Haircare appliance

Abstract

An attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment having an air inlet, an air outlet, a curved surface adjacent to and downstream of the air outlet, and a switching member for directing airflow exiting the air outlet. The switching member is switchable relative to the air outlet between a first switch position, in which airflow exiting the air outlet passes between a first side of the switching member and the curved surface and attaches to the curved surface, and a second switch position, in which airflow exiting the air outlet passes over a second, opposing side of the switching member and is directed away from the curved surface.

1 . An attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment comprising an air inlet, an air outlet, a curved surface adjacent to and downstream of the air outlet, and a switching member for directing airflow exiting the air outlet, the switching member switchable relative to the air outlet between a first switch position, in which airflow exiting the air outlet passes between a first side of the switching member and the curved surface and attaches to the curved surface, and a second switch position, in which airflow exiting the air outlet passes over a second, opposing side of the switching member and is directed away from the curved surface. 
     
     
         2 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, with the switching member in the first switch position, 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. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first side of the switching member comprises an arced surface for turning airflow toward the curved surface. 
     
     
         4 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the switching member is switchable between the first and second switch positions about a pivot, and the switching member extends in a direction from the pivot substantially towards the air outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the switching member forms a seal with a first edge of the air outlet when the switching member is in the first switch position and forms a seal between with a second, opposing edge of the air outlet when the switching member is in the second switch position, the second edge of the air outlet being closer to the curved surface than the first edge. 
     
     
         6 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the curved surface is movable relative to the air outlet between a first ramp position and a second ramp position, and movement of the curved surface from the first ramp position to the second ramp position causes the switching member to switch between the first and second switch positions. 
     
     
         7 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the curved surface is biased towards the first ramp position. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , the curved surface is movable relative to the air outlet between a first ramp position and a second ramp position, and wherein movement of the curved surface from the second ramp position to the first ramp position does not cause the switching member to switch between the first and second switch positions. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the curved surface and the switching member are rigidly connected. 
     
     
         10 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in use, the switching member is biased toward the first and second switch positions by airflow exiting the air outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising 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. 
     
     
         12 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 11 , 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. 
     
     
         13 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a sensor for detecting a parameter of the attachment and outputting a signal indicative of the parameter, and a switching system for automatically switching the switching member between the first and second switch positions in response to a determination that the signal meets a predetermined criterion. 
     
     
         14 . The attachment as claimed  claim 1 , comprising a user interface remote from the switching member and operable by a user to switch the switching member between the first switch position and the second switch position. 
     
     
         15 . A haircare appliance comprising an air inlet, an air outlet, a curved surface adjacent to and downstream of the air outlet, a switching member for directing airflow exiting the air outlet, and an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet, the switching member switchable relative to the air outlet between a first switch position, in which airflow exiting the air outlet passes between a first side of the switching member and the curved surface and attaches to the curved surface, and a second switch position, in which airflow exiting the air outlet passes over a second, opposing side of the switching member and is directed away from the curved surface. 
     
     
         16 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 15 , comprising a handle unit within which the airflow generator is housed, and an attachment releasably attachable to the handle unit, the attachment comprising the air outlet, the curved surface and the switching member.