FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to hair curlers, and in particular it relates to hair curlers
in which hair is wound around a heated drum and liquid is applied to the hair as part
of the curling process.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A hair curler is a handheld electronic product used to curl the hair.
[0003] Hair may be curled using dry heat, or by using steam. This invention relates, in
particular, to a curler which uses dry heat.
[0004] The main components of this type of hair curler are a handle, a heating element and
a sleeve around the heating element to form a hair receiving space. The heating element
is in the form of a heating barrel which generally has a cylindrical shape. The heating
barrel is for example a tourmaline ceramic panel. Hair is wound around the heating
barrel in use and is then heated to form a curl. Different sections of hair are treated
in succession to create a desired style.
[0005] It is known to provide this type of curler with a water reservoir and a water spray
system, for spraying water into the hair receiving space. Cold water may be used to
prevent scolding, and topicals may also be applied to the hair by means of a spray
function during curling.
[0006] It is desirable to provide a uniform application of spray to the hair, but this is
not achieved when applying spray to a location within the hair receiving space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention is defined by the claims.
[0008] According to examples in accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided
a hair curler, comprising:
a tubular heating barrel around which hair is to be wound for curling;
a tubular sleeve around the heating barrel, wherein the tubular sleeve has a longitudinal
entry slit which is open at a distal end of the tubular sleeve, for receiving hair
to be wound on the tubular heating barrel; and
a liquid delivery system for delivering a liquid to the hair,
wherein the liquid delivery system comprises a nozzle arrangement configured to direct
liquid to the slit.
[0009] This hair curler has a liquid delivery system for spraying hair as it enters the
chamber between the heating barrel and the sleeve, via the entry slit. In this way,
liquid may be applied uniformly to the hair as it enters the hair curler.
[0010] The nozzle arrangement is for example configured to direct liquid across a lateral
width of the slit. Thus, a curtain of mist may be formed through which the hair passes
when it enters the hair curler.
[0011] The slit for example has a U-shape, with lateral arms and a base, with the nozzle
arrangement provided along one or both arms of the U-shape and facing the opposite
arm or arms of the U-shape.
[0012] The hair curler may further comprise a sensor for detecting hair, and a controller
configured to control the liquid delivery system in dependence on the result of the
sensor detection. In this way, the liquid delivery system may automatically operate
when hair is present and stop when hair is not present.
[0013] The sensor for example comprises an optical sensor. It may be directed across the
slit to detect when hair is present in the slit.
[0014] The nozzle arrangement is for example further configured to deliver liquid to the
space between the tubular heating barrel and the tubular sleeve. The liquid delivery
may then be for applying topicals for hair protection at the entry slit, and for applying
chemicals for assisting setting/curing inside the curler.
[0015] The liquid delivery system for example comprises a first spray system for hair in
the slit and a second spray system for hair in the space between the tubular heating
barrel and the tubular sleeve. Thus, different compounds may be applied for different
purposes.
[0016] The liquid delivery system may comprise one or more pumps. Alternatively, or additionally,
the liquid delivery system may comprise one or more nebulizers.
[0017] The hair curler for example comprises looper for looping hair around the heating
barrel. The hair curler may then comprise a controller configured to control the liquid
delivery system in dependence on the actuation of the looper. Thus, liquid is applied
only when hair is being wound into the device.
[0018] Liquid can also be applied after the curling, such as a fixation spray. Thus, liquids
may be applied before curling, at least for heat protection, during curling and/or
after curling (for fixation or shine).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show more clearly how it may
be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows an example of the type of hair curler to which the invention may be applied;
Fig. 2 shows an example of a hair curler in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0020] The invention will be described with reference to the Figures.
[0021] It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while
indicating exemplary embodiments of the apparatus, systems and methods, are intended
for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus, systems and methods
of the present invention will become better understood from the following description,
appended claims, and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the Figures
are merely schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that
the same reference numerals are used throughout the Figures to indicate the same or
similar parts.
[0022] The invention provides hair curler having a tubular heating barrel with a tubular
sleeve around the heating barrel. The sleeve has a hair entry slit for receiving hair
to be wound on the tubular heating barrel. A liquid delivery system is provided for
delivering a liquid to the hair by directing liquid to the slit. This provides an
effective way to apply liquid to the hair to be curled.
[0023] Fig. 1 shows an example of the type of hair curler 10 to which the invention may
be applied.
[0024] The hair curler 10 comprises a main body 12 having a handle 14 and a hair curling
head 16. The hair curling head comprises a central cylindrical heating barrel 18 around
which a sleeve 20 extends. The sleeve 20 has a lateral opening 22 into which hair
can be received. The lateral opening is in the form of a longitudinal entry slit which
is open at a distal end (i.e., the end opposite the handle) of the tubular sleeve.
[0025] The received hair is wound around the heating barrel 18 by a looper 24, i.e., a rotatable
element for example having a blade form. The looper 24 is driven to rotate around
the heating barrel and it winds hair around the heating barrel. There may be a single
looper or there may be multiple loopers, for example two loopers spaced around the
heating barrel by 180 degrees. The hair between the heating barrel 18 and the shroud
20 is heated while in a wound condition.
[0026] The heating barrel comprises an internal heater (not shown) for heating an outer
surface of the barrel, which will be in contact with hair wound around the barrel.
[0027] The hair curler has a controller 30 to control the temperature of the heater, which
can evenly disperse the heat, circulate the heating process, improve the protein structure
of the hair to create bends, and meanwhile protect the hair during the curling process.
[0028] The invention relates to a system for applying a liquid to the hair during the curling
process.
[0029] Liquid topicals may be used for hair protection, to protect hair against the applied
heat.
[0030] Heat protection products are well known, for example to protect against the heat
of a hair dryer. Heat protection liquids for example make use of silicones for heat
protection. Typically, they also include conditional agents such as proteins and amino
acids that help to nourish and strengthen the hair. Hair oils or serums may also be
applied to nourish and/or moisturize the hair. These may also be based on silicones,
and include oils (e.g., argan oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil) and/or vitamins.
[0031] Liquids may also be used for assisting setting inside the curler. Fixation liquids
typically comprise polymers that form a film on the hair, with alcohol to assist drying.
Conditioning agents and/or oils and/or serums may also be applied post-styling together
with the fixation product.
[0032] Fig. 2 shows schematically the configuration of the hair curling head. The main functional
parts of the hair curler are shown. It will be appreciated that some of these parts
will in practice be housed in the handle.
[0033] Fig. 2 shows the motor 32 for driving the looper 24 and the heater 34 mentioned above.
[0034] In addition, there is a liquid delivery system for delivering a liquid to the hair.
The liquid delivery system comprises a liquid tank 40 and a a propulsion unit 42.
The propulsion unit 42 may for example comprise a pump, or it may comprise a vibrating
nebulizer.
[0035] In either case, liquid is dispensed from a nozzle arrangement 44. The nozzle arrangement
44 is configured to direct liquid to the slit 22. In this way, hair is treated as
it enters the space between the heating barrel 18 and the sleeve 20. In this way the
hair is uniformly applied with liquid as the hair is fed into the hair curler.
[0036] The nozzle arrangement preferable directs the outlet flow as a curtain across the
slit, so that the general direction of the nozzles is in the same plane as the slit.
[0037] The slit has a U-shape (which is intended to include non-parallel sides i.e., a V
shape), so that the shape has opposing arms and a connecting base. Fig. 2 shows the
nozzle arrangement provided along one of the arms of the U-shape and facing the opposite
arm of the U-shape. The nozzles may be directed slightly towards the center so that
liquid that does not contact hair preferentially enters the space between the heating
barrel and the sleeve instead of being expelled into the surrounding atmosphere.
[0038] There may instead be nozzles at both arms so that liquid is applied from opposite
sides. There may instead or additionally be nozzles at the connecting base.
[0039] Fig. 2 also shows a sensor for detecting hair. The sensor for example is an optical
sensor with a light source 50 and a light detector 52, which detects when a light
path is interrupted by hair that is present. Thus, a line-of-sight sensor may be used.
An optical sensor may instead comprise an image sensor, for example for color sensing.
Other options are a heat sensor, distance sensor or infrared sensor. A torque sensor
may be used to detect the load on the looper or a pressure sensor (e.g., pressure
switches or contact sensing switches) may detect when hair is wound around the heating
barrel, Another option to provide image sensing from a remote device such as a connected
smart phone, with image processing (either embedded or in the cloud) to detect when
hair is loaded into the curler. Such image processing may use AI and/or augmented
reality.
[0040] In this way, the controller 30 may control the delivery of liquid, i.e., control
the propulsion unit 42, such that liquid is only delivered when hair is present. As
shown, the controller 30 controls the motor 32, the heater 34, the propulsion system
42 and operates the sensor 50,52 (i.e., receives the sensing result).
[0041] The controller may also control the delivery of liquid only when the looper 24 is
actuated by the user. This is when hair is being wound into the device and is thus
when hair is moving through the slit.
[0042] Fig. 2 shows a nozzle arrangement for delivering liquid to the slit. This may be
a main (first) spray system, and the nozzle arrangement may have additional nozzles
for applying liquid to hair in the space between the tubular heating barrel and the
tubular sleeve. These additional nozzles may be considered to form part of a second
spray system. The same liquid from a single liquid tank may feed all nozzles of the
nozzle arrangement for this purpose. However, there may be separate liquid tanks each
with associated nozzles of the overall nozzle arrangement, so that different liquids
may be applied to different locations for different purposes, such as hair heat protection
and hair setting.
[0043] When there are multiple spray systems, they may use the same type of propulsion system
(pumps or nebulizers) or there may be combinations of different types of propulsion
system.
[0044] Using different nozzle arrangements, liquid can be applied before curling, for example
at least for heat protection, but also during curling (for example for hair nourishment
and/or moisturizing and/or conditioning), and/or after curling (again for hair nourishment
and/or moisturizing and/or conditioning)
Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled
in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the
disclosure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not
exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude
a plurality.
[0045] Functions implemented by a processor or controller may be implemented by a single
processor or by multiple separate processing units which may together be considered
to constitute a "processor". Such processing units may in some cases be remote from
each other and communicate with each other in a wired or wireless manner.
[0046] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims
does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.
[0047] If the term "adapted to" is used in the claims or description, it is noted the term
"adapted to" is intended to be equivalent to the term "configured to". If the term
"arrangement" is used in the claims or description, it is noted the term "arrangement"
is intended to be equivalent to the term "system", and vice versa.
[0048] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
1. A hair curler (10), comprising:
a tubular heating barrel (18) around which hair is to be wound for curling;
a tubular sleeve (20) around the heating barrel (18), wherein the sleeve has a longitudinal
entry slit (22) which is open at a distal end (20a) of the tubular sleeve (20), for
receiving hair to be wound on the tubular heating barrel (18); and
a liquid delivery system (40,42,44) for delivering a liquid to the hair,
wherein the liquid delivery system comprises a nozzle arrangement (44) configured
to direct liquid to the slit.
2. The hair curler of claim 1, wherein the nozzle arrangement (44) is configured to direct
liquid across a lateral width of the slit (22).
3. The hair curler of claim 2, wherein the slit has a U-shape or V-shape, with the nozzle
arrangement (44) provided along one or both arms of the U-shape or V-shape and facing
the opposite arm or arms.
4. The hair curler of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a sensor (50, 52)
for detecting hair, and a controller configured to control the liquid delivery system
in dependence on the result of the sensor detection.
5. The hair curler of claim 4, wherein the sensor (50, 52) comprises an optical sensor.
6. The hair curler of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the nozzle arrangement (44) is
further configured to deliver liquid to the space between the tubular heating barrel
and the tubular sleeve.
7. The hair curler of 6, wherein the liquid delivery system comprises a first spray system
for hair in the slit and a second spray system for hair in the space between the tubular
heating barrel and the tubular sleeve.
8. The hair curler of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the liquid delivery system comprises
one or more pumps.
9. The hair curler of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the liquid delivery system comprises
one or more nebulizers.
10. The hair curler of any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a looper (24) for
looping hair around the heating barrel.
11. The hair curler of claim 10, further comprising a controller (30) configured to control
the liquid delivery system in dependence on the actuation of the looper.