WO2017045719A1

WO2017045719A1 - Hair styling device, hair styling system and method for using the hair styling system

Info

Publication number: WO2017045719A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/071357
Authority: WO
Inventors: Georg MILDE; Irina WINS
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2015-09-17
Filing date: 2015-09-17
Publication date: 2017-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-17
Also published as: EP3349610A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hair styling device (1) comprising: - a support body (2) having a handle portion (3) suitable for being grasped by a user and a styling head (4) suitable for styling a lock of hair put in contact with it, and - heating means placed within the support body (2) for heating at least a hair contacting portion (5) of the styling head (4) intended to get in contact with the lock of hair to be styled. The present invention further relates to a hair styling system comprising the hair styling device and to a method for using the hair styling device.

Description

HAIR STYLING DEVICE, HAIR STYLING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING THE HAIR STYLING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a hair styling device, such in particular a styling iron for hair straightening, to a hair styling system, comprising the hair styling device, and to a method for using the hair styling system.

In the state of the art, a plurality of hair styling devices and in particular of different styling irons is available. These devices differ from each other mainly for the number and the type of functions that the user can control during their use. In particular among the styling irons, the devices which are preferred by the consumers are the ones that allow the users to control numerous parameters and as most precisely as possible, since this allows to maintain the hair healthier. The main drawback of these devices resides on the fact that by increasing the number of parameters to be controlled by the user, also the number of control switches and buttons on the device increases so that it becomes less comfortable for the user to hold the device and it is more probable for the user to accidentally manipulate one of the control switches or buttons while using the device, thus altering the initial operational settings.

Moreover the increase in the number of parameters that can be controlled by the user generally entails an increase also in the size and in the weight of the device as well as higher production costs.

A further drawback of the above mentioned devices is their relatively short lifecycle due to the fact that the high numbers of control switches and buttons are more prone to wear and get damaged.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a hair styling device which is simple and which can be designed in small size and lightweight.

A further aim of the present invention is the realization of a hair styling device which is easy and secure to be used and handled and which is operationally reliable.

Another aim of the present invention is the realization of a hair styling system which is user friendly and which allows the user to set a potentially indefinite number of parameters without requiring the presence of numerous control switches and buttons on the device.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a method for using the hair styling system which is quick and easy to be implemented.

In the hair styling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, just an on/off button is needed on the device and the different operational parameters of the device are set by means of an external unit.

This is achieved by providing the hair styling device according to the invention with a receiver suitable for receiving wireless inputs related to setting parameters selected by a user from an external transmitter and with a control unit operationally connected to the receiver and aimed to adjust the operational parameters of the hair styling device according to the inputs. This allows to maintain the design of the hair styling device as simple as possible without requiring the presence on it of cumbersome buttons or switches that would render more difficult for the user to handle the device.

In an embodiment, the control unit simply sets the temperature reached by the hair contacting portion of the hair styling device according to the inputs received by the receiver. In other embodiments further operational parameters of the device can be set accordingly by the control unit.

In an embodiment the receiver is a Bluetooth^TM receiver.

According to an embodiment the hair styling device comprises first indicating means aimed to emit a visual signal for indicating that the receiver is operationally connected to the external transmitter and, hence, the device can function according to the inputs sent by the external transmitter to the receiver.

In a further embodiment the device comprises second indicating means aimed to emit a different visual signal, like for instance a light of a different color, depending on the inputs received from the external transmitter for each different preset user’s profile of the hair styling device.

In a version of this embodiment the second indicating means comprises a RGB LED.

In the hair styling system realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, besides the hair styling device, an external unit is provided comprising a user interface, through which a user can select between a plurality of setting parameters, and comprising a transmitter which is in communication with the user interface for receiving data concerning the setting parameters selected by the user and which is aimed to transmit wireless inputs to the receiver of the hair styling device, according to the setting parameters data received from the user interface. Hence the functioning of the hair styling device is controlled by the control unit in it according to the setting parameters that are selected by the user and input by the latter in the external unit, thanks to the wireless communication between the external unit and the device.

In an embodiment, the user interface comprises a display screen for displaying a series of setting parameters icons, so that it is made easier for the user to visually select the desired parameters.

In a further embodiment, each setting parameters icon is individually selectable by a user. To each setting parameters icon corresponds an optimal range of values for each of the operational parameters of the hair styling device that can be controlled via the control unit. For instance to the icon corresponding to the setting parameter of thin hair is associated a lower optimal range of temperatures reached by the hair contacting portion of the hair styling device compared with the optimal range of temperatures associated to the icon corresponding to the setting parameter of thick hair.

In another embodiment, the transmitter is aimed to transmit to the receiver of the hair styling device wireless inputs which correspond to the optimal operational parameters of the hair styling device determined on the basis of all the setting parameters selected by the user. The operational parameters of the device are therefore defined according to all the preferences set by the user in the external unit through the user interface, evaluating the values which best respond to all the parameters entered by the user.

In the method realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, before starting styling the hair, the user can simply turn on the hair styling device, access the user interface of the external unit and confirm the user’s profile final setting parameters through the user interface of the external unit, upon verifying that the operational connection between the receiver of the hair styling device and the transmitter of the external unit is active.

In a version of the method, before confirming the user’s profile final setting parameters, the user can select one or more setting parameters icons from a series of setting parameters icons displayed on a display screen of the user interface of the external unit. Each setting parameters icon is associated to a respective optimal range of values for each of the operational parameters of the hair styling device and the combinations of the setting parameters selected through the setting parameters icons determine the user’s profile final setting parameters.

In another version, the method further comprises verifying that the selected user’s profile setting parameters are correctly received by the receiver of the hair styling device by checking the visual signal of second indicating means on the support body of the hair styling device.

The hair styling device and the system realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention are illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is a schematic view of a hair styling system according to the present invention.

Figure 2 – is a plan view of a hair styling device according to the present invention.

Figure 3 – is a schematic view of an external unit and of a plurality of versions of the user interface while displaying different setting parameters icons that can be selected by the user and while displaying the final setting parameters icon.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Hair styling device
Support body
Handle portion
Styling head
Hair contacting portion
On/off button
First indicating means
Second indicating means
Third indicating means
External unit
User interface
Display screen
Setting parameters icons
Final setting parameters icon

100. Hair styling system

The hair styling device 1 comprises a support body 2 having a handle portion 3 suitable for being grasped by a user and a styling head 4 suitable for styling a lock of hair put in contact with it. The hair styling device 1 further comprises heating means placed within the support body 2 for heating at least a hair contacting portion 5 of the styling head 4 intended to get in contact with the lock of hair to be styled.

In the attached Figures 1 and 2 the hair styling device 1 is a styling iron generally used for straightening hair. According to this embodiment the hair contacting portion 5 of the styling head 4 which is heated by the heating means comprises two opposite plates, generally made of ceramic or metal, between which the lock of hair is intended to be positioned to be shaped as desired. Although in the preferred embodiment of the present invention the hair styling device 1 is a styling iron, obviously the hair contacting portion 5 of the styling head 4 could comprise different accessories, such as for instance curling devices, or the hair styling device 1 could be a different device such as for instance a hot air brush, without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

According to the present invention, the hair styling device 1 further comprises a receiver, placed in the support body 2, suitable for receiving from an external transmitter wireless inputs related to the setting parameters selected by a user, and a control unit, placed in the support body 2, operationally connected to the receiver and aimed to adjust the operational parameters of the hair styling device 1 according to the wireless inputs received by the receiver.

The hair styling device 1 according to the present invention allows therefore the user to set a potentially indefinite number of parameters that, together, define the optimal operational parameters of the hair styling device 1 without however requiring the presence of as many switches and buttons as the number of parameters controlled by the user. The present device 1 in fact is designed to simply receive inputs from an external unit according to the setting parameters selected by the user and input by the latter in the external unit, as better specified in the following.

Therefore the hair styling device 1 can be provided on its support body 2 only with an on/off button or switch 6 and its operational parameters can be precisely controlled by the user through the external unit, without thus the presence of extra switches and/or buttons on the support body 2 of the hair styling device 1 being necessary. This renders the hair styling device 1 particularly easy to be handle, preventing the user from accidentally altering the selected setting parameters by inadvertently pressing on one or more of the extra control buttons.

According to an embodiment, the operational parameters of the hair styling device 1 adjusted by the control unit comprise at least the temperature reached by the hair contacting portion 5 of the styling head 4. According to the setting parameters selected by the user, in fact, such as for instance the type of hair, i.e. thin, normal or thick hair, the color of the hair, their length etc., an optimal value of temperature that should be reached by the hair contacting portion 5 of the styling head 4 is determined. The temperature reached by the hair contacting portion 5 of the styling head 4 is moreover the most important operational parameter of the styling device 1 that the user desires to control carefully since from it both the efficiency of the hair styling device 1 and the probability to cause damages to the hair are depending.

Further operational parameters of the hair styling device 1 can be determined on the basis of the setting parameters selected by the user, such as for instance the heating time of the hair contacting portion 5 of the styling head 4, the interval of time during which it should be heated or the flow rate of hot air in case the hair styling device 1 is a hot air brush.

According to an embodiment, the receiver is a Bluetooth^TM receiver. This ensures an easy and reliable transmission of data to the hair styling device 1. Differently the receiver could be for instance a WiFi receiver.

In an embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the hair styling device 1 further comprises first indicating means 7 placed on the support body 2 and aimed to emit a visual signal for indicating the active operational connection of the receiver with the external transmitter. In a version of this embodiment, the first indicating means 7 comprises a LED light source which is suitable to be turned on, emitting light, when the connection between the receiver and the external transmitter is active.

In another embodiment, as well illustrated in Figure 2, the hair styling device 1 comprises second indicating means 8 placed on the support body 2 and aimed to emit a different visual signal depending on the inputs received from the external transmitter associated to each different preset user’s profile of the hair styling device 1. More clearly the second indicating means 8 are designed to emit a specific visual signal associated to a correspondent user’s profile set in the external unit by the user. The visual signal emitted by the second indicating means 8 depends on the specific inputs received by the receiver of the hair styling device 1 from the external transmitter according to the specific user’s profile selected. In particular each user’s profile could be associated to different users or to different styling programs used by a single user.

In a version of this embodiment, the second indicating means 8 comprises a RGB LED. In this case the second indicating means 8 are designed to emit light of a different color for each user’s profile. The RGB LED is a simple lighting device that allows to emit a high number of different colors thus allowing to distinguish between as many user’s profiles.

In an embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the hair styling device 1 comprises third indicating means 9 placed on the support body 2 and aimed to emit a visual signal for indicating that the hair styling device 1 is turned on. In a version of this embodiment, the third indicating means 9 comprises a LED light source which is suitable to be turned on, emitting light, when the hair styling device 1 is turned on.

It is an object of the present invention also a hair styling system 100 comprising a hair styling device 1 as above described, for which the same reference numbers will be maintained. The hair styling system 100, schematically illustrated in Figure 1, further comprises an external unit 10 comprising a user interface 11, through which a user can select between a plurality of setting parameters, and a transmitter which is in communication with the user interface 11 for receiving data concerning the setting parameters selected by the user. The transmitter is aimed to transmit wireless inputs to the receiver of the hair styling device 1, according to the setting parameters data received from the user interface.

By means of the external unit 10, which is for instance a mobile phone such as a smart phone, a tablet or a computer, and through the user interface 11, the user can therefore select the preferred setting parameters. The operational parameters of the hair styling device 1 will be accordingly automatically set by the control unit of the hair styling device 1 depending on the wireless inputs transmitted by the transmitter of the external unit 10.

According to an embodiment, the user interface 11 comprises a display screen 12 for displaying a series of setting parameters icons 13. This allows the user to easily select the setting parameters by visualizing the correspondent icons. The hair styling system 100 is in this case more user friendly, being more easily and intuitively usable.

For instance the setting parameters icons could comprise a visual reproduction of the hair or hair style features that the user should select, like the quality of the hair, their length or color, or the style of hair that the user would like to obtain by means of the hair styling device 1, as schematically represented in Figure 3.

In an embodiment, each setting parameters icon is individually selectable by the user and it is associated with an optimal range of values for each of the operational parameters of the hair styling device 1 capable of being adjusted by the hair styling device 1 via the control unit.

In a further embodiment, the transmitter is aimed to transmit to the receiver of the hair styling device 1 wireless inputs which correspond to the optimal operational parameters of the hair styling device 1 determined on the basis of all the setting parameters selected by the user.

Therefore by selecting the icon corresponding to a preferred option for each of the setting parameters, the user indirectly selects the optimal operational parameters of the styling device 1. The optimal operational parameters, in fact, will be automatically set by the control unit of the device 1 according to the inputs received from the transmitter, which inputs are defined depending on the setting parameters selected by the user on the external unit 10.

The hair styling device 1 and the system 100 according to the invention allow therefore the user to select among a high number of different setting parameters still ensuring optimal ease and security of use.

Moreover the hair styling device 1 and the system 100 according to the invention can be regularly updated by simply updating the software that allows the functioning of the device 1 or of the external unit 10, thus ensuring a longer life to the device 1, which can continue to meet the needs of the users upon time.

It is an object of the present invention also a method for using a hair style system 100 as above described, which method comprises turning on the hair styling device 1, in particular by pressing the on/off button 6 or acting on the on/off switch, and accessing the user interface 11 of the external unit 10.

The method further comprises verifying that the operational connection between the receiver of the hair styling device 1 and the transmitter of the external unit 10 is active by checking the visual signal of first indicating means 7 on the support body 2 of the hair styling device 1. In particular, according to an embodiment, the user checks if the light of the first indicating means 7 is turned on or has reached a specific color, in order to be sure that the hair styling device 1 is correctly operationally connected to the external unit 10.

The method hence comprises confirming the user’s profile final setting parameters through the user interface 11 of the external unit 10.

Advantageously, in fact, the preferred setting parameters of each user can be recorded and made available for the user in the user interface 11 of the external unit 10 so that it is not necessary for the user to select again the preferred setting parameters each time he/she will be using the hair styling device 1.

In particular, in case the user interface 11 comprises a display screen 12, the user’s profile final setting parameters are visualized on the display screen 12 as a final setting parameters icon 14, which is advantageously visually summarizing the setting parameters selected by the user and the operational parameters that will be implemented in the hair styling device 1. In particular the final setting parameters icon 14 can comprise also the name of the user’s profile in question and the color associated to it, for instance represented beside the name as illustrated in the form of a circle in Figure 3. The same color will be advantageously displayed also by the second indicating means 8, in order to render immediately clear to the user handling the device 1 which is the user’s profile being implemented by the device 1.

The method further comprises separating a lock of hair from the remaining hair and putting it in contact with the styling head 4 of the hair styling device 1 to shape it as desired. This last step is repeated by the user until the whole hair or the amount of hair desired by the user are shaped as desired by the user.

In a version of the method, the latter further comprises, before confirming the user’s profile final setting parameters, selecting one or more setting parameters icons 13 from a series of setting parameters icons 13 displayed on a display screen 12 of the user interface 11 of the external unit 10. Each setting parameters icon 13 is associated with a respective optimal range of values for each of the operational parameters of the hair styling device 1 and the combinations of the setting parameters selected through the setting parameters icons 13 determines the user’s profile final setting parameters.

Therefore this further step is performed in the present method just when the user desires to set a new user’s profile or desires to change one or more of the setting parameters with respect to the selections already recorded in the user interface.

In another version, the method further comprises verifying that the selected user’s profile setting parameters are correctly received by the receiver of the hair styling device 1 by checking the visual signal of second indicating means 8 on the support body 2 of the hair styling device 1.

In particular, according to an embodiment, the user checks the color of the light of the second indicating means 8, in order to control that the selected user’s profile, to which a specific color of the light emitted by the second indicating means 8 corresponds, will be implemented by the hair styling device 1.

The method according to the present invention therefore allows the user to select the setting parameters in an easy and intuitive manner by using the user interface 11 of the external unit 10. Moreover it allows to switch between different users or between different hair styling setting in a quick, easy and secure manner.

Claims

A hair styling device (1) comprising:

- a support body (2) having a handle portion (3) suitable for being grasped by a user and a styling head (4) suitable for styling a lock of hair put in contact with it,

- heating means placed within the support body (2) for heating at least a hair contacting portion (5) of the styling head (4) intended to get in contact with the lock of hair to be styled,

characterized in that it further comprises a receiver suitable for receiving wireless inputs related to setting parameters selected by a user from an external transmitter and a control unit operationally connected to the receiver and aimed to adjust the operational parameters of the hair styling device (1) according to the inputs.
A hair styling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the operational parameters of the hair styling device (1) adjusted by the control unit comprise at least the temperature reached by the at least a hair contacting portion (5) of the styling head (4).
A hair styling device (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the receiver is a Bluetooth^TM receiver.
A hair styling device (1) as in any of the previous claims, characterized in that it further comprises first indicating means (7) placed on the support body (2) and aimed to emit a visual signal for indicating the active operational connection of the receiver with the external transmitter.
A hair styling device (1) as in any of the previous claims, characterized in that it further comprises second indicating means (8) placed on the support body (2) and aimed to emit a different visual signal depending on the inputs received from the external transmitter associated to each different preset user’s profile of the hair styling device (1).
A hair styling device (1) as in Claim 5, characterized in that the second indicating means (8) comprises a RGB LED.
A hair styling system (100) characterized in that it comprises a hair styling device (1) as in any of the previous claims and an external unit (10) comprising a user interface (11), through which a user can select between a plurality of setting parameters, and a transmitter which is in communication with the user interface (11) for receiving data concerning the setting parameters selected by the user and which is aimed to transmit wireless inputs to the receiver of the hair styling device (1), according to the setting parameters data received from the user interface.
A hair styling system (100) as in Claim 7, characterized in that the user interface (11) comprises a display screen (12) for displaying a series of setting parameters icons (13).
A hair styling system (100) as in Claim 8, characterized in that each setting parameters icon is individually selectable by a user and it is associated with an optimal range of values for each of the operational parameters of the hair styling device (1) capable of being adjusted by the hair styling device (1) via the control unit.
A hair styling system (100) as in Claim 9, characterized in that the transmitter is aimed to transmit to the receiver of the hair styling device (1) wireless inputs which correspond to the optimal operational parameters of the hair styling device (1) determined on the basis of all the setting parameters selected by the user.
A method for using a hair style system (100) as in any of the claims 7 to 10, characterized in that it comprises:

- turning on the hair styling device (1);

- accessing the user interface (11) of the external unit (10);

- verifying that the operational connection between the receiver of the hair styling device (1) and the transmitter of the external unit (10) is active by checking the visual signal of first indicating means (7) on the support body (2) of the hair styling device (1);

- confirming the user’s profile final setting parameters through the user interface (11) of the external unit (10);

- separating a lock of hair from the remaining hair and putting it in contact with the styling head (4) of the hair styling device (1) to shape it as desired.
A method for using a hair style system (100) as in Claim 11, characterized in that it further comprises, before confirming the user’s profile final setting parameters, selecting one or more setting parameters icons (13) from a series of setting parameters icons (13) displayed on a display screen (12) of a user interface (11) of an external unit (10), each setting parameters icon (13) being associated with a respective optimal range of values for each of the operational parameters of the hair styling device (1), the combinations of the setting parameters selected through the setting parameters icons (13) determining the user’s profile final setting parameters.
A method for using a hair style system (100) as in Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that it further comprises verifying that the selected user’s profile setting parameters are correctly received by the receiver of the hair styling device (1) by checking the visual signal of second indicating means (8) on the support body (2) of the hair styling device (1).