(19)
(11) EP 4 581 982 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
09.07.2025 Bulletin 2025/28

(21) Application number: 24150386.1

(22) Date of filing: 04.01.2024
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A45D 1/04(2006.01)
A45D 2/22(2006.01)
A45D 6/04(2006.01)
A45D 1/16(2006.01)
A45D 6/02(2006.01)
(52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC):
A45D 1/04; A45D 1/16; A45D 6/02; A45D 6/04; A45D 2/22; A45D 2200/057
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC ME MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA
Designated Validation States:
KH MA MD TN

(71) Applicant: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
5656 AG Eindhoven (NL)

(72) Inventors:
  • LELIEVELD, Mark Johannes
    5656 AG Eindhoven (NL)
  • LEUNG, Sze Keung
    5656 AG Eindhoven (NL)

(74) Representative: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards 
High Tech Campus 52
5656 AG Eindhoven
5656 AG Eindhoven (NL)

   


(54) A HAIR CURLER


(57) A hair curler has 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.




Description

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.


Claims

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.
 




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