Hair treatment device that diffuses steam onto the hair

Abstract

The invention relates to a hair treatment device (10), comprisingat least one steam outlet (30) for emitting steam onto the hair,a system (40) for supplying steam to said at least one steam outlet (30),at least one detector (50) for detecting contact or proximity of the device with or to the hair,a steam control unit (59) configured to authorize the supply of steam, and/or to automatically supply steam to the steam outlet (30), by the steam supply system (40) when at least one predefined condition is met, this condition being a hair contact or proximity condition verified from information generated by the contact or proximity detector (50).

1 . Hair treatment device ( 10 ), comprising
 at least one steam outlet ( 30 ) for emitting steam onto the hair,   a system ( 40 ) for supplying steam to said at least one steam outlet ( 30 ),   at least one detector ( 50 ) for detecting contact or proximity of the device with or to the hair,   a steam control unit ( 59 ) configured to authorize the supply of steam, and/or to automatically supply steam to the steam outlet ( 30 ) by the steam supply system ( 40 ) when at least one predefined condition is met, this condition being a hair contact or proximity condition verified from information generated by the contact or proximity detector ( 50 ).   
     
     
         2 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the treatment device is a brush comprising a plurality of teeth ( 23   a ,  23   b ). 
     
     
         3 . Device according to  claim 2 , comprising means ( 35 ) for heating the teeth for heating at least some of the plurality of teeth ( 23   a ), in particular at least two of the teeth, preferably at least one or more rows of teeth. 
     
     
         4 . Device according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the contact or proximity condition is information on positive detection of hair contact or proximity, in particular when the latter generates information on positive detection of hair contact or proximity by the positive or negative detector, or a match between a value measured by the contact or proximity detector ( 50 ) and a setpoint value range, the setpoint value range being predetermined to characterize the contact or proximity of the hair with or to the device. 
     
     
         5 . Device according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the detector ( 50 ) comprises one or more sensors chosen among mechanical, optical, resistive, capacitive, thermal, motion, magnetic and sound sensors. 
     
     
         6 . Device according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the detector ( 50 ) comprises at least one sensor detecting a mechanical interaction between the hair and the treatment device, in particular the treatment surface or at least one tooth. 
     
     
         7 . Device according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the detector ( 50 ) comprises a stress sensor ( 52 ) configured to detect a compressive or shear stress applied to a treatment surface ( 21 ) and/or to at least one tooth and/or to a feeler ( 55 ) present on or in the vicinity of a treatment surface ( 21 ) and associated with the stress sensor ( 52 ). 
     
     
         8 . Device according to  claim 7 , wherein the stress sensor is a piezoelectric sensor ( 52 ) configured to detect and/or measure a compressive or shear stress applied by the hair to the treatment surface ( 21 ), to the tooth ( 23   a ,  23   b ) and/or to the feeler ( 55 ). 
     
     
         9 . Device according to  claim 7 , wherein the feeler ( 55 ) is movable, in particular able to pivot, from a rest position about at least one axis of rotation F, with a device configured to detect and/or measure the movement of the feeler ( 55 ). 
     
     
         10 . Device according to  claim 9 , wherein the detector ( 50 ) comprises an elastic return member ( 60 ) for returning the feeler ( 55 ) to a rest position in the absence of external force, the rest position being in particular a neutral reference position of the teeth, substantially perpendicular to a fastening base and/or having an axis of elongation substantially parallel to an axis of elongation of the neighbouring teeth. 
     
     
         11 . Device according to any one of  claims 1 to 5 , wherein the detector ( 50 ) comprises a proximity sensor, in particular an infrared sensor detecting the proximity of the hair with respect to the sensor, in particular at a distance such that the hair is in contact with the treatment device. 
     
     
         12 . Device according to any one of  claims 1 to 5 , comprising means for heating a treatment surface ( 21 ) and/or teeth ( 23   a ), the detector ( 50 ) comprising a temperature sensor, the control unit ( 59 ) being configured to authorize the supply of steam, and/or to automatically supply steam to the steam outlet ( 30 ), by the supply system ( 40 ) when at least a decrease in the temperature, in particular of the treatment surface ( 21 ) and/or of the teeth ( 23   a ), below a setpoint temperature, characteristic of contact or proximity between the device and the hair, is detected by the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         13 . Device according to  any one of the preceding claims , comprising a gripping detector ( 98 ) for detecting gripping by the user of the device, the control unit ( 59 ) being configured to authorize the supply of steam, and/or to automatically supply steam to the steam outlet, by the supply system when at least two conditions are met, namely, on the one hand, the contact or proximity condition verified from information generated by the contact or proximity detector ( 50 ) and, on the other hand, a gripping condition verified from information generated by the gripping detector ( 98 ). 
     
     
         14 . Device according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the control unit ( 59 ) is configured to prevent the supply of steam by the steam supply system ( 40 ) when the device ( 10 ) is switched off, before the hair contact or proximity condition is met after switching on the device or when the contact or proximity condition is no longer met over a period greater than or equal to a predefined time delay, for example equal to 5 s, preferably 2 s, more preferably 1 s, preferably 0.5 s. 
     
     
         15 . Device according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the control unit ( 59 ) is configured to supply steam to the steam outlet ( 30 ) by the steam supply system ( 59 ) when at least two conditions are met, namely, on the one hand, the contact or proximity condition and, on the other hand, a temperature condition in a vaporization chamber ( 42 ) for supplying the steam outlet ( 30 ), the supply of steam preferably being triggered when positive contact or proximity information is generated or when there is a match between a value measured by the contact or proximity detector ( 50 ) and a threshold or a setpoint value range, the threshold or the setpoint value range being chosen to characterize the contact or proximity of the hair with or to the device, and when, on the other hand, the temperature in the vaporization chamber ( 42 ) is greater than or equal to a predetermined vaporization temperature, in particular 100° C. 
     
     
         16 . Method for treating hair with the aid of the device according to  any one of the preceding claims , comprising:
 detecting contact or proximity of the device with or to the hair using the detector ( 50 ),   supplying steam to the steam outlet ( 30 ) when the supply of steam is authorized or activated by the control unit ( 59 ).