Haircare appliance

Abstract

An attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment having an air inlet, first and second air outlets, and a curved surface adjacent to and downstream of the first and second air outlets. The attachment has a switching member movable from a first switch position in which airflow passes through the first air outlet across the curved surface and does not pass through the second air outlet, to a second switch position in which airflow passes through the second air outlet across the curved surface and does not pass through the first air outlet. The attachment has a retention mechanism for retaining the switching member in one of the first and second switch positions in the absence of an applied force to the switching member by a user of the haircare appliance. Airflow exiting the air outlet generates a first force to attract hair toward the curved surface, and a second force to push hair away from the curved surface.

1 . An attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment comprising an air inlet, a curved surface, first and second air outlets, the curved surface adjacent to and downstream of the first and second air outlets and the first and second air outlets for directing airflow in respective opposite directions across the curved surface, a switching member for switching airflow between the first and second air outlets, the switching member movable from a first switch position in which airflow passes through the first air outlet across the curved surface and does not pass through the second air outlet, to a second switch position in which airflow passes through the second air outlet across the curved surface and does not pass through the first air outlet, and a retention mechanism for retaining the switching member in one of the first and second switch positions in the absence of an applied force to the switching member by a user of the haircare appliance. 
     
     
         2 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein airflow exiting the first and second air outlets generates a first force to attract hair toward the curved surface, and a second force to push hair away from the curved surface. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism is arranged to retain the switching member in the other of the first and second switch positions upon application of an applied force to the switching member by a user of the haircare appliance. 
     
     
         4 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism comprises a first pair of magnets configured to retain the switching member in the first switch position and a second pair of magnets configured to retain the switching member in the second switch position. 
     
     
         5 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a minimum applied force required to overcome the retention mechanism to move the switching member between the first switch position and the second switch position is in the region up to 5N. 
     
     
         6 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a user interface operable by a user to move the switching member between the first switch position and the second switch position. 
     
     
         7 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the user interface comprises a handle positioned on the switching member and movable by a user to move the switching member between the first switch position and the second switch position. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the switching member is elongate and is at least as long as a length of the first and second air outlets. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the switching member is movable between the first switch position and the second switch position about a pivot. 
     
     
         10 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the switching member comprises an arced surface for turning airflow toward the first or second air outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the switching member forms a seal between the first air outlet and the second air outlet when the switching member is in the first switch position and the second switch position. 
     
     
         12 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a rib positioned such that the rib interacts with airflow exiting the first or second air outlet to align airflow. 
     
     
         13 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the rib is rigidly connected to the switching member such that a position of the rib relative to the first and second outlets is different dependent on whether the switching member is in the first switch position or the second switch position. 
     
     
         14 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a guide, the guide comprising a first channel defining the first air outlet and a second channel defining the second air outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a main body defining a main air outlet for directing airflow from the air inlet to the first and second air outlets, wherein airflow is directed by the switching member from the main air outlet to the first air outlet when the switching member is in the first switch position and airflow is directed by the switching member from the main air outlet to the second air outlet when the switching member is in the second switch position. 
     
     
         16 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the main body is rotatable by a user relative to the first and second air outlets between a first position in which airflow exiting the main air outlet is directed by the switching member to the first or second air outlet and a second position, in which airflow exiting the main air outlet is not directed by the switching member. 
     
     
         17 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the switching member is rotatable by a user relative to the first and second air outlets between a first position in which airflow exiting the main air outlet is directed by the switching member to the first or second air outlet and a second position, in which airflow exiting the main air outlet is not directed by the switching member. 
     
     
         18 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the curved surface is defined in an outer surface of the main body. 
     
     
         19 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the curved surface comprises first and second curved surfaces on opposite sides of the main air outlet and, when the main body is in the first position, the first air outlet is for directing airflow from the main air outlet across the first curved surface in a first direction and the second air outlet is for directing airflow from the main air outlet across the second curved surface in a second, opposite direction. 
     
     
         20 . A haircare appliance comprising an air inlet, a curved surface, first and second air outlets, the curved surface adjacent to and downstream of the first and second air outlets and the first and second air outlets for directing airflow in respective opposite directions across the curved surface, an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the first and second air outlets, a switching member for switching airflow between the first and second air outlets, the switching member movable from a first switch position in which airflow passes through the first air outlet across the curved surface and does not pass through the second air outlet, to a second switch position in which airflow passes through the second air outlet across the curved surface and does not pass through the first air outlet, and a retention mechanism for retaining the switching member in one of the first and second switch positions in the absence of an applied force to the switching member by a user of the haircare appliance. 
     
     
         21 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 20 , comprising a handle unit within which the airflow generator is housed, and an attachment releasably attachable to the handle unit, the attachment comprising the first and second air outlets, the curved surface, the switching member and the retention mechanism. 
     
     
         22 . An attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment comprising an air inlet, a curved surface, a first air outlet, the curved surface adjacent to and downstream of the first air outlet, a switching member for switching airflow from a first switch position in which airflow passes through the first air outlet in a first direction to a second switch position in which airflow passes through the first air outlet in a second direction across the curved surface, and a retention mechanism for retaining the switching member in one of the first and second switch positions in the absence of an applied force to the switching member. 
     
     
         23 . The attachment according to  claim 22 , wherein the switching member comprises the curved surface. 
     
     
         24 . The attachment according to  claim 22 , wherein a second air outlet is provided and the switching member switches airflow from a first switch position in which airflow passes through the first air outlet in a first direction to a second switch position in which airflow passes through the second air outlet in a second direction.