GB2636751A

GB2636751A - A haircare appliance

Info

Publication number: GB2636751A
Application number: GB2319676.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Haruna Waters Imhasly Nathan; Gill Samoilys Pablo
Original assignee: Dyson Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Dyson Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2023-12-20
Filing date: 2023-12-20
Publication date: 2025-07-02
Also published as: GB202319676D0; WO2025133819A1

Abstract

A haircare appliance 10 includes a first arm 24 and a second arm 26, the first arm and the second arm spaced apart to define a hair receiving channel 66 therebetween, the first arm movably mounted relative to the second arm such that movement of the first arm relative to the second arm varies a width of the hair receiving channel. The haircare appliance includes an airflow generator 20 configured to generate an airflow within the haircare appliance, the first arm comprising an airflow path 48,56 configured to receive the airflow from the airflow generator, and an air outlet 58 for emitting airflow from the airflow path into the hair receiving channel. The haircare appliance includes a bleed flowpath 80 configured to receive at least a portion of airflow from the hair receiving channel, a bleed outlet 78 in fluid communication with the bleed flowpath, and a plurality of teeth 70 downstream of, and extending in a direction away from, the bleed outlet. An attachment for releasably attaching to a first arm of a haircare appliance is also disclosed

Description

A HAIRCARE APPLIANCE

BACKGROUND

Haircare appliances are generally used to treat or style hair, and some haircare appliances may treat or style hair using airflow and/or heat.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect there is provided a haircare appliance comprising: a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm spaced apart to define a hair receiving channel therebetween, the first arm movably mounted relative to the second arm such that movement of the first arm relative to the second arm varies a width of the hair receiving channel; an airflow generator configured to generate an airflow within the haircare appliance, the first arm comprising an airflow path configured to receive the airflow from the airflow generator, and an air outlet for emitting airflow from the airflow path into the hair receiving channel; a bleed flowpath configured to receive at least a portion of airflow from the hair receiving channel; a bleed outlet in fluid communication with the bleed flowpath; and a plurality of teeth downstream of, and extending in a direction away from, the bleed outlet.

By providing airflow into the hair receiving channel, hair that is received within the hair receiving channel in use may be treated and/or styled using the airflow. By providing the bleed flowpath configured to receive at least a portion of airflow from the hair receiving channel, and the bleed outlet in fluid communication with the bleed flowpath, increased flexibility in styling operations and/or increased user comfort may be provided. For example, the bleed flowpath may enable airflow to be directed away from the hair receiving channel/ away from a user, and/or to an alternative location that may provide increased flexibility in styling operations. By providing a plurality of teeth downstream of, and extending in a direction away from, the air outlet, increased styling flexibility may be provided relative to arrangements absent the plurality of teeth, for example with the plurality of teeth able to be used as a comb. Overall the haircare appliance may comprise increased flexibility in styling operations and/or increased user comfort relative to known haircare appliances that comprise first and second arms, such as hair straighteners.

The plurality of teeth may define a comb for combing through a user's hair. The plurality of teeth may extend from an external surface of the haircare appliance, for example an external surface of the haircare appliance adjacent to the bleed outlet. The plurality of teeth may be integrally formed with the external surface of the haircare appliance. The bleed outlet may be defined in the external surface of the haircare appliance.

The haircare appliance may comprise an air inlet through which the airflow generator is configured to draw the airflow from an ambient environment of the haircare appliance.

The haircare appliance may comprise a heater configured to heat the airflow generated by the airflow generator. The heater may be located within the first arm, for example within the airflow path of the first arm.

The first arm may be mounted for reciprocating motion relative to the second arm.

The bleed outlet may be configured to direct airflow along at least some of the plurality of teeth. This may facilitate both tensioning of hair engaged by the teeth, and provision of airflow, for example heated airflow, to the hair held in tension by the teeth. The bleed outlet may be configured to direct airflow along a length of the at least some of the plurality of teeth. The bleed outlet may be configured to direct airflow along each of the plurality of teeth.

The air outlet may be configured to emit airflow in a first direction along the airflow channel. The bleed outlet may be configured to direct airflow in a second direction substantially parallel to the first direction. The plurality of teeth may extend in the second direction. This may ensure that the plurality of teeth extend in a same direction as airflow emitted from the haircare appliance, and may, for example, ensure that the plurality of teeth extend in a direction along a length of a tress of hair that is received within the hair receiving channel in use. The first direction may comprise a height direction of the hair receiving channel. The first direction may comprise a direction orthogonal to a length of the first arm. The first direction may be parallel to a height direction of the first arm.

The bleed outlet may be configured to emit airflow in a direction having at least a component parallel to the second direction.

Each of the plurality of teeth may have an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge located closer to the hair receiving channel than the outer edge, and the inner edge may extend in the second direction. This may aid with passing the plurality of teeth through a tress of hair as the haircare appliance is moved over a tress of hair, and the tress of hair passes through the hair receiving channel.

The inner edge may extend substantially parallel to a wall of the hair receiving channel, for example an inner wall of the first arm or an inner wall of the second arm that defines the hair receiving channel.

The bleed outlet may extend along a length that is at least 80% of a length of the hair receiving channel. This may enable airflow to be distributed along a larger extent of the external surface of the haircare appliance compared to if the bleed outlet were to extend along less of the length of the external surface of the haircare appliance. The bleed outlet may extend along a length that is at least 80°/0 of a length of the hair receiving channel.

The plurality of teeth may be disposed in a row along a length that is at least 80% of a length of the hair receiving channel. This may enable a relatively wide tress of hair to be contacted by the plurality of teeth compared to if the teeth were to extend along less of the length of the hair receiving channel. The plurality of teeth may be disposed in a row along a length that is at least 90% of a length of the hair receiving channel.

The bleed outlet may comprise a plurality of sub-outlets, and each sub-outlet may be located between two adjacent ones of the plurality of teeth. This may ensure distribution of airflow at regions between each of the plurality of teeth, which may enable improved drying and/or styling of hair compared to if sub-outlets were not located between each adjacent pair of teeth.

The bleed outlet may comprise a total open cross-sectional area of from 100mm2 to 5 500mm2, for example around 350mm2.

The bleed flowpath may comprise a bleed inlet, and the bleed inlet may have a length substantially corresponding to a length of the air outlet. This may ensure relatively consistent bleeding of airflow from the length of the air outlet. The length of the bleed inlet and the length of the air outlet may be measured in a direction substantially parallel to a length of at least one of the first arm and the second arm. The length of the bleed inlet and the length of the air outlet may be measured in a direction substantially parallel to a length of the hair receiving channel.

The bleed inlet may comprise a plurality of vanes, for example such that the bleed inlet is divided into a plurality of sub-inlets.

The plurality of teeth may comprise no more than 30 teeth, for example no more than 20 teeth. The plurality of teeth may comprise at least 5 teeth.

A spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of teeth may be at least lmm, for example at least 2mm. This may aid with detangling of relatively densely curled hair, such as Type 3 or Type 4 hair.

The plurality of teeth may be evenly spaced along the haircare appliance, for example evenly spaced along a length of the hair receiving channel. This may provide relatively consistent detangling along the haircare appliance.

Each of the plurality of teeth may have a length of at least 30mm, for example at least 50mm, and at least 60mm,. This may aid with detangling of relatively densely curled hair, such as Type 3 or Type 4 hair. Each of the plurality of teeth may have a length of around 50mm. Each of the plurality of teeth may have a same length. At least some of the plurality of teeth may comprise different lengths. The length of the plurality of teeth may comprise a length measured in the second direction, for example parallel to the direction in which the air outlet directs airflow along the hair receiving channel.

Each of the plurality of teeth may have a width of at least 1.5mm. Each of the plurality of teeth may have a same width. At least some of the plurality of teeth may comprise a different width. The width of the plurality of teeth may comprise a width measured in a direction orthogonal to the second direction, for example parallel to a width of the hair receiving channel. The width of the plurality of teeth may comprise a width in a parallel to a width of the hair receiving channel.

Each of the plurality of teeth may be rigid such that a spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of teeth is fixed. This may aid with detangling of relatively densely curled hair, such as Type 3 or Type 4 hair.

The air outlet may be located at a first side of the haircare appliance, and the bleed outlet and the plurality of teeth may be located at a second, opposite, side of the haircare appliance. This may facilitate performance of styling operations where hair received within the hair receiving channel can be straightened by airflow from the air outlet within the hair receiving channel, whilst also being styled or treated by interaction with at least one of the bleed outlet and the plurality of teeth. The first side and the second side of the haircare appliance may be opposite sides of the haircare appliance along a height direction of the hair receiving channel.

The bleed flowpath may be located within, or adjacent to, the first arm. This may facilitate removal of airflow from the hair receiving channel into the bleed flowpath, by virtue of proximity to the hair receiving channel. The bleed flowpath may underlie the first arm, for example in an orientation where the air outlet is located at an upper region of the hair receiving channel. The bleed outlet may be located on, or adjacent to, the first arm. The bleed outlet may underlie the first arm, for example in an orientation where the air outlet is located at an upper region of the hair receiving channel. The plurality of teeth may be located on, or adjacent to, the first arm. The plurality of teeth may underlie the first arm, for example in an orientation where the air outlet is located at an upper region of the hair receiving channel.

The haircare appliance may comprise a main unit comprising the first and second arms.

The haircare appliance may comprise an attachment comprising the bleed flowpath the bleed outlet, and the plurality of teeth, the attachment releasably attachable to the main unit. This may enable the functionality of the bleed flowpath, the bleed outlet, and the plurality of teeth to be selectively provided to the haircare appliance, and may, for example, enable such functionality to be retrofitted to existing haircare appliances having a main unit comprising first and second arms. At least one of the airflow generator and the heater may be disposed in the main unit. The attachment may comprise the bleed inlet.

The attachment may be releasably attachable to the first arm. This may provide a relatively simple arrangement, and may enable appropriate positioning of the bleed flowpath to receive airflow from the hair receiving channel.

The attachment may be releasably attachable to the first arm such that the bleed outlet and the plurality of teeth may be located at the second side of the haircare appliance.

The attachment may comprise an end wall configured to overlie an arm end wall of the first arm when the attachment is releasably attached to the first arm.

The attachment may comprise a hollow body defining the bleed inlet, the bleed flowpath, and the bleed outlet for example with the bleed flowpath located internally of the hollow body. The plurality of teeth may protrude outwardly from the hollow body. The plurality of teeth may be integrally formed with the hollow body.

The plurality of teeth may be disposed in a row along a length that is at least 80% of a length of a region of the first arm that defines the hair receiving channel. This may enable a relatively wide tress of hair to be contacted by the plurality of teeth compared to if the teeth were to extend along less of the length of the first arm. The plurality of teeth may be disposed in a row along a length that is at least 90% of the length of the region of the first arm that defines the hair receiving channel.

The attachment may comprise an upstanding rib that, when the attachment is attached to the first arm, extends along a height of the first arm within or adjacent to the hair receiving channel. Such an upstanding rib may help to counteract forces applied to the attachment through the plurality of teeth in use, for example forces that may act to cause separation of the attachment from the first arm. The upstanding rib may be located outside of a path of airflow from the air outlet. The upstanding rib may extend in an opposite direction to the plurality of teeth. The attachment may comprise a plurality of upstanding ribs that, when the attachment is attached to the first arm, extend along a height of the first arm within or adjacent to the hair receiving channel.

The attachment may comprise a first magnetic attachment member and the first arm comprises a second magnetic attachment member for releasably engaging with the first magnetic attachment member. This may facilitate retention of the attachment relative to the first arm, and may provide a relatively simple yet strong connection.

The attachment may comprise a projection or recess for releasably engaging with a corresponding recess or projection of the first arm. This may provide a relatively simple yet strong connection.

The second arm may comprise a further airflow path configured to receive the airflow from the airflow generator, and a further air outlet for emitting airflow from the further airflow path into the hair receiving channel.

The haircare appliance may comprise a further bleed flowpath configured to receive at least a further portion of airflow from the hair receiving channel. The haircare appliance may comprise a further bleed outlet in fluid communication with the further bleed flowpath. The haircare appliance may comprise a further plurality of teeth downstream of, and extending in a direction away from, the further bleed outlet. This may enable the bleed and teeth functionality to be provided at two discrete locations on the haircare appliance.

The further bleed flowpath may comprise substantially the same features as the bleed flowpath, but described with relation to the second arm, the further bleed outlet, and the further plurality of teeth. The further Need outlet may comprise substantially the same features as the bleed outlet, but described with relation to the second arm, the further bleed flowpath, and the further plurality of teeth. The further plurality of teeth may comprise substantially the same features as the plurality of teeth, but described with relation to the second arm, the further bleed outlet, and the further bleed flowpath. The haircare appliance may comprise a further bleed inlet in fluid communication with the further bleed flowpath.

The haircare appliance may comprise a further attachment comprising the further bleed flowpath, the further bleed outlet, and the further plurality of teeth, the further attachment releasably attachable to the main unit. This may enable the functionality of the further bleed flowpath, the further bleed outlet, and the further plurality of teeth to be selectively provided to the haircare appliance, and may, for example, enable such functionality to be retrofitted to existing haircare appliances having a main unit comprising first and second arms.

The further attachment may be releasably attachable to the second arm. This may provide a relatively simple arrangement, and may enable appropriate positioning of the further bleed flowpath to receive airflow from the hair receiving channel.

The further attachment may be releasably attachable to the second arm such that the further bleed outlet and the further plurality of teeth may be located at the second side of the haircare appliance.

The further attachment may comprise a first magnetic attachment member and the second arm may comprise a second magnetic attachment member for releasably engaging with the first magnetic attachment member of the further attachment. The further attachment may comprise a projection or recess for releasably engaging with a corresponding recess or projection of the second arm.

According to a second aspect there is provided an attachment for releasably attaching to a first arm of a haircare appliance comprising the first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm spaced apart to define a hair receiving channel therebetween, the first arm movably mounted relative to the second arm such that movement of the first arm relative to the second arm varies a width of the hair receiving channel, wherein the attachment comprises: a body having an air inlet, an air outlet, and an internal flowpath extending between the air inlet and the air outlet; and a plurality of teeth downstream of and extending in a direction away from, the air outlet.

The plurality of teeth may define a comb for combing through a user's hair. The plurality of teeth may extend from an external surface of the attachment, for example an external surface of the attachment adjacent to the bleed outlet. The plurality of teeth may be integrally formed with the external surface of the attachment.

The air outlet may be configured to direct airflow along at least some of the plurality of teeth.

The air outlet may comprise a plurality of sub-outlets, and each sub-outlet may be located between two adjacent ones of the plurality of teeth.

A spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of teeth may be at least lmm, for example at least 2mm. The plurality of teeth may be evenly spaced along the attachment.

Each of the plurality of teeth may have a length of at least 30mm, for example at least 50mm, and at least 60mm. Each of the plurality of teeth may have a length of around 50mm. Each of the plurality of teeth may have a same length. Each of the plurality of teeth may have a width of at least 1.5mm. Each of the plurality of teeth may have a same width.

Each of the plurality of teeth may be rigid such that a spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of teeth is fixed.

According to a third aspect there is provided a haircare appliance comprising: a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm spaced apart to define a hair receiving channel therebetween, the first arm movably mounted relative to the second arm such that movement of the first arm relative to the second arm varies a width of the hair receiving channel; an airflow generator configured to generate an airflow within the haircare appliance, the first arm comprising an airflow path configured to receive the airflow from the airflow generator, and an air outlet for emitting airflow from the airflow path into the hair receiving channel; and a plurality of teeth downstream of, and extending in a direction away from, the hair receiving channel, wherein the air outlet is configured to emit airflow in a first direction along the airflow channel, the plurality of teeth extend in a second direction parallel to the first direction, and each of the plurality of teeth has an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge located closer to the hair receiving channel than the outer edge, and the inner edge extends in the second direction.

The haircare appliance may comprise a bleed flowpath configured to receive at least a portion of airflow from the hair receiving channel, a bleed outlet in fluid communication with the bleed flowpath, and the plurality of teeth may be downstream of, and extend in a direction away from, the bleed outlet.

A fourth aspect provides an attachment for releasably attaching to a first arm of a haircare appliance comprising the first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second ann spaced apart to define a hair receiving channel therebetween, the first arm movably mounted relative to the second arm such that movement of the first arm relative to the second arm varies a width of the hair receiving channel, wherein the attachment comprises a plurality of teeth that, when the attachment is attached to the first arm, extend away from the hair receiving channel in a first direction, wherein each of the plurality of teeth has an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge located closer to the hair receiving channel than the outer edge, and the inner edge extends in the first direction.

Optional features of aspects may be equally applied to other aspects, where appropriate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a haircare appliance; Figure 2 is a first schematic view of a main unit of the haircare appliance of Figure I; Figure 3 is a second schematic view of the main unit of the haircare appliance of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a first schematic view of a first attachment of the haircare appliance of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a second schematic view of the first attachment of the haircare appliance of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a schematic view illustrating the first attachment and a second attachment; and Figure 7 is a schematic sectional view illustrating airflow through the haircare appliance of Figure 1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A haircare appliance 10, in the form of a hair straightener device, is illustrated schematically in Figure 1. The haircare appliance 10 comprises a main unit 12, and first 14 and second 16 attachments.

The main unit 12 is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and comprises a body portion 18, an airflow generator 20, a heater 21, a bellows 22, and first 24 and second 26 arms.

The body portion 18 is generally hollow and cylindrical in form, and comprises an air inlet 28, a user interface 30, and a locking member 32. The body portion 18 has a first end 34 and a second end 36 opposite to the first end 34. A power cable 38 extends into the body portion 18 at the first end 34.

The air inlet 28 is located at the first end 34 of the body portion 18, and comprises a plurality of apertures formed in an external surface of the body portion 18. In some examples, the air inlet 28 is at least partly defined by a removable filter assembly that is removably attached to a remainder of the body portion 18.

The user interface 30 comprises a display 40 located on an external surface of the body portion 18 at the second end 36 of the body portion 18, and a column of buttons 42 extending away from the display 40 along the external surface of the body portion 18. The locking member 32 is disposed on the external surface of the body portion 18 at an opposite side of the body portion 18 to the column of buttons 42. The locking member 32 is slidable along the external surface of the body portion 18 to selectively actuate an internal locking mechanism (not shown) to lock the first 24 and second 26 arms in place relative to one another.

The airflow generator 20 comprises an electric motor 44 and an impeller 46 driven by the electric motor 44 to generate an airflow through the main unit 12. The airflow generator 20 is disposed within the body portion 18. The heater 21 is located downstream of the airflow generator 20. The bellows 22 is disposed within the body portion 18 downstream of the electric motor 20, and is positioned to receive airflow generated by the airflow generator 20 in use. The bellows 22 forks into first 48 and second 50 ducts, with each of the first 48 and second 50 ducts configured to direct airflow from the body portion 18 into a respective one of the first 24 and second 26 arms.

Each of the first 24 and second 26 arms is substantially similar in form, albeit in mirror image to one another, and so only the features of the first arm 24 will be described here for the sake of brevity. The first arm 24 is elongate in form between a first end 52 and a second end 54, with the first arm 24 extending generally along a central longitudinal axis CL of the main unit 12. The first end 52 of the first arm 24 is pivotably mounted to the body portion 18, with the first arm 24 sprung toward an open position relative to the body portion 18. The first end 52 of the first arm 24 is shaped and dimensioned to correspond to the external surface of the body portion 18, with the shape of the first end 52 of the first arm 24 being such that the column of buttons 42 and the locking member 32 are accessible to a user when the first arm 24 is pivoted to a closed position.

The first arm 24 comprises an internal plenum 56, an air outlet 58, a magnetic connection portion 60, and a clip receiving portion 62. The internal plenum 56 is in fluid communication with the first duct 48 of the bellows 22, and acts as an airflow path within the first arm 24. The internal plenum 56 begins approximately halfway along the first arm 24 between the first 52 and second 54 ends, and extends to the second end 54 of the first arm 24.

The air outlet 58 takes the form of a linear slot that extends along an upper region of the first ann 24 in the orientation seen in Figure 2. The air outlet 58 is positioned to direct airflow downwardly in a height direction of the first arm 24 in the orientation shown in Figure 2.

The magnetic connection portion 60 is located on an end wall 64 of the second end 54 of the first arm 24, and is configured to releasably engage with a magnetic connection portion 92 of a second end 71 of the first attachment 14, as will be discussed in further detail hereinafter. The clip receiving portion 62 is located on an external surface of the first arm 24, and comprises a recess shaped and dimensioned to releasably receive a clip projection 82 of a first end 69 of the first attachment 14, as will be discussed in further detail hereinafter.

The second arm 26 is also pivotably mounted to the body portion 18, with the second arm 26 sprung toward an open position relative to the body portion 18. The first 24 and second 26 arms oppose one another, with portions 25 of the first 24 and second 26 arms that do not overlie the body portion 18 spaced apart from one another, and respective inner walls 27 of those portions 25 defining a hair receiving channel 66.

Each of the first 14 and second 16 attachments is substantially similar in form, albeit in mirror image to one another, and so only the features of the first attachment 14 will be described here for the sake of brevity. Like reference numerals will be used for like components/features between the first 14 and second 16 attachments. The first attachment 14 is illustrated schematically in Figures 4 to 7.

The first attachment 14 is integrally formed as part of a moulding process. The first attachment comprises a body 68, twenty teeth 70 extending outwardly from the body 68, and a support rib 73 upstanding from the body 68. The first attachment 14 has a first end 69 and a second end 71. The body 68 comprises a channel portion 72 and an end wall 74.

The channel portion 72 is elongate between the first end 69 and the second end 71. The channel portion 72 is shaped and dimensioned to correspond to a lower region of the portion 25 of the first arm 24 that defines the hair receiving channel 66. The channel portion 72 is hollow in form, and comprises a bleed inlet 76, and a bleed outlet 78, with a region between the bleed inlet 76 and the bleed outlet 78 defining a bleed flowpath 80. It will be appreciated that the bleed inlet 76 can be considered to be an air inlet of the first attachment 14, and that the bleed outlet 78 can be considered to be an air outlet of the first attachment 14. The channel portion 72 also comprises a clip projection 82 located at the first end 69 of the first attachment 14. The clip projection 82 is shaped and dimensioned to be releasably received within the clip receiving portion 62 of the first arm 24, for example via a releasable press fit or the like.

There are two rows of apertures 84 disposed along a length of an inner wall 86 of the channel portion 72. The bleed inlet 76 comprises a first side of the apertures 84. Wall sections between each aperture 84 can be considered vanes herein, and the apertures 84 can be considered as sub-inlets. There are nineteen apertures 84 that define a total open cross-sectional area of around 350mm2 for the bleed inlet 76. The bleed outlet 78 comprises a second side of the apertures 84, at a lower wall 90 of the channel portion 72. The bleed outlet 78 has a total open cross-sectional area of around 350mm2. The bleed outlet 78 is such that the first apertures 84 open between two adjacent ones of the teeth 70, and are configured to direct air generally downwardly, away from the lower wall 90 of the channel portion 72, and generally slightly forwardly toward the second end 71 of the first attachment 14.

The end wall 74 of the first attachment 14 is upstanding from the channel portion 72 at the second end 71 of the first attachment 14. The end wall 74 is shaped and dimensioned to overlie the end wall 64 of the first arm 24 when the attachment 14 is connected to the first arm 24. An inner surface of the end wall 74 of the first attachment 14 comprises a magnetic connection portion 92 that is configured to releasably engage with the magnetic connection portion 60 of the first arm 24.

The teeth 70 extend in a row along the lower wall 90 of the channel portion 72, and are evenly spaced apart with a distance of around 3mm between two adjacent teeth 70. The rigidity of each tooth 70 ensures that the spacing is fixed. Each of the teeth 70 is elongate from a base 94 integrally formed with the lower wall 90 of the channel portion 72, to a tip 96 distal from the lower wall 90 of the channel portion 72. Each tooth 70 is tapered from the base 94 to the tip 96. The tip 96 of each tooth 70 is rounded in form. Each tooth 70 has a respective inner edge 98, and a respective outer edge 100. The inner edges 98 extend generally orthogonally relative to the lower wall 90 of the channel portion 72, such that the inner edges 98 extend in a direction generally parallel to the height of the hair receiving channel 66, and generally parallel to the inner wall 27 of the first arm 24, when the first attachment 14 is attached to the first arm 24. Each tooth has a length, measured along the inner edge 98 from the base 94 to the tip 96 of around 70mm. Each tooth has a width, measured at a maximal orthogonal distance between its inner edge 98 and its outer edge 100, of around 18mm.

The support rib 73 extends from the inner wall 86 of the channel portion 72 in a direction opposite to which the teeth 70 extend. The support rib 73 is positioned toward the first end 69 of the first attachment 14.

With the first attachment 14 attached to the first arm 24, the channel portion 72 of the first attachment 14 underlies, and partly encloses, a lower region of the first arm 24 in the orientation shown in Figure 7. The magnetic connection portion 92 of the first attachment 14 engages with the magnetic connection portion 60 of the first arm 24, and the clip projection 82 of the first attachment 14 is received within the clip receiving portion 62 of the first arm 24, to retain the first attachment 14 relative to the first arm 24.

The bleed inlet 76 is located adjacent to the first arm 24, underneath the hair receiving channel 66. The bleed inlet 76 extends across a length corresponding to the length of the air outlet 58, as does the bleed outlet 78 and the teeth 70. The bleed outlet 78 and the teeth are positioned to underlie the first arm 24. In such a manner, the air outlet 58 is located at a first, upper, side of the haircare appliance 10, and the bleed outlet 78 and the teeth 70 are located at a second, opposite, lower side of the haircare appliance 10. The support rib 73 lies along the inner wall 27 of the first arm 14 without being located below the air outlet 58.

In use, a user operates one of the buttons 42 to turn on the haircare appliance 10, and in particular to turn on the electric motor 44. Either prior to this, or after this, a user can locate a tress of hair within the hair receiving channel 66, and can apply a force to the first 24 and second 26 arms to decrease a width of the hair receiving channel 66, in a manner similar to known hair straighteners, such that the first 24 and second 26 arms are positioned in a closed configuration. The electric motor 44 drives rotation of the impeller 46 to generate an airflow that passes through the air inlet 28 into the body portion 18. The airflow passes through the first 48 and second 50 ducts of the bellows 22, and into the respective internal plenums 56 of the first 24 and second 26 arms. Airflow exits the first 24 and second 26 arms via the respective air outlets 58, and is directed downwardly along a height direction of the hair receiving channel 66, as shown schematically in Figure 7.

As airflow passes down the hair receiving channel 66, airflow passes into the bleed inlet 76 of the first attachment 14, and travels through the bleed flowpath 80 to the bleed outlet 78, as illustrated in Figure 7. Here it can be seen that airflow generally flows along the hair receiving channel 66 in a first direction FD. Airflow then exits the bleed outlet 78 in a second direction SD that has a component that is substantially parallel to the first direction FD, as well as a component in a direction toward the second end 54 of the first arm 24.

Airflow passes from the bleed outlet 78 along the teeth 70.

As a user passes the haircare appliance over a length of the tress of hair located within the hair receiving channel 66, the teeth 70 act as a comb that can be utilised by the user to apply tension to the tress of hair. The configuration of the teeth 70 described above may find particular utility in acting as a comb for type 3 and type 4 hair. The support rib 73 can act to inhibit separation of the first attachment 14 from the first arm 24.

In an alternative mode of operation, the user can lock the first 24 and second 26 arms in a closed position, with the hair receiving channel 66 having minimal width, without a tress of hair located within the hair receiving channel 66. The user can then comb their hair using the teeth 70, whilst heated airflow is provided using the bleed outlet 78.

Operation here is described with only the first attachment 14 attached to the first arm 24. In practice, the second attachment 16 can be attached to the second arm 26 in addition to, or alternatively to, the first attachment 14 being attached to the first arm 24. Similarly, an alternative attachment can be attached to the second arm 26 whilst the first attachment 14 is attached to the first arm 24, or vice versa, for example with such a further attachment taking a similar form to the first 14 or second attachment 16, absent the teeth 70.

It will be appreciated that alternatives to the configuration of the first attachment 14 described above are also envisaged. For example, up to 30 teeth, teeth spacing of between 1 mm and 3mm, teeth length of between 50mm and 70mm, and teeth width of between 1.5mm and 18mm are envisaged.

Similarly, although described above in relation to a haircare appliance with attachments, haircare appliances with integrated bleed flowpath(s) and teeth are also envisaged.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A haircare appliance comprising: a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm spaced apart to define a hair receiving channel therebetween, the first arm movably mounted relative to the second arm such that movement of the first arm relative to the second arm varies a width of the hair receiving channel; an airflow generator configured to generate an airflow within the haircare appliance, the first arm comprising an airflow path configured to receive the airflow from the airflow generator, and an air outlet for emitting airflow from the airflow path into the hair receiving channel; a bleed flowpath configured to receive at least a portion of airflow from the hair receiving channel; a bleed outlet in fluid communication with the bleed flowpath; and a plurality of teeth downstream of and extending in a direction away from, the bleed outlet.
2. A haircare appliance as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the bleed outlet is configured to direct airflow along at least some of the plurality of teeth.
3. A haircare appliance as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the air outlet is configured to emit airflow in a first direction along the hair receiving channel, the bleed outlet is configured to direct airflow in a second direction parallel to the first direction, and the plurality of teeth extend in the second direction.
4. A haircare appliance as claimed in Claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of teeth has an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge located closer to the hair receiving channel than the outer edge, and the inner edge extends in the second direction.
5. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bleed outlet extends along a length that is at least 80% of a length of the hair receiving channel.
6. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of teeth are disposed in a row along a length that is at least 80% of a length of the hair receiving channel.
7. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bleed outlet comprises a plurality of sub-outlets, and each sub-outlet is located between two adjacent ones of the plurality of teeth.
8. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of teeth comprises no more than 30 teeth.
9. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of teeth is at least 1 mm.
10. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of teeth are evenly spaced along the haircare appliance.
11. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the plurality of teeth has a length of at least 30 mm.
12. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the plurality of teeth are rigid such that a spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of teeth is fixed.
13. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bleed flowpath is located within, or adjacent to, the first arm.
14. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the haircare appliance comprises a main unit comprising the first and second arms, and an attachment comprising the bleed flowpath, the bleed outlet, and the plurality of teeth, wherein the attachment is releasably attachable to the main unit.
15. A haircare appliance as claimed in Claim 14, where the attachment s releasably attachable to the first arm.
16. A haircare appliance as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the plurality of teeth are disposed in a row along a length that is at least 80% of a length of a region of the first arm that defines the hair receiving channel.
17. A haircare appliance as claimed in Claim 15 or Claim 16, wherein the attachment comprises an upstanding rib that, when the attachment is attached to the first arm, extends along a height of the first arm within or adjacent to the hair receiving channel.
18. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of Claims 15 to 17, wherein the attachment comprises a first magnetic attachment member and the first arm comprises a second magnetic attachment member for releasably engaging with the first magnetic 20 attachment member.
19. A haircare appliance as claimed in any one of Claims 15 to 18, wherein the attachment comprises a projection or recess for releasably engaging with a corresponding recess or projection of the first arm.
20. An attachment for releasably attaching to a first arm of a haircare appliance comprising the first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm spaced apart to define a hair receiving channel therebetween, the first arm movably mounted relative to the second arm such that movement of the first arm relative to the second arm varies a width of the hair receiving channel, wherein the attachment comprises: a body having an air inlet, an air outlet, and an internal flowpath extending between the air inlet and the air outlet; and a plurality of teeth downstream of and extending in a direction away from, the air outlet.