Comb

Abstract

A comb for a hair-care appliance that is configured to supply a heated airflow. The comb includes a housing defining an inlet for receiving an airflow from the hair care appliance, and first and second longitudinally extending and transversely spaced-apart outlets that are in fluid communication with the inlet. The comb further includes a tooth structure mounted to the housing, the tooth structure comprising a row of comb teeth spaced along a longitudinal axis, the row of comb teeth interposed between the first and second longitudinally extending outlets. The comb further includes a flow director movably mounted to the housing so as to be moveable between a first position in which the flow director directs airflow from the inlet to the first outlet, and a second position in which the flow director directs airflow from the inlet to the second outlet.

1 . A comb for a hair-care appliance that is configured to supply a heated airflow, the comb comprising:
 a housing defining an inlet for receiving an airflow from the hair care appliance, and a first outlet and a second outlet longitudinally extending and transversely spaced-apart that are in fluid communication with the inlet;   a tooth structure mounted to the housing, the tooth structure comprising a row of comb teeth spaced along a longitudinal axis, the row of comb teeth interposed between the first and the second longitudinally extending outlets, each tooth extending from a proximal end that is proximate to the housing to a distal free end; and   a flow director movably mounted to the housing so as to be moveable between a first position in which the flow director directs airflow from the inlet to the first outlet, and a second position in which the flow director directs airflow from the inlet to the second outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The comb according to  claim 1 , comprising an actuator configured to move the flow director to each said position in response to movement of the comb along a tress of hair in use. 
     
     
         3 . The comb according to  claim 2 , wherein the actuator is configured to move the flow director:
 i) to the first position in response to movement of the comb along a tress of hair in a direction in which the second outlet leads the first outlet; and   ii) to the second position in response to movement of the comb along a tress of hair in a direction in which the first outlet leads the second outlet.   
     
     
         4 . The comb according to  claim 2 , wherein the actuator is the tooth structure, the tooth structure moveably mounted to the housing and operatively connected to the flow director to move the flow director between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         5 . The comb according to  claim 4 , wherein the tooth structure is configured to move in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along which the row of teeth extends. 
     
     
         6 . The comb according to  claim 5 , wherein the teeth of the tooth structure are configured to resist the passage of hair therebetween when the comb is moved along a tress of hair, and wherein said resistance is effective to pull and thereby move the tooth structure in the direction of movement of the hair between the teeth of the tooth structure. 
     
     
         7 . The comb according to  claim 4 , wherein the operative connection between the tooth structure and the flow director is such that:
 movement of the row of teeth towards the first outlet causes movement of the flow director to the first position; and   movement of the row of teeth towards the second outlet causes movement of the flow director to the second position.   
     
     
         8 . The comb according to  claim 4 , wherein the tooth structure is pivotably mounted to the housing, so as to be pivotable about a first pivot axis that extends longitudinally through a proximal end of the tooth structure. 
     
     
         9 . The comb according to  claim 8 , wherein the tooth structure comprises a base portion from which the teeth extend, the first pivot axis passing longitudinally through the base portion. 
     
     
         10 . The comb according to  claim 8 , wherein the flow director is pivotably mounted to the housing so as to pivot about a longitudinally extending second pivot axis. 
     
     
         11 . The comb according to  claim 10 , wherein the flow director and the tooth structure engage one another in a region between the first and second pivot axes such that pivotal movement of the tooth structure about the first pivot axis causes pivotal movement of the flow director about the second pivot axis. 
     
     
         12 . The comb according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow director is mounted to or integral with the tooth structure. 
     
     
         13 . The comb according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the tooth structure is pivotably mounted to the housing, so as to be pivotable about a first pivot axis that extends longitudinally through a proximal end of the tooth structure; and   wherein the first pivot axis is disposed between the row of teeth and the flow director.   
     
     
         14 . The comb according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow director comprises a central body and opposing first and second wings projecting laterally from the central body, the second wing being arranged to obstruct a flow passage leading to the second outlet when the flow director is in said first position; and the first wing being arranged to obstruct a flow passage leading to the first outlet when the flow director is in said second position. 
     
     
         15 . The comb according to  claim 1 , comprising a latching arrangement configured to retain the flow director in each of said first and second positions. 
     
     
         16 . The comb according to  claim 15 , wherein the latching arrangement comprises a magnet and a ferromagnetic member, the magnet provided on one of the flow director and the housing, and the ferromagnetic member provided on the other of the flow director and the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The comb according to  claim 16 , further comprising a latching arrangement configured to retain the flow director in each of said first and second positions;
 wherein the flow director comprises a central body and opposing first and second wings projecting laterally from the central body, the second wing being arranged to obstruct a flow passage leading to the second outlet when the flow director is in said first position; and the first wing being arranged to obstruct a flow passage leading to the first outlet when the flow director is in said second position;   wherein the magnet and ferromagnetic member are a first magnet and a first ferromagnetic member, and the latching arrangement comprises a second magnet and a second ferromagnetic member, and wherein:   one of the first magnet and first ferromagnetic member is provided at a tip of the first wing, and the other of the first magnet and the first ferromagnetic member is provided on the housing so as to be adjacent to the tip of the first wing when the flow director is in the second position; and   one of the second magnet and second ferromagnetic member is provided at a tip of the second wing, and the other of the second magnet and the second ferromagnetic member is provided on the housing so as to be adjacent to the tip of the second wing when the flow director is in the first position.   
     
     
         18 . The comb according  claim 17 , wherein the latching arrangement comprises one or more springs connecting the flow director to the housing, the one or more springs arranged to bias the flow director into the first position when the flow director is closer to the first position than the second position, and into the second position when the flow director is closer to the second position than the first position. 
     
     
         19 . The comb according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second outlets comprises at least one of: a slot; and a row of spaced apertures. 
     
     
         20 . The comb according to  claim 1 , preceding claims wherein the flow director is configured to restrict airflow to the second outlet when in the first position, and is configured to restrict airflow to the first outlet when in the second position. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled)