Hair appliance with ion generator

Abstract

A hair iron comprising an ion generator that generates ions comprises a slotted nozzle in communication with the ion generator for generating an ion curtain projecting from at least one side of a body of the hair iron, alongside and substantially parallel to a longitudinal edge of the heating element that contacts the hair in use.

1 . A hair iron comprising:
 a body with a hair-care section,   at least one elongate heating element disposed in the hair-care section, the elongate heating element having a hair-contacting face for contacting hair in use,   an ion generator which generates ions,   a slotted nozzle in the hair-care section, the slotted nozzle in communication with the ion generator for generating an ion curtain projecting from at least one side of the body alongside, and substantially parallel to, a longitudinal edge of the heating element.   
     
     
         2 . The hair iron of  claim 1  wherein the at least one elongate heating element comprises a pair of substantially parallel elongate heating elements of like form and the slotted nozzle is disposed between adjacent longitudinal edges of respective ones of the heating elements. 
     
     
         3 . The hair iron of  claim 1  wherein the body is elongate, with the hair-care section disposed at one longitudinal end, and a grip section disposed at an opposing longitudinal end to be grasped by a user during use of the hair iron. 
     
     
         4 . The hair iron of  claim 1  wherein the ion generator is disposed in the body and the body further comprises a supply channel connecting the ion generator to at least one longitudinal end of the slotted nozzle. 
     
     
         5 . The hair iron of  claim 1  wherein the ion generator generates anions. 
     
     
         6 . The hair iron of  claim 1  wherein the hair-contacting face is formed on an electrical conductor, particularly on a metal plate, and the hair iron comprises a charging circuit connected to the electrical conductor that electrically charges the conductor to attract the ion curtain. 
     
     
         7 . The hair iron of  claim 6  wherein the electrical conductor is electrically grounded. 
     
     
         8 . The hair iron of  claim 1  wherein the slotted nozzle is integral with the hair-care section and comprises a through-extending outlet opening such that the ion curtain extends from opposing sides of the hair-care section. 
     
     
         9 . The hair iron of  claim 8  wherein the through-extending outlet opening is of substantially constant cross-sectional area throughout its length. 
     
     
         10 . The hair iron of  claim 8  wherein the through-extending outlet opening has opposing longitudinal sides that are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         11 . The hair iron of  claim 1  wherein the body forms a boundary of the slotted nozzle. 
     
     
         12 . The hair iron of  claim 2  wherein the at least one elongate heating element further comprises a plurality of tines of like form projecting from a planar face of the at least one elongate heating element and being disposed in a linear array, longitudinally spaced apart, wherein each of the tines is tapered to narrow toward its tip and opposite transverse edges, and elongated transversely to span the greater part of the width of each of the at least one elongate heating element. 
     
     
         13 . The hair iron of  claim 4  wherein the supply channel comprises a discharge electrode connecting to the ion generator, the discharge electrode is disposed at the longitudinal end of the slotted nozzle. 
     
     
         14 . The hair iron of  claim 13  wherein the supply channel comprises at least two discharge electrodes connecting to the ion generator, the at least two discharge electrodes are disposed at the two longitudinal ends of the slotted nozzle and are coaxial with the supply channel. 
     
     
         15 . The hair iron of  claim 4  wherein the supply channel is coaxial with the ion generator, and an axis of the supply channel is acutely inclined relative to a planar face of the at least one elongate heating element so that ion stream is delivered into the slotted nozzle with a minor transverse velocity component and a major longitudinal component.