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(11) | EP 0 034 130 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Hair washing apparatus |
| (57) Apparatus for washing hair comprises a helmet-shaped casing (28) provided around
its rim with means (36) for sealingly surrounding the region of the head to be washed
and provided internally with a plurality of spray nozzles (40) which can be supplied
with water or a mixture of water and detergent under pressure. A central programme
and control unit (80) controls the supply of liquid to the spray nozzles (40) and
the discharge of the liquid from the casing (28) according to a predetermined operating
cycle. |
[0001] The present invention relates to hair-washing apparatus which allows the operations which are normally performed manually to be carried out mechanically and completely automatically.. -'
[0002] The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that it comprises:
- a casing in the form of a helmet provided around its rim with means for sealingly surrounding the region of the head to be washed and provided internally with a plurality of spray nozzles facing inwardly of the casing,
- supply means for supplying water or a mixture of water and detergent under pressure to the said spray nozzles,
- discharge means for discharging from the casing the water,or mixture of water and detergent, coming from the spray nozzles, and
- a central programme and control unit for controlling the supply means and the discharge means according to a predetermined operating cycle.
[0003] The apparatus according to the invention allows hair-washing to be carried out rapidly, safely and efficiently, and easily adapts itself to the different head shapes of the users. In use, the liquid jet from the spray nozzles also has an effective massaging action on the user's scalp.
[0004] According to the invention, the spray nozzles are oriented in such a way that the jet from each nozzle interferes, in operation, with the jets from the adjacent nozzles. In this way it is possible to obtain a uniform massaging effect over the entire surface of that part of the user's head inserted in the helmet-shaped casing.
[0005] In order further to improve this massaging effect, the spray nozzles preferably have outlet openings of flattened section.
[0006] According to the invention, the casing has an outer wall and an inner wall defining between them a peripheral cavity, and the spray nozzles are disposed on the inner wall and communicate with the said cavity, the outer wall being provided in the upper region of the casing with an inlet connection and in the lower region of the casing with an outlet connection communicating with the said cavity, the inlet and outlet connections being connected to the said supply means and the said discharge means respectively.
[0007] The spray nozzles are, to advantage, constituted by embossed protuberances in the form of hollow, circular bosses formed by pressing, on the surface of the inner wall of the casing, each boss having an elongate diametral slit which constitutes the outlet opening of the spray nozzle. Thanks to this characteristic , the apparatus according to the invention is particularly simple, robust and economical to manufacture.
[0008] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, with reference to the appended drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which:
Figuree 1 is a schematic, partially-sectioned perspective view of apparatus according to the invention,
Figure 2 is a partially cut-away, perspective view on an enlarged scale of a detail illustrated in Figure 1, and
Figure 3 is a partially cut-away, sectional view, on an enlarged scales of a detail illustrated in Figure 1.
[0009] In the embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in the drawings, a vertical column 10 is shown provided at its lower end with a support base 12. On the column 10 there is mounted, for axial sliding movement and rotation,a tubular support 14 to the upper end of which is fixed a cantilevered support arm 16. The tubular support 14 is provided with positioning means 18 manually controllable to lock the support 14 axially with respect to the column 10. These positioning means 18 are constituted, in the example illustrated, by a transverse pin 20 which passes through the wall of the tubular support 14 and is adapted at its inner end to engage in cooperating annular grooves 22 formed in the outer surface of the column 10. A small operating wheel 24 is fixed to the outer end of the pin 20.
[0010] As is illustrated in Figure 1, the free end of the support arm 16 is fork-shaped, the arms of the fork, one of which is indicated 16a, supporting a pair of horizontal pins 26 projecting towards each other and serving for the articulation of a casing 28 in the form of a helmet. The helmet-shaped casing 28 can thus be oriented about the axes of the pins 26 and its position can also be adjusted angularly and vertically with respect to the column 10 by means of the tubular support 14.
[0011] The helmet-shaped casing 28 is provided with an outer wall 30 and an inner wall 32 spaced from one another so as to define between them a peripheral cavity 34. The casing 28 is further provided, around its rim, with an annular element 36 adapted sealingly to surround that part of the user's head inserted in the chamber within the casing 28. This annular sealing element 36 may be constituted by a strip of soft, elastomeric material, or else by an inflatable annular chamber. To the rim of the casing 28 there is also fixed a chin strap 38 by means of which the user's head can be positioned correctly and held in place in the helmet-shaped casing 28.
[0012] The inner wall 32 of the helmet-shaped casing 28 is provided over its entire surface with equally-spaced embossed protuberances in the form of hollow circular bosses 40 formed by pressing. Each boss 40 has an elongate diametral slit 42 in its surface, the ends of which extend beyond the edge of the boss itself. The bosses 40 constitute a plurality of spray nozzles the outlet openings of which, constituted by the slits 42, have a flattened section. As is clearly visible in Figures 1 and 2, the slits 42 of adjacent bosses 40 have different orientations.
[0013] The spray nozzles could have different conformations from those illustrated and be formed, for example, on a tubular coil or on tubing disposed within the casing 28. The construction described above, however, is extremely advantageous both from the point of view of simplicity of manufacture and from the point of view of operating efficiency.
[0014] The outer wall 30 of the helmet-shaped casing 28 is provided with an inlet coupling 44 and an outlet coupling 46 disposed in the upper and the lower regions of the casing 28 respectively. The inlet coupling 44 is connected, by means of a flexible supply tube 46, to a delivery coupling 48 of an electric pump 50 associated with a container 52 rigidly fixed to the column 10 close to the base 12. The container 52 is provided with a first inlet coupling 54 connectable, by means of a flexible supply tube 56, to a water-supply source, not illustrated. An interceptor valve 58 is inserted in the first inlet coupling 54.
[0015] The outlet coupling 46 of the helmet casing 28 is connected, by means of a two-way coupling 60 in which a solenoid-operated diverter valve 62 is inserted, with a first flexible discharge tube 64 and a second flexible discharge tube 66. The first discharge tube 64 is connected to a second inlet coupling 68 of the container 52, whilst the second discharge tube 66 terminates within a collection vessel 70 removably inserted in a container 72 supported by the column 10 in a position underlying the container 52. The second discharge tube 66 could lead directly to a drain, not illustrated in the drawings, externally of the apparatus.
[0016] On the upper part of the container 52 is fixed a receptacle in the form of a hopper 74 for containing a detergent product. The receptacle 54 communicates with the interior of the container 52 by means of a tube 76 in which a solenoid-operated metering valve 78 is inserted.
[0017] The electric pump 50, the interceptor valve 58, the diverter valve 62 and the metering valve 78 are electrically connected to a central programming and control unit 80 connectable by means of a plug 82 to a normal electrical supply network. The active components of the central unit 80 are housed within a box 82 releasably fixed to a support 84 rigidly connected to the column 10. These active components of the central unit 80 can be constituted by electrical or electronic components of conventional type controlled by means of a programmable timer 86 and operable to control the various parts of the apparatus connected to the central unit 80, in a partly or totally automatic manner, depending on a predetermined operating cycle.
[0018] In use, in order to wash the hair, it suffices for the user to sit in an ordinary hairdresser's chair with his head tilted back as indicated schematically with broken lines in Figure 1. Subsequently,the helmet-shaped casing 28 of the apparatus is positioned and oriented with respect to the column 10 so as to allow the comfortable insertion thereinto of the part of the head to be washed. The head can then be held in place by means of the chin strap 38 and the annular sealing element 36 adjusted in such a way as to ensure an effective seal against the surface of the user's head.
[0019] At this point the washing cycle can be initiated by operation of the controls of the central unit 80. This unit 80 can advantageously be held by the user himself, who, being able to stop the apparatus at any time, is perfectly safe against any possible malfunction thereof.
[0020] The washing cycle, programmable by means of the timer 86 of the unit 80, preferably comprises the following successive phases: prewashing, washing and rinsing.
[0021] During the prewashing phase the container 52 is initially filled with water from the supply tubing 56. At the end of the filling stage, the interceptor valve 58 moves to a closed position and the pump 50 withdraws water from the container 52 and feeds it under pressure, through the delivery tube 46, to the inlet coupling 44 of the casing 28. Simultaneously the metering valve 78 opens so as to allow a predetermined, metered quantity of detergent to be supplied from the hopper 74 to the container 52.
[0022] The mixture of water and detergent supplied to the inlet coupling 44 reaches the cavity 34 in the casing 28 and is distributed to the various spray nozzles 40. In order to achieve a more uniform distribution of the liquid, a flow distributor 88 can, to advantage, be attached to the inlet coupling 44, the flow distributor 88 being constituted, for example, by a conical diffuser lodged in the cavity 34.
[0023] The liquid mixture is thus distributed through the spray nozzles 40 to the interior of the casing 28, against the surface of the head to be washed. The particular conformation of the nozzles 40 and orientation of the respective outlet openings 42 described above results in the formation of a series of flattened jets which interfere with one another immediately adjacent the inner wall 32 of the casing 28. This allows a uniform diffusion of the liquid and also effective hydromassage of the scalp to be achieved during washing.
[0024] The liquid expelled by the spray nozzles 40 collects in the lower part of the casing 28 and discharges through the outlet coupling 46. During the prewashing phase the diverter valve 62 is disposed so as to block the passage through the second discharge tube 66. Thus, the liquid can flow only through the first discharge tube 64 so as to return to the container 52. The prewashing phase is therefore effected in a closed circuit, the same liquid being used throughout.
[0025] At the end of the prewashing phase the diverter valve 62 is displaced so as to block the passage through the first discharge tube 64, constraining the liquid to discharge into the collection vessel 70 through the second discharge tube 66. The discharge vessel 70, which can be removed and emptied at the end of the discharge operation, ensures a greater flexibility of use of the apparatus which can thus be used even in the absence of a conventional drain in the vicinity of the apparatus during use.
[0026] The subsequent washing phase is carried out in a manner entirely similar to the prewashing phase.
[0027] At the end of this phase the rinsing phase is initiated and is performed, instead, with an open circuit, the interceptor valve 58 being maintained in the open position and the diverter valve 62 in a position to discharge through the second discharge duct 66. The metering valve 78 is maintained permanently closed so as to prevent the introduction of detergent into the container 52.
[0028] It will be apparent from what has been described that the apparatus according to the invention permits hair-washing to be carried out with the simultaneous massage of the user's scalp, in a totally automatic and programmed manner, without requiring any manual intervention on the part of specialist personnel.
1. Apparatus for washing hair, characterised in that it comprises:
- a casing in the form of a helmet (28) provided around its rim with means (36) for sealingly surrounding the region of the head to be washed and provided internally with a plurality of spray nozzles (40) facing inwardly of the casing (28),
- supply means (46,50,52) for supplying water or a mixture of water and detergent under pressure to the said spray nozzles (40),
- discharge means (60,64,66) for discharging from the casing (28) the water or the mixture of water and detergent coming from the spray nozzles (40), and
- a central programme and control unit (80) for controlling the said supply means and the said discharge means according to a predetermined operating cycle.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the spray nozzles (40) are
oriented in such a way that the jets leaving each nozzle (40) interfere,in use, with
the jets from the adjacent spray nozzles (40).
3. Apparatus according to Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the spray nozzles
(40) each have an outlet opening (42) of flattened section.
4. Apparatus according to Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the helmet-shaped casing
(28) has an outer wall (30) and an inner wall (32) defining between them a peripheral
cavity (34), and in that the spray nozzles (40) are disposed on the inner wall (32)
and communicate with the said cavity (34), the outer wall (30) being provided in the
upper region of the casing (28) with an inlet connection (44) and in the lower region
of the casing (28) with an outlet connection (46) communicating with the said cavity
(34), the connections being connected with the said supply means and the said discharge
means respectively.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterised in that the spray nozzles (40) are
constituted by embossed protuberances in the form of hollow, circular bosses formed
by pressing/on the surface of the inner wall (32) ofthe casing (28), each protuberance (40) having
an elongate diametral slit (42) constituting the outlet of the spray nozzle.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterised in that it further includes a flow
distributor (88) inserted in the cavity (34) of the casing (28) in correspondence
with the said inlet coupling (44).
7. Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterised in that the said supply means and
the said discharge means comprise:
- a container (52) having a first inlet coupling (54) connectable by means of a supply duct (56) to a water-supply source, a delivery coupling (48) connected by means of a delivery tube (46) with an inlet coupling (44) of the casing (28), and a second inlet coupling (68) connected by means of a first discharge duct (64) to an outlet coupling (46) of the casing (28),
- a detergent receptacle (74) connected to the container (52),
- a pump (50) operable to withdraw the water or mixture of water and detergent from the container (52) and to send it under pressure to the delivery duct (46),
- first valve means (58) for controlling the passage through the supply duct (56),
- second valve means (62) for controlling the passage through the first discharge duct (64) and through a second discharge duct (66) branching from the first discharge duct (64) downstream of the outlet connection (46) of the casing (28) and connectable with means for collecting the water or the mixture of water and detergent,
- third valve means (78) for controlling the passage of the detergent from the detergent receptacle (74) to the container (52); the said first, second and third valve means (58,62,78) and the said pump (50) being controlled by the said central programme and control unit (80).
8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, characterised in that the said collection means
are constituted by a collection vessel (70) into which the said second discharge duct
(66) leads.
9. Apparatus according to the preceding Claims, characterised in that it further includes
a support structure (10) to which the said helmet-shaped casing (28) is fixed in an
adjustable and orientable manner.
10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, characterised in that the support structure is
constituted by a vertical support column (10) carrying a horizontal arm (16) projecting
from its upper end, the arm (16) having one end mounted slidably and rotatably with
respect to the column (10) and the other end being formed as a fork the arms (16a)
of which support a pair of horizontal pins (26) which project towards each other,
and about which the said helmet-shaped casing (28) is articulated, positioning means
(18) being provided for rigidly locking the horizontal arm (16) with respect to the
column (10); the lower end of the said column (10) supporting the said container (52)
and the said detergent receptacle (74) and, in a readily removable manner, the said
collection vessel (70) and the said central programming and control unit (80).
11. Apparatus according to the preceding Claims, characterised in that the central
programme and control unit incorporates a programmable timer (86).
12. Apparatus substantially as described with reference to the attached drawings.