Hair iron comprising a generator of metal particles

Abstract

 A hair iron including a clip portion (3,30,300) that is provided continuously with a tip end portion of a grip portion (2,20,200) and clips hair is disclosed, wherein a heating unit (4,40,400) that heats the hair clipped by the clip portion (3,30,300) is provided, and in addition, a plurality of ion generation portions (5) which generate ions are provided, and at least one of the plurality of ion generation portions (5) is formed as a fine metal particle generation portion (5B) that generates fine metal particles.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application P2009-153366 filed on June 29,2009; the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a hair iron.

[0003] Generally, a hair iron includes: a clip portion that clips hair; and a heating unit that is provided in the clip portion and heats the hair thus clipped, and is configured to be capable of giving desired styling such as curling and straightening the hair clipped in the clip portion. As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-198984 (hereinafter, referred to as Patent Literature 1), as the hair iron as described above, there is one configured to emit negative ions to the hair to be given the styling, in which the negative ions are adhered to the hair, whereby a glossy and moist appearance is given to the hair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Incidentally, it is known that some metal materials which form electrodes are turned into fine metal particles at the time when an electric discharge is performed, resulting in emission of the fine metal particles.

[0005] However, in Patent Literature 1 described above, a hair iron configured to be capable of effectively using the fine metal particles as described above is not disclosed.

[0006] In this connection, it is an object of the present invention to obtain a novel hair iron configured to be capable of effectively using the fine metal particles.

[0007] In order to achieve the foregoing object, a hair iron is provided, which includes: a grip portion; a clip portion that is provided continuously with one end of the grip portion and clips hair; a heating unit that is provided in the clip portion and heats the clipped hair; and a plurality of ion generation portions which generate ions, wherein at least one of the plurality of ion generation portions is a fine metal particle generation portion that generates fine metal particles.

[0008] In accordance with the present invention, at least one of the plurality of ion generation portions is the fine metal particle generation portion that generates the fine metal particles, and accordingly, the fine metal particles generated in the fine metal particle generation portion concerned can be emitted. Hence, the hair iron configured to be capable of effectively using the fine metal particles can be obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] 

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a hair iron according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the hair iron shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line III-III in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing an electric discharge unit of the hair iron shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4B is a front cross-sectional view schematically showing the electric discharge unit of the hair iron shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view schematically showing an electric charge unit of the hair iron shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion VI in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along a line VII-VII in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along a line VIII-VIII in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a hair iron according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the hair iron shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XI-XI in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a hair iron according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a side view of the hair iron shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XIV-XIV in FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] A description is made below in detail of embodiments of the present invention while referring to the drawings.

(First Embodiment)

[0011] In this embodiment, a case is illustrated, where the present invention is applied to a hair iron 1 for use mainly in a case of curling hair.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in the hair iron 1, generally, a clip portion 3 that clips the hair is provided continuously with a tip end portion of a grip portion 2, and as shown in FIG. 3, in the clip portion 3 concerned, a heater 4 as a heating unit that heats the clipped hair is provided.

[0013] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the clip portion 3 is composed of: a cylindrical winder body portion 31, which is provided continuously with a tip end direction of the grip portion 2, and has a circumferential surface serving as a heating surface; and a pressing plate 32, which protrudes from the grip portion 2 in the tip end direction, and clips the hair by freely approaching and departing from the circumferential surface of the winder body portion 31.

[0014] The winder body portion 31 is formed of metal having high thermal conductivity as a hollow body circular in cross section, and the heater 4 is built in an inside thereof. Then, the winder body portion 31 is heated by heat of the heater 4, whereby a circumferential surface of the winder body portion 31 is warmed.

[0015] The pressing plate 32 is formed into a circular arc shape in cross section along the circumferential surface of the winder body portion 31, and is pivotally attached thereto so as to be capable of moving rotationally about a pivot point P1 taken as an axis. In this embodiment, the pressing plate 32 includes: a pressing surface portion 32a extending in a spatula shape in the tip end direction; and an operation portion 32b extended from a base end portion of the pressing surface portion 32a in a direction of the grip portion 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, a tip end side of the operation portion 32b is lifted obliquely upward so as to depart from the grip portion 2, and a base portion thereof is attached to the tip end portion of the grip portion 2 while interposing a spring 33 therebetween.

[0016] In a natural state, in the pressing plate 32, the pressing surface portion 32a thereof is brought into elastic contact with the circumferential surface of the winder body portion 31 by urging force of the spring 33. Hence, the operation portion 32b is operated against the urging force of the spring 33 in a direction of pressing the operation portion 32b concerned in a direction of the winder body portion 31, whereby the pressing surface portion 32a is opened and departs from the winder body portion 31. In this state, a bundle of the hair is inserted between the pressing surface portion 32a and the winder body portion 31, and the pressing force for the operation portion 32b is thereafter released. Then, by the urging force of the spring 33, the hair can be clipped between the pressing surface portion 32a and the circumferential surface of the winder body portion 31. In such a way, the hair clipped between the pressing surface portion 32a and the winder body portion 31 is heated and warmed from the circumferential surface of the winder body portion 31 that has become the heating surface, and curl styling can be given to the hair. Moreover, on a tip end of the winder body portion 31, a water tank 9 is provided, and water reserved in the water tank 9 is supplied to the heater 4 and is evaporated thereby, whereby the water can be jetted as steam outward from the circumferential-surface of the winder body portion 31.

[0017] Moreover, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in the hair iron 1, two ion generation portions 5 which generate ions are provided. One of the two ion generation portions 5 serves as a mist generation portion 5A that generates mist, and the other thereof serves as a fine metal particle generation portion 5B that generates fine metal particles. Moreover, the mist generation portion 5A and the fine metal particle generation portion 5B include: electric discharge units 6A and 6B which generate the ions (mist and fine metal particles) by electric discharges; covers 53A and 53B in which emission ports 51A and 51B emitting the generated ions therefrom are provided; and emission flow paths 61A and 61B which communicate with the emission ports 51A and 51B, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, the mist generation portion 5A and the fine metal particle generation portion 5B are provided in a state of protruding to both sides of a tip end side of the grip portion 2.

[0018] Then, the electric discharge unit 6A is arranged in an inside of the emission flow path 61A that communicates with the emission port 51A, and the electric discharge unit 6B is arranged in an inside of the emission flow path 61B that communicates with the emission port 51B.

[0019] Here, a description is made of a summary of the electric discharge units 6A and 6B based on FIG. 4.

[0020] The electric discharge units 6A and 6B include: electric discharge electrodes 62A and 62B arranged at substantial center portions of the emission flow paths 61A and 61B; ground electrodes 63A and 63B arranged at positions deviated from the center portions of the emission flow paths 61A and 61B; and high voltage generation circuits 64A and 64B which apply high voltages to the electric discharge electrodes 62A and 62B, respectively.

[0021] Then, by taking the ground electrode 63A as a reference, the electric discharge unit 6A applies the high voltage to the electric discharge electrode 62A from the high voltage generation circuit 64A, and causes the electric discharge electrode 62A to generate the electric discharge (corona discharge or the like), whereby condensed water is turned into fine particles by a function of the electric discharge. In such a way, the electric discharge unit 6A generates extremely fine mist of a nanometer size (mist that contains negative ions and is negatively charged).

[0022] Note that, as this electric discharge unit 6A, a publicly known one can be used, which includes: a cooling plate composed of a Peltier device and a member having thermal conductivity (for example, metal member or the like); and radiator fins which radiate an amount of heat generated at the time of cooling the cooling plate, in which moisture in the air is condensed onto a surface of the cooling plate cooled by the Peltier device, and the condensed water is generated thereon.

[0023] Moreover, by taking the ground electrode 63B as a reference, the electric discharge unit 6B applies the high voltage to the electric discharge electrode 62B from the high voltage generation circuit 64B, and causes the electric discharge (corona discharge or the like). In such a way, by a function of the electric discharge, the electric discharge unit 6B emits fine metal particles (molecules, ions and the like of metal) from the electric discharge electrode 62B, the ground electrode 63B and the like.

[0024] For example, the electric discharge electrode 628 of the electric discharge unit 6B can be composed of a simple substance of transition metal (for example, gold, silver, copper, platinum, zinc, titanium, rhodium, palladium, iridium, ruthenium, osmium or the like), an alloy thereof, a member formed by plating the transition metal, or the like. In the case where gold, silver, copper, zinc or the like is contained in the fine metal particles generated in the electric discharge unit 6B and emitted therefrom, an antibacterial function can be generated by the fine metal particles concerned. Moreover, in the case where platinum, zinc, titanium or the like is contained in the fine metal particles, an antioxidant function can be generated by the fine metal particles concerned. Note that it has turned out that the fine particles of platinum have an extremely high antioxidant function. Note that a portion of the electric discharge unit 6B (for example, ground electrode 63B and the like), from which the emission of the fine metal particles is not allowed, can be composed by using stainless steel, tungsten or the like.

[0025] Moreover, the electric discharge unit 6B may generate the fine metal particles in such a manner that ions (for example, negative ions such as NO₂^-, NO₃^- or the like) by the electric discharge function, and that the ions are allowed to collide with the electric discharge electrode 62B, the ground electrode 63B, other members containing a metal material or a metal component, and the like. In other words, the ground electrode 63B and the other members described above may be composed of a material containing the above-described transition metal, and the fine metal particles may be emitted therefrom.

[0026] Moreover, a configuration may be adopted, in which fans are built in the emission flow paths 61A and 61B, and the mist and the fine metal particles are emitted outward from the emission ports 51A and 51B by wind force of the fans.

[0027] As mentioned above, the hair iron 1 according to this embodiment emits the ions and the fine metal particles. However, when electric charges of these are accumulated in a user, the ions become less likely to be emitted toward the user, and eventually, the fine metal particles also become less likely to be emitted. In this connection, in the hair iron 1 according to this embodiment, an electric charge unit 7 is provided, which charges the user at an opposite polarity to that of the electric charges of the ions generated in the ion generation portions 5.

[0028] The electric charge unit 7 includes: a circuit (not shown); and a conductive member 72 that is connected to the circuit concerned through lead wires and is exposed to an outer surface of the grip portion 2. Then, for example, in the case where the ions generated in the ion generation portions 5 are negative, a voltage source (for example, battery, capacitor or the like) that raises a potential more than a ground level of the ion generation portions 5 is provided in the circuit, the conductive member 72 is connected to a positive electrode of the voltage source through the lead wire, and the conductive member 72 concerned is set at a potential higher by a predetermined voltage than the ground level of the ion generation portions 5. Meanwhile, in the case where the ions generated in the ion generation portions 5 are positive, the conductive member 72 is set at a potential lower by the predetermined voltage than the ground level of the ion generation portions 5. Note that FIG. 5 is a view schematically showing the case where the ions generated in the ion generation portions 5 are negative.

[0029] Moreover, the conductive member 72 is molded from a conductive material (for example, synthetic resin material containing conductor filler, or the like) into a predetermined shape, and is fixed to the outer surface of the grip portion 2.

[0030] As described above, the electric charge unit 7 is provided, and the user is charged at the opposite polarity to that of the electric charges of the ions generated in the ion generation portions 5. In such a way, it becomes possible to suppress a phenomenon that the electric charges of the ions generated in the ion generation portions 5 are accumulated in the user, resulting in that the ions become less likely to reach the user.

[0031] Then, the above-mentioned heater 4, electric discharge units 6A and 6B and electric charge unit 7 are supplied with electricity through a power supply cord C extending from a base end portion of the grip portion 2. Moreover, a switch 8 is provided on a side surface of the grip portion 2, and energization to the heater 4, the electric discharge units 6A and 6B and the electric charge unit 7 is controlled by switching control of the switch 8.

[0032] Incidentally, the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B are provided in a tip end portion of a housing 21 that forms a contour of the grip portion 2, and are arranged substantially symmetrically to each other on both side portions of the operation portion 32b of the pressing plate 32. Then, these emission port 51A and emission port 51B are open toward a clip portion 34 formed of the winder body portion 31 and the pressing plate 32. At this time, the clip portion 34 is contained within an emission angle γ of the mist and the fine metal particles, which are emitted from the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B. In such a way, the mist and the fine metal particles, which are emitted from the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B, are efficiently adhered to the bundle of the hair clipped into the clip portion 34 between the winder body portion 31 and the pressing plate 32.

[0033] Generally, to the hair clipped into the clip portion 34, the heat from the circumferential surface of the winder body portion 31 serving as the heating surface is applied more strongly as compared with other portions of the hair, and the hair thus clipped is efficiently subjected to the curl styling. At this time, owing to the strong application of the heat, the hair is sometimes damaged and dried; however, in this embodiment, the mist and the fine metal particles are adhered to the hair clipped into the clip portion 34 as mentioned above, and accordingly, it becomes possible to finish portions of the hair, which include tip portions thereof, in a moist manner. Moreover, the antibacterial function and the antioxidant function can be obtained by the fine metal particles.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B are formed in the covers 53A and 53B provided in a protruding state from the housing 21, respectively, and the electric discharge unit 6A and the electric discharge unit 6B are housed in these covers 53A and 53B. Moreover, the covers 53A and 53B are molded integrally with the housing 21.

[0035] At this time, the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B are arranged so as to protrude from the circumferential surface of the winder body portion 31; however, when these emission port 51A and emission port 51B are protruded too much from the circumferential surface of the winder body portion 31, the covers 53A and 53B protrude largely to thereby deteriorate ease of use of the hair iron 1. Therefore, it is preferable to suppress a protrusion amount d of the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B to an extent where the ease of use of the hair iron 1 is not deteriorated, for example, to approximately 20 mm (0 mm < d < 20 mm).

[0036] Moreover, it is preferable that an inclination angle θ of the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B with respect to an axial direction of the winder body portion 31 be set within a substantially half range (0° < θ < 90°) of the emission angle γ (0° < γ < 180°) from the respective emission ports 51A and 51B. Particularly, in this embodiment, the electric discharge unit 6A and the electric discharge unit 6B have structures to generate the mist and the fine metal particles by the corona discharge using the electric discharge electrodes 62A and 62B (refer to FIG. 4), and accordingly, the actual emission angle γ of the respective emission ports 51A and 51B becomes approximately 0° < γ < 90°. Hence, it is preferable that the inclination angle θ of the emission ports 51A and 51B be set within a range of 0° < θ < 45 ° .

[0037] As described above, the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B are arranged at positions protruding outward in a diameter direction of the winder body portion 31, and the respective emission ports 51A and 51B are formed so as to be oriented outward in the diameter direction of the winder body portion 31, whereby major parts of the mist and the fine metal particles, which are emitted from the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B, are adhered not to the circumferential surface of the winder body portion 31 but directly to the hair.

[0038] Here, when large amounts of the mist and the fine metal particles, which are emitted from the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B, are adhered to the circumferential surface of the metal-made winder body portion 31, the entirety of the circumferential surface of the winder body portion 31 is electrically charged at the same polarity as that of the generated ions. When the mist and the fine metal particles are further emitted to the vicinity of the circumferential surface of the winder body portion 31 after the electric charge to the entire circumferential surface, these mist and fine metal particles are repelled and caused to scatter far away. As a result, it becomes difficult to adhere the mist and the fine metal particles to the hair clipped into the winder body portion 31.

[0039] However, in the hair iron 1 according to this embodiment, as mentioned above, the mist and the fine metal particles are emitted outward in the diameter directions from the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B, which are located at positions apart from the winder body portion 31 outward in the diameter direction, and accordingly, it becomes possible to efficiently adhere the mist and the fine metal particles to the entirety of the hair.

[0040] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, in the covers 53A and 53B, the emission flow paths 61A and 61B, which communicate with the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B, respectively, are provided, respectively, and these emission flow paths 61A and 61B are provided integrally with the covers 53A and 53B. Note that it is also possible to adopt a configuration, in which these covers are formed to be thick, and the emission flow paths are provided in insides thereof, or to adopt a configuration, in which cylindrical bodies are molded integrally with the covers, and the emission flow paths are thereby provided in insides of the cylindrical bodies.

[0041] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, the electric discharge unit 6A and the electric discharge unit 6B are fixed by holding ribs 22 as holding portions molded integrally with an inside of the housing 21. Specifically, in insides of the covers 53A and 53B formed integrally with the housing 21, a plurality of the holding ribs 22 are protruded so as to be capable of holding the electric discharge unit 6A and the electric discharge unit 6B free from play.

[0042] Moreover, the housing 21 is formed by coupling two split housings 21A and 21B, which are split at spots corresponding to the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B, to each other. The electric discharge unit 6A and the electric discharge unit 6B are fixed by the above-mentioned holding ribs 22 in a state of being nipped between the split housings 21A and 21B.

[0043] In accordance with this embodiment described above, at least one of the plurality of ion generation portions 5 is formed as the fine metal particle generation portion 5B, and accordingly, the fine metal particles generated in the fine metal particle generation portion 5B concerned can be emitted. Hence, with regard to the hair clipped between the winder body portion 31 and pressing plate 32 of the clip portion 3, at the time of giving desired styling to the hair concerned while heating the hair by the heater 4, the fine metal particles emitted from the emission port 51B are adhered to the hair, whereby the antibacterial function and the antioxidant function can be obtained in addition to an effect by the mist. In other words, the hair iron 1 made capable of effectively using the fine metal particles can be obtained.

[0044] Moreover, in accordance with this embodiment, the clip portion 3 is composed of: the cylindrical winder body portion 31 that has the circumferential surface serving as the heating surface; and the pressing plate 32 that is provided so as to freely approach and depart from the circumferential surface of the winder body portion 31 and clips the hair. Accordingly, the hair is heated while being clipped between the circumferential surface of the winder body portion 31 and the pressing plate 32, whereby the curl styling can be efficiently given to the hair.

[0045] Furthermore, in accordance with this embodiment, the electric discharge unit 6A is arranged in the inside of the emission flow path 61A that communicates with the emission port 51A, whereby more mist (ions) can be generated in the electric discharge unit 6A, and accordingly, the generated mist can be efficiently emitted from the emission port 51A. Moreover, the electric discharge unit 6B is arranged in the inside of the emission flow path 61B that communicates with the emission port 51B, whereby more fine metal particles (ions) can be generated in the electric discharge unit 6B, and accordingly, the generated fine metal particles can be efficiently emitted from the emission port 51B.

[0046] Still further, in accordance with this embodiment, the covers 53A and 53B, in which the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B are provided, are provided integrally with the housing 21 that forms the contour of the grip portion 2. Accordingly, an influence of electrostatic charge and an influence of assembly variations can be reduced, and it becomes possible to efficiently emit the mist and the fine metal particles, which are generated in the electric discharge unit 6A and the electric discharge unit 6B, from the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B.

[0047] Moreover, in accordance with this embodiment, the emission flow paths 61A and 61B, which communicate with the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B, respectively, are provided integrally with the covers 53A and 53B. Accordingly, the influence of the electrostatic charge and the influence of the assembly variations can be reduced more, and it becomes possible to more efficiently emit the mist and the fine metal particles, which are generated in the electric discharge unit 6A and the electric discharge unit 6B, from the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B.

[0048] Furthermore, in accordance with this embodiment, the electric discharge unit 6A and the electric discharge unit 6B are held by the holding ribs 22 molded integrally with the housing 21 that forms the contour of the grip portion 2. Accordingly, further reduction of the influence of the electrostatic charge and the influence of the assembly variations can be achieved, and it becomes possible to efficiently emit the mist and the fine metal particles, which are generated in the electric discharge unit 6A and the electric discharge unit 6B, from the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B.

[0049] Moreover, in accordance with this embodiment, the electric discharge unit 6A and the electric discharge unit 6B are held in the state of being nipped between the split housings 21A and 21B. Accordingly, easiness of assembly of the electric discharge unit 6A and the electric discharge unit 6B can be enhanced, and in addition, the influence of the electrostatic charge and the influence of the assembly variations can be reduced. In such a way, it becomes possible to efficiently emit the mist and the fine metal particles, which are generated in the electric discharge unit 6A and the electric discharge unit 6B, from the emission port 51A and the emission port 51B.

(Second Embodiment)

[0050] In this embodiment, a case is illustrated, where the present invention is applied to a hair iron 10 capable of giving straight styling and the curl styling to the hair.

[0051] As in the above-mentioned first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, in the hair iron 10 according to this embodiment, a clip portion 30 that clips the hair is provided continuously with a tip end portion of a grip portion 20, and as shown in FIG. 11, in this clip portion 30, heaters 40 as heating units which heat the clipped hair are provided.

[0052] Here, in the hair iron 10 according to this embodiment, the clip portion 30 is composed of: a plurality of semicylindrical split body portions 301 and 302, which have circumferential surfaces serving as heating surfaces, and clip the hair by freely approaching and departing from each other; and a pressing plate 303 that clips the hair by freely approaching and departing from the circumferential surface of the split body portion 301 as one of the split body portions 301 and 302. Note that, as in the above-mentioned first embodiment, the pressing plate 303 is formed by including a pressing surface portion 303A and an operation portion 303B.

[0053] Moreover, in this embodiment, the grip portion 20 is composed of split grip portions 201 and 202 split so as to continue with the respective split body portions 301 and 302, in which the split body portion 301 as one of the pair is integrally protruded from a tip end of the split grip portion 201 as one of the pair, and the other split body portion 302 is integrally protruded from a tip end of the other split grip portion 202.

[0054] Then, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the split grip portion 201 and the split body portion 301, which are integrated with each other, and the split grip portion 202 and the split body portion 302, which are integrated with each other, are configured to be capable of mutually opening and closing (approaching and departing from each other). In other words, a base portion of the split grip portion 201 and a base portion of the split grip portion 202 are pivotally attached to each other while interposing a spring (not shown) therebetween so as to be capable of moving rotationally about a pivot point P2 taken as an axis. Note that the spring is urged in a direction of opening the split grip portions 201 and 202 by predetermined amounts, and both of the split grip portions 201 and 202 are tightly gripped, whereby the split body portions 301 and 302 are closed, whereby the hair can be clipped therebetween.

[0055] The heaters 40 are provided in insides of the respective split body portions 301 and 302, and the circumferential surfaces of the split body portions 301 and 302, which become semicircular in cross section, individually serve as the heating surfaces, whereby the curl styling can be given to the hair by cooperation among these circumferential surfaces and the pressing plate 303. Moreover, opposed surfaces of the split body portions 301 and 302 individually become flat, and in the case where the hair is clipped between these opposed surfaces, the straight styling can be given to the hair. Moreover, water tanks 90 are provided on tip ends of the split body portions 301 and 302, and water reserved in the water tanks 90 is supplied to the heaters 40 and is evaporated thereby, whereby the water can be jetted as steam outward from the circumferential surfaces of the split body portion 301 and 302.

[0056] The pressing plate 303 is pivotally attached to the split grip portion 201 as one of the pair while interposing a pivot point P3 (refer to FIG. 11) therebetween so as to be capable of moving rotationally about the pivot point P3, and is brought into elastic contact with the circumferential surface of the split body portion 301 as one of the pair. The pressing plate 303 has substantially similar shape and function to those of the pressing plate 32 of the above-mentioned first embodiment.

[0057] Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, two ion generation portions 5 which generate ions are provided on both side portions of the tip end portion of the split grip portion 201 as one of the pair as in the above-mentioned first embodiment. One of the two ion generation portions 5 is formed as a mist generation portion 5A that generates mist, and the other is formed as a fine metal particle generation portion 5B that generates fine metal particles. Then, the opposed surfaces and circumferential surfaces of the split body portions 301 and 302 are contained within an emission angle γ of the mist and the fine metal particles, which are emitted from the mist generation portion 5A and the fine metal particle generation portion 5B. Moreover, an emission port 501A and an emission port 501B are arranged at positions protruding outward in diameter directions of the split body portions 301 and 302, so that the mist and the fine metal particles are efficiently adhered to the entirety of the hair.

[0058] Then, in insides of the ion generation portions 5, which communicate with the emission port 501A and the emission port 501B, electric discharge units similar to those of the above-mentioned first embodiment are arranged.

[0059] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, also in the hair iron 10 according to this embodiment, an electric charge unit 70 is provided, which charges the user at an opposite polarity to that of electric charges of the ions generated in the ion generation portions 5. This electric charge unit 70 is composed in a similar way to the electric charge unit 7 (refer to FIG. 5) shown in the above-mentioned first embodiment, and particularly, in this embodiment, a conductive member 702 is attached to a surface of the other split grip portion 202 in an exposed manner. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, a switch 80 that performs switching control for energization to the heaters 40, the electric discharge units and the electric charge unit 70 is provided on the split grip portion 201 as one of the pair.

[0060] Furthermore, also in this embodiment, the emission port 501A and the emission port 501B are formed in covers 503A and 503B individually provided in a state of protruding from a housing 203 of the split grip portion 201 as one of the pair, and these covers 503A and 503B are molded integrally with the housing 203.

[0061] Moreover, in the covers 503A and 503B, emission flow paths (not shown) which individually communicate with the emission port 501A and the emission port 501B are provided, and as in the above-mentioned first embodiment, the emission flow paths are also provided integrally with the covers 503A and 503B.

[0062] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, the housing 203 is split into two split housings 203A and 203B at spots corresponding to the emission port 501A and the emission port 501B, and these split housings 203A and 203B are coupled to each other, whereby the electric discharge units are held in a state of being nipped between the split housings 203A and 203B.

[0063] Also by this embodiment described above, similar functions and advantageous effects to those of the above-mentioned first embodiment can be exerted.

[0064] Moreover, in accordance with this embodiment, the clip portion 30 is composed of: the pair of semicylindrical split body portions 301 and 302, which have the circumferential surfaces serving as the heating surfaces, and clip the hair by freely approaching and departing from each other; and the pressing plate 303 that clips the hair by freely approaching and departing from the circumferential surface of one of these split body portions 301 and 302. Accordingly, the hair is heated while being clipped by the pair of split body portions 301 and 302, whereby the straight styling can be given to the hair. In addition, the hair is clipped between the split body portion 301 as one of the pair and the pressing plate 303, whereby the curl styling can be given to the hair. Then, with such a configuration, both of the straight styling and the curl styling can be achieved by the one hair iron 10.

[0065] Note that the opposed surfaces of the split body portions 301 and 302 are not limited to the flat shape, and it is also possible to adopt split body portions in which opposed surfaces are formed into a wavy shape so that wavy styling can be given to the hair.

(Third Embodiment)

[0066] In this embodiment, a case is illustrated, where the present invention is applied to a hair iron 100 capable of giving the straight styling to the hair.

[0067] As in the above-mentioned first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, in the hair iron 100 according to this embodiment, a clip portion 300 that clips the hair is provided continuously with a tip end portion of a grip portion 200, and as shown in FIG. 14, heaters 400 as heating units which heat the clipped hair are provided.

[0068] Here, in the hair iron 100 according to this embodiment, the clip portion 300 is composed of a pair of clipper body portions 310 and 320, which have opposed flat surfaces serving as heating surfaces, and clip the hair by freely approaching and departing from each other.

[0069] Moreover, in this embodiment, the grip portion 200 is composed of split grip portions 210 and 220 split so as to individually continue with the clipper body portions 310 and 320, in which the clipper body portion 310 as one of the pair is integrally protruded from a tip end of the split grip portion 210 as one of the pair, and the other clipper body portion 320 is integrally protruded from a tip end of the other split grip portion 220.

[0070] Then, as shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the split grip portion 210 and the clipper body portion 310, which are integrated with each other, and the split grip portion 220 and the clipper body portion 320, which are integrated with each other, are configured to be capable of mutually opening and closing. In other words, a base portion of the split grip portion 210 and a base portion of the split grip portion 220 are pivotally attached to each other while interposing a spring (not shown) therebetween so as to be capable of moving rotationally about a pivot point P4 taken as an axis. Note that the spring is urged in a direction of opening the split grip portions 210 and 220 by predetermined amounts, and both of the split grip portions 210 and 220 are tightly gripped, whereby the clipper body portions 310 and 320 are closed, whereby the hair can be clipped therebetween. The clipper body portions 310 and 320 individually have a flat cross-sectional shape in order to widen areas of the opposed flat surfaces.

[0071] The heaters 400 are provided in insides of the respective clipper body portions 310 and 320, and the opposed surfaces of the clipper body portions 310 and 320 serve as the heating surfaces. In the case where the hair is clipped between these opposed surfaces, the straight styling can be given to the hair.

[0072] Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, two ion generation portions 5 which generate ions are provided on both side portions of a tip end portion of the split grip portion 210 as one of the pair as in the above-mentioned fist embodiment. One of the two ion generation portions 5 is formed as a mist generation portion 5A that generates mist, and the other is formed as a fine metal particle generation portion 5B that generates fine metal particles. Then, the opposed surfaces of the clipper body portions 310 and 320 are contained within an emission angle γ of the mist and the fine metal particles, which are emitted from the mist generation portion 5A and the fine metal particle generation portion 5B. Moreover, an ion emission port 510A and a metal ion emission port 510B are arranged at positions protruding outward in diameter directions of the clipper body portions 310 and 320, so that the mist and the fine metal particles are efficiently adhered to the entirety of the hair.

[0073] Then, in insides of the ion generation portions 5, which communicate with the emission port 510A and the emission port 510B, electric discharge units similar to those of the above-mentioned first embodiment are arranged.

[0074] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, also in the hair iron 100 according to this embodiment, an electric charge unit 700 is provided, which charges the user at an opposite polarity to that of electric charges of the ions generated in the ion generation portions 5. This electric charge unit 700 is composed in a similar way to the electric charge unit 7 (refer to FIG. 5) shown in the above-mentioned first embodiment, and particularly, in this embodiment, a conductive member 720 is attached to a surface of the other split grip portion 220 in an exposed manner. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, a switch 800 that performs switching control for energization to the heaters 400, the electric discharge units and the electric charge unit 700 is provided on the split grip portion 210 as one of the pair.

[0075] Furthermore, also in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the emission port 510A and the emission port 510B are formed in covers 530A and 530B individually provided in a state of protruding from a housing 211 of the split grip portion 210 as one of the pair, and these covers 530A and 530B are molded integrally with the housing 211.

[0076] Moreover, in the covers 530A and 530B, emission flow paths (not shown) which individually communicate with the emission port 510A and the emission port 510B are provided, and as in the above-mentioned first embodiment, the emission flow paths are also provided integrally with the covers 530A and 530B.

[0077] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 13, the housing 211 is split into two split housings 211A and 211B at spots corresponding to the emission port 510A and the emission port 510B, and these split housings 211A and 211B are coupled to each other, whereby the electric discharge units are held in a state of being nipped between the split housings 211A and 211B.

[0078] Also by this embodiment described above, similar functions and advantageous effects to those of the above-mentioned first embodiment can be exerted.

[0079] Moreover, in accordance with this embodiment, the clip portion 300 is composed of the pair of clipper body portions 310 and 320, which have the opposed flat surfaces serving as the heating surfaces, and clip the hair by freely approaching and departing from each other. Accordingly, the hair is heated while being clipped by the pair of clipper body portions 310 and 320, whereby the straight styling can be given to the hair by a simple operation.

[0080] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above; however, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and is modifiable in various ways.

[0081] For example, though the case where two ion generation portions are provided is illustrated in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the present invention is not limited to this, three or more ion generation portions may be provided, and in this case, at least one of the plurality of ion generation portions just needs to be the fine metal particle generation portion.

[0082] Moreover, though the mist generation portion and the fine metal particle generation portion, which generate the mist and the fine metal particles by the electric discharge, are illustrated in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, a steam generation mechanism that generates steam by heating water may be mounted as the mist generation portion, and a metal solution atomization mechanism that generates fine metal particles by atomizing a solution of metal may be mounted as the fine metal particle generation portion.

[0083] Moreover, specifications (shapes, sizes, layout and the like) of the electric discharge electrodes, the ground electrodes, the grip portions and other details are also appropriately changeable.

Claims

1. A hair iron (1,10,100) comprising:

a grip portion (2,20,200);

a clip portion (3,30,300) that is provided continuously with one end of the grip portion (2,20,200) and clips hair;

a heating unit (4, 40, 400) that is provided in the clip portion (3,30,300) and heats the clipped hair; and

a plurality of ion generation portions (5) which generate ions,

wherein at least one of the plurality of ion generation portions (5) is a fine metal particle generation portion (5B) that generates fine metal particles.

2. The hair iron (1) according to claim 1,
wherein the clip portion (3) includes:

a cylindrical winder body portion (31) that has a circumferential surface serving as a heating surface; and

a pressing plate (32) that is provided so as to freely approach and depart from the circumferential surface of the winder body portion (31) and clips the hair.

3. The hair iron (10) according to claim 1,
wherein the clip portion (30) includes:

a pair of semicylindrical split body portions (301,302) which have circumferential surfaces serving as heating surfaces and clip the hair by freely approaching and departing from each other; and

a pressing plate (303) that is provided so as to freely approach and depart from the circumferential surface of one of the split body portions (301,302) and clips the hair.

4. The hair iron (100) according to claim 1, wherein the clip portion (300) includes a pair of clipper body portions (310,320) which have opposed flat surfaces serving as heating surfaces and clip the hair by freely approaching and departing from each other.

5. The hair iron (1, 10, 100) according to claim 1, wherein the ion generation portions (5) include electric discharge units (6A, 6B) which generate the ions by electric discharge.

6. The hair iron (1,10,100) according to claim 1,
wherein the ion generation portions (5) include covers (53A, 53B, 503A, 503B, 530A, 5308) in which emission ports (51A, 51B, 501A, 501B, 510A, 510B) emitting the ions are provided, and
the covers (53A, 53B, 503A, 503B, 530A, 530B) are provided integrally with a housing (21,203,211) that forms a contour of the grip portion (2, 20, 200).

7. The hair iron (1, 10, 100) according to claim 6, wherein emission flow paths (61A, 61B) which communicate with the emission ports (51A, 51B, 501A, 501B, 510A, 510B) are provided in the covers (53A, 53B, 503A, 503B, 530A, 530B).

8. The hair iron (1,10,100) according to claim 6, wherein the electric discharge units (6A, 6B) are held by holding portions (22) molded integrally with the housing (21,203,211) that forms the contour of the grip portion (2,20,200).

9. The hair iron (1,10,100) according to claim 8,
wherein the housing (21, 203, 211) is formed by coupling split housings (21A, 21B, 203A, 203B, 211A, 211B) to each other, and
the electric discharge units (6A, 6B) are held in a state of being nipped between the split housings (21A, 21B, 203A, 203B, 211A, 211B).

10. The hair iron (1,10,100) according to claim 1,
wherein at least one of the plurality of ion generation portions (5) is a mist generation portion (5A) that generates mist.

Drawing