Title: Hair treatment brush

The present invention relates to a hair treatment brush and the corresponding hair treatment process.

Technical field

In the field of hairstyling, the use of hairbrushes is common practice. Many improvements to traditional hairbrushes have been proposed. Among these improvements, the combined use of steam has been the subject of many proposals. Patent application DEI 9822718 mentions a comb whose teeth may be perforated in order to emit steam which comes into contact with the hair. Alternatively, the brush has no steam outlet nozzles, and the teeth are heated by a heating resistor without steam being applied. Such a brush with perforated teeth heated by steam may prove relatively difficult to manufacture and tends to limit the temperature imparted to the hair. It may also result in uneven treatment due to steam being over-concentrated locally in certain parts of the hair.

There are also documents describing hairstyling brushes that emit steam through the base carrying the bristles or teeth during treatment, the latter acting as a heating means. For example, documents US4936027, JPS5568318, JPH07213325, CN2061786, JPH01207001, JPH1033253, JPH07163416, JP2000175723 and KR19990036306U can be cited. None of the documents in this list mentions that the bristles or teeth may themselves be heated independently of the emission of steam.

Patent application KR20030085159A describes a brush comprising a plurality of teeth heated by a heating resistor in the base and having steam outlets between the teeth. In this document, the steam outlets and the teeth are distributed over the entire surface of the brush. Such a brush therefore does not allow steam to be applied to a limited part of the hair and the action of the steam to be dissociated from the action of the dry heat.

There remains a need for a brush that offers improved treatment performances, in particular in terms of combing, that are relatively uniform and durable, while being safe. Summary of the invention

The present invention meets this need with the aid of a hair treatment brush, in particular for straightening, comprising:

- a plurality of teeth,

- at least one steam outlet for emitting steam onto the hair, the brush being configured to emit the steam through the steam outlet at a speed of between 0.007 m/s and 15 m/s, preferably between 0.01 m/s and 3 m/s, and more preferably between 0.1 m/s and 1 m/s.

The term “brush” should be understood to mean a hair treatment device constituted by a single arm carrying a plurality of teeth between which hairs are received when the brush passes through the hair. The brush may comprise a single row of teeth or preferably comprise a plurality of rows of teeth.

The term “teeth” should be understood to mean elements protruding from the brush between which hairs are received when the brush passes through the hair. The teeth may have any shape.

Such a brush allows the hair to be treated effectively by brushing the hair and applying steam with the brush in a single movement. The specific speed range of the steam allows the steam to thoroughly penetrate into the hair during the treatment, which improves the treatment in particular in the case of a thick lock of hair, while limiting the risk of discomfort, in particular for the scalp, which could result if the speed of the steam is too high.

Preferably, the brush has an elongate shape along a main axis.

As a variant, the brush has a different, non-elongate shape.

Preferably, the brush comprises a handle and a head. The handle makes the brush easier to hold and allows additional elements to be added to the brush, in particular a user interface, a water or cosmetic product reservoir and/or one or more sensors.

The head of the brush may have any cross-sectional shape. Preferably, the head of the brush has a substantially polygonal cross-section, in particular substantially rectangular or substantially square, substantially oval, or substantially circular.

Preferably, the brush comprises a treatment surface, the teeth extending from the treatment surface. Preferably, this treatment surface is planar or bulges towards the outside. Preferably, this treatment surface has a substantially polygonal outline, in particular rectangular or square, circular or oval.

Teeth

The teeth may extend in at least one row of teeth, and preferably two rows of teeth, each preferably extending parallel to the main axis of the brush. Preferably, the brush is substantially rectangular and the teeth extend in several rows of teeth, each extending along the main axis of the brush in the case of a brush having a treatment surface with a substantially rectangular outline.

Preferably, the row or rows of teeth each comprise at least 3 teeth, preferably between 10 and 40 teeth, and more preferably between 15 and 40 teeth.

Preferably, the brush comprises means for heating the teeth for heating at least some of the plurality of teeth, in particular at least two of the teeth, and preferably at least one or more rows of teeth. Combining the heating of the teeth and the application of steam helps improve the treatment of the hair. In particular, it allows a higher temperature to be maintained in the steam application spaces, in particular the spaces between the teeth when the steam is projected into these spaces. It also allows the hair to be heated with dry heat before or after the application of steam, which improves the steam treatment of the hair.

Preferably, the heating means comprise at least one heating element in the body of the brush for heating the teeth by heat conduction; as a variant, the brush comprises a heating element in each of the heated teeth, in particular forming the core of the corresponding tooth.

The means for heating the teeth of the heated combing area may comprise at least one active element heating the tooth extending at least partially under the treatment surface of the heated combing area, in particular being in direct contact with the teeth and/or the treatment surface in the heated combing area. The heating means may be resistance heaters or any other heating means.

Preferably, the teeth have a height of between 2 mm and 50 mm, and more preferably between 5 mm and 20 mm.

The largest dimension of the teeth extending into the heated combing area which are heated by the heating means, in cross section of the tooth, is between 0.5 mm and 25 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 10 mm.

The ratio between the height of a tooth and its largest cross-sectional dimension is greater than 1, preferably greater than 10.

Preferably, the teeth have no surface protrusions.

Preferably, at least some of the teeth, and preferably all of the teeth, are attached to the brush, in particular fastened into holes in the treatment surface. As a variant, at least some of the teeth, and preferably all of the teeth, are formed as one with the treatment surface.

The teeth may extend perpendicular to the treatment surface or be inclined relative to said treatment surface.

Preferably, the teeth of one row are spaced apart from each other by a distance of between 1 mm and 30 mm, and more preferably between 2 mm and 15 mm. The spacing is measured between the longitudinal axes of the teeth.

Preferably, at least some of the teeth, and preferably all of the teeth, are made from a heat-conductive material, in particular from iron, aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, graphite, or ceramic. The teeth made from a conductive material are preferably heated by the heating means. The teeth may be provided with a coating chosen from ceramic, tourmaline, elastomer, metal alloy and anodized coating materials. This allows the teeth to be heated easily by the heating means, and the hair to be in contact with hot surfaces in the heated combing area. Said teeth may comprise, at their end, a heat shield made from thermally insulating material in order to limit the heat in contact with the scalp. In this case, during operation, the maximum temperature at the end of said teeth may be less than or equal to 100°C, preferably less than or equal to 60°C, and more preferably less than 45°C. The brush may be configured such that, during operation, the temperature of said teeth halfway along their length is between 110°C and 230°C, preferably between 110°C and 210°C, and more preferably between 180°C and 210°C.

Preferably, the heat-conductive material has a thermal conductivity greater than 10 Wrn^K ¹ , better than 50 Wm^K ¹ , better than 100 Wm 'K ¹ . Preferably, the thermally conductive material is selected from metals, in particular copper, aluminium, iron and steel. Alternatively, the heat-conducting material may be ceramic.

Some of the teeth may be made from a material with low heat conductivity, for example from elastomer or plastic.

Preferably, the material with low heat conductivity has a thermal conductivity comprised between 0,2 and 0,5 Wm ^_1 K ^_1

The brush may comprise, along an axis perpendicular to the main axis of the brush, alternating rows of teeth made from a heat-conductive material and rows of teeth made from a material with low heat conductivity. The teeth made from a material with low heat conductivity may be of a different height, in particular taller, than the teeth made from a heat-conductive material. Having teeth with low heat conductivity that are taller than the heat-conductive teeth helps limit contact between the scalp and the heat-conductive teeth, the teeth with low heat conductivity coming into contact with the scalp before the heat-conductive teeth.

Steam outlet

The brush may comprise several steam outlets.

Preferably, the steam outlet or outlets extend in a steam outlet area of the brush delimited by the peripheral outer edges of the steam outlet or outlets, the steam outlet area extending along an axis of extension extending over more than 70%, and preferably more than 80%, of the dimension of the treatment surface along the axis of extension.

Preferably, the axis of extension is parallel to the main axis of the brush.

The brush may comprise a steam outlet, in particular a single steam outlet, extending along the axis of extension, in particular along the entire length of the steam outlet area. In this case, the steam outlet may have an opening greater than or equal to 5 mm ² . The steam outlet may extend over more than 70%, and preferably more than 80%, of the dimension of the treatment surface along the axis of extension.

The brush may comprise a plurality of steam outlets extending along at least one row of steam outlets extending along the axis of extension, in particular along the entire length of the steam outlet area. The row of steam outlets may extend over more than 70%, and preferably more than 80%, of the dimension of the treatment surface along the axis of extension.

Preferably, the steam outlets open into a common steam dispensing chamber inside the brush.

The steam outlets of the row of steam outlets may alternate with the teeth of a row of teeth, in particular the teeth made from a heat-conductive material, as mentioned previously.

As a variant, the steam outlets are in an area of the brush that has no teeth.

Preferably, the brush comprises a steam projection system supplying steam to the steam outlet or outlets.

Preferably, the or each steam outlet extends over the treatment surface of the brush or over a tooth. The steam outlet or outlets may extend into one or more peripheral areas of the treatment surface of the brush.

As a variant, the steam outlet or outlets may extend into one or more inner areas of the treatment surface of the brush, being in particular bordered laterally by teeth, in particular rows of teeth, in particular teeth made from a heat-conductive material as mentioned previously.

The steam outlet or at least one steam outlet may be at a distance less than or equal to 5 cm, and preferably less than or equal to 2 cm, from at least one tooth made from a heat-conductive material.

Preferably, the brush, in particular the steam projection system, supplies the steam outlet or outlets with a steam flow rate less than or equal to 5 ml. min ¹ , preferably between 0.2 and 4 ml. min ¹ , more preferably between 0.4 and 2 ml. min ¹ _, and more preferably still between 0.5 and 0.95 ml. min ¹ .

The brush may comprise a steam containment groove by means of which the steam outlet or outlets communicate. This allows the steam to be contained in a substantially closed space when the brush is used in contact with the hair, which may facilitate the application of same.

The brush, in particular the steam projection system, preferably comprises at least one vaporization chamber supplying steam to the steam outlet or outlets. The vaporization chamber may be in the head of the brush or in the handle.

The cross-section of the steam outlet or outlets may be of any shape, in particular substantially square, substantially rectangular, substantially round or oval.

The or each steam outlet has an opening smaller than or equal to 20 mm ² , preferably smaller than or equal to 10 mm ² , more preferably smaller than 5 mm ² , and more preferably still smaller than 2 mm ² .

The brush may comprise a reservoir of product to be vaporized, in particular water, in particular having a volume of between 1 ml and 50 ml. The reservoir may be in the handle or in the head.

The brush, in particular the steam projection system, may comprise a pump between the water reservoir and the steam outlet or outlets, in particular between the reservoir and the vaporization chamber. The steam outlets can alternate with teeth along the longitudinal axis of the steam outlet area.

The brush may comprise a single steam outlet area, the brush comprising in the steam outlet area a single row of steam outlets aligned with each other along the longitudinal axis of the steam outlet area.

Application of a cosmetic product

The brush may comprise at least one cosmetic product application member. The application member may be elongate and extend along an axis of elongation, in particular parallel to the main axis.

The application member may extend into one or more peripheral areas of the treatment surface of the brush.

As a variant, the application member may extend into one or more inner areas of the treatment surface of the brush, being in particular bordered laterally by teeth, in particular rows of teeth, in particular teeth made from a heat-conductive material as mentioned previously, or by the steam outlet or outlets.

The cosmetic product application member may be arranged so as to come into contact with the hair. The cosmetic product application member is preferably porous, elastically compressible, and may advantageously be made from an open-cell cellular material, such as a PE (polyethylene) foam, for example. The application member may be made from any material that is able to release or diffuse the cosmetic product.

The application member may be removable.

The brush may comprise a cosmetic product reservoir.

Preferably, the delivered cosmetic product is in the fluid state. The expression “in the fluid state” should be understood to mean liquid at room temperature (25 °C) or at a higher temperature, between 25 and 50°C, for example, and at atmospheric pressure. In this case, the product may initially be in the solid or pasty state at room temperature in the reservoir and be heated up within the reservoir in order to make it sufficiently fluid to be dispensed by the dispensing mechanism provided to supply the applicator member. The product is thus fluid in the reservoir at the time of application.

The reservoir may be equipped with an electrical resistor, for example a fine screen-printed resistor, making it possible to bring the temperature of the contents thereof to above 50°C, for example. The cosmetic product may be a composition for cleaning, dyeing, bleaching, conditioning or shaping the hair. Preferably, the cosmetic product is a hair shaping composition, in particular a composition for curling, setting or, preferably, relaxing or straightening the hair.

The cosmetic product may contain one or more active agents chosen from reducing agents and, in particular, thiols, oxidizing agents and, in particular, hydrogen peroxide or persalts such as persulfates, coloring agents and, in particular, pigments, direct dyes or oxidation dyes, temporary shaping agents and, in particular, styling polymers that are preferably anionic, amphoteric or non-ionic, conditioning agents and, in particular, silicones, mineral or plant oils, plant waxes, cationic surfactants or cationic polymers, alkaline agents or acids.

Even more preferably, the cosmetic product contains one or more agents chosen from oxidizing agents, reducing agents or alkaline agents of the hydroxide type.

Process

The invention also meets this need by virtue of a process for treating the hair with a brush, in particular with the brush as described previously, comprising combing a lock of hair by passing it between the teeth of the brush and applying steam to the lock of hair by means of at least one steam outlet of the brush.

The features of the device described above apply to the process in combination or separately from each other.

Preferably, the process comprises heating at least some of the teeth of the brush, in particular the teeth made from a heat-conductive material.

The process may be repeated several times in order to completely treat some or all of the hair.

Preferably, the brush is moved through the hair at a speed of between 0.5 cm/s and 50 cm/s.

The process may comprise applying a cosmetic product to the lock of hair before or after using the brush of the invention, and preferably before.

The process may comprise one or more steps of rinsing the hair.

Brief description of the drawings

[Fig 1] Figure 1 schematically shows an example of a brush,

[Fig 2] Figure 2 is a view along II of the brush of Figure 1, [Fig 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along III-III of the example of a brush of Figures 1 and 2,

[Fig 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along IV-IV of the example of a brush of Figures 1 and 2,

[Fig 5] Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a variant of the brush,

[Fig 6] Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a variant of the brush,

[Fig 7] Figure 7 shows a top view of a variant of the brush,

[Fig 8] Figure 8 shows a top view of a variant of the brush,

[Fig 9] Figure 9 shows a top view of a variant of the brush,

[Fig 10] Figure 10 shows a top view of a variant of the brush,

[Fig 11] Figure 11 shows a top view of a variant of the brush,

[Fig 12] Figure 12 shows a top view of a variant of the brush,

[Fig 13] Figure 13 shows a top view of a variant of the brush,

[Fig 14] Figure 14 shows a top view of a variant of the brush,

[Fig 15] Figure 15 shows a top view of a variant of the brush,

[Fig 16] Figure 16 shows a top view of a variant of the brush, and

[Fig 17] Figure 17 shows a cross-sectional view along III-III of a variant of the brush.

Detailed description

Figures 1 to 4 show an example of a brush 10 according to the invention.

The brush 10 comprises a gripping handle 15 and a treatment head 20. Seen from above, the head 20 is substantially rectangular in shape with rounded corners, but it may be shaped differently. The head could in particular be substantially polygonal, oval or round when seen from above.

The head 20 forms a treatment surface 21.

The head 20 comprises teeth 23 arranged in a plurality of rows that extend from the treatment surface 21. The rows of teeth 23 extend along a main axis X of the brush. The rows of teeth may comprise between 8 and 40 teeth, 8 teeth being shown here for illustration purposes. The teeth may be attached to the brush, in particular being made from a different material to that which defines the treatment surface.

The head 20 also comprises a plurality of steam outlets 30 which may alternate with the teeth 23 of one of the rows of teeth, in this instance the central row. In the embodiments shown, all the teeth are identical but, as a variant, the teeth may be of different materials, heights, shapes and/or orientations.

Preferably, the teeth 23 each extend along a longitudinal axis Y. The longitudinal axis Y of each tooth 23 may form an angle a with the treatment surface 21 of between 60 and 120°, for example substantially equal to 90°.

The teeth 23 are spaced apart from each other by a distance d, measured between the longitudinal axes Y of the teeth, less than or equal to 40 mm, and preferably of between 1 mm and 10 mm.

Preferably, the height h of the teeth 23 is less than or equal to 50 mm, more preferably between 2 and 50 mm, and more preferably still between 5 and 35 mm.

As shown in the Figure 3, the teeth 25 are heated by heating means. For example, the brush 10 comprises one or more heating resistors 35, in particular in the head, and the teeth 25 are heated by heat conduction from the head to the distal end of the teeth 25. Preferably, the teeth are made from a heat-conductive material, in particular from iron, aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, graphite, or ceramic, and optionally provided with a coating.

Preferably, the electrical resistor or resistors 35 are situated in the head of the brush, as shown.

The brush 10 may comprise a system for controlling the temperature, which is not shown here, by virtue of one or more sensors arranged in the vicinity of the heating resistor or resistors or in contact with the brush and/or at the end of at least one of the teeth.

As a variant, as shown in Figure 5, the resistance heater or heaters 35 extend into the teeth 25 in the form of a heating core 37.

The steam outlets are supplied with steam, in the example shown, by an elongate rail 45 that extends in a direction parallel to the main axis X, arranged in the head of the brush.

The steam outlets 30 are ports that emerge in the rail, for example between 6 and 10 ports, which are preferably spaced apart at equal distances along the rail 45, each having an axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the median treatment plane, such that steam is emitted perpendicular to the treatment surface along an axis W.

The steam outlets 30 may be of any shape, in particular square, rectangular, round or oval. The steam outlets 30 extend over a steam outlet area at the center of the brush, delimited by the lateral edges of the peripheral steam outlets and extending along an axis of extension E, in particular parallel to the main axis X. The steam outlet area extends over a length e greater than or equal to 80% of the dimension s of the treatment surface along this axis.

The rail 45 is supplied with steam by a vaporization chamber 42, heated by a heating element, which is itself supplied with product to be vaporized by a reservoir 48. The reservoir may be in the brush, in particular the handle or the head, as shown in Figure 4, or offset in an external base 50 to which the brush is connected by a pipe supplying product to be vaporized 52, as shown in Figure 6.

The reservoir of product to be vaporized, in particular water, may have a volume of between 1 ml and 50 ml, when it is in the handle or in the head of the brush.

Preferably, the steam outlets have a steam flow rate of between 0.5 and 0.95 ml. min ¹ , the steam being emitted at the mouth of the steam outlets at a speed of between 30cm/s and 5m/s.

When the brush is used, it is passed through the hair at a speed of between 0.5 cm/s and 50 cm/s. The hair may or may not be combed before using the brush.

The embodiments in Figures 7 to 12 differ from the preceding embodiment in terms of the shape and positioning of the steam outlet area 30.

As a variant, as shown in particular in Figure 7, the brush may comprise a single steam outlet 30 extending over substantially the entire length of the steam outlet area, parallel to the rows of teeth. Preferably, this steam outlet defines an opening greater than or equal to 5 mm ² .

The steam outlet area may be positioned differently on the brush. It may be upstream of a combing area, as shown in Figure 8, or downstream of the latter in relation to the direction of movement of the brush through the hair, as shown in Figure 9.

The device may comprise a plurality of steam outlet areas, in particular two steam outlet areas, separated from each other by teeth 23, as shown in Figures 10 and 13.

The two steam outlet areas may be positioned at the periphery of the treatment surface 21, to either side of a single combing area, as shown in Figure 13.

The or at least one of the steam outlet areas may comprise a steam containment groove 50 into which the steam outlet or outlets lead, as shown in Figure IF The steam outlet area or areas may extend over only some of the length of the heated combing area, as shown in Figure 12.

In the example shown in Figure 14, the teeth 23 are inclined relative to the treatment surface 21 by an angle a of between 45° and 90°. The steam outlet or outlets 30 may emit steam at an angle different from 90° relative to the treatment surface 21, in particular of between 45° and 90°, for example substantially equal to the angle a of the teeth 23.

In the variant shown in Figures 15 and 16, the brush comprises at least one additional treatment.

The additional treatment may be a row of teeth made from a non-heat-conductive material forming a comb 60, at a temperature less than or equal to 50°C during operation of the brush. Preferably, the comb 60 is arranged upstream of the steam outlet or outlets 30.

The additional treatment may be a cosmetic product application member 65.

The cosmetic product application member 65 is arranged so as to come into contact with the hair. The cosmetic product application member 65 is preferably porous, elastically compressible, and may advantageously be made from an open-cell cellular material, such as a PE (polyethylene) foam, for example. The application member may be made from any material that is able to release or diffuse the cosmetic product.

The application member may be removable.

The brush may comprise a cosmetic product reservoir, which is not shown here.

Preferably, the cosmetic product is in the fluid state at the time of use.

The cosmetic product reservoir may be equipped with an electrical resistor, for example a fine screen-printed resistor, making it possible to bring the temperature of the contents thereof to 40-50°C, for example in order to liquefy it.

Preferably, the cosmetic product is a hair shaping composition, in particular a composition for curling or setting and, preferably, relaxing or straightening the hair.

The cosmetic product may contain one or more active agents chosen from reducing agents and, in particular, thiols, oxidizing agents and, in particular, hydrogen peroxide or persalts such as persulfates, coloring agents such as pigments, direct dyes or oxidation dyes, temporary shaping agents such as styling polymers that are preferably anionic, amphoteric or non-ionic, conditioning agents such as silicones, mineral or plant oils, plant waxes, cationic surfactants and cationic polymers, alkaline agents or acids. Even more preferably, the cosmetic product contains one or more agents chosen from oxidizing agents, reducing agents or alkaline agents of the hydroxide type.

In the example shown in Figure 17, the brush comprises teeth made from a heat- conductive material 23a and teeth made from a material with low heat conductivity 23b, which are longer. The teeth 23a and 23b may alternate within a given row, as shown in Figure 17. As a variant, the brush comprises, perpendicular to the main axis X, alternating rows of teeth made from a heat-conductive material 23a and rows of teeth made from a material with low heat conductivity 23b.

Numerous modifications can be made to the examples that have just been described, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, the brush may not comprise a handle, in which case the back of the brush is used to grip the brush.

Some of the teeth of the brush may be made from a material with low heat conductivity, in particular from elastomer or plastic.

The brush may not be provided with heating means, in which case the teeth are not heated.

At least some of the teeth may be made from a material with low heat conductivity, in particular from elastomer or polymer.

The brush may comprise several different additional treatments, which may or may not be dissociated from each other.

The steam outlet area may or may not comprise teeth heated by the heating means.

The steam outlets extend from the treatment surface but they could extend from protuberances, in particular teeth, of the treatment surface.