HAIR STYLING APPLIANCE

• US 20120227758A1
• Filed: 08/12/2011
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jemella Limited (Agnaten SE)
• Original Assignee: Jemella Limited (Agnaten SE)
• Inventors: Ford, Tom, Sims, Richard, Sinclair, John Allan, McPherson, Jamie
• Granted Patent: US 9,808,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 132/211
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 1/04 by electricity
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 1/28 with means for controlling or indicating the temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2/001 Hair straightening appliances

Abstract

The invention relates to a hair styling appliance (100, 100′, 100″) comprising at least one heater (103, 104) having plurality of heating zones (Z1-Z5). The heating zones are independently operable arranged along the length of the heater. The sequential arrangement of the independently operable heating zones helps to improve the thermal control of the hair styling appliance. The hair styling appliance may be a hair straightener, curling tong, curling wand or a crimping iron.

Claims

1. A hair styling appliance comprising at least one heater having a plurality of heating zones, whereby the heating zones are independently operable and arranged along the length of the heater.

2. A hair styling appliance according to claim 1, further comprising heating zones arranged across the width of the heater.

3. A hair styling appliance according to claim 1, whereby each heating zone is defined by heating means arranged in thermal contact with a portion of a heatable plate

4. A hair styling appliance according to claim 1, whereby each heating zone is defined by heating means arranged in thermal contact with a heatable plate.

5. A hair styling appliance according to claim 3, whereby one or more of the heating zones comprises temperature sensing means arranged in thermal contact with the heatable plate.

6. A hair styling appliance according to claim 3, whereby the heating means comprise one or more heating elements.

7. A hair styling appliance according to claim 6, whereby the heating means comprises overlapping heating elements.

8. A hair styling appliance according to claim 6, whereby the heating means comprises a stacked array of heating elements

9. A hair styling appliance according to claim 6, whereby one or more of the heating elements comprise heat transfer means for thermally engaging an adjacent heating element.

10. A hair styling appliance according to claim 9, whereby the transfer means comprises one or more finger portion protruding from the heating element.

11. A hair styling appliance according to claim 6, whereby a heating element is configured to reduce the power density in a border region of the heating element and an adjacent heating element.

12. A hair styling appliance according to claim 11, whereby the heating element is arranged a predetermined distance from the adjacent heating element.

13. A hair styling appliance according to claim 11, whereby the heating element comprises a reduced power density region configured to face the adjacent heating element.

14. A hair styling appliance according to claim 3, whereby the heating zone comprise resilient, insulating means to insulate the heating means and improve thermal contact between the heating means and heatable plate.

15. A hair styling appliance according to claim 3, further comprising a control system for controlling the operation of the heating zones.

16. A hair styling appliance according to 15, wherein the control system comprises a flexible printed circuit board coupled to the heating zones.

17. A hair styling appliance according to claim 15, wherein the control system comprises sensing means for detecting changes in the position or movement of the hair styling appliance, predicting the intended use of the hair styling appliance and operating the heating zones according to the predicted use.

18. A hair styling appliance according to claim 15, wherein the control system comprises sensing means for detecting characteristics of the hair loaded on the heater and operating the heating zones accordingly.

19. A hair styling appliance according to claim 1, wherein the hair styling appliance is a hair straightener comprising a pair of hinged jaws, wherein each jaw comprises a heater having a plurality of heating zones.

20. A hair styling appliance according to claim 1 wherein the hair styling appliance is a curling tong comprising a heater having a plurality of heating zones.

21. A hair styling appliance according to claim 1 wherein the hair styling appliance is a curling wand comprising a heater having plurality of heating zones.

22. A hair styling appliance according to claim 1, wherein the hair styling appliance is a crimping iron comprising a pair of hinged jaws, wherein in jaw comprises a heater having a plurality of heating zones.

23. A hair styling appliance according to claim 1, further comprising one or more cooling zones.

24. A hair styling appliance according to claim 23, wherein the cooling zones are independently operable.

25. A hair styling appliance according to claim 23, wherein the one or more cooling zones are each defined by cooling means configured to direct cooling air over hair heated in the hair styling appliance.

26. A hair styling appliance according claim 23, wherein the one or more cooling zones are each defined by cooling means arranged in thermal contact with one or more respective cooling plates.

27. A hair styling appliance according to claim 26, wherein the cooling means comprises micro-refrigeration means and/or thermoelectric cooling means.

30. A method of operating a hair styling appliance as defined in claim 1 comprising controlling the supply of power to the heating means of each of the heating zones so as to provide a desired heating effect.

28. A heater suitable for a hair styling appliance, whereby the heater comprises a plurality of independently controllable heating zones arranged along the length of the heater.

29. A heater according to claim 28, further comprising heating zones arranged across the width of the heater.

31. A hair styling appliance comprising at least one heater arranged in thermal contact with a portion of a heatable plate and further comprising one or more cooling zones.

32. A hair styling applicant according to claim 31 wherein the one or more cooling zones are independently operable.

33. A hair styling appliance according to claim 31, wherein the one or more cooling zones are each defined by cooling means configured to direct cooling air over hair heated in the air styling appliance.

34. A hair styling appliance according to claim 31, wherein the one or more cooling zones are each defined by cooling means arranged in thermal contact with one or more cooling plates.

35. A hair styling appliance according to claim 34, wherein the cooling means comprises micro-refrigeration means and/or thermoelectric cooling means.

36. A hair styling appliance according to claim 31, wherein the hair styling appliance is a hair straightener comprising a pair of hinged jaws, and wherein each jaw comprises a said heater and a said heatable plate.

37. (canceled)

38. (canceled)

39. (canceled)