HAIR STYLING APPARATUS

Abstract

The application describes hair styling apparatus (1) for creating volume in a user's hair. The hair styling apparatus (1) comprises a heating member, a cooling member adjacent to the heating member, thermal insulation between the cooling member and the heating member and a tensioning member projecting from the heating member. The heating member comprises a heating contacting surface for heating hair in contact with the heating member. The cooling member has a cooling contacting surface for cooling hair in contact with the cooling member and the cooling member is cooled by an active cooling mechanism. The tensioning member tensions a user's hair against the heating contacting surface to improve heat transfer into a user's hair and applies stress to a user's hair as the hair contacts the cooling contacting surface adjacent the heating contacting surface whereby the hair is styled to create volume.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The application relates to hair styling apparatus for styling a user's hair, for example for curling, straightening, for creating flicks or for creating volume in a user's hair, e.g. close to the root.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

A user typically wishes to create different hair styles. For example, the creation of “volume” within a user's hair is sometimes desirable. In general, the creation of volume means changing the angle of the hair fibres relative to the scalp or gravity. Volume is a term which is commonly used and can be created in different parts of the hair. FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate the creation of volume at, or close to, the roots of the hair fibres. FIG. 1a illustrates the natural angle that a user's hair fibres 12 make to the user's scalp 10. Each hair fibre falls under gravity to make an acute angle of between 10 to 25 degrees to a user's scalp. Thus, each hair fibre is roughly aligned with the vertical (i.e. with the direction of gravity). By contrast, in FIG. 1b, volume has been created for each hair fibre 12 and each hair fibre has now overcome the force of gravity in the root region of the hair fibre and is set approximately perpendicular to the user's scalp. In other words, each hair fibre has an increased angle, in the region of the root, relative to the hair fibre without volume in FIG. 1a.

There are known hair stylers which aim to create volume in a user's hair. For example hair dryers can be used with brushes; straighteners, curling tongs or wet line products can also be used. Hot air brushes for creating volume are known from GB2294200 and CN203106087. A hair styling apparatus which manipulates a user's roots is also known from WO2011/055116 to the present applicant. Some of these devices demonstrate poor efficiency of heating a user's hair and thus a user does not experience a quick and easy method of creating volume. There is also a risk of a user burning their scalp with some known devices due to the need to get close to the roots of the user's hair to create the desired volume in the user's hair.

The applicant has recognised the need to create an improved hair styling apparatus for creating volume at a user's roots.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided hair styling apparatus comprising: a heating member having a heating contacting surface for heating hair in contact with the heating member; a cooling member adjacent to the heating member, wherein the cooling member has a cooling contacting surface for cooling hair in contact with the cooling member and the cooling member is cooled by an active cooling mechanism; thermal insulation between the cooling member and the heating member; and a tensioning member which projects from the heating member and which, in use, tensions a user's hair.

A styling mechanism may be provided that houses the heating member and the cooling member and wherein the heating contacting surface is provided on an upper surface of the styling mechanism and the cooling contacting surface is provided on a lower surface of the styling mechanism.

Typically, the hair styling apparatus has a plurality of tensioning members which project from different portions of the heating member. These may be arranged in a regular pattern (such as in rows) or in a random pattern. For example, the plurality of tensioning members may comprise one or more rows of teeth or bristles. Each row of teeth or bristles may comprise a base portion and a plurality of teeth or bristles that attach to the base portion. In this case, the heating member may comprise one or more channels, each channel for receiving a respective base portion, and a plurality of cavities provided in the heating contacting surface and extending into a channel and through each of which a respective tooth or bristle can be inserted to attach to the base portion provided in the corresponding channel.

Typically the tensioning members are spaced apart from each other by between 5 mm and 10 mm—to prevent the user from touching the heating contacting surface. In order to provide tensioning, the teeth or bristles will typically extend out from the heating contacting surface by between 6 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 8 mm and 40 mm. If the teeth or bristles are shorter than about 5 mm then they will not be able to tension the hair during use. Not all teeth or bristles need to be within this range and in some embodiments some teeth or bristles will extend away from the heating contacting surface or the cooling contacting surface by between 1 mm and 8 mm. These smaller bristles or teeth are preferably provided close to the boundary between the heating and cooling contacting surfaces and make it easier for the user to slide the longer hair tensioning bristles or teeth close to the roots of the user's hair.

The tensioning member (or when plural tensioning members are provided at least some of the tensioning members) may be made from a thermally insulative material, such as a plastics material. Alternatively, the tensioning members may be made from a thermally conductive material such as metal or a ceramic material.

The active cooling mechanism may be arranged to draw or blow air along a longitudinal axis of the hair styling apparatus.

The tensioning member may tension the user's hair during heating and/or cooling the hair. By tensioning, it is meant that the hair is gripped, pulled or otherwise placed under stress. For example, the tensioning member may tension (i.e. pull) the user's hair against the heating contacting surface to improve heat transfer into a user's hair while the hair is being heated. The tensioning member may tension the hair to apply stress to a user's hair as the hair contacts the cooling contacting surface adjacent the heating contacting surface. In this way, the tension is provided at the point of styling the hair, for example, to create volume or to otherwise style the hair.

The apparatus may further comprise a guard which at least partially surrounds the heating member and tensioning member. The guard provides a buffer between the heating contacting surface and tensioning element and a user's scalp to help a user to avoiding burning their scalp when using the apparatus. The guard may thus cover the hot side of the heating member. The guard may comprise a plurality of spaced apart elements. The spacing (or gap) between each element may be larger than the gap (or spacing) between each tooth in the tensioning element. This means that hair slips easily through the guard to be captured by, and tensioned, by the tensioning element. Each element has a shape which tapers from a wider section adjacent the cooling member towards a narrower section adjacent the tensioning element. For example, each element may be teardrop shaped. The guard is preferably connected to the cooling member, and is not in any contact with the heating member, to avoid heating the guard.

The function of the guard and the function of the tensioning member may be performed by a plurality of teeth or bristles that extend from the heating contacting surface.

At least one or both of the heating contacting surface and cooling contacting surface is curved, for example at least a part of a surface of a cylinder. The curvature of the contacting surface(s) helps to change the angle of the user's hair. For example, the hair styling apparatus may be used to create an increased angle between a user's hair and a user's scalp and which overcomes at least part of the gravitational force. In this way, volume may be created near the scalp.

The tensioning member may have a plurality of spaced apart teeth or bristles with a gap between each pair of teeth or bristles. The tensioning member may thus be termed a comb and the terms are used interchangeably within this application. Each gap may be relatively small to provide tension on a user's hair. Each of the plurality of teeth or bristles may have generally tapering shape which is widest adjacent the heating contacting surface. In other words, the shape may be generally triangular. This arrangement increases the surface area of the comb which is in contact with the hair thus increasing the heating into the hair—where the teeth or bristles are made of a thermally conductive material. The tapering may be to a rounded point whereby the comb is relatively easy to insert into a user's hair. The tapering shape may also assist in separating strands of a user's hair so that the user's hair is caught easily and hence tensioned in the gaps.

The tensioning member and hence each of the plurality of teeth or bristles may project generally perpendicularly to the heating contacting surface. This may increase usability. The tensioning member may also be generally centrally mounted on the heating contacting surface. This may improve the heat transfer into a user's hair. The tensioning member may extend along the length (i.e. longitudinal axis) of the heating contacting surface. This increases the surface area of the tensioning member which contacts a user's hair.

The thermal insulation may comprise at least one of, or both of, an air gap and an insulating material, e.g. aerogel. The thermal insulation may extend along the length of both the heating and cooling members. The insulating material may be positioned, laterally (i.e. along the shorter axis of the heating and cooling members), between the air gap. The air gap may be small, e.g. a few millimetres but is sufficient to ensure no direct contact between the edges of the heating contacting surface and the cooling contacting surface.

The cooling member, heating member, thermal insulation and tensioning member may together form a styling mechanism which when used to create volume may be termed a volume styling mechanism. The apparatus may further comprise a handle by which the user holds the apparatus. The handle may be attached to the styling mechanism or may form a support for at least one (or all components) of the styling mechanism. The handle may be hollow, e.g. a hollow cylinder. The handle may house the active cooling mechanism.

An active cooling mechanism is one that draws or pushes heat away from the cooling member. For example, the active cooling mechanism may comprise a fan. The fan may be mounted adjacent the cooling member and may blow or draw air over the cooling member to cool the opposite surface of the cooling member to the cooling contacting surface. The fan thus removes heat from the cooling member. Alternatively, or additionally, the active cooling mechanism may comprise a heat sink and at least one heat pipe connecting the heat sink to the cooling contacting surface. The heat pipes thus draw heat from the cooling member into the heat sink. The heat sink may be mounted at the opposed end of the handle to the styling mechanism, e.g. at least the cooling member, to maximize the length of, and hence efficiency of, the heat pipe. A fan may be mounted adjacent the heat sink to assist in cooling the heat sink.

At least one of the heating contacting surface and tensioning element has an operative temperature of approximately 185 degrees C. The cooling contacting surface may have an operative temperature of between room temperature and 70 degrees C. and preferably between room temperature and 45 degrees C. The significant difference in temperature allows the hair to be heated above its glass transition temperature so that it can be styled and then the hair can be rapidly cooled to set the style. This temperature difference can be achieved in part by the thermal insulation and the temperature across the insulation material and/or air gap may range from room temperature to 185 degrees C. The temperature difference can also be achieved due to the active cooling. Where a fan is used, the air outlet temperature from the fan is preferably no higher than 40 degrees C. and preferably no higher than 30 degrees C. The guard may have an operative temperature of between room temperature and 60 degrees C. and in most cases between room temperature and 45 degrees C. This may be achieved by connecting the guard to the cooling member and not to the heating member.

The tensioning element may be made from plastics, metal or ceramic. Where the tensioning element is made from a heat conducting material, it will transfer heat into a user's hair which helps with the heating process. Where the tensioning element is made from an insulating material, e.g. plastics, the tensioning member should tension the hair against the heating contacting surface to ensure adequate thermal transfer into the user's hair.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a hair styling apparatus comprising: a handle for holding the apparatus; a generally tubular styling mechanism; a heating member provided within the styling mechanism and having a heating contacting surface for heating hair in contact with the heating member, the heating contacting surface being provided on an upper surface of the generally tubular styling mechanism; a cooling member provided within the styling mechanism adjacent to the heating member, wherein the cooling member has a cooling contacting surface for cooling hair in contact with the cooling member, the cooling contacting surface being provided on a lower surface of the generally tubular styling mechanism and the cooling member being cooled by an active cooling mechanism; and one or more tensioning members which project from the heating member and which, in use, tension a user's hair.

The active cooling mechanism may be arranged to blow or draw air along a longitudinal axis of the generally tubular styling mechanism past the cooling member to aid in cooling the cooling member.

The present invention also provides a method of styling hair comprising: providing a hair styling device having a generally tubular styling mechanism that houses a heating member having a heating contacting surface for heating hair in contact with the heating member and a cooling member having a cooling contacting surface for cooling hair in contact with the cooling member, the heating contacting surface being provided on an upper surface of the generally tubular styling mechanism and the cooling contacting surface being provided on a lower surface of the generally tubular styling mechanism and the cooling member being cooled by an active cooling mechanism; heating hair to be styled by passing the hair to be styled over the heating contacting surface until the hair is above a glass transition temperature of the hair; styling the hair by tensioning the hair using one or more tensioning members which project from the heating member; and cooling the hair when tensioned by rotating the generally tubular styling mechanism so that the hair contacts the cooling contacting surface to set the hair in the desired style.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures in which:

FIG. 1a is a schematic illustration of a user's hair without volume;

FIG. 1b is a schematic illustration of a user's hair with volume at roots of the user's hair;

FIGS. 2a to 2d are perspective, side, cross-sectional and underside views of a hair styling apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2e is an exploded view showing the components of the hair styling apparatus of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 3a is a perspective view of a variant of the hair styling apparatus shown in FIG. 2a;

FIGS. 3b and 3c are perspective views showing internal details of the hair styling apparatus of FIG. 3a;

FIG. 3d is a perspective view of an alternative mounting of a fan forming part of the hair styling apparatus of FIG. 3a;

FIGS. 3e and 3f are cross-sectional views of the mechanism of FIG. 3d;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of another hair styling apparatus in use;

FIG. 5 shows both the variation in hair temperature and stress of a user's hair as the apparatus of FIG. 2a is pulled across the user's hair;

FIGS. 6a to 6g are schematic illustrations showing how the apparatus of FIG. 2a or 3a is used on a user's hair;

FIG. 6h is a schematic illustration showing how the apparatus of FIG. 2a or 3a can be used to curl hair;

FIGS. 7a to 7c show another hair styling apparatus comprising an alternative cooling mechanism;

FIG. 7d is a cross-sectional view across a short axis of the hair styling apparatus of FIG. 7a;

FIGS. 8a to 8d show another hair styling apparatus comprising an alternative bristle arrangement;

FIGS. 9a and 9b illustrate the way in which flexibility can be provided to the bristles of the hair styling apparatus shown in FIG. 8;

FIGS. 10a to 10c illustrate one way in which bristles can be mounted within the hair styling apparatus shown in FIG. 8; and

FIGS. 11a to 11c illustrate another way in which bristles can be mounted within the hair styling apparatus shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 2a to 3 show a hair styling apparatus 1 which can be used, for example to style hair by curling, straightening, creating flicks or creating volume at a user's root. For example, the hair styling apparatus 1 may be used to create the increased change in angle relative to the user's scalp and which overcomes at least part of the gravitational force as shown in FIG. 1b. The apparatus 1 comprises a body 20 having a handle 22 at one end of the body for the user to hold the apparatus 1. At the opposed end of the body 20 to the handle, the apparatus 1 comprises a styling mechanism 24 which when used to create volume may be termed a volume styling mechanism. As shown in FIG. 2a, the styling mechanism 24 is generally tubular having a generally tear shaped cross-section. The handle 22 is also generally tubular having a generally circular cross-section which is more comfortable for the user to hold. In this example, as shown in FIG. 2e, the handle 22 is hollow and is formed from two pieces 220, 222 which are connected together. It will be appreciated that other methods for forming the handle can be used.

The styling mechanism 24 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2c and 2e. It is generally elongate. The styling mechanism 24 comprises a heating member having heater 26 which may be a ceramic heater plate. The heater 26 heats a comb 30 which protrudes from a heating contacting surface 27 of the heater 26. The comb 30 may be made from plastics, metal or the same material as the heater plate. Indeed, the comb 30 may be separate from the heater plate 26 and the heating contacting surface 27 or a single part may provide the comb 30, the heater plate 26 and the heating contacting surface 27. Both the heating contacting surface of the heater and the comb 30 contact and heat a user's hair in use; when the comb is made from a thermally conducting material. When the comb 30 is made from a thermally insulative material such as plastics, the tensioning created by the comb 30 improves heat transfer into the hair by ensuring a better contact between the hair and the heating contacting surface 27. The heating contacting surface 27 is a generally elongate curved arcuate surface. The comb 30 comprises a plurality of teeth each of which projects from the heating contacting surface 27 (in this embodiment by about 15 mm) and is generally triangular in cross-section. This arrangement increases the surface area of the comb which is in contact with the hair thus increasing the heating into the hair. The comb 30 also tensions and grips the hair to assist with styling and thus may be considered to be a tensioning member.

As explained in more detail below, once the hair has been heated and styled it is cooled to set the style. Accordingly, the apparatus 1 also comprises a cooling member 32. As shown, the cooling member 32 has a cooling contacting surface 33 which is also an elongate curved arcuate surface, which contacts and cools the user's hair. In this embodiment, the cooling member 32 is cooled by a heat pipe 36 which draws heat from the cooling member 32 to a heat sink 38. As shown in FIG. 2e, in this embodiment, the heat pipe 36 comprises two separate generally parallel pipes 36a and 36b that each couple with a respective one of two channels 32a and 32b that extend along the length of the cooling member 32. The heat sink 38 is then cooled by air blown (or drawn) by a fan 34 which cools to ambient temperature. The fan 34, heat pipe 36 and heat sink 38 are mounted within the handle 22. The heat sink 38 ensures that there is active cooling of the cooling member 32, i.e. actively draws heat away from the cooling member 32. The heat sink 38 and heat pipe 36 should be made from a suitable thermally conductive material, e.g. extruded aluminium having a thermal conductivity of about 200 w/m/k.

In this embodiment, the styling mechanism 24 also comprises a guard 40 which provides a buffer between the heating contacting surface 27 and comb 30 and the user's scalp. The guard 40 thus helps the user to avoid burning their scalp when using the apparatus 1. The guard 40 comprises a plurality of spaced apart elements 41 which allow the user's hair to pass between adjacent guard elements 41 and contact the comb 30 and heating contacting surface 27. The spacing between adjacent guard elements 41 is the same along the length of the styling mechanism 24 and is set so that a user cannot touch the heat contacting surface 27 or comb 30 with their fingers or scalp. As shown most clearly in FIG. 2e, each spaced apart guard element 41 is a generally tear-shaped ring and is thus tapered from a wider portion adjacent the cooling member 32 to a narrower, pointed, portion above the comb 30. This shape helps with the direction of movement as explained in more detail below but an alternative shape may be used. As shown in FIG. 2d (which illustrates a view of the underside of the hair styling apparatus 1), the ring shaped guard elements 41 may not be completely closed and a small gap may be present on the underside of the apparatus 1. The two ends of each guard element 41 slot into a channel 43 which runs along the length of the cooling member 32 to mount the guard elements 41 on the apparatus 1.

Each guard element 41 surrounds the heating member 26, comb 30 and at least part of the cooling member 32. Alternatively, each guard element 41 may only be arranged around the heating member 26 as described below. In any arrangement, the guard elements 41 should be directly connected only to the cooling member 32 (or to some other portion of the apparatus 1 that is thermally insulated from the heating member 26) and not to the heating member 26 to avoid heat transfer into the guard. Each guard element 41 is preferably made from a thermally insulating material, e.g. plastics. Furthermore, since the guard 40 is typically connected to and supported on the cooling member 32, the cooling member 32 may thus draw heat out of the guard 40.

The hair styling apparatus 1 also comprises end caps 42, 44 which define either end of the guard 40 and also define both ends of the styling mechanism 24. The end caps 42, 44 hold separate the heating member 26 and the cooling member 32 so that they do not touch and are thermally insulated from each other. A connector 46 connects the end cap 42 of the styling mechanism 24 to the handle 22. It will be appreciated that the end caps 42, 44 and connector 46 are merely one mechanism for supporting and connecting the styling mechanism 24 to the handle 22. Any suitable mechanism may be used.

FIGS. 3a to 3f show an alternative hair styling apparatus 1 which is similar to that shown in FIG. 2a and thus elements in common have the same reference number. As before, the apparatus 1 comprises a body 20 having a handle 22 at one end of the body 20 for the user to hold the apparatus 1. The handle 22 has a button 126 for turning the apparatus 1 on and off. At the opposed end of the body 20 to the handle, the apparatus 1 comprises a styling mechanism 124. A vent portion 122 is provided through which the fan 34 can draw air into the styling mechanism 124 to cool the cooling member.

The styling mechanism 124 comprises a heating member having a heater 26 which heats a comb 130 which protrudes from a heating contacting surface of the heater 26. The styling mechanism 124 also comprises a guard 140. As before, both the comb 130 and the guard 140 comprise a plurality of spaced apart elements. In this embodiment, the comb 130 comprises a plurality of triangular shaped teeth which are grouped in threes and which extend from the heating contacting surface by about 20 mm. Between each group of teeth, there is a guard element 141. As before, the spacing between the elements is narrower in the comb 130 than in the guard 140. In this embodiment, each guard element 141 is generally arched.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 3b, a fan 34 is mounted mid-way along the body of the apparatus 1 adjacent the vent portion 122. The fan 34 is located at the handle end of the styling mechanism 124. FIG. 3c is a perspective view of the styling mechanism 124 with the comb 130 and guard 140 removed for clarity. The air flow from the fan 34 is shown by the arrows that extend along the styling mechanism 124. In this arrangement, the fan 34 blows air along the styling mechanism 124 and in particular across the cooling member 32 to actively cool the cooling member. An air outlet is provided at the opposite end of the styling mechanism 124 to the fan 34. In an alternate arrangement, the air may be arranged to exit through a junction between the heating member and the cooling member. In this way, stagnant hot air which may accumulate around the styling mechanism 124 is regularly blown away.

FIG. 3b also schematically shows the electronics 45 for the device which are housed in the hollow handle 22.

FIG. 3d shows an alternative arrangement of the styling mechanism 124 in which the fan 34 is mounted so that its axis of rotation is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the handle 22. By contrast, in FIGS. 3b and 3c, the fan is mounted at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle. As a further alternative, the fan 34 could be mounted at the far end of the handle, i.e. adjacent the power inlet. Regardless of the orientation of the fan 34, it is preferably arranged to blow or to draw the cooling air axially along the styling mechanism 24.

FIGS. 3e and 3f show a cross-section about half-way along the styling mechanism 124 and at the fan end of the styling mechanism 124. These Figures show the generally triangular cross-section of each tooth of the comb 130 and the arched shape of each guard element 141 of the guard 140. Each guard element 141 has a thicker region at the apex of the arch compared to the ends of the arch which connect to a thermally insulative support frame 125 of the styling mechanism 124. In this embodiment, two thermal insulation layers 128, such as aerogel layers, are also provided together with an air gap 129 in order to separate the cooling member 32 from the heater 26 to reduce the risk of the heater 26 transferring heat into the cooling member 32. In this embodiment, the cooling member 32 has a plurality of fins 131 projecting inwards from the generally curved cooling surface, to assist with heat transfer away from the cooling member 32, e.g. to increase the surface area so that air from the fan 34 cools the cooling member. The heater 26 heats a heating surface 127 which has a generally curved surface.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a simplified version of the hair styling apparatus 1 of FIG. 2a or FIG. 3 in use next to a user's head. The styling mechanism comprises a heater 326 which heats a heating contacting surface 327 and a comb 330 which contacts and heats the user's hair in use. The styling mechanism also comprises a cooling member 332 which cools the user's hair after it has been heated and tensioned. The cooling member 332 is actively cooled by a cooling mechanism 342 which may be a heat sink and/or fan as previously described or another mechanism to actively draw heat away from the cooling member 332. There is also a guard 340 which helps control the user's hair and keep the heater a safe distance “d” from the user's scalp. The hair is heated close to the root but neither the heating contacting surface 327 nor the comb 330 touch the user's scalp. The comb 330 helps to apply tension to the hair (by gripping the hair) which helps to impart the stress to the root of each hair fibre needed to “volumise” the hair. Tensioning the hair also helps transfer heat from the heating contacting surface 327 into the hair. As the user lifts and rotates the apparatus 1, the tensioned hair comes into contact with the cooling member 332, which cools the hair and retains the hair's new form (with root lift).

Arrow A indicates the typical direction of movement to create volume which is illustrated and described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 shows the change in hair temperature and stress as the apparatus 1 is moved through the user's hair and FIGS. 6a to 6g illustrate the movement of the apparatus 1 through the user's hair. As shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b, initially the user guides the apparatus 1 under the hair section which is to be styled and close to the user's scalp. The tear-dropped shape of the guard assists with sliding the apparatus 1 under the user's hair because the pointed tip of the guard is relatively easy to insert. At this stage, the hair is not yet in contact with the heating contacting surface or the comb and thus the hair temperature remains constant at a little above ambient temperature as shown in FIG. 5 to the left of the line 1.

In FIG. 6c, the apparatus 1 is in place and the user's hair is now in contact with the comb and the heat contacting surface and thus starts to heat up. At this stage, the comb provides tension to the hair which helps transfer heat efficiently into the hair. Accordingly, we have reached line 1 in FIG. 5. The temperature of the hair steadily rises in zone 2 of FIG. 5. Two rates of temperature rise are shown which correspond to a slower and quicker rate of use by the user. The temperature of the hair should be heated to above the glass transition temperature which is typically 145 degrees C. The temperature will rise quickly with a slow rate of use but, as shown with the dotted line, the glass transition temperature of hair also rises with a slow rate of use. Accordingly, both the slower and faster rates of use are able to ensure that the hair is heated to above the glass transition temperature and zone 3 of FIG. 5 is entered. It may be advisable for the user to hold the apparatus 1 in the position shown in FIG. 6c for a short period to allow the hair to heat up sufficiently to perform good styling.

As shown with the dashed line at the bottom of FIG. 5, the stress on the hair increases during zone 3 and remains high throughout zone 4 in which the hair is cooled. At zone 3, the user has turned the styling apparatus 1 to the position shown in FIG. 6d—where the roots of the hair are now in contact with the cooling member. The comb is still providing tension on the hair to impart the necessary force to stress and style the hair and the cooling member cools down the hair to set the style in place. As shown in FIG. 5, the increase in stress occurs at the transition between heating and cooling to form the style.

The rate of cooling is greater with the slower rate of use and will typically set the style better. Thus, the slower rate of use ensures that the hair rises further above the glass transition temperature and that there is a large temperature drop during the cooling stage. Accordingly, a slower rate of use will typically result in increased performance or greater styling results.

FIGS. 6e to 6g show how the apparatus 1 is turned and then drawn across the rest of the user's hair. The apparatus 1 can be used to create different shapes and styles in the rest of the hair. For example, the hair could be straightened by tensioning the hair straight across the heating contacting surface. Alternatively, waves, curls or flicks can be formed by curling the hair around the heating contacting surface and cooling across the curved cooling surface of the cooling member as shown in FIG. 6h. Crimping could also be achieved with a suitable arrangement of apparatus 1.

FIGS. 7a to 7c schematically illustrate a further alternative apparatus 1 for styling hair comprising a styling mechanism 724 having a cooling member 732, a comb 730 and a heat contacting surface 727 which heats the user's hair. The apparatus 1 may optionally include a guard which is not shown for convenience. The cooling member 732 is actively cooled by the fan 734 which, as shown in FIG. 7b, blows air across the inner surface of the cooling member 732 to cool the cooling member, for example to remove heat transferred into the cooling member by the user's hair. The fan 734 is mounted within the handle 722 adjacent the styling mechanism. Thus the fan 734 is generally centrally mounted within the apparatus 1. The cooling system may thus be more compact than that illustrated in the first embodiment and thus the overall device may be smaller, lighter and cheaper to manufacture.

FIG. 7d shows how the styling mechanism used in FIG. 2a is also adjusted in this embodiment. It will be appreciated that the change of cooling system and the change to the styling mechanism are independent of each other and either may be used in any of the other embodiments.

In FIG. 7d, the styling mechanism comprises a heater 726 which may be a ceramic heater plate. The heater 726 may also comprise a thermistor and thermal fuse for heat input and regulation. The heater 726 heats a heating contacting surface 727 which contacts and heats the user's hair in use. As in the previous arrangements, the heating contacting surface 727 should be made from a material which effectively transfers heat from the heater 726 into the user's hair. As an example, the heating contacting surface 727 may be a surface of an extruded aluminium member having a thermal conductivity of about 200 w/m/k.

In FIG. 7d, the shape of the heating contacting surface 727 and the shape of the comb 730 are slightly different to those used in FIG. 2a and are formed as two separate components which are then assembled together. In FIG. 7d, the heating contacting surface 727 is formed by the upper surface of a heating contacting member 747 that has a relatively large surface area to contact the user's hair during use, in order to improve heat transfer. The comb 730 is mounted within a central channel 749 formed in the heating contacting member 747. In this arrangement, the comb 730 is generally planar with a plurality of teeth projecting generally perpendicular to the heating contacting surface 727 by about 20 mm. The teeth are generally triangular in cross-section but the angle between the sloping slides of the triangle is more acute than in the arrangement of FIG. 2a. Thus, the time that the hair contacts and is tensioned by the comb in FIG. 7d is shorter than that in the embodiment of FIG. 2a. A larger angled triangle may be preferable. In both embodiments, the comb is tapered to be wider closer to the heating contacting surface 727 to create a longer path for tensioning hair whilst it is being heated.

The embodiments preferably include thermal insulation and an air gap between the heater and the cooling member. These are most clearly seen in FIG. 7d in which the thermal insulation 750 is mounted between the heater 726 and the cooling member 732. The thermal insulation 750 extends along the length of the styling mechanism and is made from an insulating material such as aerogel. Further insulation is achieved by providing an air gap 736 which extends along the length of the styling mechanism either side of the thermal insulation 750 and between the edges of the heating contacting member 747 and the cooling member 732. In this way, there is no direct contact between the heating contacting member 747 and the cooling member 732.

The cooling member 732 of FIG. 7d also has a plurality of fins 731 which project inwards. The use of the fins 731 increases the surface area for cooling by the air blown from the fan 734. Waste heat from the cooling member 732 is conducted through the fins into the ducted air flow between the fins. This heat is then removed by the ducted air flow as it exits an air outlet (as shown in FIG. 7c).

FIGS. 8a to 8c schematically illustrate a further alternative apparatus 1 for styling hair. In this case, the apparatus 1 has a number of bristles 801 extending from a heating contacting surface 827 which heats the user's hair. The bristles 801 are arranged in longitudinal rows that are spaced apart from each other around the arcuate heating contacting surface 827. The spacing between bristles in the same row and between the bristles in adjacent rows is between 5 mm and 10 mm and preferably about 8 mm, to prevent the user touching the heat contacting surface 827 with their scalp or their finger. In this embodiment, the bristles 801 are made of a thermally insulative material, such as plastic. Due to the spacing between the bristles 801 and the thermally insulative material from which they are made, the bristles 801 perform the dual functions of the comb and the guard of the previous embodiments.

Thus, in this embodiment, the hair styling apparatus 1 has the overall appearance of a conventional hair brush and is easier to use as the user does not need to angle an apex of the device under their hair. They can instead use the apparatus like a conventional hairbrush. However, as shown in FIGS. 8b and 8c, the handle 822 houses a fan 834 which is used to force air past the cooling member 832 and out through the air outlet 803 (or in through the air inlet 803 past the cooling member 832) to keep the cooling member 832 cool.

FIG. 8d is a cross sectional view of the styling mechanism 824, showing the heating contacting member 847 and the cooling member 832 which are both supported by a thermally insulative supporting frame 825. The supporting frame 825 also provides a roof over the cooling member 832—so that air drawn past the cooling member 832 by the fan 834 is kept away from the heater 826. As before, a heat insulating layer 850 is provided between the heater 826 and the cooling member 832 to minimise heat transfer from the heater 826 to the support frame 825 and from there to the cooling member 832. FIG. 8d also shows a second (optional) insulating layer 850′ (which may also be an aerogel layer) that is provided between the insulative frame 825 and the cooling member 832.

FIG. 8d also shows that in this embodiment, the heating contacting member 847 has seven rows of bristles 801 and the supporting frame 825 has two rows of bristles 801; and that the length of the bristles 801 varies from a maximum length of about 35 mm at the apex of the heating contacting surface 827 to a shortest length of about 8 mm for the bristles 801 mounted on the supporting frame 825, thereby giving the apparatus 1 an overall elliptical shape. Although not shown in FIG. 8, the bristles 801 may also be arranged to extend out from the cooling member 832 such that bristles are provided right around the circumference of the styling mechanism 824.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9a and 9b, the bristles 801 are preferably flexible. This is because fixed (rigid) bristles catch on tangles in the user's hair and do not absorb or reduce the force applied to the hair, which makes the device feel harsh and damaging to the user and can result in excessive force being applied to the user's hair. FIG. 9a illustrates the case where each bristle 801 is mounted within a flexible base so that the whole bristle can move in response to force on the hair; and FIG. 9b illustrates an alternative arrangement, in which an upper part of each bristle 801 can flex and thus absorb at least some of the forces applied through the device to the user's hair. Alternatively still bristles 801 may be provided that have both a flexible base and a flexible upper part.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate two ways in which the bristles 801 may be mounted within the heating contacting member 847. In FIG. 10, the heating contacting member 847 (which may be formed as an aluminium extrusion) is provided with elongate channels 851 into each of which a pre-assembled or co-moulded row of bristles 801 is slid. Each row of bristles 801 includes a base portion 853 and the individual bristles 801, both of which can be made from plastics material. Each channel 851 narrows towards an open end at the heating contacting surface 827 and the base portion 853 is shaped to dovetail with the channel 851 so that the base portion 853 can only be removed from the heating contacting member 847 from the edge thereof and not through the open end of the channel 851 on the heating contacting surface 827. FIG. 10a shows the individual components of the heating contacting member 847, the base portion 853 and the individual bristles 801. FIG. 10b illustrates the way in which the assembled row of bristles 801 is inserted into a channel 851; and FIG. 10c illustrates the heating contacting member 847 with the row of bristles inserted therein.

The arrangement of FIG. 10 is advantageous as it is low cost and easy to assemble. However, the surface presents an intermittently thermally conductive and thermally insulative surface. FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative arrangement which provides a more uniform heating contacting surface 827. In this case, the heating contacting member 847′ has a smooth surface with internal cavities 855 arranged in rows. Channels 851 are also provided under the rows of cavities 855 to receive the base portion 853. To assemble the device, the base portion 853 is slid within the channel 851 of the heating contacting member 847′ (as illustrated in FIG. 11a) and then the individual bristles 801 are inserted into the base portion 853 through the cavities 855 in the surface of the heating contacting member 847′ (as illustrated in FIG. 11b). As illustrated in FIG. 11c, each bristle 801 is slightly smaller in diameter than the cavity 855 to provide space for the bristle 801 to flex and move relative to the heating contacting member 847′. The arrangement shown in FIG. 11 is preferred over the arrangement shown in FIG. 10 as it provides for a more uniform heating contacting surface and also provides less space in which debris and hair product can accumulate.

In each of the embodiments, illustrative operational temperatures are approximately 185 degrees C. for the heater, heating contacting surface and preferably also for the comb; although it is appreciated that the temperatures will depend on the materials being used. Both the guard and the cooling member are preferably at a much lower temperature, with the guard having an operating range of room temperature to 60 degrees C. and the cooling member having an operating range of room temperature to 70 degrees C. The upper end of the target temperature range for the cooling member is preferably 45 degrees C. to provide effective setting of the hair style. The temperature across the insulation and/or air gap will range from room temperature to 185 degrees C. The air outlet temperature from the fan is preferably no higher than 40 degrees C. Both the temperature of the cooling member and the air outlet will depend on the duty cycle of the fan.

In order to provide the desired tensioning of the user's hair, the teeth or bristles will typically extend out from the heating contacting surface by between 6 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 8 mm and 40 mm. If the teeth or bristles are shorter than about 5 mm then they will not be able to tension the hair during use. Not all teeth or bristles need to be within this range and in some embodiments some teeth or bristles will extend away from the heating contacting surface or the cooling contacting surface by between 1 mm and 6 mm. These smaller bristles or teeth are preferably provided close to the boundary between the heating and cooling contacting surfaces and make it easier for the user to slide the longer hair tensioning bristles or teeth close to the roots of the user's hair.

In the above embodiments, the heating contacting surface and the cooling contacting surface were formed on upper and lower surfaces of a generally tubular body portion. In an alternative embodiment, the heating contacting surface and the cooling contacting surface may be provided next to each other in a side by side arrangement on a generally flat body portion.

No doubt many other effective alternatives will occur to the skilled person. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the described embodiments and encompasses modifications apparent to those skilled in the art lying within the spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. Hair styling apparatus comprising:

a heating member having a heating contacting surface for heating hair in contact with the heating member;

a cooling member adjacent to the heating member, wherein the cooling member has a cooling contacting surface for cooling hair in contact with the cooling member and the cooling member is cooled by an active cooling mechanism;

thermal insulation between the cooling member and the heating member; and

one or more tensioning members which project from the heating member and which, in use, tensions a user's hair.

2. Hair styling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more tensioning members project from the heating member by between 6 mm and 50 mm and preferably by between 8 mm and 40 mm.

3. Hair styling apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of tensioning members which project from different portions of the heating member.

4. Hair styling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of tensioning members comprises one or more rows of bristles.

5. Hair styling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each row of bristles comprises a base portion and a plurality of bristles that attach to the base portion.

6. Hair styling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the heating member comprises one or more channels, each channel for receiving a respective base portion, and a plurality of cavities provided in the heating contacting surface and extending into a channel and through each of which a respective bristle can be inserted to attach to the base portion provided in the corresponding channel.

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. Hair styling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the active cooling mechanism is arranged to draw or blow air along a longitudinal axis of the hair styling apparatus.

10. Hair styling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a guard which at least partially surrounds the heating member and tensioning member.

11. Hair styling apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the guard comprises a plurality of spaced apart elements.

12. Hair styling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each element has a shape which tapers from the cooling member towards the tensioning element.

13. Hair styling apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the guard is thermally insulated from the heating member.

14. (canceled)

15. Hair styling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning member comprises a plurality of teeth or bristles.

16. Hair styling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of teeth or bristles has a generally tapering shape which is widest adjacent the heating contacting surface.

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. Hair styling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning element is made from plastics, metal or ceramic.

25. Hair styling apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a styling mechanism that houses the heating member and the cooling member and wherein the heating contacting surface is provided on an upper surface of the styling mechanism and the cooling contacting surface is provided on a lower surface of the styling mechanism.

26. Hair styling apparatus comprising:

a handle for holding the apparatus;

a generally tubular styling mechanism;

a heating member provided within the styling mechanism and having a heating contacting surface for heating hair in contact with the heating member, the heating contacting surface being provided on an upper surface of the generally tubular styling mechanism;

a cooling member provided within the styling mechanism adjacent to the heating member, wherein the cooling member has a cooling contacting surface for cooling hair in contact with the cooling member, the cooling contacting surface being provided on a lower surface of the generally tubular styling mechanism and the cooling member being cooled by an active cooling mechanism; and

one or more tensioning members which project from the heating member and which, in use, tension a user's hair.

27. Hair styling apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the active cooling mechanism is arranged to blow or draw air along a longitudinal axis of the generally tubular styling mechanism past the cooling member.

28. A method of styling hair comprising:

providing a hair styling device having a generally tubular styling mechanism that houses a heating member having a heating contacting surface for heating hair in contact with the heating member and a cooling member having a cooling contacting surface for cooling hair in contact with the cooling member, the heating contacting surface being provided on an upper surface of the generally tubular styling mechanism and the cooling contacting surface being provided on a lower surface of the generally tubular styling mechanism and the cooling member being cooled by an active cooling mechanism;

heating hair to be styled by passing the hair to be styled over the heating contacting surface until the hair is above a glass transition temperature of the hair;

styling the hair by tensioning the hair using one or more tensioning members which project from the heating member; and

cooling the hair when tensioned by rotating the generally tubular styling mechanism so that the hair contacts the cooling contacting surface to set the hair in the desired style.