EP2305061A1 - Hair straightening device - Google Patents

Abstract

The hair straightening device (1) has a comb-shaped straightening tool (3) with a molded part (7) and another molded part for forming a hair forming gap between the both molded parts of a hair receptacle. The hair forming gap placed between the molded parts is undercut in the hair shaping place of the molded parts in direction towards limiting of the hair receptacle connecting a teeth (5) of the hair straightening device.

Description

The invention relates to a hair straightening device comprising a comb-like smoothing tool with spaced in each case by a hair receptacle, arranged in a row tines, associated with at least one each prong, opposite the further, this hair receiving bordering prong arranged first molded part and with one of further, this hair receptacle enclosing prong associated second molding for forming a hair styling gap between the two mold parts of a hair receptacle.

Hair straighteners, so-called straighteners, can be equipped with a comb-like smoothing tool. The smoothing tool of such hair straightening devices comprises a comb row formed from spaced-apart prongs, with two adjacent and spaced-apart prongs enclosing a hair receptacle. For the process of hair straightening, each hair receptacle or at least one of the two prongs enclosing each hair receptacle has a first molding. This is movable relative to the other, the hair-receiving tine mounted. The first molded part of each hair pick is associated with a second molded part. Between the two moldings, which act for the process of hair-forming under bias against each other, there is a hair styling gap, in which a hair strand provided for smoothing is inserted. Smoothing as such is achieved by applying the hair straightener to the hair root end of the hair section to be straightened, inserting the hair strands into the hair receivers of the smoothing tool, and pulling the hair strands through the hair straighteners through the smoothing tool. This is typically done by a corresponding movement of the hair straightening device relative to the head of a person wearing the hair to be smoothed, whose hair is to be smoothed.

According to a prior art hair straightening device, the first movably mounted moldings are each spring-mounted individually on a prong. In such a hair straightener, the insertion of a strand of hair takes place in a hair-shaped gap against the force of the force acting on the first mold parts spring element. If the hair is located or if individual strands of hair are in the several hair-form gaps, the smoothing movement is carried out. In this case, the spring force acting on the individual first molded parts determines the force that acts on the hair for the process of smoothing. The second molded part then constitutes the abutment. To provide the heat necessary for the process of hair straightening, this prior art hair straightening device has a hot air blower whose warm air flow is introduced into the smoothing tool. The smoothing tool itself has air outlet openings in the region of the root areas of the stationary prongs, so that the hot air stream emerging therefrom reaches the hair to be formed.

Out EP 1 721 539 A1 Another generic hair straightening device is known. This hair straightening device differs from the previously described, characterized in that the first mold parts are interconnected by a web and these mold parts can be moved as a molding unit as a whole relative to the fixed prongs against the force of a return spring. It is provided that the molding unit can be brought by means of an actuating element in her hair styling opening position. This has the advantage that an introduction of the hair strands to be inserted into the respective hair-form gaps is simplified. Moreover, it is possible in this embodiment, the restoring force and thus to be able to adjust the force acting on the hair for the process of hair straightening force. This previously known hair straightening device has a hot air blower for supplying the heat required for a hair shaping.

In hair straightening devices of the aforementioned type, which have a comb-like smoothing tool, it has been found that hair strands or parts thereof repeatedly emerge from the hair styling gaps in the process of hair shaping and are therefore not or at least not adequately smoothed. This has the consequence that, in order to smooth all desired hair, the smoothing process must be repeated several times.

Heat is supplied to the hair to be formed by means of an air flow, This not only results in a heating of the hair to be formed, but the stream of hot air also dries the hair. Sometimes too fast drying of the hair to be formed is undesirable.

In addition to hair straightening devices of the aforementioned type, those are also used which consist of two tongs-like abutting arms, each arm comprising a molded part pointing to the other arm. These moldings are in the design of a straightener plate-like with a flat surface. The force acting on the hair to be smoothed is manually brought by the respective user as a result of the closing movement and thus by the applied closing force on the arms. Due to the relatively large hair styling surface, these hair straighteners do not pose the risk that individual strands of hair emerge from the hair styling gap during the exercise of the typical smoothing movement. Care must be taken in these hair straightening devices, however, that the hair strand received in the hair styling gap is not too large. This in turn can not occur in the hair straightening tools described above with a comb-like smoothing tool as a result of the Haarsträhnenteilung made by it as a rule.

Based on the discussed prior art, the invention is therefore the object of developing a Haarglättvorrichtung mentioned above in such a way that the indicated to the initially acknowledged prior art disadvantages are at least largely avoided.

This object is achieved according to the invention with an aforementioned, generic Haarglättvorrichtung, in which the hairstyles located between the moldings are undercut at least in the Haarformstellung the moldings to each other in the direction of the tines connecting the boundary of the hair shots.

In this hair straightening device, the hair shape gaps enclosed by the two molded parts are undercut. The undercut extends in the direction of the delimitation of the hair receptacles extending between the prongs. Thus enlarges after a bottleneck of the hair styling gap in the direction of the hair to be introduced into a hair styling gap. The hair strands to be formed are thus for the process of smoothing in a tapering in the direction of the tip of the tines hair styling gap. Thus, in contrast to previously known hair straightening devices, the hair styling gap located between the two molded parts is basically closed to one another in the process of hair straightening by partially contacting the two molded parts.

If the hair-styling gap is not completely closed after inserting a strand of hair, since a too large strand of hair has been taken up in a hair-styling gap, in the course of the hair-shaping process in which the straightening device is pulled through the hair, those hairs will emerge from the hair-styling gap which forms a closure of the hair-styling gap Hairstyles have prevented. The result is that after a sufficient number of hair has been pulled out of the mold gap again, the mold gap is then closed by abutting the two mold parts in the region of the throat forming the undercut. Since the process of adapting too large a strand within a hair styling gap to the intended maximum size typically already sets in the course of a first short hair straightening movement, this does not affect the molding process of the further hair remaining in the hair styling gap. Thus, it is ensured at the same time with this hair straightening device that the hair shaping process as such is always the same, at least approximately the same, on the respective shaped hairs or hair strands. This improves the result of smoothing. A frequent repetition of the smoothing process is typically not required.

Such a conception of the hair styling gap or of the molded part enclosing a hair styling gap is equally suitable for hair straightening devices in which the movable molded parts are mounted independently of each other in a respective prong and for hair straightening devices in which the movable hair styling parts are combined to form a shaped part unit.

In order to use the height of the first movably mounted moldings for the process of hair styling as much as possible, is located the mouth of the hair styling gap and thus the bottleneck for forming the undercut typically in the area of the top of the tine top of the moldings. However, in order to facilitate the introduction of a strand of hair into a hair-styling gap, the movable shaped parts will be equipped with a bevel inclined in the direction of the constriction.

According to one embodiment, the movable mold parts are connected to each other by at least one web and form a rigid objective molding unit. This is movably mounted opposite the fixed tines. It is particularly advantageous if such a molding unit is made of a good heat-conducting material, such as an aluminum alloy, for example by means of a die-casting process. As part of the molding unit, an electric heater may be provided for heating the moldings. In such an embodiment, the provision of a stream of hot air to bring the heat required for the hair-shaping process to the hair to be formed, is not required. Rather, the hair strands introduced into the hair styling gaps are heated directly from the heated first mold parts in such an embodiment. This has the advantage that a hair straightening device designed in this way can be designed to be relatively small in construction. As an electric heater is suitable, for example, to the at least one of the molded parts interconnecting web mounted PTC heating element. The heat well-conductive properties allow a rapid and uniform heating of the molding unit and thus belonging to this unit moldings. In principle, it is also possible to arrange another electrical resistance heater at the corresponding position. Furthermore, there is the possibility of integrating an electrical resistance heating element in the molded parts in the case of a molded part unit produced by means of a casting process, which heating element is then surrounded by the molded part unit. Such a configuration allows a particularly rapid heating of the individual moldings. In an alternative refinement, a typically cast-in, electrical heating element is integrated in the molded part unit in the one or more webs connecting the individual molded parts.

As the second, with the first mold parts cooperating moldings can the serve the first mold parts with respect to the respective hair pick opposite prongs or at least partially. According to a further embodiment, it is provided that the second mold parts are received in the opposite of the first mold parts prongs elements. These may likewise be a molded part unit formed by means of one or more webs. In such an embodiment, it is expedient to produce this second molding unit also from a good heat-conducting material, such as an aluminum alloy, such as by a casting process. In this embodiment, the second mold parts may also be equipped with a heater designed as described above for the first mold part unit. In this embodiment, in each case the two mold parts which cooperate with one another to form a hair styling gap are heated. In principle, however, it is considered sufficient if only one of the two moldings is heated. In such a case, the other, unheated molding is miterwärmt by the non-use, typically by spring preload on these adjacent other moldings, so that heated for the hair-forming process, the two forming a hair shape moldings.

Fig. 1:

eine Haarglättvorrichtung mit einem kammartig ausgebildeten Glättwerkzeug gemäß einer ersten Ausgestaltung,

Fig. 2:

eine vergrößerte Darstellung des Glättwerkzeuges der Glättvor- richtung der Figur 1 in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 3:

eine vergrößerte Darstellung des Glättwerkzeuges der Glättvor- richtung der Figur 1 in einer Draufsicht,

Fg. 4:

eine vergrößerte Darstellung des Glättwerkzeuges der Figur 2 mit den beweglichen Teilen des Glättwerkzeuges in einer Haar- glättstellung zueinander,

Fig. 5:

einen Längsschnitt durch das Glättwerkzeug der Figur 2,

Fig. 6:

die wesentlichen Elemente eines Glättwerkzeuges gemäß einer weiteren Ausgestaltung für eine Haarglättvorrichtung,

Fig. 7:

in einer perspektivischen Ansicht nach Art einer Explosionsdar- stellung am Aufbau des Glättwerkzeuges der Figur 6 beteiligte Komponenten,

Fig. 8:

das Glättwerkzeug der Figur 6 in einem Längsschnitt in einer ersten Stellung seiner beweglichen Formteile,

Fig. 9:

einen Querschnitt durch das Glättwerkzeug der Figur 8 entlang der Linie B - B,

Fig. 10:

einen Längsschnitt durch das Glättwerkzeug der Figur 8 ent- lang der Linie C1 - C1 und

Fig. 11:

einen Längsschnitt durch das Glättwerkzeug der Figur 8 in der Stellung seiner beweglichen Teile in Glättposition.

Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description of two embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

Fig. 1:

a hair straightening device with a comb-like smoothing tool according to a first embodiment,

Fig. 2:

an enlarged view of the smoothing tool of the smoothing of the FIG. 1 in a side view,

3:

an enlarged view of the smoothing tool of the smoothing of the FIG. 1 in a plan view,

Fig. 4:

an enlarged view of the smoothing tool of FIG. 2 with the moving parts of the smoothing tool in a hair straightening position,

Fig. 5:

a longitudinal section through the smoothing tool of FIG. 2 .

Fig. 6:

the essential elements of a smoothing tool according to a further embodiment of a hair straightening device,

Fig. 7:

in a perspective view in the manner of an exploded view of the structure of the smoothing tool of FIG. 6 involved components,

Fig. 8:

the smoothing tool of FIG. 6 in a longitudinal section in a first position of its movable moldings,

Fig. 9:

a cross section through the smoothing tool of FIG. 8 along the line B - B,

Fig. 10:

a longitudinal section through the smoothing tool of FIG. 8 along the line C1 - C1 and

Fig. 11:

a longitudinal section through the smoothing tool of FIG. 8 in the position of its moving parts in smoothing position.

A hair straightening device 1 has a smoothing tool 3 connected to a handle 2. The smoothing tool 3 is electrically heated. For the power supply, the hair straightening device 1 has an electrical connection cable 4. The smoothing tool 3 is designed comb-like and has a series spaced apart, fixed tines 5 on. In each prong 5, with the exception of the outermost prong of the tine row arranged adjacent to the tip 6 of the smoothing tool 3, each prong 5 is assigned a movable, first molded part 7. As is explained below, the molded parts 7 are combined together to form a molded part unit. The molding unit is movable in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the row of tines and can from its in FIG. 1 shown position by actuation of a designed in the illustrated embodiment as a button 8 control element translationally adjusted in the direction of the handle 2. The tines 5 are executed together with a cover 9, which forms part of the housing of the smoothing tool 3, as a plastic injection molded part. The tines 5 are designed arcuate and summarize the first molded parts 7, as from FIG. 2 recognizable, one. In each case two prongs 5 arranged adjacent to one another enclose a hair receptacle 10. Part of the hair intake 10 is an in FIG. 2 open hairline 11 which extends between each first mold part 7 and the side of the adjacent prong 5 facing this mold part 7. The first mold parts 7 have been moved as a molded part unit by corresponding actuation of the button 8 against the force of a return spring against the stationary arranged prongs 5.

How out FIG. 2 Furthermore, it can be seen that the forming surface of the first mold parts 7 pointing towards the adjacent tines 5 is curved in the direction from the tips of the tines 5 to the lower boundary of the hair shape gaps 11, forming an undercut 13 adjoining a constriction 12. The hair receiver 10 and thus also the undercut 13 is limited by a boundary extending between adjacent tines 5, formed by sections of the cover 9. This limitation is in relation to an undercut in FIG. 1 designated by the reference numeral 14. The portion of the molded parts 7 located in the boundary 14 with respect to the upper end 15 is curved in the direction of the tines 5 accommodating the molded parts 7, in the illustrated embodiment so far that the curvature extends as far as the tines 5 Arch extends into when the mold parts 7, as in FIG. 2 shown in their hair-forming columns opening position. This facilitates insertion of a strand of hair into a hair receptacle or into a hair styling gap 11.

From the top view of the smoothing tool 3 of FIG. 3 It can be seen that the first molded parts 7 are corrugated in transverse extension. As a result of the corrugation, two mold flanks 16, 16.1 are formed in each molded part 7.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged section of the smoothing tool 3, in which the first mold parts 7 are in their respective hair styling gap 11 occlusive position. This, in FIG. 4 shown position represents the position of the mold parts 7 during a smoothing process. It can be clearly seen that the hair-forming columns 11 are not closed as a whole are, but only in the region of the bottlenecks 12. Thus, the hair-forming columns 11 remain open with respect to the hair filling the undercut 13 so that the desired hair styling pressure for smoothing acts on the molded parts on the hairs received in the undercuts 13.

The tines 5 are as out FIG. 5 recognizable, arcuate executed. This has the advantage that in the open position of the hair-form gaps 11, the molded parts 7 are not only accommodated in the prong 5 associated with the respective molded part 7 (see FIG FIG. 1 ) but also that when receiving only relatively little hair in a hair styling gap 11 facing the adjacent prong 5 front can engage in the back of the adjacent prong.

FIG. 5 shows the first moldings in a position between the in FIG. 2 shown open position and the in FIG. 4 shown closed position. In the in FIG. 4 shown closed position, the mold parts 7 are opposite to the adjacent prongs 5, when in the undercut 13 of the hair mold columns 11 a sufficient amount of hair is added so that the mold parts 7 are not further moved into the second mold parts forming adjacent prongs. In the in the FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrated embodiment act with the first, above-described molded parts 7 to these mold parts respectively facing backs 17 of the adjacent tines 5 together. The design of the mold surface of the moldings 17 with their mold flanks 16, 16.1 serves the purpose that a hair shaping on the in FIG. 5 Marked by the reference numeral 18 edge. The acting on the detected hair forming force is then concentrated on these edges.

The first movable mold parts 7 are connected to each other via a web 20 to form a rigid objective unit. This unit formed from the web 20 and the individual molded parts 7 is produced by means of a die-casting process from an aluminum alloy. This unit is adjustable against the force of a return spring 21 by means of the button 8 in the direction of the handle 2. If the button 8 is not actuated, the return spring 21 causes the hair styling gaps 11 are closed. An actuation of the button 8 to open the hair styling column 11th serves the purpose of receiving strands of hair in the respective hair shots 10 or hair styling 11th

To the bottom 22 of the mold parts 7 connecting web 20 is connected in a manner not shown, a PTC heating element in a heat-coupling on the bottom 22 arrangement. Whose performance is adjustable via a control element arranged on the handle 2. Due to the good thermal conductivity of the material used for the web 20 and the molded parts 7, a uniform and rapid distribution of the heat generated by the PTC heating element for heating the mold surfaces of the molded parts 7 takes place.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the essential elements of a smoothing tool 23 according to another embodiment. The smoothing tool 23 has in addition to the already to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 described components - a series of tines formed by tines 24 and a mold unit 25 with the two in this embodiment, two webs 26, 26.1 held together first molded parts 27 - via a second mold part unit 28. The second mold part unit 28 has individual moldings 29 which through a common web 30 are connected to each other. The molding unit 28 is also in the illustrated embodiment, a manufactured by means of a die-casting process of an aluminum alloy molding.

The arrangement of the mold parts 27, 29 to each other is from the longitudinal section of FIG. 8 recognizable. FIG. 8 shows the smoothing tool 23 in the open position of its moldings 27. The mold parts 27, 29 are received in the arcuate tines 24. The cross section along the line B - B of FIG. 9 makes it clear that the outline geometry of the molded parts 27 and their dimensions is adapted to the inner circumferential surface of the arc-shaped tines 24. In the case of the smoothing tool 23, the molded parts 29 serve as second molded parts. The illustration of the smoothing tool 23 in FIG FIG. 8 shows that the hair styling gap 31 in the direction of the free end of the tines 24 towards closing constriction 32 is in the region of the upper end of the mold parts 27 and thereby the usable height of the hair mold columns 31 and the mold parts 27 for the process of hair styling is correspondingly large , Even with the smoothing tool 23 is the mold unit 25 with respect to the prongs 24 and the equally stationary arranged molding unit 28 with their mold parts 29 adjustable. The adjusting movement for closing the constriction 32 also takes place in this embodiment by the force of one or more spring elements. The opposite direction of movement is actuated by a typically manually operable control element, such as a button as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 described causes.

Are introduced into the hair shape column 31 of the smoothing tool 23 strands of hair, the mold parts 27 is released in its open position holding element, so that then the hair shape column 31, as shown FIG. 11 recognizable, be closed. In this smoothing tool 23, the process of hair styling takes place mainly between the mold parts 27, 29. The inwardly facing edges of the prongs 24 are used as well as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 additionally as a hair-shaped edge.

For supplying heat to the hair to be formed, the smoothing tool 23 has a heating device, not shown, which may be formed, such as that of the smoothing tool 3 of the hair straightening device 1. By this, the molding unit 25 and / or the molding unit 28 can be heated.

The invention has been described with reference to embodiments. Without departing from the scope of the applicable claims, numerous other embodiments will become apparent to a person skilled in the art to be able to realize the invention without this having to be explained in detail.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Haarglättvorrichtung

2

handle

3

smoothing tool

4

connection cable

5

prong

6

top

7

molding

8th

button

9

cover shell

10

hair recording

11

Hair styling gap

12

bottleneck

13

undercut

14

limit

15

graduation

16,16.1

form edge

17

back

18

edge

20

web

21

Return spring

22

ground

23

smoothing tool

24

prong

25

Molding unit

26, 26.1

web

27

molding

28

Molding unit

29

molding

30

web

31

Hair styling gap

32

bottleneck

33

undercut

Claims (11)

Hair straightening device comprising a comb-like smoothing tool (3, 23) with teeth (5, 24) arranged in a row spaced apart by a respective hair receptacle (10) and associated with at least one each prong (5, 24) further, this hair receptacle (10) enclosing prong (5, 24) movably arranged first molded part (7, 17) and with one of the further, this hair receptacle (10) enclosing prong (5) associated with the second mold part (5; 24, 29) Forming a hair styling gap (11, 31) between the two mold parts (5, 7, 24, 27, 29) of a hair receptacle (10), characterized in that the hair styling gaps located between the mold parts (5, 7; 24, 27, 29) (11, 31) are undercut at least in the Haarformstellung the mold parts (5, 7, 24, 27, 29) to each other in the direction of the tines (5, 24) connecting boundary of the hair receptacles (10). Hair straightening device according to claim 1, characterized in that the undercut (13, 33) of the hair styling gaps (11, 31) extends substantially over the entire height of the mold parts (5, 7; 24, 27, 29) effective for the hair straightening process. extends in her Haarformstellung. Hair straightening device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the movable molded parts (7, 27) are connected to one another by at least one web (20; 26, 26.1) and a rigid, objective, mounted relative to the tines (5, 24) movable molded part unit ( 25, 28) form. Hair straightening device according to claim 3, characterized in that the mold part unit (25, 28) is made of a good heat-conducting material and that part of the mold part unit (25, 28) is an electric heater for heating the mold parts (7, 27). Hair straightening device according to claim 4, characterized in that the tines (5, 24) are arcuate and the region enclosed by the respective tine arch area of one of the peripheral surfaces of the first mold parts (7, 27) corresponding cross-sectional geometry with a dimension that the first molded parts (7, 27) fit into it. Hair straightening device according to claim 5 in its back reference to claim 4, characterized in that the first mold parts (7, 27) in the open position of the hair styling columns (11, 31) at least partially received within the of the respective mold part (7, 27) associated with the tine is. Hair straightening device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second mold parts cooperating with the first mold parts (7) which are movably mounted are formed by the respective prongs (5) lying opposite the first mold part. Hair straightening device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the second mold parts cooperating with the first mold parts (27) are formed by the molded parts (29) assigned to the prongs (24) opposite the first mold parts (27). Hair straightening device according to claim 8, characterized in that the second molded parts (29) are interconnected by at least one web (26, 26.1). Hair straightening device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the second mold parts (29) are made of a heat-conducting material. Hair straightening device according to one of claims 8 to 10 in reference to claim 5, characterized in that the second mold parts (29) are arranged at least partially within a tine arch.

Images