The present invention relates to a device according to the characteristics in the preamble of Claim 1 as disclosed in EP 0372443A.

Such devices for the treatment of head hair by means of heat are known in various embodiments in so-called open configurations and are used in hair styling salons, as are known for example from EP0372443A2, EP0156984A1, and EP0072994A1.

The device as recited by US-D477,111-S uses five so-called emitter wells. These contain quartz tubes for the production of infrared radiation and reflectors made from aluminum. These [reflectors] together with the correct positioning of the emitter wells with respect to each other will ensure the required heat distribution for dyeing, perm and conditioning treatments. In order for to give the maximum possible freedom of movement and a feeling of openness to a customer under the heat treatment device, the distance between the two emitter wells in the lateral arms should be approx. 18 in (460 mm). Furthermore, the arrangement includes one well in the neck region, one to the upper rear above the back of the head and one toward the upper front over the front of the customer's head.

EP 0372443A, FR 933324A and JP 59209306A propose devices for the heat treatment of the head hair of a person with lateral heat emitters which are adjustable in two directions (in a horizontal and vertical plane) providing for the required relative movements between lateral and third and fourth emitters, JP 2003164320A proposes a lateral arm foldable by a lag hinge and DE 4235436A1 proposes multiple alternative mechanisms for the displacement of two lateral emitters.

A substantial disadvantage of the above-described device is that the heat treatment results are unsatisfactory when relatively large curlers are used.

The underlying object of the present invention is to produce a device of this same type that does not exhibit the above-described disadvantages.

This object is achieved by the characteristic features of Claim 1. Additional embodiments of the present invention as recited in Claim 1 arise from the sub-claims.

This device with infrared radiation and support blowers configured as a heat treatment device for hair styling techniques for use in drying operations is characterized by the device being readily changed over during the course of a hair styling procedure between two treatments [such as] between a heat treatment device with an open heating region (first operational position A1) and a drying device with a significantly more enclosed drying region (though with a higher heat energy density) (second operational position A2), where the two lateral emitter wells mounted so as to be on either side of the head can be shifted or pivoted in the direction of the emitter wells [that are] upward and rearward. Thus, an intensive and rapid drying of the head hair 2 can be achieved in the second operational position, such as with a conventional hair drying hood (such as is known, for example, in GB1348683B1).

The positioning of the two emitter wells mounted laterally so as to be on both sides of the head can be selectively modified by folding the lateral arms and by tilting the emitter wells, for example up to 180 degrees.

The distance between the two emitter wells mounted laterally so as to be on both sides of the head is approx. 18 in (460 mm) (first operational position) during the heat treatment operation and approx. 13 in (320 mm) (second operational position) during the drying operation.

The present invention will be explained in more detail by means of several embodiments with the help of Fig. 1 through 17. In the drawings:

Fig. 1

shows a front view of a device in a first operational position;

Fig. 2

shows a perspective side view of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

shows a view on the left side of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

shows a top view of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5

shows a view from behind the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6

shows a view from the front of the device in a second operational position;

Fig. 7

shows a perspective side view of the device of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8

shows a view on the left side of the device of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9

shows a top view of the device of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10

shows a view from behind the device of Fig. 6;

Fig. 11

shows an exploded view of the left- and right-hand swivel arms with the respective lateral emitters in the first operational position;

Fig. 12

shows a lateral perspective of the left- and right-hand swivel arms of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13

shows a view from behind the swivel arms of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14

shows the swivel arms of Fig. 11 in the second operational position;

Fig. 15

shows the swivel arms of Fig. 12 in the second operational position;

Fig. 16

shows the swivel arms of Fig. 13 in the second operational position, and

Fig. 17

shows the device of Fig. 2 with the lateral emitters removed.

The Figures show device 1 for the heat treatment of head hair 2 of person 3 that include first and second heat emitters 11, 12, that are constituted from left-hand lateral emitter 4 and right-hand lateral emitter 5 oriented opposite each other for supplying heat 6 to the lateral head hair 7, where third, fourth and fifth heat emitters 13, 14, 15 are oriented for the heat treatment of the remaining head hair. All of heat emitters 11 through 15 are arranged in a so-called open configuration for the purpose of unrestricted handling and observation of head hair 2 and more extensive visibility for person 3 during the heat treatment. A minimum of two lateral emitters 4, 5 are configured to be selectively adjustable from a first operational position A1 (Fig. 1) with first distance a between one another to a second operational position A2 (Fig. 6) with second distance b between one another by means of first respective mechanism 8, where the second distance b is smaller than the first distance a.

The two lateral emitters 4, 5 exhibit a first distance a (Fig. 1) of approx. 18 in (460 mm) in the first operational position A1. In the second operational position A2, the two lateral emitters 4, 5 exhibit a second distance b (Fig. 6) of approx. 13 in (320 mm), whereby an intensive drying effect on head hair 2 takes place.

At a minimum, the two lateral emitters 4, 5 are selectively configured to shift from the first operational position A1 to the second operational position A2 and back again by means of first mechanism 8.

At a minimum, the two lateral emitters 4, 5 are configured to be hinged so as to shift between first operational position A1 and second operational position A2 by means of first mechanism 8 through corresponding lag hinge 9 on swivel arm 10. The lag hinges 9, 9 are mounted within housing 30 of device 1 (Fig. 3).

By means of first mechanism 8, at least two lateral emitters 4, 5 are configured to be manually adjustable from a first operational position A1 to a second operational position A2 and back again. At least two lateral emitters 4, 5 are configured so that they can be selectively adjusted with first mechanism 8 by motor.

At least two lateral emitters 4, 5 communicate with a position monitoring mechanism not further depicted for automatic monitoring of a preset first operational position A1 or second operational position A2, in order to ensure the safe operation of the respective provided operational positions A1, A2. The corresponding monitoring and signaling of operational position A1 takes place when it is established whether first distance a (Fig. 1) of the two lateral emitters 4, 5 and third and fourth distances c, d (Fig. 3) are set. The corresponding monitoring and signaling of operational position A2 takes place when it is established whether second distance b (Fig. 6) of the two lateral emitters 4, 5 and the fifth and sixth distances e, f (Fig. 8) are set.

Third, fourth and fifth heat emitters 13, 14, 15 are arranged in such a manner that heat 6 is supplied to head hair 2 by third heat emitter 13 in rear region 17, by fourth heat emitter 14 in upper rear region 18 and fifth heat emitter 15 in an upper front region 19.

All heat emitters 11 through 15 exhibit the respective configuration of rounded well 20. Well 20 has diameter D of approx. 10 in (250 mm).

All heat emitters 11 through 15 are provided with respective ring-shaped infrared emitter element 21, pan ring reflector 22 and with blower 23.

The two lateral emitters 4, 5 exhibit respectively two infrared emitter element half-rings 24, 25 that can be controlled with electric energy independently from one another. In this way, the heat exposure of head hair 2 (long hair/short hair) can be controlled.
By means of a respective second mechanism 26, the two lateral emitters 4, 5 can be positioned in such a way that in first operational position A1 (in addition to first distance a of the two lateral emitters 4, 5 with respect to each other as in Fig. 1), they will exhibit third distance c to third heat emitter 13 and a fourth distance d for fourth heat emitter 14 (Fig. 3). In second operational position A2 according to Fig. 8, the two lateral emitters 4, 5 will exhibit a fifth, closer distance e to third heat emitter 13 and a sixth, closer distance f to fourth heat emitter 14, whereby both lateral emitters 4, 5 and third and fourth heat emitters 13, 14 are positioned closer to head hair 2 and thus achieve a substantially higher drying effect.

Second mechanism 26 exhibits respective pivot joint 27 for tilting the two lateral emitters 4, 5 by approx. 180 degrees from first operational position A1 to second operational position A2. The tilting by means of eccentric bearing 28 on lateral emitters 4, 5 takes place manually here, by means of respective adjustment knob 16 on lateral emitters 4, 5. In operational position A1 the two lateral emitters 4,5 are positioned toward the front with adjustment knobs 16, 16 (Fig. 2). In the other operational position A2, the two lateral emitters 4, 5 are positioned toward the rear with adjustment knobs 16, 16 (Fig. 7), whereby a closer distance of all heat emitters 11 through 15 arises and thus an intensive drying of head hair 2 is achieved.

Figs. 11 through 16 show various perspectives in exploded view, in particular lag hinges 9, 9, where Fig. 11 shows the left-hand and right-hand swivel arms 10, 10 with left-hand and right-hand lateral emitters 4, 5 in first operational position A1.

Fig. 12 shows a lateral perspective on the left-hand and right-hand swivel arms 10, 10 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 shows a view from behind of swivel arms 10, 10 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 shows swivel arms 10, 10 of Fig. 11 in second operational position A2.

Fig. 15 shows swivel arms 10, 10 of Fig. 12 in second operational position A2.

Fig. 16 shows swivel arms 10, 10 of Fig. 13 in second operational position A2.

Fig. 17 shows device 1 of Fig. 2 with lateral emitters 4, 5 removed, wherein pivot bearing 27 is more easily recognizable as a mounting for eccentric bearing 28 of left-hand lateral emitter 4.

In Figs. 4, 5, and 9 through 17, all of heat emitters 11 through 15 are provided with a respective protective cover 29 that prevents any contact with infrared emitter elements 21.

Operating and monitoring panel 31 is configured for the operating and monitoring of device 1 (Figs. 3 through 5, and 8 through 10), where power cable 32 (Fig. 3) serves as a power source for device 1. Support pin 33 (Fig. 3) is provided for the positioning of device 1 and to connect it with a support (not shown).

1

device

2

head hair

3

person

4

left-hand lateral emitter

5

right-hand lateral emitter

6

heat

7

lateral head hair

8

first mechanism

9

lag hinge

10

swivel arm

11

first heat emitter

12

second heat emitter

13

third heat emitter

14

fourth heat emitter

15

fifth heat emitter

16

adjustment knob

17

rear region/head hair 2

18

upper rear region/head hair 2

19

upper front region/head hair 2

20

well

21

infrared emitter element

22

pan ring reflector

23

blower

24

first infrared emitter element half-ring

25

second Infrared emitter element half-ring

26

second mechanism

27

pivot joint

28

eccentric bearing

29

protective cover

30

housing

31

control and monitoring panel

32

power cable

33

support pin

A1

first operational position

A2

second operational position

a

first distance

b

second distance

c

third distance

d

fourth distance

e

fifth distance

f

sixth distance

D

diameter/well 20