Haircare appliance

Abstract

A haircare appliance has an air inlet, an air outlet, and an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet. The air outlet is at least partially defined by movable member. Movement of the movable member varies a cross-sectional area of the air outlet, and the movable member is movable in a radial direction relative to a central axis of the haircare appliance.

1 . An attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment comprising an air inlet, and an air outlet for emitting airflow, wherein the air outlet is at least partially defined by a movable member, movement of the movable member varies a cross-sectional area of the air outlet, and the movable member is movable in a radial direction relative to a central axis of the attachment. 
     
     
         2 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the movable member is configured to move in response to engagement of hair with the movable member in use. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment comprises a fixed member that at least partially defines the air outlet, and the movable member is movable relative to the fixed member to vary the cross-sectional area of the air outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the movable member is movable in a circumferential direction relative to the central axis. 
     
     
         5 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the movable member is biased into a rest configuration in which the air outlet comprises a first cross-sectional area, and the movable member is movable in response to engagement of the movable member within hair to increase the cross-sectional area of the air outlet to a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         6 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the movable member is movable in a radially inward direction toward the central axis to increase the cross-sectional area of the air outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the movable member is movable in a radially outward direction away from the central axis to increase the cross-sectional area of the air outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the movable member is located intermediate two adjacent fixed members, the air outlet comprises first and second apertures, the first fixed member and the movable member define the first aperture, the second fixed member and the movable member define the second aperture, and movement of the movable member varies cross-sectional areas of the first and second apertures. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein engagement of hair with the movable member to apply a force to the movable member in a first direction increases a cross-sectional area of the first aperture and decreases a cross-sectional area of the second aperture, and engagement of hair with the movable member to apply a force to the movable member in a second direction opposite to the first direction increases a cross-sectional area of the second aperture and decreases a cross-sectional area of the first aperture. 
     
     
         10 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the movable member is pivotable such that engagement of hair with the movable member to apply the force to the movable member in the first direction causes a first end of the movable member to increase the cross-sectional area of the first aperture and causes a second end of the movable member opposite the first end of the movable member to decrease the cross-sectional area of the second aperture, and engagement of hair with the movable member to apply the force to the movable member in the second direction causes the first end of the movable member to decrease the cross-sectional area of the first aperture and causes the second end of the movable member to increase the cross-sectional area of the second aperture. 
     
     
         11 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein a pivot point about which the movable member is pivotable is located in a channel such that the pivot point is slidable in a radial direction within the channel. 
     
     
         12 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the first end of the movable member is located adjacent the first fixed member, the second end of the movable member is located adjacent the second fixed member, the first end of the movable member is connected to the second fixed member by a rod, the movable member pivotable relative to the rod and the rod pivotable relative to the second fixed member. 
     
     
         13 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the movable member comprises a first portion at least partially defining the first aperture, and a second portion at least partially defining the second aperture, the first portion and the second portion pivotally connected such that the first and second portions are independently movable relative to one another. 
     
     
         14 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein movement of the movable member in a first direction increases the cross-sectional area of each of the first and second apertures, and movement of the movable member in a second direction opposite to the first direction decreases the cross-sectional area of each of the first and second apertures. 
     
     
         15 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein movement of the movable member is constrained such that the first and second apertures comprise maximal and minimal cross-sectional areas at boundaries of motion of the movable member. 
     
     
         16 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the attachment comprises a stopping member located radially inwardly of the movable member, and the stopping member is shaped to constrain motion of the movable member. 
     
     
         17 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the movable member is movable to vary the cross-sectional area of the first and second apertures against the force of a biasing member. 
     
     
         18 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment comprises a plurality of movable members movable in a radial direction relative to the central axis of attachment, and each of the plurality of movable members at least partially defining a respective one of a plurality of air outlets, the plurality of air outlets spaced about a periphery of the attachment. 
     
     
         19 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein a first one of the plurality of movable members is located on a first side of the attachment, a second one of the plurality of movable members is located on a second side of the attachment, a first one of the plurality of air outlets is located on the first side of the attachment, a second one of the plurality of air outlets is located on the second side of the attachment opposite to the first side of the attachment, and movement of the first moveable member to vary a cross-sectional area of the first air outlet causes movement of the second movable member to vary a cross-sectional area of the second air outlet. 
     
     
         20 . A haircare appliance comprising an air inlet, an air outlet, and an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet, wherein the air outlet is at least partially defined by a movable member, movement of the movable member varies a cross-sectional area of the air outlet, and the movable member is movable in a radial direction relative to a central axis of the haircare appliance. 
     
     
         21 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the haircare appliance comprises a handle unit within which the airflow generator is disposed, and an attachment comprising the air outlet and the movable member, the attachment removably attachable to the handle unit.