Attachment for a haircare appliance

Abstract

An attachment for a haircare appliance is provided. The attachment includes an air inlet, an air outlet, a curved surface adjacent to and downstream of the air outlet, and a plurality of bristles. The attachment is configured such that 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. The plurality of bristles are movable between a first position relative to the air outlet, and a second position relative to the air outlet, with the second position different to the first position. Movement of the plurality of bristles from the first position to the second position increases exposure of the plurality of bristles to airflow from the air outlet.

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 plurality of bristles,   wherein the attachment is configured such that airflow exiting the air outlet in use generates a first force to attract hair toward the curved surface and a second force to push hair away from the curved surface,   wherein the plurality of bristles are movable between a first position relative to the air outlet and a second position relative to the air outlet, the second position different to the first position, and   wherein movement of the plurality of bristles from the first position to the second position increases exposure of the plurality of bristles to airflow from the air outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bristles are embedded in a bristle bed, and wherein movement of the bristle bed between the first and second positions moves the plurality of bristles between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein movement of the plurality of bristles from the first position to the second position increases a number of the plurality of bristles that are exposed to airflow from the air outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of bristles is exposed to airflow from the air outlet in the first position, and/or wherein the plurality of bristles are closer to the air outlet in the second position than in the first position. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of bristles are configured to detach airflow from the curved surface in the first position. 
     
     
         7 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bristles are rotatable about a common rotation point to move between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment of  claim 7 , further comprising a user actuable mechanism configured to rotate the plurality of bristles between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment of  claim 1 , further comprising a retention mechanism for retaining the plurality of bristles in one of the first and second positions. 
     
     
         10 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the curved surface comprises an annular surface, wherein the plurality of bristles are disposed on the curved surface, and wherein rotation of the curved surface relative to the air outlet is configured to move the plurality of bristles between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         11 . The attachment of  claim 10 , wherein the curved surface is substantially smooth between the air outlet and the plurality of bristles when the plurality of bristles are in the first position. 
     
     
         12 . The attachment of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of bristles are disposed on the curved surface such that a radial distance of a bristle closest to the air outlet in the second position is less than a radial distance of a bristle furthest away from the air outlet in the second position. 
     
     
         13 . The attachment of  claim 1 , further comprising a contact member configured to contact the haircare appliance when the attachment is attached to the haircare appliance such that rotation of the attachment relative to the haircare appliance about an axis in a plane of the air inlet is inhibited. 
     
     
         14 . The attachment of  claim 13 , wherein the contact member is configured to contact the haircare appliance when the attachment is attached to the haircare appliance such that rotation of the attachment relative to the haircare appliance about a further axis orthogonal to the plane of the air inlet is enabled. 
     
     
         15 . The attachment of  claim 13 , wherein the contact member comprises a spigot that extends into a bore of the haircare appliance when the attachment is attached to the haircare appliance. 
     
     
         16 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein when the plurality of bristles are in the second position, a first airflow path is defined along a first side of the plurality of bristles and a second airflow path is defined along a second side of the plurality of bristles. 
     
     
         17 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the air outlet is defined by radially inner and outer walls, and wherein the radially outer wall comprises a radius of curvature that decreases toward the air outlet. 
     
     
         18 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the air outlet comprises a flow guide for distributing airflow along the air outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bristles are positioned in first and second rows, and wherein at least some bristles of the first row are linked to at least some bristles of the second row by a linking member. 
     
     
         20 . A haircare appliance comprising an attachment as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         21 . A haircare appliance comprising:
 an air inlet,   an air outlet,   an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet,   a curved surface adjacent to and downstream of the air outlet, and   a plurality of bristles,   wherein the haircare appliance is configured such that airflow exiting the air outlet in use generates a first force to attract hair toward the curved surface and a second force to push hair away from the curved surface,   wherein the plurality of bristles are movable between a first position relative to the air outlet and a second position relative to the air outlet, the second position different to the first position, and   wherein movement of the plurality of bristles from the first position to the second position increases exposure of the plurality of bristles to airflow from the air outlet.