ES2665496T3 - Hairdressing apparatus equipped with a comb locking system - Google Patents

Abstract

Hair styling apparatus (1) of straightening type, comprising two arms (2, 3) each equipped with a heating system (5, 6) and configured to form a clamp that allows heating systems (5, 6) to heat treat , concomitantly, the hair and, at least one comb (9, 10) assembled in sliding joint (11, 12) with at least one of the two arms (2) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (X) of said arm , said arm (2) comprising a locking system (15, 30, 41, 53) configured to be operated, on the one hand, towards a stop position according to which the locking system (15, 30, 41, 53 ) locks in assembled position at least one comb (9, 10) on this arm (2) or, on the other, in a retracted position according to which the locking system (15, 30, 41, 53) allows the sliding of minus a comb (9, 10) on this arm (2), characterized in that the locking system (15, 30, 41, 53) comprises a button (18, 34, 44, 56) mounted on a On the arm (2) to be operated towards two positions, at least one stop finger (20, 21, 40, 47, 48, 57, 58) configured to block the sliding of at least one comb (9, 10) in the stop position and to allow the sliding of at least one comb (9, 10) in a retracted position and transmission means configured so that the actuation of the button (18, 34, 44, 56) according to its two positions respectively allows the movement from the stop finger (20, 21, 40, 47, 48, 57, 58) to the stop position and the retracted position.

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Hairdressing apparatus equipped with a comb locking system

The present invention concerns a hairdressing apparatus, of the straightening type, comprising two arms that allow a thermal treatment of the hair by pinching and equipped with removable combs. Such combs allow untangling and combing the hair during a pre-straightening, and can be removed for a smoothing finish or simply for cleaning the combs and the hairdressing apparatus.

Hair styling apparatus, such as that described in US 8 146 605 B1, are known to the person skilled in the art. From the prior art, publications EP 1 652 445 B1 and US 2011/0220141 A1 arise, each of which discloses a hairdressing apparatus comprising two arms articulated together to form a clamp and each comprising a heating system which allows the treatment of hair during its clamping between these two arms. The hairdressing apparatus comprises two combs mounted in sliding joint in one of the two arms in the direction of its longitudinal axis. Each sliding joint is constituted by a longitudinal groove arranged in the arm and by a longitudinal rail arranged in the comb and in a complementary manner to said groove. The comb rail is inserted into the groove of the arm, which allows the comb to be guided and slid on the arm for placement and removal. In EP 1 652 445 B1, the comb is simply introduced in a sliding joint in the arm; Only the frictional force exerted between the rail and the groove allows the comb to be held in the arm. The same happens in document US 2011/0220141 A1, which, in a variant, however provides for a fit between the rail and the groove for the maintenance of the comb in the arm.

It is understood that in accordance with this design of the hairdressing apparatus, such as that described in publications EP 1 652 445 B1 and US 2011/0220141 A1, it is necessary to exercise a sufficiently large friction between the rail and the groove to conveniently hold in position the comb on the arm during the use of the hairdressing apparatus and, therefore, provide a more or less tight assembly between these elements. This has the disadvantage of making it difficult to place the comb on the arm due to the friction exerted during the sliding of the rail in the groove. The same happens during the removal of the comb, this difficulty can be accentuated due to the expansion of the rail and / or the groove generated by the actuation of the heating system. In addition, wear of the hairdressing apparatus can cause wear of the rail and / or the slide, which, by force of use, generates slack in the sliding joint and, consequently, poor maintenance of the comb in the arm.

The present invention allows to overcome these drawbacks of known hairdressing apparatus. For this purpose, the invention concerns a hair styling apparatus of the straightening type, as defined in claim 1.

The hairdressing apparatus comprises two arms each equipped with a heating system and configured to form a clamp that allows the heating systems to thermally treat, in a concomitant manner, the hair, especially when they are pinched. This hairdressing apparatus also comprises at least one comb assembled in sliding joint with at least one of the two arms in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said arm. Furthermore, according to the invention, the arm comprises a locking system configured to be operated, on the one hand, in a stop position according to which the locking system locks in assembled position at least one comb in this arm or, by another, in a retracted position according to which the locking system allows at least one comb to slide on this arm.

Thus, according to the hairdressing apparatus object of the invention, it is not necessary to provide friction in the sliding joint between the comb and the arm, which facilitates the placement of the comb. The same happens during the removal of the comb. Such a locking system also ensures convenient maintenance of the comb on the arm during the use of the hairdressing apparatus. The implementation of such a retractable locking system also makes the assembly and disassembly of the comb in the arm ergonomic, since it is sufficient to operate the locking system to easily slide the comb in one direction or the other in the arm and thus position it or remove him.

The locking system comprises a button mounted in union on the arm to be operated in two positions. The locking system also comprises at least one stop finger configured to block the sliding of at least one comb in the stop position and to allow the sliding of at least one comb in the retracted position. In addition, the locking system comprises transmission means configured so that the actuation of the button according to its two positions allows the movement of the stop finger respectively towards the stop position and towards the retracted position.

According to a first variant of this preferred mode of design of the hairdressing apparatus, the button is mounted in translation on the arm along an axis arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arm and, at least one stop finger is fixed to the button. Thus, the stop finger moves identically to the button during its movement to the stop position or to the retracted position.

According to a second variant of this preferred mode of hairdressing apparatus design, the button is mounted in pivotal connection on the arm along an axis arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the

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arm and, at least one stop finger is fixed to the button. The pivoting of the button thus allows a circular translation of the stop finger for its movement to the stop position or to the retracted position.

According to these two variants mentioned above, the transmission means are constituted by an embedment joint. This advantageously allows the button and at least one stop finger to be constituted in one piece. However, separate pieces can be provided, fixed together. Furthermore, within the framework of the invention, other variants of this preferred design of the hairdressing apparatus can be considered. Indeed, a transmission between the button and the stop fingers constituted by individual pieces could be considered. For example, adapted transmission means could be provided, according to which a translation of the button along a first axis, arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arm, will translate in translation the stop fingers along a second axis different from the first axis and arranged also in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arm.

In a preferred mode of design of the hairdressing apparatus object of the invention, the arm comprises at least one housing configured to receive at least one stop finger in the retracted position. This simplifies the design of the hairdressing apparatus and limits its volume. However, design variants without accommodation could be considered according to which, in the retracted position, the stop finger was separated from the comb, without being housed in the arm.

In a preferred mode of design of the hairdressing apparatus object of the invention, the locking system comprises an application system for the stop position. This improves the ergonomics of the device since it is enough to operate the locking system to the single retracted position, returning to the stop position automatically by requesting to said stop position. However, other design variants may be conceived that require manual operation towards the two stop and retracted positions.

In a preferred mode of design of the hairdressing apparatus object of the invention, the heating system comprises a flat heating surface arranged longitudinally on the arm, said hairdressing apparatus comprising two combs arranged respectively on the two lateral sides of the flat heating surface. However, design variants of the hairdressing apparatus according to the invention could be considered, for example, arms equipped with heating surfaces of complementary circular shapes.

In a preferred mode of design of the hairdressing apparatus object of the invention, the locking system is arranged at the end of the arm and abuts against the tip of at least one comb. This facilitates the design of the arm and comb. However, other arrangements of the arm locking system could be envisaged, which, for example, will be abutting against a notch arranged in a certain position along the comb.

According to the hairdressing apparatus object of the invention, the two arms each comprise an internal face, the two internal faces being arranged opposite each other. Also, the two arms each comprise an outer face, the two outer faces being arranged in opposition. In a preferred mode of design of the hairdressing apparatus, the locking system is configured to be operated from the inner side of the arm. This has the advantage of avoiding unintentional manipulation of the locking system during the use of the hairdressing apparatus. However, a design variant of the hairdressing apparatus can be considered, according to which the locking system is configured to be operated from the outer face of the arm.

The characteristics and advantages of the hairdressing apparatus object of the invention will be revealed in the reading of the attached description made in reference to the drawings illustrating non-limiting forms of embodiment, in which:

- Figure 1 illustrates an overall perspective view of a hairdressing apparatus object of the invention;

- Figure 2 illustrates in perspective a first arm of the hairdressing apparatus of Figure 1, comprising a

retractable locking system;

- Figure 3 illustrates in perspective a second arm of the hairdressing apparatus of Figure 1;

- figure 4 is an enlarged view of the front part of the first arm of figure 2;

- Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate in detail the constituent elements of a first embodiment of a retractable locking system;

- Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a second embodiment of a retractable locking system, respectively in the stop position and in the retracted position;

- Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a stop finger respectively in the stop position and in a retracted position according to this second embodiment of Figures 8 and 9;

Figure 12 illustrates a third embodiment of a retractable locking system in the stop position;

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- Figures 13 and 14 illustrate a fourth embodiment of a retractable locking system in a retracted position respectively for a first comb and a second comb.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the hairdressing apparatus 1 is of the straightening type and comprises two arms 2, 3 which are pivotally articulated to each other by means of a pivot joint 4 of the hinge type. In this way, the two arms 2, 3 constitute a clamp that allows an angular separation between these two arms 2, 3, or an approximation of one of these two arms 2, 3 against each other to allow the pinching of the arranged hair between the two arms 2, 3.

These arms 2, 3 each comprise a heating system. In addition to the electric heating means (not illustrated) and the control and thermal regulation means (not illustrated), these heating systems each comprise a heating system 5, 6 that takes the form of a flat surface 5, 6 as It is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. These flat heating surfaces 5, 6 are arranged on the inner faces 7, 8 of the arms 2, 3. In this way, during a clamping, the two flat heating surfaces 5, 6 are arranged one in front of the other and allow concomitantly to perform a heat treatment of the hair, to effect its straightening.

As Figures 1, 2 and 4 illustrate, the first arm 2 comprises two combs 9, 10 which are each mounted in sliding joint 11, 12 respectively on the two lateral sides 5a, 5b of the flat heating surface 5. These two combs 9, 10 allow untangling and combing hair during straightening. As Figure 4 illustrates, the sliding joints 11, 12 are each constituted by a guide groove 13 arranged in the arm 2 in the direction of the longitudinal axis X of said arm 2, and by a rail 14 arranged in the combs 9, 10 in the direction of the longitudinal axis X. The rail 14 is inserted and slides in both directions inside the guide groove 13, in the direction of the longitudinal axis X, which allows sliding in one direction or the other , mount the combs 9, 10 on the arm 2 or, on the contrary, disassemble them. Naturally, sliding joint variants can be considered. It could be provided, for example, a guide rail in the arm 2 and a groove in the combs 9, 10 which engage in sliding in the guide rail.

As Figures 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate, the arm 2 comprises a first embodiment of a locking system 15 which is arranged at the level of the distal end 2a of said arm 2. The locking system 15 comprises a body 16 comprising a tubular portion 17 of the Y axis. This Y axis is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the arm 2, with an orientation in the direction of the thickness of said arm 2. As illustrated in Figures 2, 4 , 5, 6 and 7, the locking system 15 also comprises a button 18 that can be operated from the inner face 7 of the arm 2. The button 18 comprises an axial portion 19 of the Y axis that is inserted into the tubular portion 17. The button 18 comprises two stop fingers 20, 21 which extend symmetrically with respect to the axial portion 19, perpendicular to the Y axis and transversely in the arm 2. In addition, the body 16 comprises two notches 22, 23 into which they are inserted respectively the two fingers of stop 20, 21. This allows a sliding joint of the Y axis to be made when the button 18 is assembled with the body 16. Thus, when the button 18 is pressed from the inner face 7 of the arm 2, said button 18 is moved according to the Y axis inside the body 16 and, consequently, the stop fingers 20, 21 are moved and raised to the notches 22, 23. In relation to figures 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 it is found that the The arm comprises two housing areas 24, 25 arranged partly in the body 16, which respectively allow the reception of the two stop fingers 20, 21 when they rise in the notches 22, 23 and in this way, allow a slapping of these stop fingers 20, 21 inside the arm 2 when the button 18 is pressed. In this retracted position, the stop fingers 20, 21 are separated from the ends 9a, 10a of the combs 9, 10, which allows the sliding of these combs 9, 10 with respect to the arm 2 to effect their placement or, by the co In addition, his withdrawal.

As Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate, the locking system 15 comprises a spring 26 that is housed in a non-through hole 27 disposed in the button 18, along the Y axis. This spring 26 is compressed inside the arm, between said arm 2 and the button 18. The axial portion 19 of the button 18 comprises a shoulder 28 that abuts against the peripheral edge 29 of the tubular portion 17 of the body 16. Thus, the spring 26 in the compressed state allows pushing the button 18 towards the outside, while the shoulder 28 allows to limit the translation towards the outside according to the Y axis, of said button 18 with respect to the body 16. This allows an automatic return of the button 18 to the position separated from the body 16 according to to which the two stop fingers 20, 21 are separated from the housings 24, 25 and stop on the extremities 9a, 10a of the combs 9, 10 so as to block their sliding with respect to the arm 2.

Figures 8 to 11 illustrate a variant embodiment of a locking system 30 in the arm 2. According to this design, the locking system 30 comprises a body 31 comprising a tubular portion 32 provided with an internal shoulder 33. The locking system 30 also comprises a button 34 comprising an axial portion 35 provided with an external shoulder 36 and a non-through hole 37. The locking system also comprises a spring 38 that is partly housed in the hole 37 and which is compressed inside the arm 2, between said arm 2 and the button 34. This spring 38 is oriented along an axis Y1, in the direction of the thickness of arm 2 and in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of said arm 2, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9.

As Figures 8 and 9 illustrate, a pivot joint 39 is disposed between the body 31 and the distal end 35a of the axial portion 35 of the button 34. As noted in these figures 8 and 9, the pivot joint 39 is slightly

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displaced outward with respect to said distal limb 35a and Y1 axis. This pivot joint 39 is oriented along a Z axis transverse to the arm 2 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of said arm 2. The button 34 comprises two stop fingers of which one 40 is represented in Figures 10 and 11. These Stop fingers 40 have a design and orientation on the button 34, substantially similar to those described above for the stop fingers 20, 21 disposed on the button 18 and illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 7.

According to this design illustrated in Figures 8 to 11, when the button 34 is pressed from the inner face 7 of the arm 2, this button 34 sinks into the body 31 pivoting along the Z axis, which allows the two fingers of stop 40 moving circularly and sinking into the body 31, as illustrated in figure 11. Naturally, in this variant of the body design 31 there are provided in the arm 2 housings of design similar to the housings 24, 25 illustrated in the figures 4 to 6. In this way, in this sunken position of the button 34, the stop fingers 40 are retracted, that is to say separated from the ends 9a, 10a of the combs 9, 10, which allows sliding in one direction or in the another in the direction of the longitudinal axis X, the combs 9, 10 on the arm 2. When the button 34 is not pressed, the spring 38, which has undergone compression and is in the position illustrated in Figure 9, is distended and swings button 34 along the Z axis, even to automatically take it to the separate body position 31 illustrated in Figure 8, according to which the stop fingers 40 block the ends 9a, 10a of the combs 9, 10 as especially illustrated in Figure 10.

A third design variant of a locking system 41 on the arm 2 is illustrated in FIG. 12, whose operating principle is identical to that described above for the first locking system 15 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7. This locking system 41 comprises a body 42 comprising a tubular portion 43 of axis Y2 directed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X of the arm 2, with an orientation in the direction of the thickness of said arm 2. The locking system 41 also comprises a button 44 comprising a axial portion 45 of axis Y2 and a throat 46 in which the tubular portion 43 is housed and abutted, which allows to limit the stroke of the button 44 towards the outside of the body 42, according to the axis Y2, during its operation and its return to the separate position on the inner face 7 of the arm 2. The button 44 also comprises two stop fingers 47, 48 directed perpendicularly to the axis Y2, in the transverse direction of the arm 2 to make a top e against the extremities 9a, 10a of the combs 9, 10 when the button is in a separate position from the arm 2, as illustrated in this figure. According to this variant, the button 44 comprises two non-through holes 49, 50 that respectively allow the partial reception of two springs 51, 52 oriented parallel to the Y2 axis, as illustrated in Figure 12. These springs 51, 52 are compressed between the button 44 and the arm 2 and thus, allow the automatic return of the button 44 from a position sunk in the body 42, according to which the stop fingers 47, 48 are spared and allow the combs 9, 10 to slide, towards the separated position, when the button 44 is depressed.

A fourth design variant of a locking system 53 on the arm 2 is illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. According to this design, the locking system 53 comprises a body 54 comprising an oblong opening 55 of axis Y3 directed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X of the arm 2, with a transverse orientation to the arm 2. The locking system 53 also comprises an oblong shaped button 56, configured to be housed and sliding in the oblong opening 55, in both directions of the Y3 axis, as illustrated in these figures 13 and 14. The button 56 is operated from the inner face 7 of the arm 2. This button 56 comprises two stop fingers 57, 58 which extend in opposition along the axis Y3. When the button 56 is abutted against the first end 55a of the oblong opening 55, as illustrated in Figure 13, the first stop finger 57 is retracted inside the body 54 and is separated from the end 9a of the first Comb 9, which allows the comb 9 to slide on arm 2 to mount or remove it. Conversely, when the button 56 is abutted against the second end 55b of the oblong opening 55, as illustrated in Figure 14, the second finger 58 is retracted in the body 54 and is separated from the tip 10a of the second comb 10 , which allows this comb 10 to slide on the arm 2, to mount or remove it.

This locking system 53 also preferably comprises a solicitation system (not shown) of the button 56 towards a central position in the oblong opening 55, according to which the two stop fingers 57, 58 remain separated from the body 54, butt respectively against the extremities 9a, 10a of the two combs 9, 10. This solicitation system is constituted for example by two springs oriented along the axis Y3, respectively on each side of the button 56, and compressed between the button 56 and the body 54 These two springs are identical, that is to say they have an identical length and stiffness constant, which ensures a central equilibrium position of the button 56 in the oblong opening 55. A single spring can also be provided that, when the button 56 is operated butt on one or the other of the ends 55a, 55b of the oblong opening 55, it is in compression or on the other hand in extension and that, when the button is released, naturally return to the steady state according to which the button 56 is repositioned centrally in the oblong opening 55.

In accordance with these various variants described above for the locking system 15, 30, 41, 53, the button 18, 34, 44, 56 and the stop fingers 20, 21, 40, 47, 48, 57, 58 are constituted of one and the same piece, which consists of a connection by embedding between these elements. However, separate pieces fixed together could be provided. The movement of the stop fingers 20, 21, 40, 47, 48, 57, 58 is therefore conditioned by the union implemented between the button 18, 34, 44, 56 and the body 16, 31, 42, 54 Other variants can also be considered for the design of the locking system on the arm 2. Transmission means could be provided between the button and the stop fingers, other than a flush joint. A variant of

design according to which the button was actuated according to the Y axis illustrated in Figures 2, 4 to 7 and transmission means that allow simultaneously moving the stop fingers inside or outside the body, respectively to the retracted position or to the stop position, in the direction of the Y3 axis illustrated in Figures 13 and 14.

5 Design variants of the locking system could also be provided according to which the button was operated from the outer face 59 of the arm 2, preferably at the level of its tip 2a.

Variants of hairdressing apparatus could also be provided that comprise one or two combs arranged in each of the arms 2, 3. In this case the two arms 2, 3 would each have a locking system, these locking systems being able to be operated from the inner faces 7, 8 of the arms 2, 3 or, in a variant 10, from the outer faces 59, 60 of the arms 2, 3.

Claims (9)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 1. Hair styling apparatus (1) of straightening type, comprising two arms (2, 3) each equipped with a heating system (5, 6) and configured to form a clamp that allows heating systems (5, 6) heat treatment, concomitantly, the hair and, at least one comb (9, 10) assembled in sliding joint (11, 12) with at least one of the two arms (2) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (X) of the said arm, said arm (2) comprising a locking system (15, 30, 41, 53) configured to be operated, on the one hand, towards a stop position according to which the locking system (15, 30, 41 , 53) locks in assembled position at least one comb (9, 10) on this arm (2) or, on the other, in a retracted position according to which the locking system (15, 30, 41, 53) allows sliding of at least one comb (9, 10) on this arm (2), characterized in that the locking system (15, 30, 41, 53) comprises a button (18, 34, 44, 56) mounted on joint in the arm (2) to be operated towards two positions, at least one stop finger (20, 21, 40, 47, 48, 57, 58) configured to block the sliding of at least one comb (9, 10) in the stop position and to allow the sliding of at least one comb (9, 10) in a retracted position and transmission means configured so that the actuation of the button (18, 34, 44, 56) according to its two positions respectively allows the movement from the stop finger (20, 21, 40, 47, 48, 57, 58) to the stop position and the retracted position. 2. Hairdressing apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the button (18, 44, 56) is mounted in translation on the arm (2) along an axis (Y, Y2, Y3) arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arm (X) and, at least one stop finger (20, 21, 47, 48, 57, 58) is fixed to the button. 3. Hairdressing apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the button (34) is mounted in pivot joint on the arm (2) along an axis (Z) arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axis length of the arm (X), and at least one stop finger (40) is fixed to the button (34). 4. Hairdressing apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arm (2) comprises at least one housing (24, 25) configured to receive at least one stop finger (20, 21, 40, 47, 48, 57, 58) in the retracted position. 5. Hairdressing apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking system (15, 30, 41, 53) comprises an automatic solicitation system (26, 38, 51, 52) a the stop position. 6. Hairdressing apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating system comprises a flat heating surface (5, 6) arranged longitudinally on the arm (2), said hairdressing apparatus comprising ( 1) two combs (9, 10) respectively arranged on the lateral sides (5a, 5b) of the flat heating surface (5). 7. Hairdressing apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking system (15, 30, 41, 53) is disposed at the end (2a) of the arm (2) and abuts against the limb (9a, 10a) of at least one comb (9, 10). 8. Hairdressing apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the two arms (2, 3) each comprise an inner face (7, 8), the two inner faces being arranged opposite each other. the other, the locking system (15, 30, 41, 53) being configured to be operated from the inner face (7) of the arm (2). 9. Hairdressing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the two arms (2, 3) each comprise an outer face (59, 60), the two outer faces being arranged in opposition, the locking system (15, 30, 41, 53) being configured to be operated from the outer face (59) of the arm (2).