CN201911498U - Hair care appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

A hair care appliance for applying steam to dry hair includes a housing having a head portion and a handle portion. The housing has an inner cavity. A steam generating system is at least partially located within the inner cavity, and the head includes an aperture in communication with the steam generating system. A spacer is located proximate to the aperture in the head, the spacer defining a portion of a working area for positioning hair. The steam generating system discharges steam into the working area to apply steam to hair positioned within the working area.

Description

hair care appliance

technical field

The present invention relates to hand-held hair care appliances, and more particularly to hair care appliances that generate steam.

Background technique

For people with curly or wavy hair, the curls may become less frizzy over the course of the day or night. Also, due to some environmental factors like heat, humidity, wind, etc., the hair can become frizzy or become dry. Both straight and curly hair can also suffer from static, loss of volume and/or poor styling (for example after being squeezed by scrunchies, bobby pins or hats). To enhance or restore curls or change hairstyles, people typically wet or wash their hair and then re-style it, which can be time-consuming and burdensome.

Heat is commonly used for hair styling purposes, including drying hair, curling straighter hair, straightening curly hair, or adding volume. The dry heat generated by many hair care appliances used for styling purposes can damage the shaft over time by stripping hair of moisture. Therefore, hair appliances that generate heat cannot enhance curls or waves in hair without damaging it.

Contents of the invention

The present invention provides a hair care appliance which avoids damage to the hair during styling.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a hair care appliance for applying steam to dry hair. The hair care appliance includes a housing, the housing includes a head and a handle portion, and the housing is provided with an inner cavity. A steam generating system is located at least partially within the inner wall, and the head includes an aperture in communication with the steam generating system. A spacer is located proximate to the hole in the head, the spacer defining a portion of a working area for positioning hair. Wherein the steam generating system discharges steam to the working area to apply steam to hair positioned within the working area.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of providing moisture to dry hair. The method includes providing a handheld steam-generating device having a head defining at least a portion of a work area.

The device is positioned relative to the user's head such that hair is collected in the working area. Steam is discharged from the device to the working area such that the steam contacts the collected hair.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a hair care appliance for applying steam to dry hair to provide moisture to the hair. The hair care appliance includes a housing having an interior cavity and an aperture. A spacer is coupled to the housing and defines at least a portion of a working area where hair of a user is collected. A steam generating system is disposed at least partially within the lumen, wherein the aperture provides a fluid path for exhausting steam from the steam generating system to the work area.

Since the hair care appliance includes a steam generating system that can apply steam to the dry hair collected in the spacer to provide moisture, whereby curls and waves are naturally restored and/or energized by such moisture applied in the spacer, And avoid damaging your hair while styling.

Other aspects of the invention will become more apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a side perspective view of a hair care appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the hair care appliance of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3 is a top perspective view of the hair care appliance of Fig. 1 .

Figure 4 is a cutaway and partially exploded view of the hair care appliance of Figure 1 .

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the use of the hair care appliance of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 6 is another schematic diagram of the use of the hair care appliance in Fig. 1 .

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of the steam generating system of the hair care appliance of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 8 is a top perspective view of a hair care appliance according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the hair care appliance of Fig. 8 .

Fig. 10 is a partially exploded view of the hair care appliance of Fig. 8 .

Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a steam generating system for a hair care appliance.

Before describing the embodiments of the present invention in detail, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the detailed structures or element arrangements described in the text of this application or in the accompanying drawings. The present invention can be implemented in other ways. It should be understood that the expressions and terminology used below are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. The words "comprising", "comprising", "having" and similar expressions used in the following are meant to include the items listed thereafter, equivalents and other additional items. Unless otherwise stated, terms such as "mount", "connect", "support", "couple" and similar expressions shall be interpreted broadly to include direct and indirect mounting, connecting, supporting, coupling. Furthermore, "connected" and "coupled" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

Detailed ways

The present invention provides a handheld device for applying steam to hair to provide moisture or humidity to the hair to enhance curls or waves, add volume, reduce static in the hair, and/or change the style. The appliance may be used on dry or substantially dry hair, which does not contain moisture; or dry (substantially dry) damaged hair, i.e., hair that lacks natural or normal moisture or is insufficiently hydrated (e.g., with static s hair). In the following described claims, the term "dry" will be used to refer to any one of the above conditions, including any combination of these conditions.

1-4 depict a hair care implement 18 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The Hair Conditioning Appliance 18 is especially useful for enhancing and restoring curls, curls and styling changes in curly and wavy hair by providing moisture to the hair. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4 , the hair care appliance 18 is a handheld device that includes a steam generating system 20 ( FIG. 7 ) and an integral isolator 22 . It should be understood that in another embodiment, the isolator 22 may also be an interchangeable accessory that is detachably coupled to the handheld device.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 , the hair care implement 18 includes a housing 24 having a head 26 and a handle 28 . In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 24 is elongated and contoured for easy handling by a user. However, in other embodiments, housing 24 may have other shapes. A power cord 30 extends from the handle portion 28 of the housing 24 . The power cord sheath 32 is sleeved on the power cord 30 where it enters the casing 24 . The power cord sheath 32 serves as a connector, allowing the power cord to be bent without damage while the hair care appliance 18 is in use. In another embodiment where the appliance 18 is battery powered, the power cord 30 and power cord sheath 32 are not required.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , a power switch 34 (eg, a button, toggle switch, etc.) is provided on the housing 24 for turning the hair care appliance 18 on or off. A power switch 34 is located on the bottom side B of the housing 24 between the head portion 26 and the handle portion 28 . The underside of the utensil 18 is depicted in FIG. 2 . In another embodiment, the power switch 34 may have multiple positions to adjust the steam output of the hair care appliance 18 . In another embodiment, a separate and distinct range adjuster from the power switch 34 may be provided on the appliance 18 . The indicator light 36 is located on the upper side T between the head portion 26 and the handle portion 28 of the housing 24 . The upper side T of the appliance 18 is depicted in the left part of FIG. 3 . In another embodiment, the power switch 34 and/or indicator light 36 may be located at a different location on the housing 24 (eg, the end of the handle portion 28 proximate to the power cord sheath 32 ). An actuator 38 (e.g., a button, trigger, etc.) for releasing steam from the appliance 18 is located on the bottom side B between the head 26 and the handle portion 28 of the housing 24 in a position such that when the user When gripping the handle portion 28, the user's fingers can touch it. In another embodiment, the actuator 38 may be located anywhere on the housing 24 within the reach of a user's hand holding the appliance. In another embodiment, the actuator 38 may integrate the power switch 34 and/or the range adjuster.

The housing 24 defines an interior cavity 40 that houses the steam generating system 20 . Reservoir 42 is located within interior cavity 40 of hair care appliance 18 and is separated from other components by partition 44 . 3 and 4, the housing 24 has an opening 46 in communication with the interior cavity 40 to facilitate removal of the reservoir 42 from the interior cavity 40 of the appliance 18. Reservoir release 48 allows a user to release reservoir 42 from engagement with housing 24 so that liquid may be added to reservoir 42 . In another embodiment, the reservoir 42 may be an integral element of the housing 24 with a reservoir cover removably or moveably coupled to the housing 24 to cover the opening 46 . In such an embodiment, the reservoir release 48 allows a user to release the reservoir cover from its snug fit with the housing 24 so that liquid can be added to the reservoir 42 .

As shown in FIG. 4 , the reservoir 42 has a plurality of holes 50 that serve as inlets and outlets for liquid into and out of the reservoir 42 . In another embodiment, as an alternative, the reservoir 42 may also include at least one dedicated inlet 50 for filling the reservoir 42 and/or at least one port for moving liquid from the reservoir 42 to vapor. The dedicated outlet 50 of the production system 20, or the reservoir 42 can be augmented with the above-mentioned dedicated inlet and dedicated outlet. Reservoir 42 may include a plug that may be removed to fill reservoir 42 and then reinserted before reservoir 42 is reinstalled into lumen 40 . In another embodiment, at least one of the holes 50 may be fitted with a valve to control the flow of liquid into and out of the reservoir 42 . The liquid contained by the reservoir 42 is, for example, water, but may also be other vaporizable liquids containing additives (eg, perfumes, conditioning substances, etc.) or water. In another embodiment, the additive may be added to the system downstream of the point where the liquid changes to gas, for example, within manifold 64 or spacer 22 .

In the illustrated embodiment, reservoir 42 is made of a transparent polymer material that enables a user to visually monitor the amount of liquid within reservoir 42 without removing reservoir 42 from housing 24 . The reservoir 42 (the cross-section of which is shown in Figure 4) is made of two polymer discs. A plate 52 is used to guide the formation of at least one of the discs. Alternatively, or in addition, plate 52 is used to align the edge of one dish with the edge of the other dish. The two discs are then welded or glued together to form the reservoir 42 . Since the plate 52 remains in the transparent liquid storage tank 42 after the formation of the liquid storage tank 42, a notch is provided on the plate 52, and in some embodiments, etchings are also provided on it to increase the decorativeness of the utensil 18. elements, so that the liquid can completely fill the reservoir 42 and flow in the reservoir 42 .

The spacer 22 extends from a head 26 of a housing 24 of the hair care appliance 18 . The spacer 22 includes a cover 54 and spacer elements 56 projecting outwardly from the cover 54, the spacer elements 56 defining at least a portion of a working area of the appliance 18 (the perimeter of which is shown in dashed lines in FIGS. 1 and 3 ). The working area is a three-dimensional space. The steam is first discharged from the hair care appliance 18 into the three-dimensional space and the hair of the user is treated in the three-dimensional space. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover 54 is sized and shaped to conform to the head 26 of the housing. However, in another embodiment, the cap 54 may be smaller or larger in size than the head 26 or have other shapes. The spacer 22 is removably coupled to the head 26 of the housing 24 and is interchangeable with spacers 22 of different shapes and sizes. As an alternative, the spacer 22 may be integrated with the head 26 of the housing 24 . The spacer cover 54 has holes 58 that allow steam from the steam generating system 20 to pass through the cover 54 to hair of the user that collects in the work area.

In the illustrated embodiment, eight finger spacer elements 56 project outwardly from cover 54 and away from housing 24 . The spacer element 56 keeps the user's head at a safe distance from the spacer hole 58 so that the steam from the steam generating system 20 reaches the user's scalp sufficiently cooled. The spacer elements 56 also lift and separate the hair to improve the circulation of steam applied to the hair in the working area. Moreover, two of the spacer elements 56a also serve as two of the points forming a tripod that provides a stable position for the hair care appliance 18 on a horizontal surface such as a dresser or countertop. The third point of the tripod is provided by the end 28a of the handle portion 28 of the implement 18 .

FIG. 7 depicts one embodiment of the steam generating system 20 located within the interior cavity 40 of the hair care appliance 18 . In the illustrated embodiment, the steam generation system 20 includes a reservoir 42 , a pump 60 , a heating element 62 and a manifold 64 . These elements are connected in series (as shown in FIG. 7 ) using pipelines (not shown) to form liquid paths (indicated by unfilled arrows) and vapor paths (indicated by filled arrows). It is contemplated that in the description below, alternative elements may be used or various elements added, and that steam generating system 20 may be constructed without certain elements or with various alternative configurations. Accordingly, the following description of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-7 is by way of illustration only.

As mentioned above, the reservoir 42 stores liquid for evaporation and may be filled with liquid via the opening 46 and reservoir release 48 . The liquid is water used to generate steam. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other liquids for evaporation (eg, water with additives) may also be used. When the user depresses the actuator 38, the pump 60 moves or transfers liquid from the reservoir 42 to the heating element 62. The pump is a centrifugal dry pump, which will also pump air (eg, if the reservoir 42 is empty of liquid, leaving only air for the pump to draw). In another embodiment, user input through operation of a multi-position regulator may increase or decrease the rate at which liquid is drawn, thereby causing appliance 18 to discharge more or less steam.

The heating element 62 of the illustrated embodiment is a CalRod heating element that converts the liquid supplied by the pump 60 into a vapor, such as water vapor. In another embodiment, the heating element may be any known suitable type of heating element. Steam exits appliance 18 from heating element 62 via manifold 64 through aperture 58 of spacer cover 54 . The manifold 64 is an isolated space or pipeline closed by the spacer cover 54 and the head 26 of the housing 24 (as shown in FIG. Fluid path settings. The manifold 64 provides space for the steam to cool before entering the work area to prevent the hot steam from injuring the user. As the steam is cooled in the manifold 64, some condensation may occur in the line. In another embodiment, a manifold 64 may be formed in the lumen 40 .

In another embodiment, the manifold 64 may be provided with a spongy material or a chemical desiccant (neither shown) to absorb any condensed liquid, thereby preventing the hair care implement 18 from dripping or leaking during or after use. In another embodiment, the sponge-like material or desiccator may have antimicrobial, anti-mold and/or scented properties (or contain a substance having one of the above properties). Also, hair conditioning or treatment additives may be contained in a manifold (eg, contained in a sponge) to be dissolved, delivered, and applied to the user's hair by steam.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 , the interior cavity 40 of the hair care appliance 18 also contains a plurality of electrical components (enclosed by a dashed box in FIG. 7 ) that power and control the steam generating system 20 . The flow paths (ie, schematic electrical circuits) of electrical current through or to the elements of the hair care appliance 18 are indicated by solid arrows. A power cord 30 provides an electrical connection between the steam generating system 20 and a power source 66 (ie, a wall outlet that provides alternating current). In another embodiment, the power source 66 may be a DC power source provided by a battery (eg, a rechargeable battery disposed within the cavity). In another embodiment, appliance 18 may include a voltage selection switch to allow the user to use both 110V and 220V power.

In the illustrated embodiment, the power switch 34 is set by the user in either the "on" or "off" position. When the power switch 34 is set in the on position, electricity is allowed to flow from the power source 66 through the fuse 70 and then in parallel to the indicator light 36 , the actuator 38 and the thermostat 72 . The actuator 38 provides a user interface to control the pump 60 such that when the actuator 38 is depressed (or pulled), current is sent to the pump 60 causing the pump 60 to move fluid through the steam generating system 20 . Electricity flowing to thermostat 72 continues to flow to heating element 62 causing heating element 62 to generate heat. Similarly, electricity flowing to indicator light 36 causes indicator light 36 to illuminate. Thus, when electricity is flowing through power cord 30, power switch 34 (on), fuse 70, thermostat 72, and heating element 62, indicator light 36 will be illuminated.

Power switch 34 is controlled by timer 68 such that when power switch 34 has been in the on position for a set amount of time, timer 68 opens the circuit at power switch 34, preventing current from flowing through the circuit. Thus, if the user forgets to turn off the hair care appliance 18 after use or leaves it aside, after a period of time the power to the power consuming/dissipating element will be cut off (i.e., the heating element 62 will cool down, etc.) , thereby providing the present invention with safety and energy-saving features. This feedback path, which provides the auto-shutdown circuit feature and other features (described below), is indicated by dashed arrows in FIG. 7 .

The thermostat 72 provides another safety feature for the hair care appliance 18 . Thermostat 72 senses the heat generated by heating element 62 and regulates the heat to a set temperature by adjusting the amount of electricity received by heating element 62 and dissipated as heat. Thus, the temperature of the steam output by the heating element 62 is maintained within a range that is useful for styling/conditioning hair but not harmful to the user. Furthermore, the thermostat 72 prevents the heating element 62 from damaging the remaining elements of the hair care appliance 18 .

The fuse 70 provides a backup safety measure for the use of the hair care appliance 18 . Fuse 70 is a thermal electrical fuse that opens the circuit at the location of fuse 70 in response to excessive current or heat flow, thereby preventing current from passing through the circuit. Thus, if the thermostat 72 fails or the power supply 66 suddenly ramps up, power to the power consuming/dissipating elements will be shut off (i.e., the heating element 62 will cool down, etc.), thereby preventing damage to the remaining elements of the hair care appliance 18. .

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the hair care appliance 18 is used to quickly and easily enhance, restore or do curly or wavy hair, especially when the hair remains substantially dry. Appliance 18 is also used to change hairstyles and add volume or to increase moisture (ie, humidity) to dry or dry and damaged hair. Prior to use, reservoir 42 is filled with liquid. The power cord 30 of the appliance 18 is connected to a power source 66 . Once the heating element 62 reaches the set operating temperature, the user can begin operating the appliance 18 . In another embodiment, indicator light 36 (or another light) may change state (eg, blink, change color, etc.) to indicate when heating element 62 has reached a set operating temperature.

In the method of use shown in FIG. 5, the user grasps the handle portion 28 of the housing 24 and positions the hair care appliance 18 so that a portion of the hair is collected in the working area formed in part by the spacer 22 and positioned between The spacer 22 extends around and beyond the spacer 22 (indicated by the dashed perimeter). The user depresses the actuator 38 to activate the pump 60 . The steam is expelled through the spacer holes 58 onto the collected hair. Keep pressing the actuator 38 until the collected hair is fully wetted by the steam, then release the actuator 38. Hot steam diffused into the work area contacts the user's hair, restoring curl and/or adding moisture and volume. In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the spacer elements 56 also support the collected section of hair when the collected section of hair is steam treated to facilitate curl recovery and curling. The hair care appliance 18 is then repositioned to collect other sections of hair in the working area, and the actuator 38 is activated again to release the steam. This process is repeated as necessary to add moisture to the hair and restore curls and waves. As shown, the spacer element 56 points generally upward (opposite the direction of gravity) when the hair being treated is longer.

Referring to FIG. 6, the hair care implement 18 may be used in conjunction with styling accessories (eg, rollers, hooks, pins, clips, etc.) that maintain each section of hair in a desired position and shape as the hair is processed. In some embodiments, the styling attachment can facilitate the fixation of curls, folds or waves because the styling attachment holds each section of hair in this position/shape after the steam is applied (i.e., after the treated section has cooled). Although FIG. 6 illustrates the use of the hair care appliance 18 in combination with a styling accessory, it can be used in conjunction with many other accessories. Accordingly, the term "fixed" in the following description and claims means that hair is positioned, styled or held by any styling accessory, and the term "curled" includes the condition of waves or folds.

A portion of the hair is wrapped around the roller 74 as shown in FIG. 6 . In another embodiment, several sections of hair can be wrapped, positioned with hairpins or bobby pins to achieve the same effect. The user then grasps the handle portion 28 of the housing 24 and positions the hair care appliance 18 so that a portion of the secured hair is located within the working area partially formed by and extending around the spacer 22 and into the spacer. 22 (indicated by the dashed perimeter). In some cases, spacing element 56 may directly contact the hair being secured. As shown, the spacer element 56 is generally directed toward the user's head when the hair being treated is held close to the head (for shorter hair, the hair care implement 18 may be similarly positioned to enhance or restore curls or waves, No styling attachment is required.) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the spacer element 56 prevents the user from placing the hair care appliance 18 too close to the scalp, thus preventing the hot steam emitted by the appliance 18 from injuring the user.

With the hair care appliance 18 properly positioned in the manner discussed above, the user depresses the actuator 38 to activate the pump 60 and steam is discharged through the spacer holes 58 to the hair being secured. The hot steam diffused over the work area contacts the user's hair to curl and/or add moisture and volume. The hair care appliance 18 is then repositioned to collect other portions of the secured hair in the working area, and the actuator 38 is actuated again to release the steam. This process is repeated as needed to add moisture to the hair, and depending on how the hair is held (i.e., how large the roller 74 is), to create or enhance curls in straighter hair, or in curly or wavy hair. Makes frizz weak in hair. For example, if the hair is secured with a roller 74 having a larger diameter than the user's natural curl, the result after use of the hair care appliance 18 is a weaker (i.e., larger diameter, more voluminous) curl or wave . Alternatively, if the hair is secured with a roller 74 having a smaller diameter than the natural curl of the user's hair, the effect is a tighter curl. In another embodiment, hair care implement 18 may be used as an animal grooming tool.

8-11 are schematic illustrations of a hair care implement 118 according to another embodiment. The hair care implement 118 shown in Figures 8-11 is similar to the hair care implement 18 shown in Figures 1-7 and described above. Accordingly, the following complete description of the features and elements (and alternative and/or additional features) of the embodiment of FIGS. 8-11 will refer to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7 except for features and elements that differ between the two.

8-11 , the housing 124 of the hair care appliance 118 includes a suspension ring 76 extending from the end of the handle portion 128 proximate to the power cord 130 . A power switch 134 is located on the bottom side of the housing 124, between the actuator 128 and the end of the handle portion 128. Spacer 122 includes four spacer elements 156 positioned above spacer holes 158 . Each spacer element 156 is partially hollow and surrounds a spacer aperture 158 to aid in the distribution of steam from the hair care appliance 118 to the hair of the user. In the illustrated embodiment, the spacer element 156 includes holes 78 so that some of the steam exiting the steam generating system 20 passes through the spacer element 156 to the hair of the user. In another embodiment, more or fewer spacer elements 156 may be formed in spacer 122, or spacer elements 156 are not hollow or include holes 78 for dispersing vapor.

FIG. 11 depicts one embodiment of the steam generating system 120 located within the interior cavity 140 of the hair care appliance 118 . In the illustrated embodiment, the steam generating system 120 includes a controller 80 , a reservoir 142 , a pump 160 , a heating element 162 and a steam exhaust system 82 .

Actuator 138 located within housing 124 provides a user interface for controller 80 within housing 124 . In another embodiment having a power switch 134 , actuating the power switch 134 to the "on" position allows power to be supplied to the controller 80 and the heating element 162 . Pump 160 pumps or transfers liquid from reservoir 142 to heating element 162 in response to a signal 84 from controller 80 . In another embodiment, the rate at which liquid is pumped can be increased or decreased to generate more or less vapor by user input through operation of a multi-position switch by the user. Steam exits the housing 124 from the spacer holes 158 , 78 via the steam discharge system 82 . In one of its simplest forms, vapor exhaust system 82 is a conduit from heating element 162 (located within housing 124) to the work area. Vapor vent system 82 of the illustrated embodiment includes spacer holes 158 , hollow spacer elements 156 and holes 78 . In another embodiment, the vapor discharge system 82 may be provided with a fan or similar device to assist in venting the vapors to the work area.

Various features and advantages of the invention appear in the preceding claims.

Claims (20)

CLAIMS 1. A hair care appliance for applying steam to dry hair to provide moisture to the hair, characterized in that said hair care appliance comprises: A housing, including a head and a handle, the housing is provided with an inner cavity; a steam generating system located at least partially within the lumen, the head including an aperture in communication with the steam generating system; and a spacer located proximate to the aperture of the head, the spacer defining a portion of the working area for positioning hair, wherein the steam generating system discharges steam to the working area to apply steam to the hair in the work area. 2. The hair care implement of claim 1, wherein said spacer comprises a protrusion extending from said housing head. 3. The hair care appliance of claim 1, wherein the spacer is removably coupled to the housing. 4. The hair care appliance of claim 1, wherein the hair care appliance further comprises a manifold disposed along the fluid path of the steam generating system to cool the steam before it is discharged to the work area . 5. The hair care appliance of claim 1, wherein the steam generating system includes a heating element for generating steam from a liquid. 6. The hair care appliance of claim 1, wherein the steam generating system includes a pump for moving fluid along the fluid path. the 7. The hair care appliance of claim 1, wherein said hair care appliance further comprises an indicator light. 8. The hair care appliance of claim 1, further comprising an actuator for selectively venting steam from the steam generating system to the work area. 9. The hair care appliance of claim 1, wherein the steam generating system includes a reservoir for containing liquid. 10. The hair care appliance of claim 9, wherein the reservoir is removable from the housing. 11. A hair care appliance for applying steam to dry hair to provide moisture to the hair, characterized in that said hair care appliance comprises: a housing with an inner cavity and a hole; a spacer coupled to the housing and defining at least a portion of a work area where hair of a user is collected; and A steam generating system is disposed at least partially within the lumen, wherein the aperture provides a fluid path for exhausting steam from the steam generating system to the work area. 12. The hair care appliance of claim 11, wherein the steam generating system includes a reservoir for storing liquid and a heating element for generating steam from the liquid. 13. The hair care appliance of claim 12, wherein said steam generating system includes a pump for moving liquid from said reservoir to said heating element. 14. The hair care appliance of claim 13, wherein said pump is activated by said user by operating an actuator on said housing. the 15. The hair care appliance of claim 13, wherein said pump is a centrifugal dry pump. 16. The hair care implement of claim 12, wherein said reservoir is formed by welding two polymer discs. 17. The hair care appliance of claim 11, wherein said hair care appliance further comprises a timer to provide an automatic power off feature. 18. The hair care appliance of claim 11, wherein two points on said spacer and one point on said housing define a stable resting position for said appliance. 19. The hair care appliance of claim 11, wherein said steam generating system includes a controller. 20. The hair care appliance of claim 19, wherein a multi-position switch provides user input to said controller. the

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