Induction Heated Hair Styling Appliances And The Heating Unit Therefor
A heated hair-styling appliance for styling hair through heat is provided. The heated hair-styling appliance comprises a heating head having an outer shell covering at least part of the surface thereof, and an inner heat source core disposed within the inner part of the heating head, and a handle attached to a distal end of the heating head. The heated hair-styling appliance works in conjunction with an independent heating unit to heat up the inner heat source core, and the heat source core operationally supplies heat to heat up the outer shell for styling hair after it is being heated. A induction heating unit therefor is also provided.
The present invention generally relates to heated brush. More particularly, the present invention relates to a heated brush for hair styling and a heating unit for heating up the heated brush.
BACKGROUNDHair styling often requires heating up hair to style it. Depending on the used, different hair styling appliances have different ways of heating up. For example, curling tongs and hair straightening device, such devices requires electrical power to continuously heating up the heating elements thereon. Most commonly, the electrical power is supplied through a power cord/wire connected thereto. Such power cord/wire often get in the users' way when they operate these appliances.
Another hair styling appliance includes thermal brush that is commonly used in conjunction with a hair blower/dryer. The hair blower/dryer serves as a heat source to heat up hair as well as the thermal brush operationally. It is recognized that ordinary users may face challenges to operate several appliances simultaneously. Further, such appliances do not retain heat within the appliances itself; as soon as the hair blower stops blowing heated air to the thermal brush, it cools down very quickly.
There is a desire to provide user a cordless and handheld appliance that is easy and convenience to use. Preferably, the cordless and handheld is easy to operate, fast heating up,
In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heated hair-styling appliance for styling hair. The hair-styling appliance comprises a heated head having an outer shell covering at least part of the surface thereof, and an inner heat source core disposed within the inner part of the heating head, a handle attached to a distal end of the heating head. The hair-styling appliance works in conjunction with an independent induction-heating unit to heat up the inner heat source core, wherein the heat source core supplies heat to heat up the outer shell for styling hair after it is being heated.
In one embodiment, the handle is detachable from the heating head.
In another embodiment, wherein the outer shall is made up of metal. Possibly, the outer shell is cover by a thermal insulation layer, such as ceramic coating or any thermal insulation material. In yet another embodiment, the inner heat source core is made up of a thermal conducting material, such as ferrous metal.
In a further embodiment, the hair-styling appliance is a thermal brush. The thermal brush may have the outer shell covered with a thermal insulation layer, and bristles are formed on the thermal insulation layer.
In yet a further embodiment, the hair-styling appliance is a curling tong or a hair-straightening iron.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hair styling appliance comprises an induction heating unit having a container, the container defines a well that is surrounded by a induction coil winding, the induction coil winding is connected to a circuitry operationally generates electromagnetic induction within the well through the coil winding and the aforesaid hair-styling appliance. The hair-styling appliance is heated up within the well through the electromagnetic induction for usage.
Preferred embodiments according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the figures accompanied herein, in which like reference numerals denote like elements;
Embodiments of the present invention shall now be described in detail, with reference to the attached drawings. It is to be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
It is understood that an induction heating unit is desired in this embodiment as it offers quick heat up time and it allows the hair styling appliances to be reheated with minimal or no downtime. However, other heating unit may be desired without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The upper part of the heating unit 100 includes the well 103, a winding roller 111 and a coil 112. The winding roller 111 is an inner cylinder adapted to wrap around the circular surface of the well 103 within housing 101. The winding roller 111 facilitates a means for supporting the coil 112, such that the coil of wire, preferably copper wire, can be disposed around the perimeter of the winding roller 111.
The coil 112 is electrically connected to the circuitry of the heating unit 100, which is mounted beneath the upper part of the heating unit 100. The circuitry comprises a PCB board 114 and components adapted for driving the coil 112 to generate the electromagnetic induction to heat up the heated brush. Beneath the PCB board 114, there is further provided a heat sink 116 attached to the components that operationally produce heat. In another embodiment, the heating unit 100 may further provide a fan for increase the heat dissipation efficiency.
The microcontroller 302 is adapted for controlling the entire operations and processes of the induction-heating unit. The microcontrollers 302 suitable for the induction heating equipment can be any suitable microcontroller available in the market.
The IGBT 306 is the main power component and is provided to drive the coil 308 that are winded around the well of the induction heater. The Ion 306 is driven by the IGBT driver 304 that provides a voltage transfer interface between the microcontroller 302 and the IGBT 306. It is well known in the art that, when desire, the IGBT 306 can be replaced several bipolar transistors.
The microcontroller is further connected to the interface panel 314 for receiving control input from user and display some operating status to the user. The interface panel 314 may include switches and a display panel. User may control the operations of the induction heater through the switches provided on the control panel, and monitor the operating status through the display panel. The interface panel 314 may further include LED lights for showing the operating status.
The sensors 316 include a thermal sensor for detecting the temperature within the well of the induction heater, or more specifically the temperature of the thermal brush heated therein. These sensors detect the necessary operating status automatically, and the microcontroller 302 responds according. For example, the weight sensor can be placed at the bottom of the well as a switch covering the entire bottom surface, and when a thermal brush is placed within the well, the induction heating unit would recognize so in order to carrying our further operation. This can prevent that the induction heating being turned on unintentionally without any thermal brush presents therein. In another embodiment, the weight sensor can be used to detect the presence of the thermal brush to automatically trigger the induction-heating unit to heat up the thermal brush as it is placed within the well of the heating unit.
For safety purpose, it would be desired that the thermal sensor be provided for detecting the heating condition. Preferably, the thermal sensor is adapted to be able to detect at least the temperature of the thermal brush. When the thermal brush is detected overheating, the induction-heating unit will cut off automatically. For example, when a heated thermal brush that has not been cooled down is placed within well, the induction heater may overheat the thermal brush. Accordingly, it is desired that the temperature of the thermal brush that is placed within the well can be detected before the induction heating operation starts.
The thermal sensor may be a thermopile, or thermopile infrared sensor or the like. It may also be thermocouples or the like. Most preferably, the thermal sensor is able to detect the temperature of the thermal brush contactlessly.
The induction-heating unit may further adapt with the fan 320 to dissipate heat during the heating operation. The heat generating components may further attach with heat sink to work in conjunctions with the fan to effectively dissipate the heat operationally.
It is understood to a skilled person that the above circuitry is illustrated by way of example only, not limitations. There are many other suitable configurations that can be adapted for the induction-heating unit. Preferably, the induction-heating unit shall be able to heat up the heated element of the thermal brush to a desired working temperature suitable for practical hair styling. The thermal sensor can be adapted to control or cut off heating to prevent overheating.
The induction heater is heated by controlling the coil power. To control it, a synchronous signal is needed to be detected.
For safety protection, the induction may provide an overvoltage (OV) and overcurrent (OC) detection means. Operationally, when the induction heater is running, it may generate an over voltage or a high level of voltage noise created by the repeatedly switching (i.e. on/off) IGBT 306, which may damage the IGBT 306. A potentiometer OV may be facilitated to the microcontroller 302 to regulate the voltage. When current flowing through the IGBT 306 is higher than the expected current, the IGBT 306 can also be damaged. A current transformer can be adapted to prevent OC.
Referring back to the
The brush head 402 has a outer shell 408 that disposed around the brush head 402 in concentric relation to the brush head 402. The outer shell 408 further defines through holes 408, through which, the bristles 406 extend outwardly from the inner space of the brush head 402.
Still referring to
Operationally, the thermal brush 400 is placed in an induction-heating unit, such as the one illustrated in
Similarly, once the heat source core 420 is heated up by the induction heating unit, it serves as a heat source to the thermal brush 400 for supplying heat continuously to heat up the outer shell 408 as it looses heat to the ambient operationally.
In yet another embodiment, the thermal insulation material can be a layer of insulating coating, for example, ceramic coating. Such insulation material can also be applied onto the heat course core 420, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
Within the cavity of the inner cylinder, the brush head 502 is further provided with a heat source core 520 disposed along the concentric axis of the brush head 502. In this embodiment, the heat source core 520 is configured as a solid component, though it is possible to make the heat source core 520 with a hollow cylinder. Similarly, the heat source core 520 is made up of thermal conducting material; more preferably, it is made up of material that can be heated up through induction heating.
As shown in
Operationally, the thermal hairbrush 500 is heated up with a same or substantially the same way as the thermal hairbrush 400, and as the thermal hairbrush 500 does not have holes on the outer shell as the thermal hairbrush 400, it is expected that the heat can be retained longer within the thermal hairbrush 500.
Although, the outer shells shown above are completely surrounding the respective brush head, alternatively the outer shells may only surround a radial portion of the brush head such as three quarters of the brush head, half of the brush head or a quarter of the brush head.
Further, the brush heads of the thermal hairbrushes illustrated above are fixed to the handle. In other embodiments, these thermal hairbrushes may be adapted with the brush head detachable from the handle, when desire. In such case, the handle may adapt a quick release latch for securing the brush head onto the handle.
In
It is to be noted that the curling iron 600 does not require any power source to operate, therefore, no cord is attached thereto.
As shown in
It is understood that the hinge of the two opposing tongs 702 can be configured at the middle, i.e. class 2 lever, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
When in used, the curling iron 600 and the hair-straightening appliance 700 illustrated above can be placed into an induction-heating unit for heating up. Once it is heated up to a desired temperature, it can be remove from the induction-heating unit for immediate usage. The outer plate or shell directly heats up the hair as it is in direct contact with the hair. The inner core, which was also heated up through the induction heating unit, dissipates it heat slowly to the outer plate or shell, thereby prolonging the heating capability.
While specific embodiments have been described and illustrated, it is understood that many changes, modifications, variations, and combinations thereof could be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A heated hair-styling appliance for styling hair through heat, the heated hair-styling appliance comprising:
- a heating head having an outer shell covering at least part of the surface thereof, and an inner heat source core disposed within the inner part of the heating head, a handle attached to a distal end of the heating head;
- wherein the hair-styling appliance works in conjunction with an independent heating unit to heat up the inner heat source core, wherein the heat source core operationally supplies heat to heat up the outer shell for styling hair after it is being heated.
2. The hair-styling appliance in accordance with claim 1, wherein the handle is detachable from the heating head.
3. The hair-styling appliance in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer shall is made up of metal.
4. The hair-styling appliance in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer shell is cover by a thermal insulation layer.
5. The hair-styling appliance in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer shell is coated with a ceramic coating.
6. The hair-styling appliance in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner heat source core is made up of a thermal conducting material.
7. The hair-styling applicant in accordance with claim 6, wherein the inner heat source core is made up of ferrous metal.
8. The hair-styling appliance in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hair-styling appliance is a thermal brush.
9. The hair-styling appliance in accordance with claim 8, wherein the thermal brush has the outer shell covered with a thermal insulation layer, and bristles are formed on the thermal insulation layer.
10. The hair-styling appliance in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hair-styling appliance is a curling tong.
11. The hair-styling appliance in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hair-styling appliance is a hair-straightening iron.
12. The hair styling appliance in accordance with claim 1, wherein the heating unit is an induction-heating unit.
13. A hair styling appliance comprising:
- an induction heating unit having a container, the container defines a well that is surrounded by a induction coil winding, the induction coil winding is connected to a circuitry operationally generates electromagnetic induction within the well through the coil winding;
- a heated hair-styling appliance in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hair-styling appliance is heated up within the well through the electromagnetic induction for usage.
14. The hair styling appliance in accordance with claim 13, wherein the induction heating unit comprising a guiding pole extending upwardly from a bottom surface of the well and a thermal sensor disposed along the length of the guiding pole; and the heated hair-styling appliance comprises a hollow inner heat source core and an aperture leading up to the hollow space of the inner heat source core, wherein the hollow space is adapted to receive the guiding pole such that the thermal sensor is able to measure the temperature of at least the inner heat source core.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 30, 2012
Publication Date: Mar 20, 2014
Inventor: Kok Swee TOH (Singapore)
Application Number: 13/664,406
International Classification: A45D 2/36 (20060101); A46B 9/02 (20060101);