GB2584066A

GB2584066A - A hair treatment device

Info

Publication number: GB2584066A
Application number: GB1903066.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Okorji Rachel
Original assignee: Esther Miriam Stephen; Jacqueline Chinwe Stephen
Current assignee: Esther Miriam Stephen; Jacqueline Chinwe Stephen; Rachel Okorji
Priority date: 2019-03-07
Filing date: 2019-03-07
Publication date: 2020-11-25
Also published as: GB201903066D0

Abstract

A hair treatment device 99 comprises a handle 1,2 and two hot plates 4,14 for heating hair. Said plates 4,14 comprise laterally toothed contact surfaces 3. Surfaces 3 may be arranged prior to the plates 4,14 such that hair is passed through the toothed contact surfaces 3 prior to heating. The contact surfaces 3 may be formed from a thermally conductive material such as ceramics. The hot plates 4,14 and contact surfaces 3 may be formed as single parts. The surfaces 3 may comprise displaceable combs (9,10; Figure 4).

Description

A HAIR TREATMENT DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hair treatment device, in particular a device for heating and combing hair; for example but not exclusively straightening the hair after detangling it.

Background

Increasing numbers of users in many societies are keen to improve their looks. A standard and important way to improve physical attractiveness is to improve hairstyling.

As a result there is often a preference for users having straight hair to add curls or waves to their hair. And conversely for users having curly or wavy hair to have a preference to straighten their hair.

It can be problematic to straighten hair, where it must be detangled and combed in a 20 first stage with one implement and straightened using heated plates in a second stage.

It can be fiddly to operate a comb, or detangling brush, whilst operating a hair straightening device and manipulating the hair at the same time.

Prior Art

US 2005 0 236 009 (PARK) discloses an attachment for a hair styling iron, or a new hair styling iron, includes a hair pick and plurality of comb teeth. The hair pick, which is used for selecting and separating hair, may be moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. The comb teeth are located adjacent to a heating element for extending into the hair when the hair styling iron contacts and moves along the lengtn of a bundle of hair. The attachment may be slid over a heating element arm, wherein a retaining lip hooks around to engage an inner surface of the heating element arm adjacent to the heating element. In another embodiment, a new hair styling iron includes comb teeth adjacent to a heating element of the hair styling iron, and a hair pick that extends beyond the end of a heating element arm of the hair styling iron.

US 8 544 477 (LAALY) discloses a hair styling iron, comprising: a pair of arm elements pivotally coupled about a hinge at a proximal end of each of the arm elements; a heating element located at the interior distal end of at least one of the arm elements; an end body element comprising a shell with a cavity element shaped to be compatible with a back side of either one of or both of the arm elements whereby an upper portion of each of the arm elements is removably inserted into the cavity element, each end body element also having a notch located on a side of the proximal or distal end of the end body element and a comb assembly element comprising a plurality of comb teeth/bristles that extend away from a surface of the heating element and an attachment means for removably attaching the comb assembly element onto the end body element. The end body element includes at least one grooved channel allowing for slidable insertion and removal of one or more of the comb assembly element into the end body element.

EP 2 687 118 (MAISONNEUVE et al) discloses apparatus which has arms equipped with flat heating surfaces and configured to form a grip to allow the heating surfaces to thermally treat hair in a concomitant manner. A comb is assembled in a slide connection with one of the arms in a direction of longitudinal axis of the arm. The arm includes a locking system configured to be actuated in a stop position in which the locking system blocks the comb on the arm in an assembled position or to be actuated in a retracted position in which the locking system authorizes the sliding motion of the comb on the arm.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a hair treatment device comprising a handle and two hot plates arranged for heating hair, wherein the hot plates comprise laterally heated toothed contact surfaces.

The surfaces may be arranged prior to the hot plates, such that the hair may be passed through the heated toothed contact surfaces prior to heating.

For example the toothed contact surfaces may be arranged to either side of one or 5 both of the hot plates.

In some embodiments the hot plates and contact surfaces are arranged to heat together, wherein the hot plate is thermally connected with the surfaces.

This ensures heat gets to every single strand of hair as it glides through the device.

In some embodiments the surfaces may comprise continuations of the hot plates, for example wherein the plates and surfaces are formed by single parts, being combined parts.

In some embodiments the contact surfaces may be formed in a thermally conductive material, for example ceramics. The surfaces may in such embodiments comprise integrated or separate parts to the plates.

The hot plates may be arranged on inner surfaces of arms. The arms may extend 20 from a base, which base may be envisaged to comprise the electrics, electronics, and energy source.

The hot plates may be elongated, thereby extending from at or adjacent the end of the arms towards the base.

In some embodiments the toothed contact surfaces may comprise teeth. Such teeth may be envisaged to be upstanding perimetric part or all of the hot plates. In some embodiments the teeth may extend along part only of the arms or hot plates so as to allow for more flexibility in use.

In some embodiments the energy source may be onboard. For example the device may comprise a canister heating system. In other embodiments in addition or the alternative the device may comprise a battery energy source. In some embodiments the energy source may comprise a rechargeable battery. In some embodiments the energy source may comprise a mains electrical connection.

In some embodiments the hot plates comprise a coating, for example titanium coating.

In some embodiments the toothed contact surface may comprise a low-friction 5 surface. For example in some embodiments the contact surface may comprise a ceramic contact surface.

In some embodiments the toothed contact surface or surfaces may be displaceable from the device. For example a user may be enabled to attach or detach a comb 10 along one or both sides of the hot plate or plates as desired.

In other embodiments such combs may be slid into or out of use.

In some embodiments of the device, and according to a further potential aspect of the invention, the device may be provided in use, wherein the user may be enabled to attach combs to an existing hair straightener or tongs. For example the invention may provide an apparatus comprising a clip on holder or bracket for holding the comb or combs so as to provide a device substantially as described herein.

The combs may be provided at retail in a plurality of sizes, dimensions, materials or teeth spacing.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device according to the 30 present invention; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in figure 1; Figure 5 shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of the device according to 5 the present invention; and Figure 6 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 5.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the embodiment pictured in the figures there is shown a device 99 generally comprising two handles 1,2 and two hot plates 4,14 arranged for heating 15 hair, wherein the hot plates 4,14 comprise laterally toothed contact surfaces 3.

The pictured embodiments provide a pair of hair straightening plates with built in teeth, to allow for hair to be combed and straightened simultaneously.

In particular reference to the pictured embodiment the toothed contact surfaces comprise orthogonal toothed combs 3 upstanding away from planar hot plates, wherein the device is arranged otherwise as known in the art of hair straighteners, having elongate arms 1,2 joined at one end with a pivot 6.

The embodiment provides a sleek alternative to using standard hair straighteners with a comb alongside.

The first embodiment has teethed combs arranged to either side of the rectangular hot plates so as to help the straighten and detangle process, specifically helping 30 thicker hair.

In use it may be envisaged that such that the hot plates may be closed together with the hot plates in contact, the combs may be envisaged to include channels for the opposing combs, or may be arranged to have interlocking teeth in some embodiments, so that the teeth of the opposing combs may interlock when the hot plates are together.

The pictured embodiment comprises titanium plated heated hot plates, being lightweight, quick to heat up and having the ability to heat thicker and more coarse hair. These have internal heating elements 8.

In some embodiments the heating plates and elements and/or combs comprise wholly displaceable clip-in parts 9,10.

In particular reference to the pictured embodiment the wide spacing profile of the 10 teeth of the comb enables them to clamp deep into the hair to remove knots by detangling as well as combing.

The combs may comprise ceramic teeth.

The arms of the embodiment are elongated sharing a pivot 6 at a proximate end in use, which end also comprises a 360° power connection 7 endmost, and a straightener locking button 5 on a top face of the top arm 1.

The embodiment is styled on an alligator, subtly combining colours and shapes that 20 are in alligator skin whilst also maintaining a high-quality look and finish.

The embodiment further comprises a power LED on the button 5 that illuminates when the embodiment is switched on. This button will stay on for a period after the power has been switched off until the hot plates have cooled down.

In the second embodiment the combs are only arranged down one side of each hot plate, with the opposing hot plates having combs on opposing sides, so as to permit easy closure of the hot plates together.

In this way it may be envisaged that the comb may be operable in a first stage of use and the hot plates operable in a second stage of use, whereby the user would be envisaged to comb their hair and then straighten it.

In some further embodiments the combs may be displaced from the arms, and may 35 be consequently or additionally arranged in different arrangements, for example only to one side of one plate or further.

The combs 3 may comprise displaceable and/or clip-on parts in some further embodiments.

For example in this way a variety of different comb dimensions, lengths or tine spacing may be available for the one device, for use as appropriate with reference to the user's hair type.

This may comprise apparatus capable of providing combing and straightening 10 according to preference.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely 15 combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

Claims 1. A hair treatment device comprising a handle and two hot plates arranged for heating hair, wherein the hot plates comprise laterally toothed contact surfaces.
2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the surfaces are arranged prior to the hot plates, such that the hair is passed through the toothed contact surfaces prior to heating.
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the contact surfaces are formed in a thermally conductive material.
4. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the contact surfaces comprise ceramics.
5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the hot plates and contact surfaces are formed as single parts.
6. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the surfaces comprise combs.
7. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the surfaces comprise displaceable combs.