Haircare appliance

Abstract

A haircare appliance has an air inlet, an air outlet, and an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet. The air outlet has a first aperture having a first cross-sectional area, and a second aperture having a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area. The haircare appliance has a first configuration in which airflow through the second aperture is inhibited, and a second configuration in which airflow through the second aperture is uninhibited.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A haircare appliance comprising:
 an air inlet;   an air outlet; and   an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet;   wherein the air outlet comprises a first aperture having a first cross-sectional area, and a second aperture having a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area, and the haircare appliance comprises a first configuration in which airflow through the second aperture is inhibited, and a second configuration in which airflow through the second aperture is uninhibited.   
     
     
         20 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein airflow through the first aperture is uninhibited in the first configuration. 
     
     
         21 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein airflow through the first aperture is inhibited in the second configuration. 
     
     
         22 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the haircare appliance is configured to move from the first configuration to the second configuration in response to contact with hair. 
     
     
         23 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the air outlet comprises a plurality of first apertures, each first aperture having the first cross-sectional area, airflow through each of the plurality of first apertures is uninhibited in the first configuration, and airflow through each of the plurality of first apertures is inhibited in the second configuration. 
     
     
         24 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the haircare appliance comprises a moveable member movable from a first position corresponding to the first configuration to a second position corresponding to the second configuration, airflow through the second aperture is inhibited by the movable member in the first position, and airflow through the second aperture is uninhibited by the movable member in the second position. 
     
     
         25 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the first aperture is formed in the movable member, the haircare appliance comprises a main airflow path, and a channel leading from the main airflow path to the movable member, the channel is aligned with the first aperture in the first position, and the channel is blocked by the movable member in the second position. 
     
     
         26 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the haircare appliance comprises a fixed body to which the movable member is mounted, a plurality of rows of first apertures formed in the movable member, and a plurality of channels formed in the fixed body, each channel leading from the main airflow path to the movable member, each channel aligned with a respective row of first apertures in the first position, and each channel blocked by the movable member in the second position. 
     
     
         27 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the movable member is resiliently biased into the first position. 
     
     
         28 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the movable member comprises a plurality of bristles for contacting hair. 
     
     
         29 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the haircare appliance comprises a handle unit within which the airflow generator is disposed, and an attachment defining the air outlet, the attachment removably attachable to the handle unit. 
     
     
         30 . An attachment for a haircare appliance comprising an air inlet, and an air outlet, wherein the air outlet comprises a first aperture having a first cross-sectional area, and a second aperture having a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area, and the attachment comprises a first configuration in which airflow through the second aperture is inhibited, and a second configuration in which airflow through the second aperture is uninhibited. 
     
     
         31 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein airflow through the first aperture is uninhibited in the first configuration. 
     
     
         32 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein airflow through the first aperture is inhibited in the second configuration. 
     
     
         33 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the attachment is configured to move from the first configuration to the second configuration in response to contact with hair. 
     
     
         34 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the air outlet comprises a plurality of first apertures, each first aperture having the first cross-sectional area, airflow through each of the plurality of first apertures is uninhibited in the first configuration, and airflow through each of the plurality of first apertures is inhibited in the second configuration. 
     
     
         35 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the attachment comprises a moveable member movable from a first position corresponding to the first configuration to a second position corresponding to the second configuration, airflow through the second aperture is inhibited by the movable member in the first position, and airflow through the second aperture is uninhibited by the movable member in the second position. 
     
     
         36 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the attachment comprises a fixed body to which the movable member is mounted, a plurality of rows of first apertures formed in the movable member, and a plurality of channels formed in the fixed body, each channel leading from the main airflow path to the movable member, each channel aligned with a respective row of first apertures in the first position, and each channel blocked by the movable member in the second position. 
     
     
         37 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the second aperture is formed in the fixed body and extends parallel to one of the channels. 
     
     
         38 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the movable member is resiliently biased into the first position. 
     
     
         39 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the movable member comprises a plurality of bristles for contacting hair.