Hair care accessories

Abstract

A hair care accessory is provided for use in drying and/or styling hair. The hair care accessory can include an elongate frame having a longitudinal axis and an inner lumen extending there through along the longitudinal axis. The hair care accessory can also include a plurality of plates disposed on the elongate frame. The plurality of plates can include a first row of plates that can be spaced circumferentially around a first longitudinal portion of the elongate frame, and at least one second row of plates that can be spaced circumferentially around a second longitudinal portion of the elongate frame. Each plate in the first row of plates can define a first longitudinally extending outlet and each plate in the second row of plates can define a second longitudinally extending outlet. The second longitudinally extending outlet being circumferentially offset from the first longitudinally extending outlet.

1 . A hair care accessory, comprising:
 an elongate body having an outer wall forming a heated hair contacting surface; and   at least one heater assembly disposed within the body, the at least one heater assembly including at least one heating element positioned adjacent to the outer wall, a pressure plate positioned adjacent to the at least one heating element and a protective sheet extending over at least a portion of the pressure plate.   
     
     
         2 . The hair care accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure plate comprises a first surface adjacent to the at least one heating element and a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface being adjacent to the protective sheet. 
     
     
         3 . The hair care accessory of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure plate comprises at least one force transmission element arranged on the second surface and configured to maintain the pressure plate adjacent to the at least one heating element. 
     
     
         4 . The hair care accessory of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one force transmission element comprises a compression spring. 
     
     
         5 . The hair care accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating element comprises a polyimide film. 
     
     
         6 . The hair care accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the protective sheet comprises a mica material. 
     
     
         7 . The hair care accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body includes an electrical connector configured to power the at least one heater assembly via power received from a hair care appliance. 
     
     
         8 . The hair care accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body comprises a lumen configured to receive a fluid flow from a hair care appliance via an air inlet at a proximal end of the body. 
     
     
         9 . A heater assembly comprising:
 a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, a heating element positioned adjacent to the inner surface of the wall, a plate positioned adjacent to the heating element and configured to maintain the heating element in contact with the inner surface of the wall, and a power supply configured to power the heating element.   
     
     
         10 . The heater assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the outer surface of the wall comprises a heated hair contacting surface of a hair care appliance or a hair appliance accessory. 
     
     
         11 . The heater assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the plate is configured to maintain the heating element in contact with the inner surface of the wall via one or more springs positioned between the plate and a wall of a housing of a hair care appliance or a hair appliance accessory. 
     
     
         12 . The heater assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the plate is configured to maintain the heating element in contact with the inner surface of the housing via pressure fitting the heater assembly within a housing of a hair care appliance or a hair appliance accessory. 
     
     
         13 . The heater assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a mica sheet abutting the pressure plate. 
     
     
         14 . A hair curler accessory comprising:
 a hollow elongate frame with a plurality of plates positioned circumferentially around the hollow elongate frame, the plurality of plates forming outlets therebetween; and   a heater assembly comprising a ring having an inner wall forming an opening of the ring and an outer wall opposite the inner wall and a plurality of elongate flexible heating elements extending radially from the outer wall, the ring being configured to be received over the hollow elongate frame such that the plurality of elongate flexible heating elements are positioned between the hollow elongate frame and the plurality of plates.   
     
     
         15 . The hair curler accessory of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of elongate flexible heating elements includes a polyimide film. 
     
     
         16 . The hair curler accessory of  claim 14 , wherein the ring comprises a non-heated material. 
     
     
         17 . The hair curler accessory of  claim 14 , wherein respective elements of the plurality of elongate flexible heating elements include wiring configured to convey power to the respective elements, the power provided via a hair care appliance detachably coupled to the hair curler accessory.