TREATMENT Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hair treatment device, in particular, a hair straightening device with improved heat transfer properties.

The present invention also relates to method for treating hair using the hair treatment device and at least one cosmetic composition.

Background of the invention

The quality and condition of hair is generally adversely affected by the action of external agents such as sunlight, wind, pollution, humidity, and chemicals in swimming pools, and also by mechanical or chemical treatments, such as brushing, combing, shampooing, dyeing, bleaching, permanent-waving and/or relaxing. Hair is thus damaged by these various factors and may over time become dry, coarse or dull, especially in fragile areas, and more particularly at the ends leading to split ends. Under such circumstances, hair can also become less manageable, frizzier and less disciplined, and more difficult to style or shape.

Hair care products are used to combat these drawbacks. Conventional cleansing compositions such as shampoos, for example, which contain surfactants such as anionic, nonionic and/or amphoteric type surfactants, can be employed to remove the diverse types of soils typically present on hair. These cleansing compositions, while providing good cleansing power, may result in a less conditioned or rough feel to the hair due to, for example, the gradual removal of the natural or applied fats, lipids, or proteins contained in or at the surface of the hair. In addition, washing hair with water alone can also cause the hair to become tangled, less smooth and dry.

Hair conditioner or hair masque (mask) products can be used on hair after it has been shampooed or rinsed in order to confer hair caring properties to hair. Traditional conditioners and masques provide conditioning, smoothing, softening and visual sleekness to hair and are generally rinse-off products.

Consumers also seek hair caring regimens and products that can provide control, or even eliminate frizziness, and control or reduce the volume and the apparent mass of hair on the head as well as provide additional benefits of changing the appearance, shape or configuration of hair. In addition, consumers desire that such products impart longer-lasting or continuous benefits to hair over a period of time. Thus, it is desirable for manufacturers of hair products to formulate not only rinse-off shampoos and conditioners but also products that do not involve immediate rinsing or that provide longer term treatments such as those provided by leave-on hair products. One type of product that can shape or configure hair are hair styling products, for example, leave-in gels and creams which employ ingredients such as film forming polymers that impart desirable styling or shaping hold while on the hair.

Another type of composition that can be applied onto hair in order to change its shape and make it more manageable is a composition that is found in commercial hair relaxers or hair straighteners perms or waving products. These products can confer longer lasting shape or style to the hair. Alkaline hair relaxing/straightening involves hydrolyzing the keratin of the hair with various alkaline agents, such as inorganic hydroxides, for instance sodium hydroxide, or organic hydroxides, such as guanidine hydroxide, or organic amines. Hair relaxing/straightening products that employ sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide are also called lye-based products and products that use other alkaline agents such as lithium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, organic hydroxides and other non-hydroxide compounds, for example, organic amines, generally fall under the category of no-lye products. Other products that are used to alter the configuration or shape of hair employ reducing agents.

Thus, it is highly desirable to have hair care regimens and products that, for example, relax or straighten curly or kinky hair, including wavy hair, or reduce/loosen curls while making the hair more manageable, untangled, more easily styled or shaped, and disciplined. At the same time, it is also highly desirable that such regimens and products are convenient and easy to use, are not damaging to the hair, can be applied evenly and homogeneously, and confer cosmetic effects that are long- lasting.

Many of the chemical compositions applied to the hair in order to improve the quality and condition thereof, or to shape or configure hair have their effects enhanced by application of heat. Such compositions may also be known as thermo- activable products.

Heat is typically applied to hair by means of hair treatment devices, or hair straightening devices. Such devices may be used with or without application of a hair composition. However, the hair treatment devices often present poor heat transfer properties and, consequently, does not activate compounds properly.

As a result, the hair treatment (whether by a device alone, or a composition alone or by a routine using a device and a composition) must be performed in thin swatches of hair, which require longer periods of time to finish said treatment. In addition, exposure to heat for long periods may cause hair damage.

Prior art document WO2017/039239 relates to a hair iron which can reduce hair damage while forming straight or curled hair.

Prior art document FR2940893 relates to a hairdressing apparatus comprising two sets of treatment surfaces for gripping a lock of hair, the two sets of treatment surfaces being respectively carried by jaws arranged opposite each other.

There is a need to further improve hair treatment devices in order to obtain a uniform and effective heat transferring to the hair, therefore enhancing hair treatments, particularly hair treatments involving the application of hair cosmetic compositions containing active agents such as thermo-activable compounds.

Description of the Invention

Aspects of the subject technology relate to a hair treatment device with improved heat transfer properties, capable of applying heat in hair swatches in a more uniform and effective manner compared to other known devices.

In accordance with certain aspects, a practical and versatile hair treatment device is provided for a variety of hair treatments, with or without the application of thermo-activable compounds.

In accordance with certain aspects, a hair treatment device is provided for the treatment of hair with thermo-activable compounds, which can have a significant increase in performance due to the uniform and effective application of heat.

In accordance with certain aspects, a hair treatment device is provided for use in larger swatches of hair compared to other known devices, which may advantageously shorten hair treatment duration and may expose hair to lesser amounts of heat.

Therefore, one or more objectives of the present invention are achieved by a hair treatment device comprising: a first portion and a second portion being associated and moveable to each other, the first portion having a first surface facing the second portion; the second portion having a second surface facing the first portion; a plurality of protrusions extending from the first portion or the second portion towards the second portion or the first portion, respectively; and a heating source being associated to the first surface and/or the second surface and/or the plurality of protrusions.

One or more objectives of the present invention are also achieved by a method of treating the hair including the step of applying at least one cosmetic composition to the hair before, during or after performing combing and heating steps with a device according to the present invention. In other words, the method according to the present invention comprises the step of applying at least one cosmetic composition to the hair before, during or after passing a device according to the present invention on the hair, wherein heating and combing steps are performed by the device.

One or more objectives of the present invention are also achieved by a kit for hair treatment comprising a device according to the present invention and at least one cosmetic composition.

Brief Description of the Figures Figure 1 illustrates a perspective external view of a first embodiment of the hair treatment device of the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective external view of a second embodiment of the hair treatment device of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention Hair Treatment Device

The detailed description set forth below describes various configurations of the subject technology and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the subject technology may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the subject technology. Accordingly, dimensions are provided in regard to certain aspects as non limiting examples. Flowever, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject technology may be practiced without these specific details.

It is to be understood that the present disclosure includes examples of the subject technology and does not limit the scope of the appended claims. Various aspects of the subject technology will now be disclosed according to particular but non limiting examples. Various embodiments described in the present disclosure may be carried out in different ways and variations, and in accordance with a desired application or implementation. In a first embodiment, the present invention relates to a hair treatment device. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the hair treatment device 1 comprises a first portion 2 and a second portion 3 being associated and moveable to each other. The first portion 2 and the second portion 3 may also be referred as a first arm 2 and second arm 3, respectively.

In particular, the first portion 2 and the second portion 3 may be pivoted to each other in any conceivable manner. A spring mechanism may also be used to keep the first portion 2 and the second portion 3 apart from each other.

In an open configuration, the hair treatment device 1 is configured to receive a swatch of hair between the first and second portions 2, 3.

In a closed configuration, the hair treatment device 1 is configured to treat the swatch of hair by applying heat and mechanical pressure thereto.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first portion 2 has a first surface 21 facing the second portion 3. In particular, the first surface 21 may be flat or curved. Independently, the second surface 31 may be flat or curved. It is important to note that the results of the treatment performed in the hair may be influenced by the shape of the first and/or the second surface 21 , 31.

In particular, the first and second surfaces 21 , 31 may be entirely or partially flat. Alternatively, the first and second surfaces 21 , 31 may comprises a sinusoidal, square or triangular axial profile.

The second portion 3 has a second surface 31 facing the first portion 2. Preferably, the first and the second surface 21 , 31 are in contact in the closed configuration of the hair treatment device 1 .

A plurality of protrusions 22 extends from the first portion 2 or the second portion 3 towards the second portion 3 or the first portion 2, respectively. In addition to help disentangling hair, the plurality of protrusions 22 may also work to improve the heat transfer through the hair swatches.

In certain embodiments, the plurality of protrusions 22 comprises at least one row of protrusions extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first surface 21 or the second surface 22.

The spacing between adjacent protrusions in the at least one row being at least 0,01 cm and the length of the at least one row being from 0,01 to 20 cm.

In certain embodiments, an angle between the plurality of protrusions 22 and the first surface 21 is from 30 ^Q to 150 ^Q . The shape of the plurality of protrusions 22 is triangular, square or rectangular. It has been observed that a triangular shape favors uniform and effective distribution of heat in the hair swatches.

The plurality of protrusions 22 comprising a height from 0,1 to 3 cm. In certain embodiments, at least one of the first surface 21 , the second surface and the plurality of protrusions 22 is detachable from the first portion 2 or the second portion 3. The first surface 21 , the second surface 31 and the plurality of protrusions 22 may be attached to the first portion 2 or the second portion 3 by any well-known means, including magnets, threads, pins, fitting projections, etc. The above-mentioned feature is particularly useful to confer versatility to the hair treatment device 1 , which may be customized with a specific kind of surfaces 21 , 31 and/or plurality of protrusions 22 chosen in accordance with a desired hair treatment.

In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of protrusions 22 extends from the first portion 2.

A heating source is associated to the first surface 21 and/or the second surface 31 and/or the plurality of protrusions 22.

In one embodiment, the first surface 21 and the plurality of protrusions 22 comprise a common heat source selected from a group consisting of steam-based, electric, infrared, ultrasound heat sources or a combination thereof. For example, the use of vaporization with an electric heat source may improve the heating of the hair fibers.

In an alternative embodiment, the first surface 21 and the plurality of protrusions 22 comprise independent heat sources selected from a group consisting of electric, infrared or ultrasound heat sources. The independent heat sources may operate at different temperatures, such that, in use, the first surface 21 operates at a first temperature and the plurality of protrusions 22 operate at a second temperature, different from the first temperature.

For example, the first surface 21 comprises a length from 0,01 to 20 cm and a width from 0,01 to 10 cm.

The plurality of protrusions 22 extends from the first portion 2 and wherein the second surface 31 comprises grooves configured to receive the plurality of protrusions 22 in a closed configuration of the device 1. The second surface 31 comprises a shape configured to receive the first surface 21 in a closed configuration of the device 1.

In use, the temperature of the first surface 21 and/or the second surface 31 and/or the plurality of protrusions 22 is less than or equal to about 270 ^Q C. Such temperature must be sufficient to enhance the effect or activate the compounds applied to the hair undergoing treatment.

The first surface 21 and/or the second surface 31 comprise materials selected from a group consisting of metals, ceramics, gold, silver, copper, iron, aluminum, graphene system, mercury system, tungsten, zinc, bronze, platinum or a combination thereof.

In the embodiment depicted in Figure 1 , the plurality of protrusions 22 comprise one row of protrusions extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first surface 21. In particular, the row of protrusions 22 is adjacent from the first surface 21. In this embodiment, the first surface 21 is placed on a main region 2a of the first portion 2, whereas the row of protrusions extends from a side region 2b of the first portion 2, the side region 2b abutting the main region 2a.

The main region 2a and the side region 2b may be detachable from each other. Likewise, the main region 2a and the side region 2b may comprise independent heat sources that operate in different temperatures. It is clear to one skilled in the art that the first portion 2 may comprise two side regions 2b disposed on opposite sides thereof, each side region 2b comprising a plurality of protrusions 22.

In the embodiment depicted in Figure 1, the angle between the main region 2a and the side region 2b is 180 ^Q . Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the angle between the main region 2a and the side region 2b may vary from 120 ^Q to 180 ^Q in alternative embodiments.

In the embodiment depicted in Figure 2, the plurality of protrusions 22 comprise two rows of protrusions 22a, 22b extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first surface 21. In this embodiment, the rows of protrusions 22a, 22b extend directly from the first surface 21 and are disposed on opposite sides thereof. Despite being depicted as identical, the rows of protrusions 22a, 22b may be different from each other, i.e. the row of protrusions 22a, 22b may comprise different shapes, heights, lengths, operating temperatures, etc.

In alternative embodiments, the rows of protrusions 22 may extend from side regions 2b, similarly to the embodiment depicted in Figure 1. Method for Treating Hair

In a second embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for treating hair comprising the step of applying at least one cosmetic composition to the hair before, during or after performing combing and heating steps with a hair treatment device 1 according to the present invention.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term “treating hair” relates to the cosmetic treatment of the hair, particularly, performing changings on the shape, visual aspect, touch and color thereof.

The combing and heating steps are performed by: (a) placing a hair swatch in between the first surface 21 and the second surface 31 ;

(b) pressing the first portion 2 and second portion 3 towards each other until the hair swatch is in contact with said first and second surfaces 2; 3; and

(c) moving the device along the hair swatch. When moving the device 1 along the hair swatch, both heating and combing steps are performed.

In the method according to the present invention, the combing and heating steps may be performed more than once, so as to transfer the necessary amount of heat to hair and raise the temperature thereof to a temperature range of interest in order to enhance the effect or activate the at least one cosmetic composition applied to the hair undergoing treatment. In other words, the hair treatment device may be passed more than once along the same hair swatch (“stroke”). Preferably, the hair treatment device is passed along the same hair swatch up to 30 times (30 strokes), more preferably up to 15 times (15 strokes), even more preferably up to 10 times (10 strokes).

Preferably, the hair treatment device is passed along/through the hair swatch at an average speed ranging from about 0.05 m/s to about 0.3 m/s.

In the method according to the present invention, the first surface 21 and/or the second surface 31 are in a temperature of less than or equal to about 270 ^Q C, preferably from about 30 ^Q C to about 270 ^Q C, more preferably from about 50 ^Q C to about 250 ^Q C. Such temperature must be sufficient to transfer the necessary amount of heat to the hair and raising the temperature thereof to a temperature range of interest, thereby enhancing the effect or activating the at least one cosmetic composition applied to the hair undergoing treatment. The method according to the present invention may be applied to hair swatches of any dimension, and achieves satisfactory results even on large swatches. Preferably, the hair swatch to be treated with the method according to the present invention may have length of about 5 cm to about 42 cm, a width of about 4 cm to about 10 cm and a height of about 1 cm to about 2 cm. More preferably, the hair swatch treated with the method according to the present invention is a large hair swatch, having a length ranging of about 42 cm, a width of about 7 cm and a height of about 2 cm.

In an embodiment, the average time to pass through a swatch of hair with a length of 42 cm is about 3.5 s.

The method according to the present invention may comprise additional steps selected from the group consisting of shampooing, rinsing, blow drying, neutralization, reducing step, oxidizing step and combinations thereof. Each of the steps, including the application of at least one cosmetic composition and the combing and heating steps may have a pause therebetween. Preferably, pauses between steps are in the range of 30 seconds to 2 hours, preferably from 1 minute to 1 hour, more preferably from 10 minutes to 1 hour. In a preferred embodiment, after the at least one cosmetic composition is applied to the hair, a pause of 1 minute to 2 hours is made, so as to allow the composition to treat the hair.

The at least one cosmetic composition according to the present invention preferably comprises a thermo-activable compound. For the purposes of the present invention, the term “thermo-activable compound” relates to a chemical compound or mixture of chemical compounds that, when heated to temperatures above 30 °C, have their beneficial results when applied to the hair enabled or enhanced by temperature.

In a preferred embodiment, the thermo-activable compound is selected from the group consisting of organic acids and/or salts thereof, or a derivative thereof (hydrate, polymer, methylol or adduct with amino acids), dicarbonyl compounds and/or derivatives thereof and/or hydrates thereof and/or salts thereof, thiol-based compounds, and mixtures thereof

The thiol-based compounds can be selected from thiolactic acid and salts and derivatives thereof, 3-mercaptopropionic acid and salts and derivatives thereof, cysteamine and salts and derivatives thereof, cysteine and salts and derivatives thereof, thioglycolic acid and salts and derivatives thereof (including esters thereof), dithioglycolic acid and salts and derivatives thereof, diammonium dithiodiglycolate, and mixtures thereof. The thiol-based compound is preferably selected from the group consisting of thiolactic acid, glycerol monothiolactate, ammonium thiolactate, MEA- thiolactate, 3-mercaptopropionic acid, glycerol 3-mercaptopropionate, ethyleneglycol 3-mercaptopropionate, cysteamine, N-acetylcysteamine, N-propionylcysteamine, cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, N-alkanoylcysteine, cysteine alkyl esters, homocysteine, thioglycolic acid, ethanolamine thioglycolate, glyceryl thioglycolate, glutathione, thioglycerol, thiomalic acid, thiodiglycol, 2-mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol, thioxanthine, thiosalicylic acid, thiopropionic acid, lipoic acid, and mixtures thereof.

In an embodiment, the thiol-based compound is selected from thiolactic acid and derivatives thereof such as an ester thereof, an amide thereof, a salt thereof, and a mixture thereof.

The thiol-based compound may be selected from thiolactic acid, an ester thereof, an amide thereof, a salt thereof, and a mixture thereof and can be used in combination with other thiol-based compounds selected from thioglycolic acid, cysteine, cysteamine, homocystine, glutathione, thioglycerol, thiomalic acid, 2- mercaptopropionic acid, 3 -mercaptopropionic acid, thiodiglycol, 2-mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol, thioxanthine, thiosalicylic acid, thiopropionic acid, lipoic acid, N- acetylcysteine, their salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.

In certain embodiments, the thiol-based compound used in the composition of the disclosure is thiolactic acid.

Dicarbonyl compounds useful for the present invention correspond to those of formula (I) below, and/or derivatives thereof and/or hydrates thereof and/or salts thereof: in which formula (I):

R represents an atom or group chosen from i) hydrogen, ii) carboxy - C(0)-OH, iii) linear or branched C1-C6 alkyl which is optionally substituted, preferably with at least one hydroxyl -OH radical, carboxy -C(0)-OH radical or halogen such as Br; iv) optionally substituted phenyl, v) optionally substituted benzyl, iv) and v) preferably being optionally substituted with at least one -OH or -C(0)-OH radical; vi) an indolyl radical and vii) an imidazolylmethyl radical and tautomers thereof such as with ^* representing the part linked to the rest of the molecule.

The total amount of the thermo-activable compound in the at least one cosmetic composition may vary, but is typically about 0.1 to about 20 wt.%, preferably about 0.5 to about 16 wt.%, more preferably about 0.8 wt.% to about 14 wt.%, even more preferably about 0.8 to about 12 wt.%, and even more preferably about 0.8 to about 10 wt.%, based on the total weight of the cosmetic composition, including ranges and sub-ranges therebetween.

In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a kit for hair treatment, the kit comprising: a hair treatment device 1 , comprising: a first portion 2 and a second portion 3 being associated and moveable to each other, the first portion 2 having a first surface 21 facing the second portion 3; the second portion 3 having a second surface 31 facing the first portion 2; a plurality of protrusions 22 extending from the first portion 2 or the second portion 3 towards the second portion 3 or the first portion 2, respectively; and a heating source being associated to the first surface 21 and/or the second surface 31 and/or the plurality of protrusions 22; and at least one cosmetic composition.

In an embodiment, the kit further comprises a set of word instructions directed to the use of the hair treatment device 1 on hair in conjunction with the treatment of the hair with the at least one cosmetic composition.

In an embodiment, the at least one cosmetic composition comprises at least one thermo-activable compound as described above.

The present disclosure is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. The disclosure provides various examples of the subject technology, and the subject technology is not limited to these examples. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Pronouns in the masculine (e.g., his) include the feminine and neuter gender (e.g., her and its) and vice versa. Headings and subheadings, if any, are used for convenience only and do not limit the invention.

In one aspect, unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are set forth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, are approximate, not exact. In one aspect, they are intended to have a reasonable range that is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain.

All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “include.” “have,” or the like is used, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

Other than in the operating examples, or where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients and/or reaction conditions are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about," meaning within +/- 5% or +/- 10% of the indicated number (e.g. “about 5%” means 4% - 6% and “about 10%” means 9% - 11%), such as within 10%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, or 1%, according to various embodiments.

The claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects described herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language claims and to encompass all legal equivalents.

The present invention shall be better illustrated by means of the non- limitative example below.

Example

The performance of a hair treatment device according to the present invention on large hair swatches (INV.) was compared with the performance of a traditional flat iron on thin hair swatches (P.ART.). Twelve volunteers with curly hair were submitted to the following hair treatment protocol: a) the hair was cleaned with a neutral shampoo, rinsed off and blow dried; b) a cosmetic composition comprising thiolactic acid was applied to hair and kept thereon for 30 minutes, followed by rinsing off and blow drying; c)10 strokes of a hair treatment device at 230 ^Q C were performed on the hair (large swatches for a device according to the present invention, thin swatches for a device according to the prior art); d) neutralization of hair with an aqueous composition containing hydrogen peroxide was performed.

Parameters such as straightening level, straightening homogeneity, volume, frizz and discipline of hair were evaluated at three different stages: just after application (T 1 ), after 2 weeks of application (T2) and after 5 weeks of application (T3). The results are summarized on the table below, based on mean values. Table 1

According to these results, using the device according to the present invention, it is possible to treat bigger/larger swatches without a decrease in performance (such as that obtained when the thinner hair swatches are treated). Also, the use of the device according to the present invention also resulted in a trend of more lasting on straightening homogeneity attribute (i.e., longer lasting and at the same time, homogeneous straightening effects) and better visual appearance.