The invention relates to a device for automatically treating hair, particularly for combing hair.

Particularly among people with naturally frizzy hair, a large number prefer to wear their hair straight. Known techniques for temporarily straightening curly or frizzy hair can be subdivided into chemical treatments using a chemical agent developed for this purpose, mechanical treatments (for instance using a flat iron which heats the hair), and combinations thereof.

Many users prefer a mechanical treatment, because frequent use of chemical agents can result in hair damage and skin complaints. Some people are also allergic to some chemical agents. Manually combing the hair (or having it combed) until it straightens is a labour-intensive, time- consuming and generally painful treatment.

There is a permanent need for a technique to straighten curly or frizzy hair, which is efficient and comfortable.

A known device for automatically brushing/detangling a coat of an animal is known from the international patent application WO-A2-2015/005781 of the same inventors. This automatic brushing device comprises a rotatably drivable brush belt and is provided with a suction means for suctioning hair from the brush belt, so that soiling of the brush belt is prevented.

DE-U1-20 2004 009333 is the most closely related prior art. EP-A2-2 823 730 and US-A1- 2007/199170 are recognized as further prior art.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for treating hair, wherein said drawbacks do not occur, or at least do so to lesser extent.

Said object is achieved according to the invention with the device according to claim 1 and the cartridge according to claim 16.

The invention relates to a device for treating hair, comprising a carrier, a number of pins extending from the carrier, and an ejector which is reciprocally displaceable along at least one pin.

According to a preferred embodiment, the carrier is an endless conveyor which is drivable in a circuit in a longitudinal direction thereof.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the ejector is provided with a protrusion which can be engaged in a guide.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the guide is arranged all around the endless conveyor, and this guide follows a curve having a varying distance to the endless conveyor.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the drive drives the movement of the carrier and the drive drives the movement of the ejector via the guide. According to yet another preferred embodiment, an inclining guide surface is provided adjacently of the guide.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the device comprises a housing in which the guide is arranged.

Further advantageous embodiments form the subject-matter of the dependent claims.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are further elucidated in the following description with reference to the drawing, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a device according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a cut-away perspective view of the device according to figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the cartridge shown in figure 3; Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the use of the device;

Figure 6 is a detail view of the situation of use shown in figure 5;

Figure 7 is a schematic detail view of figure 6;

Figures 8 and 9 are cut-away perspective views of a device according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional side view of the device shown in figure 9;

Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of the device shown in figure 9;

Figure 12 is a partly exploded perspective view of a cartridge shown in figure 11 ; and Figures 13-15 are schematic representations of successive steps of the assemblies of the cartridge shown in figure 12.

Device 1, 101 for treating hair according to the invention comprises a carrier 2 and a number of pins 12 extending from carrier 2, and an ejector 16 which is reciprocally displaceable along at least one pin 12. In the shown embodiments all pins 12 are in each case provided with such an ejector 16. Devices 1, 101 are hair treating devices that are so compact that they are portable and manually operable.

Pins 12, also referred to as bristles or teeth, are preferably stiff pins. In the shown embodiment pins 12 are manufactured from steel, such as spring steel. Each pin 12 is optionally provided with a plastic coating. Pins 12 can alternatively be manufactured from a plastic.

Pins 12 for instance have a section of 0.1 - 2 mm, such as 0.5 - 1 mm. Pins 12 preferably have substantially the same section over their whole length, i.e. the section has substantially the same shape and diameter over the whole length of a pin 12. Pins 12 can alternatively comprise on their free outer end a slightly thickened portion, so that a portion of pin 12 comprising the free outer end is 5-15% thicker than the thickness of the pin 12 outside this portion.

The free outer end of pins 12 is preferably blunt, the free outer end has for instance a rounded shape. Device 1, 101 is a manual apparatus. Device 1, 101 is in particular portable.

When treating hair, such as combing or brushing thereof, hairs will come loose to greater or lesser extent depending on the organism (human or animal) and the hair length (short or long), which hairs will tend to accumulate around pins 12. These hairs can be brought out of engagement with pins 12 with the ejectors 16 which are reciprocally displaceable along pins 12, whereby soiling in device 1, 101 is reduced.

In the shown embodiments ejectors 16 are provided with two recesses 18, each surrounding a number of pins 12 at a time, as can be clearly seen in figures 13-15. During the upward and downward movement of ejectors 16 along pins 12 the recess 18 moves relative to pins 12. Providing a recess 18 which surrounds a number of pins 12 at a time simplifies the assembly of cartridge 64 compared to an embodiment wherein each pin 12 would for instance have to be passed through a corresponding unique recess.

Two preferred embodiments are described below. A first preferred embodiment, which is shown in figures 1-9, relates to the application of automatically treating human hair. The second preferred embodiment, which is shown in figures 8-15, was developed for the application of automatically treating an animal coat. This second preferred embodiment is for instance provided with a suction nozzle 160 to which a suction hose (not shown) can be connected.

Although both preferred embodiments are optimized for their specific field of application, they have a largely corresponding construction. Corresponding reference numerals are therefore used for corresponding measures.

Both preferred embodiments comprise a drive 36, 136 for driving the movement of ejector 16. Although it is theoretically possible to provide each pin 12 with an individual ejector 16, device 1, 101 is simplified when ejectors 16 extend along a row of pins 12 at a time, wherein ejectors 16 are displaceable along each of the pins 12 in the row of pins 12.

Although a reciprocally movable carrier 2 can be applied, the carriers 2 of both shown preferred embodiments are embodied as an endless conveyor 4 which is drivable in a circuit in a longitudinal direction thereof. Carrier 2 more particularly comprises a belt 6.

Ejector 16 is provided with a protrusion 20 which can be engaged in a guide 26. Ejectors 16 are more particularly provided on both outer ends with such a protrusion 20, so that a uniform support is provided.

Guide 26 is arranged all around the endless conveyor 4, i.e. belt 6, and follows a curve having a varying distance to belt 6. More specifically, the distance between guide 26 and the surface of belt 6 from which pins 12 extend from belt 6 varies. When drive 36, 136 drives belt 6 in a drive direction D, the movement of belt 6 will drive the movement of ejectors 16 via guide 26. The drive direction D of carrier 2, i.e. belt 6, and the drive direction U of ejectors 16 are oriented substantially transversely of each other. In other words, ejectors 16 move in a direction

substantially perpendicularly of the surface of belt 6.

Both preferred embodiments comprise a housing 46, 146 which differs depending on the field of application and will therefore be elucidated individually in the following. Both housings 46, 146 are provided with a first housing part 48, 148 and a second housing part 50, 150. The first and second housing parts 48, 148, 50, 150 enclose a space in which a removable cartridge 64 can be received. Arranged in this cartridge 64 are the above discussed carrier 2, the number of pins 12 protruding from carrier 2 and the one or more than one ejector 16 which is reciprocally

displaceable along at least one pin 12.

Because cartridge 64 is received in housing 46, 146 in exchangeable manner, it can easily be removed for cleaning thereof or be exchanged for another cartridge 64.

Although it is possible to envisage guide 26 being arranged in housing 46, 146, for instance on a wall of housing 46, 146, it is particularly advantageous for guide 26 to be arranged, as in the shown preferred embodiments, on a side wall of cartridge 64. This makes cartridge 64 removable from housing 46, 146 together with the ejectors 16 arranged around pins 12, while the positioning of ejectors 16 around pins 12 remains guaranteed. This for instance prevents ejectors

16 being able to slide off pins 12.

In both preferred embodiments belt 6 is shown provided in the housing 46, 146 at an angle.

During use such an angle is realized between belt 6 and the skin lying under the hair. This angle preferably lies in the range of l°-70°, more preferably in the range of l°-50°, still more preferably in the range of l°-40° and most preferably in the range of 20°-30°. It has been found that this further improves the operation of hair grooming device 1, 101 according to the invention.

The first preferred embodiment, which is shown in figures 1-9, relates to the application of automatically treating human hair, and is particularly suitable for temporarily straightening curly or frizzy hair. Housing 46 has some similarities with the shape of an egg, whereby it lies comfortably in the hand. Because a strap 56 received in a slot 54 is displaceable in the slot 54 (figure 1), the space between strap 56 and housing 46 can be varied so that device 1 can be adjusted to different hand sizes. Housing 46 comprises a first housing part 48 and a second housing part 50. A switch 58 is provided on the rear side of housing 46.

The perspective bottom view of figure 2 shows that housing 46 comprises an opening on the underside, through which hairs can come into contact with pins 12 for the purpose of treating the hairs. Device 1 can for this purpose be moved over a head (figure 5), whereby different hairs in each case come into contact with pins 12 (figure 6).

Figure 3 shows how cartridge 64 is receivable in housing 46. Cartridge 64 has a base 66. Arranged in base 66 are two shafts 10, around which reversing rollers 8 are rotatable. Arranged around reversing rollers 8 is the belt 6, which is drivable in a circuit by means of driving at least one reversing roller 8. In the embodiment of figure 3 a drive 36 in the form of an electric motor 38 is arranged in the left-hand reversing roller 8. This drive is connected via a cable 40 to a battery (not shown).

In the detail view of figure 4 base 66 and the guides 26 of ejectors 16 arranged on either side of base 66 are omitted. Although ejectors 16 would in practice move downward over pins 12 as a result of the force of gravity, figure 4 intentionally shows the situation as according to figure 3, i.e. in accordance with the situation where the guide 26, shown at some distance from protrusions 20 of ejectors 16, would be in engagement with protrusions 20.

Guide 26 follows a curve having a varying distance to belt 6. Because ejectors 16 are reciprocally displaceable along pins 12, and protrusions 20 of ejectors 16 engage in guide 26, ejectors 16 will be urged into the shown positions by guide 26. When belt 6 is driven, ejectors 16 will move reciprocally along pins 12 in a drive direction U of ejectors 16, substantially transversely of the drive direction D of belt 6. Figure 7 shows a simplified view, wherein only a few of the pins 12 around the periphery of belt 6 are shown for the sake of clarity.

In the shown embodiment ejectors 16 have some thickness, whereby they can remain in engagement with pins 12 while an upper surface of ejector 16 extends beyond the outer end of pins 12 remote from belt 6. A full ejection of possible hairs is hereby achieved.

The second preferred embodiment, which is shown in figures 8-15, was developed for the application of automatically treating a coat of an animal. While it suffices when treating human hair to periodically remove cartridge 64 from housing 46, 146 and suck it clean, for instance using a vacuum cleaner, the degree of soiling which can occur in treatment of a coat of an animal is of a much greater order. For this reason the housing 101 according to a second preferred embodiment is provided with a suction nozzle 160 to which a suction hose (not shown) can be connected. The hairs removed from pins 12 with ejectors 16 can be suctioned out of housing 146 through suction opening 162.

Housing 146 according to the second preferred embodiment comprises a first housing part 148 and a second housing part 150 which can be fastened releasably to each other so that cartridge 64 can be removed from housing 146 again.

Housing 146 is further provided with a handle 152 in which a battery 144 can be received. Operating a switch 158 enables device 101 to be switched on and off. Drive 36 once again comprises an electric motor 38, and a gear transmission 142 is provided for driving belt 6 with the pins 12 extending from belt 6.

Provided adjacently of guide 26 is an inclining guide surface 28 which forms a guide surface for protrusions 20 of ejectors 16 (figure 12) during assembly of cartridge 64. Ejectors 16 are guided via inclining guide surface 28 into guide 26, as shown in successive steps in figures 13- 15. Figures 12-15 moreover show that a stop surface is provided which holds ejectors 16 in engagement with pins 12 at all times.

Although they show preferred embodiments of the invention, the above described embodiments are intended solely for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and not to limit the scope of the invention in any way. When measures in the claims are followed by reference numerals, such reference numerals serve only to contribute toward understanding of the claims, but are in no way limitative of the scope of protection. It is particularly noted that the skilled person can combine technical measures of the different embodiments. The inclining guide surfaces 28 according to the second preferred embodiment can thus for instance also be applied in the first preferred embodiment. The rights described are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.