JP7616556B2 - Hair Treatment Device - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates generally to devices for performing treatment operations on a subject's hair, and more particularly to hair treatment devices incorporating an ion generator.

Many people have a variety of beauty problems, a classic example of which is hair damage.

Hair damage is mainly caused by drying out the hair. Drying out hair not only makes it feel frizzy, but also causes problems such as static electricity easily building up, loss of overall hair cohesion, and easy adhesion of dust.

In view of the above, ion generating hair stylers, such as hair straighteners and hair curlers, have evolved. In conventional heat treatment devices, negative ions are generated by corona discharge through a negative ion generator. In hair stylers that use minimal airflow, such as hair straighteners, the generated negative ions eventually saturate and form a substantially stationary ion cloud adjacent to the ion generator. In such cases, the number of ions at locations away from the ion generator may be significantly lower. This results in reduced performance of the hair treatment device or hair styler.

The present disclosure is intended to overcome one or more of the limitations described above, or any other limitations associated with devices known in the art.

The object of the present invention is to provide a hair treatment device that increases the number of ions along the hair treatment portion (i.e., along the heating plate), thus increasing the coverage of the ions, and thus providing better defrigeration performance. Unlike the prior art, in the case of a hair styler such as a hair straightener, it would be desirable to enable the hair treatment device to increase the number of ions or distribute them evenly along the heating plate through slight structural changes. The prior art employs increasing the output power of the ion generator and increasing the number of ion vents, resulting in higher power consumption and increased complexity of the hair treatment device.

To better address one or more of these concerns, in a first aspect of the present disclosure, a hair treatment device is provided. The hair treatment device includes a body defining a hair treatment portion and a heating plate disposed within the hair treatment portion. The heating element is an electrical conductor. The hair treatment device further includes at least one ion generator configured to generate ions and channel the ions through a groove defined in the body adjacent to the hair treatment portion to form an ion stream. The hair treatment device further includes an ion attractor defined in the body. The ion attractor bridges the groove and the heating element, where the heating element attracts ions from the ion stream through the ion attractor to the hair treatment device to distribute the ion stream along the length of the groove. The even distribution of ions along the length of the groove provides more area for defrigerating the hair, thereby facilitating effective defrigeration of the hair.

In one embodiment, the ion attractor is a guideway defined in a substantially central portion of the body.

In one embodiment, the guideway has a through opening between the groove and the heating element, such that a portion of the ion flow flows from the groove toward the heating element.

In one embodiment, the through opening includes a cross-sectional area that is constant throughout its length.

In one embodiment, at least one ion generator is disposed within the body at either end of the groove and configured to generate negative ions.

In one embodiment, the groove extends substantially parallel to at least one longitudinal end of the heating element.

In one embodiment, the hair treatment device includes a ground circuit for electrically grounding the heating element. The ground circuit includes a printed circuit board and a conductive member, and electrically connects the printed circuit board and the heating element.

In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a hair styler for straightening hair is disclosed. The hair styler includes a pair of arms pivotally connected to one another at one end. Each of the pair of arms is configured to receive a hair treatment device as described above.

In one embodiment, each of the pair of arms is elongated and defines a hair treatment portion at one end and a grip portion at another end opposite the one end.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the exemplary aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a hair styler according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a hair styler according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a hair treatment device of a hair styler according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of portion A of FIG. 3. FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of a hair styler according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The present invention is set forth in the appended claims and encompasses various modifications and equivalents of the claims that will be routine to those skilled in the art. The disclosure itself, as well as its modes of use, further objects and advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments are hereinafter described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which like reference numerals represent like elements.

The figures depict embodiments of the present disclosure for illustrative purposes only. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods described herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure set forth herein.

While embodiments of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and described below. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure.

It should be noted that those skilled in the art may be motivated by the present disclosure to modify various features of the hair treatment device. Such modifications are therefore part of this disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings show only certain details pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure, so as not to obscure the present disclosure with details that would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

The terms "having," "having," or any other variations thereof as used in this disclosure are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an assembly or unit having listed elements may include not only those elements, but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such device. In other words, one or more elements in a device with "having" does not, without further constraints, preclude the presence of other or additional elements in the system or device.

In the following detailed description, embodiments of the disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and are shown by way of illustration and specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, with the understanding that other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a hair styler (100) according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The hair styler (100) may be a handheld device that can be adapted to perform a treatment on a subject's hair. In one embodiment, the treatment on the hair is hair straightening, hair curling, hair defrigeration, etc. As described herein, the hair styler (100) is operated or used by a "user" and the treatment operation is performed on a "subject." In some cases, the user and the subject are the same person, i.e., the hair styler (100) is held in the hand and used by the user on himself (e.g., for hair straightening). In other cases, the user and the subject may be different, e.g., the hair styler (100) can be held in the hand and used by the user on another person.

The hair styler (100) may broadly include a pair of arms (112), which may be pivotally connected to each other at one end. As an example, the pair of arms (112) may be hinged at one end to facilitate pivotal movement between the pair of arms (112). Furthermore, the hair styler (100) may include a hair treatment device (101) that may be disposed on at least one of the arms (112). The hair treatment device (101) may be configured to perform hair treatment by providing negative ions and heat. In one embodiment, the hair treatment device (101) may be disposed on each of the pair of arms (112). As is apparent from Figures 1 and 2, the pair of arms (112) may be elongated. The hair treatment device (101) or its hair treatment portion (103) is disposed on one end of the arm, and a grip portion is defined on another end opposite the one end. In one embodiment, the grip portion (111) may include a separate housing that may be connected to each of the pair of arms (112). The grip portion (111) aids in gripping and manipulating the device and may be narrower than the pair of arms (112). Additionally, the hair styler (100) may include a power element (wire and plug) (115) that allows the hair styler (100) to be connected to a mains power source.

2 and 3, the hair treatment device (101) may include a body (102) that may be defined by a hair treatment portion (103). Additionally, the hair treatment device (101) may include a heating element (104), which may be disposed in the heat treatment portion (103) [and thus in the body (102)]. The heating element (104) may be coupled to a heater (113), which may be configured to heat the heating element (104). In one embodiment, the heating element (104) may be of a generally rectangular elongated shape and may be disposed inside the hair treatment portion (103). Additionally, the heating element (104) may include a hair contact surface (114), which may be substantially planar and configured to be pressed into contact with hair during use. In one embodiment, the heating element (104) may be made of an electrically conductive material, such as a metal. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the hair treatment device (101) can include a groove (106) defined in the body (102) adjacent the hair treatment portion (103). In one embodiment, the groove (106) can extend substantially parallel along at least one longitudinal edge of the heating element (104).

In one embodiment, the thermal treatment device (101) may include multiple heating elements that may be disposed within the body (102). The grooves (106) may be configured to extend between and substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges of the multiple heating elements.

4, the hair treatment device (101) may include at least one ion generator (105) that may be located on either side of the groove (106). The at least one ion generator (105) may be configured to generate ions, i.e., negative ions. The generated ions are channeled through the groove (106) to form an ion stream. In one embodiment, the ion generator (105) may be, but is not limited to, a negative ion generator. By way of example, but not limited to, the negative ion generator may be a corona discharge device. Additionally, the hair treatment device (101) may include a ground circuit (108) (seen in FIG. 5) for electrically grounding the heating element (104). The ground circuit (108) includes a printed circuit board (PCB) (109) and a conductive member (110) [110 highlighted in bold in FIG. 5]. The conductive member (110) may electrically connect the printed circuit board (PCB) (109) and the heating element (104). As an example, the conductive member (110) may be an electrical wire. In one embodiment, the conductive member (110) may electrically connect the PCB (109) and any other conductive material associated with the heating element (104).

In one embodiment, the ground circuit (108) can be configured to charge the heating element (104) to attract negative ions generated by the at least one ion generator (105). Additionally, the ground circuit can facilitate absorption of the negative ions attracted by the heating element (104).

In one embodiment, the hair treatment device (101) may include a charging circuit that may be connected to the heating element (104). The charging circuit may be configured to electrically charge the heating element (104) to induce positive ions to attract negative ions generated by the at least one ion generator (105).

Returning to Figures 3 and 4, the hair treatment device (101) can include an ion attractor (107), which can be defined within the body (102). The ion attractor (107) can be configured to bridge the groove (106) and the heating element (104). In one embodiment, the ion attractor (107) can be a guideway or slot. The guideway can include a through opening between the groove (106) and the heating element (104). In one embodiment, the through opening (and thus the guideway) can include a cross-sectional area that is substantially constant throughout its length. In some embodiments, the through opening (and thus the guideway) can include a cross-sectional area that can vary throughout its length.

In the illustrated embodiment, the ion attractor (107) is defined in a substantially central portion of the body (102) between the groove (106) and the heating element (104). In some embodiments, the ion attractor (107) can be defined to bridge the groove (106) and the heating element (104) at any location of the body (102) between the groove (106) and the heating element (104). Furthermore, the ion attractor (107) includes a substantially rectangular profile, which is not to be construed as limiting, since the ion attractor (107) can be configured to include any other geometric profile, such as a square, a triangle, a circle, etc. In some embodiments, the ion attractor (107) can promote the positively charged heating element (104) to attract negative ions toward it, which can result in a flow of ions along the length of the groove (106) (shown by a dotted line in FIG. 4), with the ions being evenly distributed along the length of the groove (106). That is, the positively charged heating element (104) can attract a portion of the negative ions from the ion stream in the channel (106) via the ion attractor (107). This attraction allows ions generated by the ion generators (105) on either end of the channel (106) to flow toward the ion attractor (107), which causes the ions to flow along the length of the channel (106) and distribute the ions evenly along the length of the channel. In one embodiment, the even distribution of ions is assumed to be substantially the same number of ions along the length of the channel (106). The even distribution of ions along the length of the channel provides more area for defrigerating the hair, which facilitates effective defrigeration of the hair. Additionally, the ions attracted by the heating element (104) can be grounded via the ground circuit (108).

In an operational embodiment, i.e., during use of the hair styler (100) for hair treatment (e.g., hair straightening), the hair to be treated is placed between the pair of arms (112) (and thus between the hair treatment devices) and the hair styler (100) can be traversed over the hair. That is, the hair to be treated is placed along the length of the heating element (104) and the groove (106). In operation, at least one ion generator (105) generates ions, which are channeled through the groove (106) to form an ion flow. At the same time, the heating element (104) can be heated by the heater (113). Furthermore, the heating element (103) can attract ions from the ion flow in the groove (106) via the ion attractor (107), which creates a flow of ions (shown as a dotted line in FIG. 4) along the length of the groove (106) and results in an even distribution of ions along the length of the groove (106). This even distribution aids in the effective defrigeration of all hairs positioned along the grooves (106), unlike conventional hair stylers where effective defrigeration of hairs occurs in the vicinity of the ion generator.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, one of ordinary skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as appropriate to the context and/or application. Various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for clarity.

Those skilled in the art will understand that, in general, the terms used in this specification, and in the appended claims in particular (e.g., the body of the appended claims), are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "having" should be interpreted as "having, but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "including" should be interpreted as "including, but not limited to," etc.).
Those skilled in the art will further understand that where a particular number of introduced claim recitations is intended, such intent will be expressly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent exists.
For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may include the use of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce the claim recitation.
However, the introduction of a claim recitation with the indefinite article "a" or "an" should not be construed as meaning that use of such phrases limits any particular claim that includes such introduced claim recitation to inventions that contain only one such reference, even if the same claim includes the introductory phrase "one or more" or "at least one" and an indefinite article such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" are typically construed to mean "at least one" or "one or more").
The same applies to the use of definite articles to introduce claim recitations.
Moreover, even if a particular number of recitations of an introduced claim are explicitly recited, a person skilled in the art will understand that such recitation should generally be interpreted as meaning at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation "two repeats" without other modifiers generally means at least two repeats, or more than two repeats).
Additionally, when a convention similar to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, such a configuration is generally intended in the sense that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" includes, but is not limited to, systems having A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B, A and C, B and C, and/or A, B and C, etc.).
When a convention similar to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, such a configuration is generally intended in the sense that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" includes, but is not limited to, systems having A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B, A and C, B and C, and/or A, B and C, etc.).
Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that virtually any conjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the specification, claims, or drawings, should be understood as contemplating the possibility of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms.
For example, the phrase "A or B" is understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."
Various aspects and embodiments are disclosed herein, and other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are intended to be illustrative and not limiting, with the true scope being indicated by the following claims.

Claims (12)

1. A hair treatment device comprising:
A main body having a hair treatment unit;
a heating element disposed on the hair treatment portion, the heating element being an electrical conductor;
at least one ion generator that generates ions and channels the ions through a groove defined in the body adjacent to the hair treatment portion to form an ion stream;
and an ion attractor defined within the body spanning the groove and the heating element, the heating element attracting ions from the ion stream through the ion attractor. The hair treatment device of claim 1, wherein the ion attractor is a guideway defined in a substantially central portion of the body. The hair treatment device of claim 2, wherein the guideway has a through opening between the groove and the heating element, and a portion of the ion flow flows from the groove toward the heating element. The hair treatment device of claim 3, wherein the through opening comprises a constant cross-sectional area throughout its length. The hair treatment device of claim 1, wherein the at least one ion generator is disposed within the body at either end of the groove. The hair treatment device of claim 1, wherein the at least one ion generator generates negative ions. The hair treatment device of claim 1, wherein the grooves extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal ends of the heating element. The hair treatment device of claim 1, further comprising a ground circuit that electrically grounds the heating element. The ground circuit is
A printed circuit board;
9. A hair treatment device according to claim 8, further comprising an electrically conductive member electrically connecting said printed circuit board and said heating element. 1. A hair styler for straightening hair, comprising:
A pair of arms pivotally connected to each other at one end;
A hair styler comprising: a hair treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, disposed on at least one of the pair of arms. The hair styler of claim 10, wherein the hair treatment device is disposed on each of the pair of arms. The hair styler according to claim 10 or 11, wherein each of the pair of arms is elongated, the hair treatment device is disposed at one end, and a grip portion is defined at another end opposite the one end.

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