Apparatus and method for drying and styling hair

Abstract

Apparatus for drying and styling hair, comprising: first and second mutually-opposing arms adapted for movement between an open configuration for receiving a length of wet hair therebetween and a closed configuration adjacent the hair, such that, in use, when the arms are in the closed configuration they form an inter-arm chamber across which the hair passes, and wherein an airflow conduit is provided within and along at least one of the first and second arms; and means for delivering a flow of air along the conduit in the at least one of the first and second arms, and subsequently into the inter-arm chamber. Also provided is a method of drying (and optionally simultaneously styling) hair using such apparatus.

1 . An apparatus for drying and styling hair, comprising:
 first and second mutually-opposing arms adapted for movement between an open configuration for receiving a length of wet hair therebetween and a closed configuration adjacent the hair, such that, in use, when the arms are in the closed configuration they form an inter-arm chamber across which the hair passes, and wherein an airflow conduit is provided within and along at least one of the first and second arms; and   means for delivering a flow of air along the conduit in the at least one of the first and second arms, and subsequently into the inter-arm chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the arms further comprises an airflow guide structure arranged to receive the flow of air from the respective conduit and to direct the flow of air from a first direction that is substantially parallel to the length of the respective arm, to a second direction that is from the respective arm towards the opposing arm, into the inter-arm chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second arms comprises a respective conduit and a respective airflow guide structure, and the means for delivering the flow of air is arranged to deliver the air along the conduit in each of the first and second arms and thence through the respective airflow guide structure and into the inter-arm chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein each airflow guide structure is offset from an imaginary centreline midway between the first and second arms when in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the conduit in the or each arm acts as a plenum chamber through which the air flows into the respective airflow guide structure and thence into the inter-arm chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the airflow guide structure in the or each arm comprises a cellular structure configured to direct the flow of air from the first direction to the second direction, the cellular structure comprising a plurality of cell walls which extend along the second direction into the respective plenum chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the depth of the cells into the respective plenum chamber progressively increases with distance along the respective arm. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the diameter of the cells progressively decreases with distance along the respective arm. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the cellular structure has a honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the or each airflow guide structure further comprises a plurality of airflow redirecting channels configured to convey the flow of air from the second direction to third and fourth directions that are outward from the apparatus, substantially perpendicular to the length of the arms. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the airflow redirecting channels extend between longitudinal edges and corresponding longitudinal sides of the airflow guide structure. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising mutually-opposing plates disposed on the first and second arms, the mutually-opposing plates being arranged to come together when the first and second arms are in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein first and second plates are disposed on the first arm, and respective opposing first and second plates are disposed on the second arm. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of said plates comprises means for applying heat to said length of hair in use, when the first and second arms are in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the or each airflow guide structure further comprises a plurality of airflow redirecting channels configured to convey the flow of air from the second direction to third and fourth directions that are outward from the apparatus, substantially perpendicular to the length of the arms, and further comprising airflow conduits that extend behind the first and second plates of the respective arm, arranged to receive air from said airflow redirecting channels and to direct airflow behind the first plate and outward through vents along the edge of the apparatus in substantially the third direction, and to direct airflow behind the second plate and outward through vents along the edge of the apparatus in substantially the fourth direction. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the airflow guide structure including the cellular structure and the airflow redirecting channels, and the outward vents in the third and fourth directions, are a unitary structure. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the outward vents are oriented at an angle of about 45° relative to the plane of said plates. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for delivering the flow of air comprises a fan. 
     
     
         21 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for heating said airflow. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein said means for heating said airflow comprises electrical heating coils. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , further comprising an airflow splitter arranged to direct incoming airflow towards said heating coils. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the airflow splitter is tapered or conical in shape. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , further comprising means for performing pulse width modulation in respect of electrical power applied to said means for heating said airflow. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , further comprising means for causing turbulence in the heated airflow prior to the airflow reaching the inter-arm chamber. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the means for causing turbulence comprises an airflow mixing member disposed between said means for heating said airflow and said conduit in the or each arm. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the means for heating said airflow comprises the airflow guide structure, the airflow guide structure being formed of a material that generates heat on application of an electric current thereto. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising mutually-opposing spring-loaded sealing elements at the distal tip of each of the first and second arms, for preventing the escape of air past said tip. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one airflow deflector on the outer surface of at least one of said arms, shaped and positioned to deflect any rearward-flowing escaping air away from the user's hand. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus according to  claim 37 , wherein said airflow deflector is ramp-shaped. 
     
     
         39 . A method of drying hair using apparatus according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising using the apparatus to style the hair substantially simultaneously with drying the hair.