Ion generator and hairbrush using the same

• US 6,907,888 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works Ltd (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kitamura, Hisashi, Saida, Itaru
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Pedro
• Application Number:
  US09/989,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20020062836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 132/271, 132/129, 132/116, 132/112, 132/148, 132/152, 132/154, 132/272, 34/97, 607/29, 151/040.02, 152/463, 153/44, 153/45, 15/395, 15/40, 219/222
• US Class Current: 132/271
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/202 Ionisation
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0022 with an electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/104 Hair brush

Abstract

An ion generator includes a needle electrode and a ground electrode cooperable with the needle electrode to generate a corona discharge in the air to produce ions. The ground electrode is disposed so as to surround an imaginary extension of a longitudinal axis of the needle electrode and has a portion thereof depleted to provide a split region defined therein. A hairbrush utilizing the ion generator is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A hairbrush which comprises;

an ion generator for emitting ions; and

a brush head having a brush base formed with a multiplicity of bristles, said brush base having an opening defined therein for passage of the ions from the ion generator to an outside of the hairbrush;

wherein some of the bristles around the opening in the brush base are removed to provide a plain surface area where no bristle exist,

wherein the ion generator includes a discharge electrode and wherein a surface area encompassed by a cone having its apex occupied by the discharge electrode and flaring outwardly away from the discharge electrode and passing in touch with a peripheral lip region defining the opening in the brush base has no bristle.

2. The hairbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion of the brush base around the opening is made of a material having a low electroconductivity.

3. The hairbrush as claimed in claim 2, wherein a portion of the brush base around the opening is made of an electrically insulating material.

4. A hairbrush which comprises;

an ion generator for emitting ions; and

a brush head having a brush base formed with a multiplicity of bristles, said brush base having an opening defined therein for passage of the ions from the ion generator to an outside of the hairbrush;

wherein some of the bristles around the opening in the brush base are removed to provide a plain surface area where no bristle exist,

further comprising an ion guide tube made of an electrically insulating material intervening between the ion generator and the brush base for guiding the ions towards an outside of the hairbrush.

5. An ion generator which comprises a needle electrode, a ground electrode cooperable with the needle electrode to generate a corona discharge in the air to produce ions, an outer body disposed at or in a vicinity of an ion blowoff port, and a resistance element through which the ground electrode is connected with the outer body.

6. The ion generator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the resistance element is made of a material having a high resistance or a semiconductor.

7. The ion generator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the outer body is a brush head of a hairbrush.

8. The ion generator as claimed in claim 5, further comprising an electroconductive plate connected with the outer body, said electroconductive plate and said ground electrode being electrically connected together through the resistance element.

9. An ion generator which comprises a needle electrode, a ground electrode cooperable with the needle electrode to generate a corona discharge in the air to produce ions, an outer body disposed on an ion emission side and exposed to an outside, said outer body being made of an antistatic material and connected with the ground electrode.