 4, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2200/202 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 |
Jun 5, 2018 |
HK |
18107340.2 |
Claims
1. A hair iron comprising: a body with a hair-care section, at
least one elongate heating element disposed in the hair-care
section, the elongate heating element having a hair-contacting face
for contacting hair in use, an ion generator which generates ions,
a slotted nozzle in the hair-care section, the slotted nozzle in
communication with the ion generator for generating an ion curtain
projecting from at least one side of the body alongside, and
substantially parallel to, a longitudinal edge of the heating
element.
2. The hair iron of claim 1 wherein the at least one elongate
heating element comprises a pair of substantially parallel elongate
heating elements of like form and the slotted nozzle is disposed
between adjacent longitudinal edges of respective ones of the
heating elements.
3. The hair iron of claim 1 wherein the body is elongate, with the
hair-care section disposed at one longitudinal end, and a grip
section disposed at an opposing longitudinal end to be grasped by a
user during use of the hair iron.
4. The hair iron of claim 1 wherein the ion generator is disposed
in the body and the body further comprises a supply channel
connecting the ion generator to at least one longitudinal end of
the slotted nozzle.
5. The hair iron of claim 1 wherein the ion generator generates
anions.
6. The hair iron of claim 1 wherein the hair-contacting face is
formed on an electrical conductor, particularly on a metal plate,
and the hair iron comprises a charging circuit connected to the
electrical conductor that electrically charges the conductor to
attract the ion curtain.
7. The hair iron of claim 6 wherein the electrical conductor is
electrically grounded.
8. The hair iron of claim 1 wherein the slotted nozzle is integral
with the hair-care section and comprises a through-extending outlet
opening such that the ion curtain extends from opposing sides of
the hair-care section.
9. The hair iron of claim 8 wherein the through-extending outlet
opening is of substantially constant cross-sectional area
throughout its length.
10. The hair iron of claim 8 wherein the through-extending outlet
opening has opposing longitudinal sides that are substantially
parallel.
11. The hair iron of claim 1 wherein the body forms a boundary of
the slotted nozzle.
12. The hair iron of claim 2 wherein the at least one elongate
heating element further comprises a plurality of tines of like form
projecting from a planar face of the at least one elongate heating
element and being disposed in a linear array, longitudinally spaced
apart, wherein each of the tines is tapered to narrow toward its
tip and opposite transverse edges, and elongated transversely to
span the greater part of the width of each of the at least one
elongate heating element.
13. The hair iron of claim 4 wherein the supply channel comprises a
discharge electrode connecting to the ion generator, the discharge
electrode is disposed at the longitudinal end of the slotted
nozzle.
14. The hair iron of claim 13 wherein the supply channel comprises
at least two discharge electrodes connecting to the ion generator,
the at least two discharge electrodes are disposed at the two
longitudinal ends of the slotted nozzle and are coaxial with the
supply channel.
15. The hair iron of claim 4 wherein the supply channel is coaxial
with the ion generator, and an axis of the supply channel is
acutely inclined relative to a planar face of the at least one
elongate heating element so that ion stream is delivered into the
slotted nozzle with a minor transverse velocity component and a
major longitudinal component.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Hong Kong Application
No. 18107340.2 filed on Jun. 5, 2018, the whole disclosure of which
is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to hair styling
appliances, such as curling or straightening irons, that
incorporate an ion generator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In hair styling, particularly hair straightening, where
appliances are drawn along hair, static electricity can be
problematic, as it can result in hair that either sticks out from
the head, or clings to it. To counteract this tendency, and
therefore to allow a smoother styling to be achieved, hair
appliances may include ion generators. Typical prior art hair
styling irons with ion generators are described in EP1208766B1,
EP1672965B1 and EP1396208B1, for instance.
[0004] Although these old ion generator type appliances address
this problem of static electricity in hair during styling to a
degree, there remains a need for improvements in this technology to
reliably allow smoother styling to be achieved for a range of
different hair types, and in different ambient conditions. It is an
object of the present invention to address this need or, more
generally, to provide an improved hair appliance with an ion
generator.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a hair iron comprising:
a body with a hair-care section, at least one elongate heating
element disposed in the hair-care section, the elongate heating
element having a hair-contacting face for contacting hair in use,
an ion generator which generates ions, a slotted nozzle in the
hair-care section, the slotted nozzle in communication with the ion
generator for generating an ion curtain projecting from at least
one side of the body alongside, and substantially parallel to, a
longitudinal edge of the heating element.
[0006] This invention provides a hair appliance which is effective
and efficient in operational use, and which reliably allows
smoother styling to be achieved for a range of different hair types
and in different ambient conditions, particularly compared to
appliances in which ions radiate toward the hair directly from what
is effectively a point source, and this is attributed to the
distribution of the ions applied to the hair that is achieved.
Moreover, it is an arrangement that can be readily employed in hair
irons for straightening, but also for curling hair. In one type of
iron for straightening hair the hair-contacting face may be
substantially planar and, in a hinged-type iron for straightening
hair, a pair of hingedly connected arms may carry opposing heating
elements, each with a hair-contacting face that is substantially
planar. In a hair iron for curling a barrel-shaped or convex
hair-contacting face is provided and, optionally, a hinged-type
variant may further comprise a heating element having a concave
face complementary to the convex face. In a comb-type hair iron of
either the curling or straightening type each hair-contacting face
may further comprise an array of projecting tines or bristles.
[0007] Preferably the at least one elongate heating element
comprises a pair of substantially parallel elongate heating
elements of like form and the slotted nozzle is disposed between
adjacent longitudinal edges of respective ones of the heating
elements. For instance, the form of hair-contacting faces of the
elements of the pair are both either planar or concave (with or
without an array of projecting tines). Configuring the slotted
nozzle between a pair of heating elements in this manner provides
for an even ion treatment before the heat styling treatment is
applied, regardless of the direction in which the appliance is
drawn along the hair in use providing for bidirectional movement
and convenient left- and right-handed operation.
[0008] Alternatively, in a curling appliance with a single elongate
heating element of that is generally barrel-shaped, the slotted
nozzle may be disposed between two longitudinal edges of the single
penannular heating element.
[0009] Preferably the body is elongate, with the hair-care section
disposed at one longitudinal end, and a grip section disposed at an
opposing longitudinal end to be grasped by a user during use of the
hair iron. Alternatively, the grip section may comprise a separate
housing connected to the body.
[0010] Preferably the ion generator is disposed in the body and the
body further comprises a supply channel connecting the ion
generator to at least one longitudinal end of the slotted nozzle.
This arrangement is particularly compact and space-efficient. In
other embodiments a pair supply channels may be provided, each
connecting longitudinally opposing ends of the slotted nozzle to
the ion generator, or to respective ion generators.
[0011] Preferably the ion generator generates anions.
[0012] Preferably the hair-contacting face is formed on an
electrical conductor, particularly on a metal plate, and the hair
iron comprises a charging circuit connected to the electrical
conductor that electrically charges the conductor to attract the
ion curtain. Alternatively, the electrical conductor may be
electrically grounded.
[0013] Preferably the slotted nozzle is integral with the hair-care
section and comprises a through-extending outlet opening such that
the ion curtain extends from opposing sides of the hair-care
section. This through-extending arrangement is also advantageous
for sanitary reasons, as such a slotted nozzle is readily cleaned.
Of course, the slotted nozzle may have only a single outlet, so
that the ion curtain projects from only one side of the body.
[0014] Preferably the through-extending outlet opening is of
substantially constant cross-sectional area throughout its length.
Preferably the through-extending outlet opening has opposing
longitudinal sides that are substantially parallel. Alternatively
opposing longitudinal sides of the outlet opening may be inclined
to one another so that the opening tapers to diverge toward the
outlet adjacent the longitudinal edge of the heating element.
[0015] Preferably the body forms a boundary of the slotted nozzle.
Alternatively, the heating elements may bound the slotted
nozzle.
[0016] Preferably the at least one elongate heating element further
comprises a plurality of tines of like form projecting from a
planar face of the at least one elongate heating element and being
disposed in a linear array, longitudinally spaced apart, wherein
each of the tines is tapered to narrow toward its tip and opposite
transverse edges, and elongated transversely to span the greater
part of the width of each of the at least one elongate heating
element.
[0017] Preferably the supply channel comprises a discharge
electrode connecting to the ion generator, and the discharge
electrode is disposed at the longitudinal end of the slotted
nozzle. Preferably, the supply channel comprises at least two
discharge electrodes connecting to the ion generator, and the at
least two discharge electrodes are disposed at the two longitudinal
ends of the slotted nozzle and are coaxial with the supply
channel.
[0018] Preferably the supply channel is coaxial with the ion
generator, and an axis of the supply channel is acutely inclined
relative to a planar face of the at least one elongate heating
element so that ion stream is delivered into the slotted nozzle
with a minor transverse velocity component and a major longitudinal
component.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be
described by way of example with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of the
hair iron of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is view 2-2 indicated in FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 3 is the sectional view 3-3 indicated in FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 4 shows the view of FIG. 2 in use when styling a lock
of hair;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic plan view of a second
embodiment of the hair iron of the invention;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the second embodiment of
FIG. 5;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a third embodiment of the
hair iron of the invention;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a fourth embodiment of
the hair iron of the invention, and
[0028] FIGS. 9-12 are schematic plan views of a fifth, sixth,
seventh and eighth embodiment of the hair iron of the invention,
respectively.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, in a first embodiment the hair
iron according to the present invention may be of the tong-type
comprising elongate bodies 10, 11 or jaws connected together at
their proximate ends by a hinge 12 and configured for straightening
hair clamped between the bodies 10, 11. Each body 10, 11 comprises
a hair-care section 13, 14 at its distal end in which radiant
electric heating elements 15, 16, 17 are mounted. Intermediate the
hinge 12 and hair-care section 13, 14 the bodies have a grip
section 19 by which the appliance is grasped and manipulated and
which may be narrower than the hair-care section 13, 14. The bodies
10, 11 thus form the structural frame of the hair iron, and an
enclosure for its components.
[0030] The heating elements 15, 16 may each be of like elongate
form, as with a rectangular perimeter, and arranged parallel and
spaced apart on the inner side of the hair-care section 13, whereas
a single heating element 17 may be disposed on the inner side of
the hair-care section 14. The heating element 17 may also have a
rectangular perimeter with and extend for substantially the same
length as each of the heating elements 15, 16 and have a width
substantially the same as the transverse spacing that between outer
longitudinal edges of the heating elements 15, 16. The pair of
heating elements 15, 16 are thus in registration with the element
17 when in the closed position. In the straightening iron
illustrated, each of the heating elements 15, 16, 17 has a
respective metallic hair-contacting face 15a, 16a, 17a which may be
substantially planar and which is pressed into contact with hair in
use.
[0031] The preferred embodiment has an anion generator 20 which is
of known type, such as a Corona discharge device, but, as described
below, the hair iron of the invention may alternatively include a
cation generator, or generators for both anions and cations. The
anion generator 20 may be mounted in the body 10 near the inner end
of the heating elements 15, 16 and is connected by an ion supply
channel 21 to one longitudinal end of a slotted nozzle 22 formed
integrally with the body 10 in the hair-care section 13 between the
heating elements 15, 16. The axis of the ion supply channel 21 may
be coaxial with the axis 28 of the anion generator 20 or of a
discharge electrode (shown in FIG. 12) of the anion generator 20
and, as best seen in FIG. 1, the axis 28 of the ion supply channel
21 may be acutely inclined relative to the planar faces 15a, 16a
toward the inside 26 so that the ion stream is delivered into the
slotted nozzle 22 with a minor transverse velocity component, and a
major longitudinal component.
[0032] The slotted nozzle 22 is substantially longitudinally
coextensive with the heating element 15, 16 and may have opposing
longitudinal sides 23, 24 that are substantially parallel,
extending through the hair-care section 13 of the body 10 to
opposing outlets, one on the outside 25 and one on the inside
between the heating elements 15, 16.
[0033] The conductive metallic surface 17a of the heating element
17 may be connected to a charging circuit 30 by which it is
positively electrically charged to attract the emitted anions. In
this manner, operation of the anion generator 20 produces an ion
curtain projecting from the inner side 26 of the hair-care section
13 alongside, and substantially parallel to, adjacent inner
longitudinal edges of the heating element 15, 16.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 4, in use a lock of hair 31 extends
generally transversely, spanning across the heating elements and
across the slot defined by the slotted nozzle 22. An even
distribution of anions is produced on a larger area of hair 31 by
the ion curtain on the inside and is directed toward the hair 31.
If the iron is drawn upward along the hair 31, then the ion curtain
leads the heating element 15 (and half of its counter element 17)
providing pre-treatment before the styling, and likewise when drawn
down along the hair 31, then the ion curtain leads the heating
element 16 (and half of its counter element 17). Therefore, an even
ionic pre-treatment is achieved regardless of the direction in
which the appliance is drawn along the hair, providing for
convenient left- and right-handed operation. When drawn over the
hair, water collected in the slotted nozzle 22 is exposed to high
temperature and readily vaporised and vented to the outside 25,
while the through-extending configuration also allows the slotted
nozzle 22 to be readily cleaned.
[0035] A number of variants of the first embodiment can produce
equally satisfactory improvements in styling performance, and some
of these are discussed with reference to the remaining FIGS. 5 to
11. FIGS. 5 and 6 show a hair iron for straightening of the comb
type with one elongate body 10 and in which the heating elements
115, 116 each further comprises tines 32 which may project from
their planar faces 115a, 116a and may be disposed in a linear
array, longitudinally spaced apart. Each tine 32 may have a like
form, being tapered to narrow toward its tip and opposite
transverse edges, and elongated transversely to span the greater
part of the width of each heating element 115, 116.
[0036] FIGS. 5 and 6 also show a charging circuit 130, in which the
heating elements 115, 116 are electrically grounded, as by
connection to a high electrical resistance. In a tong-type hair
iron having the charging circuit 130 connected to a pair of heating
elements in one of the bodies, a charging circuit 30 may be absent
from the other of the bodies.
[0037] In embodiments of the invention the slotted nozzle 122 may
have only a single outlet and such a slotted nozzle 122 is
illustrated in FIG. 7 where, opposite its open mouth, the slotted
nozzle 122 has a closed concave surface 36 that extends
longitudinally to maintain a substantially constant cross section
throughout its length.
[0038] In a tong-type hair iron both hingedly connected bodies 10,
11 may comprise an integral slotted nozzle 22, 122, and each body
10, 11 may hold a respective anion generator. As shown in FIG. 8,
ion supply channels 21 are preferably disposed at longitudinal ends
of the slotted nozzle 22 and equally transversely spaced from the
heating elements 15-18. The axes 28 of the anion generators may
also extend generally longitudinally as shown in FIG. 8, as the
preferred minor transverse velocity component is not essential.
[0039] In the first embodiment, as best seen in FIG. 3, the
longitudinal sides 23, 24 of the slotted nozzle 22 are preferably
spaced apart transversely from the opposing inner edges 38, 39 of
the elements 15, 16 providing a small expansion space 40 on the
inside, generally between the inner opening 41 of the slotted
nozzle 22 and the inner edges 38, 39, that is wider than the inner
opening 41. However, this expansion space 40 is not essential and
the inner edges 38, 39 may be substantially aligned with the
longitudinal sides 23, 24 of the slotted nozzle 22 such that the
slotted nozzle 22 is bounded by the heating elements 15, 16, rather
than the body 10, as shown in FIG. 9.
[0040] Whereas the slotted nozzle 22 preferably extends
longitudinally between two heating elements, as seen in FIG. 2 (or
between opposite edges of a single penannular heating element--not
shown), it is not essential for the slotted nozzle 22 to lie
between heating elements 15, 16 (or between edges of a single
heating element). The inventor has found that improved styling
performance, compared to old ionic hair styling irons, is still
achieved with a slotted nozzle 22 elongated to span the hair-care
section 13 lengthwise, but disposed alongside only one longitudinal
edge of the heating element 117. This embodiment of the invention
is shown in FIG. 10, where the hair-care section 13 comprises only
a single heating element 117 and a respective single slotted nozzle
22 adjacent and parallel to an outer edge 45 of the hair-care
section 13 and alongside, parallel and spaced apart from, a long
edge of the substantially rectangular periphery of the heating
element 117.
[0041] FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which
a pair of slotted nozzles 22 is formed in the hair-care section 13
of the body 10, alongside respective opposing longitudinal edges of
the hair-care section 13, each lying adjacent a respective
longitudinal edge of a single heating element 117. The slotted
nozzles 22 may be supplied from one anion generator 20 or from
respective ion generators 20 (not shown in FIG. 11). Analogously to
the configuration of FIG. 9, opposite outer edges 138, 139 of the
element 117 may be substantially coplanar with one of the
longitudinal sides 23, 24 of each slotted nozzle 22 such that the
inside edge of each slotted nozzle 22 is bounded by the heating
element 117. This embodiment with the pair of slotted nozzles 22
also has the advantage previously identified in respect of the
first embodiment that, regardless of the direction in which the
appliance is drawn along the hair, an ionic pre-treatment precedes
the hair styling treatment.
[0042] FIG. 12 shows a further embodiment of the invention where,
similar to the embodiment of FIG. 10, the hair-care section 13
comprises a single heating element 117 and a respective single
slotted nozzle 22 adjacent and parallel to an outer edge 45 of the
hair-care section 13 and alongside, parallel and spaced apart from,
a long edge of the substantially rectangular periphery of the
heating element 117. The supply channel 21 of the slotted nozzle 22
comprises two discharge electrodes 47 connecting to the anion
generator 20 (not shown), and the two discharge electrodes 47 are
disposed at two longitudinal ends of the slotted nozzle 22 and are
coaxial with the supply channel 21. Alternatively, the supply
channel 21 of the slotted nozzle 22 may comprise only one discharge
electrode 47 connecting to the anion generator 20 and is disposed
at a longitudinal end of the slotted nozzle 22.
[0043] Aspects of the present invention have been described by way
of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and
additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope
thereof.
* * * * *