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 haircare appliance has a signal generator configured to generate a signal indicative of hair contacting the haircare appliance. The airflow generator includes a first operating mode in which the airflow generator generates airflow at a first flow rate, and a second operating mode in which the airflow generator generates airflow at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate. The airflow generator is configured to operate in the first operating mode in the absence of the signal and in the second operating mode in the presence of the signal.

1 . 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; and   a signal generator configured to generate a signal indicative of hair contacting the haircare appliance;   wherein the airflow generator comprises a first operating mode in which the airflow generator generates airflow at a first flow rate, and a second operating mode in which the airflow generator generates airflow at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate, and the airflow generator is configured to operate in the first operating mode in the absence of the signal and in the second operating mode in the presence of the signal.   
     
     
         2 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the haircare appliance comprises a plurality of bristles for contacting hair, and the signal generator is configured to generate the signal when hair contacts the plurality of bristles. 
     
     
         3 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the signal generator comprises a sensor for detecting the presence of hair, and the signal generator is configured to generate the signal based on an output of the sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the haircare appliance comprises a movable member configured to move in response to contact with hair, and movement of the moveable member acts as a trigger for the signal generator to generate the signal. 
     
     
         5 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the signal generator comprises an engagement mechanism for engaging the movable member, the movable member comprises a rest position in which the movable member is spaced from the engagement mechanism, and an engaged position in which the movable member is in contact with the engagement mechanism, and the movable member is biased into the rest position. 
     
     
         6 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a switch that changes a state of an electrical circuit when the switch is engaged by the movable member, and a change in state of the electrical circuit causes provision of the signal. 
     
     
         7 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the switch comprises a depressible switch that is depressed upon engagement by the movable member. 
     
     
         8 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the switch comprises a pair of electrical contacts spaced apart from one another, and an electrically conductive member located on the movable member, and the electrically conductive member bridges the pair of electrical contacts when the movable member moves in response to contact with hair. 
     
     
         9 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the electrically conductive member is resiliently deformable. 
     
     
         10 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the air outlet is at least partially defined by the movable member, and movement of the movable member in response to contact with hair increases a cross-sectional area of the air outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the haircare appliance comprises a plurality of movable members configured to move individually in response to contact with hair, and the movement of any of the plurality of movable members acts as a trigger for the signal generator to generate the signal. 
     
     
         12 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of movable members are spaced about the haircare appliance. 
     
     
         13 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the signal generator is configured to transmit the signal wirelessly to the airflow generator. 
     
     
         14 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the haircare appliance comprises a handle unit within which the airflow generator is disposed, and an attachment comprising a contact portion for contacting hair, the attachment defining the air outlet and housing the signal generator. 
     
     
         15 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the attachment comprises a proximal end for attachment to the handle unit, and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, the proximal end configured to receive airflow from the airflow generator, the air outlet extending in a direction between the proximal end and the distal end, an integrated circuit of the signal generator disposed at the distal end, and a transmitter for transmitting the signal to the airflow generator, the transmitter disposed at the proximal end. 
     
     
         16 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the haircare appliance comprises a heater for heating the airflow, the heater comprises a first operating mode in which the heater operates at a first temperature, and a second operating mode in which the heater operates at a second temperature greater than the first temperature, and the heater is configured to operate in its first operating mode in the absence of the signal and in its second operating mode in the presence of the signal. 
     
     
         17 . An attachment for a haircare appliance comprising an airflow generator disposed in a handle unit, the attachment comprising an air outlet, a contact portion for contacting hair, and a signal generator for generating a signal indicative of hair contacting the contact portion. 
     
     
         18 . A handle unit for a haircare appliance, the handle unit comprising a receiver configured to receive a signal indicative of hair contacting the haircare appliance, and an airflow generator for generating an airflow through the haircare appliance, wherein the airflow generator comprises a first operating mode in which the airflow generator generates airflow at a first flow rate, and a second operating mode in which the airflow generator generates airflow at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate, and the airflow generator is configured to operate in the first operating mode in the absence of the signal and in the second operating mode in the presence of the signal.