Attachment for a haircare appliance

Abstract

An attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment having an air inlet, a primary air outlet, first and second secondary air outlets, a curved surface, a main body defining the primary air outlet and the curved surface. The curved surface extends around the main body from a first end of the curved surface adjacent to and downstream of a first side of the primary air outlet to a second, opposite end of the curved surface adjacent to and downstream of a second, opposite side of the primary air outlet. The attachment comprises a guide defining the first and second secondary air outlets, the guide arranged to direct air from the primary air outlet to both the first and second secondary air outlets and across the respective first and second ends of the curved surface simultaneously.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . An attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment comprising:
 an air inlet,   a primary air outlet,   a first second secondary air outlet and a second secondary air outlets,   a curved surface,   a main body defining the primary air outlet and the curved surface, wherein the curved surface extends around the main body from a first end of the curved surface adjacent to and downstream of a first side of the primary air outlet to a second, opposite end of the curved surface adjacent to and downstream of a second, opposite side of the primary air outlet, and   a guide defining the first and second secondary air outlets, wherein the guide is arranged to direct air from the primary air outlet to both the first and second secondary air outlets and across the respective first and second ends of the curved surface simultaneously.   
     
     
         2 . The attachment according to claim  2 , wherein, in use, an airflow from the first secondary air outlet and an airflow from the second secondary air outlet collide at a position on the curved surface downstream from the first and second secondary air outlets, and travel away from the curved surface in a radial direction of the curved surface as a combined airflow. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second secondary air outlets are substantially equal in size and shape. 
     
     
         4 . The attachment according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body is movable relative to the guide between a first position in which airflow exiting the primary air outlet is directed by the guide, and a second position in which airflow exiting the primary air outlet is not directed by the guide and flows in a radially outward direction of the main body without flowing across the curved surface. 
     
     
         5 . The attachment according to  claim 4 , wherein the main body is rotatable relative to the guide, and the first position and second position are 180 degrees apart from one another. 
     
     
         6 . The attachment according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide comprises a switching member for switching airflow between the first and second secondary air outlets, the switching member movable between a first switch position in which airflow from the primary air outlet passes through the first secondary air outlet across the first end of the curved surface and does not pass through the second secondary air outlet, a second switch position in which airflow from the primary air outlet passes through the second secondary air outlet across the second end of the curved surface and does not pass through the first secondary air outlet, and a third switch position in which airflow passes through both the first and second secondary air outlets across the respective first and second ends of the curved surface. 
     
     
         7 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein, with the switching member in the first or second switch position, airflow exiting the respective first and second secondary air outlets generates a first force to attract hair toward the curved surface, and a second force to push hair away from the curved surface. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the switching member forms a seal between the first secondary air outlet and the second secondary air outlet when the switching member is in the first switch position and the second switch position, so that airflow can pass through only the respective first or second secondary air outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the switching member is movable between the first switch position and the second switch position about a pivot. 
     
     
         10 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the switching member is movable from either of the first and second switch positions to the third switch position in a radial direction relative to the curved surface. 
     
     
         11 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 6 , the guide comprising a retention mechanism for retaining the switching member in one of the first, second and third switch positions in the absence of an applied force to the switching member. 
     
     
         12 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the retention mechanism is arranged to retain the switching member in another of the first, second and third switch positions upon application of an applied force to the switching member. 
     
     
         13 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 6 , comprising a user interface operable by a user to select an operating mode of the attachment, and a switching system for moving the switching member between the first, second and third switch positions and/or for moving the main body between the first and second positions in response to an input by a user of the attachment via the user interface. 
     
     
         14 . The attachment as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the user interface comprises a knob positioned on an outer surface of the attachment and movable between first, second and third knob positions, and
 wherein the switching system is configured to cause the switching member to move between the first, second and third switch positions, respectively, in response to movement of the knob between the first, second and third knob positions by a user of the attachment.   
     
     
         15 . A haircare appliance comprising:
 an air inlet,   a primary air outlet,   a first secondary air outlet and second secondary air outlets,   a curved surface,   a main body defining the primary air outlet and the curved surface, wherein the curved surface extends around the main body from a first end of the curved surface adjacent to and downstream of a first side of the primary air outlet to a second, opposite end of the curved surface adjacent to and downstream of a second, opposite side of the primary air outlet,   an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the primary air outlet, and   a guide defining the first and second secondary air outlets, wherein the is guide arranged to direct air from the primary air outlet to both the first and second secondary air outlets and across the respective first and second ends of the curved surface simultaneously.   
     
     
         16 . The haircare appliance as claimed in  claim 15 , comprising a handle unit within which the airflow generator is housed, and an attachment releasably attachable to the handle unit, the attachment comprising the main body and the guide.