The present invention relates to an apparatus for con¬ ditioning hair with air blow. The apparatus comprises a helmet-like hood having a blowing chamber defined by a double wall. The inner wall section of this blow¬ ing chamber is provided with orifices for passing the air blow inside the hood. The inner wall section of the hood is further provided with at least one outlet or connector for circulating at least majority of the air blown inside the hood through the blowing chamber back inside the hood and/or for removing it from in¬ side the hood.

This type of apparatus is prior known and manufactured e.g. by German manufacturers Mϋhlesverk Alfred Mϋller GmbH & Co. Enclosed is a brochure from the above company showing the solution in principle.

In the prior art solution, the internal circulation of air blow is employed for saving energy. However, the proposed solution is not adeguate if the aim is to deal with with all problems encountered in various treatments of hair. The presently discussed equipment is used at hairdressers not only for hair drying but also for performing various permanent and dyeing treat¬ ments. The permanent conditioning involves presently the use of several chemicals which contain e.g. tri- glycolic acid and ammonia. In addition, the permanent agents react with impurities of hair and possibly with hair protein or keratin for the production of sulphur compounds. A drawback with the above permanent agents and their reaction results is an odeur spreading with¬ in a hairdresser's saloon. In addition to annoying odours, it has been concluded that a prolonged exposure

to these gases leads to allergic responses and even to a sustained allergic condition resulting in the change of occupation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a so¬ lution which is highly efficient in eliminating the above drawbacks in a hairdressing environment. The major characterizing features of the apparatus are set forth in the characterizing clause of the annexed claim 1. The solution is based on the fact that in each in¬ dividual device is provided a flow of air blow to be circulated and exhausted by passing it through a sys¬ tem of filter members. This gains the advantage of avoiding unpleasant odours in a hairdressing environ¬ ment. The ventilation of an actual hairdresser's saloon need not be improved even if several permanent conditionings were performed at the same time. Each apparatus is an independent unit and thus takes care of the elimination of the inconveniences generated during the making of a permanent hairdo. Furthermore, the customer who during the process is in cosest con¬ tact with the blowing air is not exposed to harmful substances since the air circulated within the inner section of a hood has traveled through a system of filter members prior to entering the inner section.

The enclosed non-independent claims set forth a few preferred embodiments of the invention.

The invention will now be described in more detail in the following specification with reference made to the diagrammatic examples shown in the accompanying draw¬ ings, in which

fig. 1 shows an embodiment of an apparatus of the in-

vention provided with a single blower and

fig. 2 illustrates a corresponding double-blower em¬ bodiment.

The apparatus comprises a helmet-shaped hood, designated generally with reference numeral 1. The hood 1 includes a blow chamber 2 confined by an outer wall section 1a of the hood and an inner wall section 1b of the hood. The inner wall section 1b is provided with orifices 3 or the like which are directed to pass the blowing air flow issuing from blow chamber 2 towards a rear section of the hood as shown by arrows N.

The forward edge of the hood is provided with an open¬ ing 4 for fitting the head of a customer in a space defined by hood 1. Thus, the air flows are scavenging hair upwards from below with a customer e.g. in a sit¬ ting position and the hood placed in a substantially vertical position. The inner wall section 1b of hood 1 is provided with at least one opening 5, connector or the like in the rear section of hood 1 which is in communication with the suction side of a blower 7 by way of a duct 6. Blower 7 is adapted to blow air through a duct 8 into blow chamber 2 of hood 1.

The suction side of blower 7 is provided with a filter member 9 through which is passed, on one hand, the circulation air from duct 6 and, on the other hand, the dispacement air from a duct 10 before those air flows reach said blower or fan 7. Downstream of blow¬ er 7 said duct 8 is fitted e.g. with an electrically operated blowing air heater 16. The duct 6 has an ex¬ tension which is an outlet duct 11 fitted with a filter member 12.

In the embodiment of fig. 2, said duct 6 is provided with a blower or fan 13 so as to direct a suction ef¬ fect towards opening 5. A circulation channel 10 con¬ necting ducts 6 and 10 as well as said ducts 6 and 10 can be fitted with regulating means 15, such as regu¬ lating valves.

The filter members 9 and 12 are preferably activated carbon filters. Activated carbon is chemically treat¬ ed so as to retain thioglycolic acid, ammonia and sulphur compounds produced by hair.