HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE, PREFERABLY CONSTITUTING A HAIR-STYLING APPLIANCE, INCLUDING A PERISTALTIC PUMP

The present invention relates to a peristaltic pump with a deformable tube and to a household electrical appliance using such a pump.

The term “household electrical” means appliances and tools which run on electricity and are intended to be used for domestic purposes, as opposed to industrial machines and tools.

More specifically, the invention relates to a portable household electrical appliance capable of releasing steam for shaping or styling the hair.

Even more specifically, the present invention relates to a hair brush capable of releasing steam onto hair.

Many types of hair-styling appliances for shaping the hair, in particular by straightening, curling or crimping, are known. For example, these may be straightening or curling irons, or hair brushes. These appliances may include one or more heated or heat-up treatment surfaces. The general structure of such appliances is well known.

To enhance the treatment, some appliances have, for a long time now, featured steam dispensed towards the surface to be treated, in particular a lock of hair or the whole head of hair, in the case of hair-styling appliances.

Thus, US2880299A, for example, describes a curling iron capable of dispensing steam onto a lock of hair clamped between two articulated arms and wound around these arms.

US20040000319A1 and US2009188516A describe straightening appliances also capable of dispensing steam onto a lock clamped between two arms, each equipped with a heating plate.

Lastly, there are also brushes and combs, which may be of the type that heat up, capable of dispensing steam during use as they pass through the hair. See KR20030085159A and DE19822718A1, for example.

Usually, the steam is generated by a steam generator essentially consisting of a chamber supplied with liquid water and heated to a temperature sufficiently high to cause it to evaporate. The steam thus generated is then brought into or close to the treatment surface where it is dispensed via one or more nozzles.

The vaporization chamber is supplied with liquid water conventionally from a tank, preferably one integrated in the appliance, in particular by means of a pump (see EP2209396B1), preferably itself also integrated in the appliance, or a porous element conveying the liquid water by capillary action (see W02004002262, for example).

As can be seen in EP2449910 and W02020083736, it is known practice to use a peristaltic pump in such a hair-styling appliance in such a way as to regulate to some extent the flow rate at which liquid is supplied to the steam generator, in particular in an appliance incorporating all of the elements for producing steam (liquid water tank, pump and steam generator).

The term “peristaltic pump” primarily means a rotary peristaltic pump, although the invention described below is applicable to a linear peristaltic pump.

Generally, such a peristaltic pump comprises a head inside which is arranged a flexible tube forming a pump body and intended for the circulation of a fluid to be pumped from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet. The flexible tube is arranged fixedly around a rotor bearing one or more pressing rollers configured to compress the tube sealingly and move a quantity of fluid to be pumped when the rotor and the rollers rotate along the tube. For a general description of a rotary peristaltic pump, refer to US2009129944A1 and EP1664537B1, for example. The term “pressing rollers” is intended to include other means for compressing the tube, locally and periodically, in such a way as to cause the desired movement of fluid. It may thus also refer to a rotary cam, for example.

In the case of household electrical appliances for treating the hair, the fluid is primarily water, although cosmetic ingredients or products may be added to this water. The pump is selected such that it can supply the liquid at a flow rate of between 0.5 and 10 g/min (water at 25°C), preferably less than 5 g/min.

As stated above, the use of a peristaltic pump in such household electrical appliances, and in particular in appliances for steam treating the hair, has a number of advantages, one of which in particular is the relatively small form factor and compactness.

However, note that, in general, the fluid inlet and outlet of a peristaltic pump are positioned on a lateral face of a casing forming the pump head, and more specifically substantially in a plane of the flexible tube surrounding the rotor and the pressing rollers.

However, in the household electrical appliances mentioned above and in portable devices in particular, the various steam generation elements have to be housed in a relatively narrow longitudinal space formed by a handle or gripping part.

It is therefore often desirable to reposition the fluid inlet and outlet from a lateral face of the pump into a direction of extension of the housing formed by the handle. To this end, EP2449910 and W02020083736, mentioned above, describe the use of 90° connectors allowing a fluid inlet and/or outlet to be on the front, or frontal, and/or rear faces of the pump head.

Complementarily, known document CN211900937U provides for the liquid connectors to be arranged facing corresponding openings in the flexible tube. In any case, the liquid inlet and outlet are still positioned on a lateral face of the pump head and are not repositioned on the facade or on a rear face.

In the context of the development of new tools, and in particular for the development of steam-producing hair brushes as described in application FR21/07945 of 22 July 2021 (not yet published), it is desirable to be able to further reduce the size of such a peristaltic pump so as to obtain an additional saving on space in particular over the width of the handle that may be used. Alternatively, for the same handle width, this may make it possible to use a wider pump that can deliver a higher flow rate if the envisaged use so requires.

The term “brush” means a device for treating the hair comprising a single arm bearing a plurality of teeth between which the hair is received as the brush passes through the head of hair. The brush may comprise a single row of teeth, in which case it is called a comb, or preferably comprises a plurality of rows of teeth.

It is thus an aim of the present invention to further improve the form factor of a peristaltic pump with a view to facilitating its integration in a household electrical appliance, in particular in an appliance for treating the hair which dispenses steam.

To this end, the present invention provides a peristaltic pump comprising the generic features mentioned above and characterized in that the flexible tube forms, at the fluid inlet and/or the fluid outlet, a bend which reorients said tube from its direction peripheral to the rotor into a reorientation direction that makes, with an axis of rotation of said rotor, an angle of less than 45°.

Thus, by making it such that the compressible tube of the peristaltic pump itself forms, directly, the curves required to redirect it towards the front and/or rear faces, it is no longer necessary to use an additional elbow joint which takes up a certain amount of space on the side of the pump. Furthermore, the flexible tube can be made to curve and redirect itself as close as possible to the rotor and the pressing rollers, which makes it possible, where applicable, to make it ever so slightly more compact.

Preferably, the reorientation direction is substantially coaxial to the axis of rotation of the rotor.

According to one particular embodiment, the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are positioned on the same face of the pump head, in particular on a frontal face.

Such a configuration makes it possible to arrange the tank and the steam chamber on the same side of the pump. This results in more possibilities for arrangement. Furthermore, when integrated in the handle of a household electrical appliance, the pump and its motor may be positioned at one end of the handle, it thus being possible to arrange the tank and the steam chamber between the handle and the treatment head of the appliance. Such an arrangement makes it possible to optimize the position of the various elements constituting the appliance relative to one another, resulting in greater design flexibility, in particular as regards the arrangement of a control printed circuit.

Alternatively, the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are positioned on opposite faces of the pump head. In such a configuration, the pump will preferably be arranged between the tank and the steam chamber along the handle.

Advantageously, the flexible tube is continuous between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. More specifically, there is no interruption of the flexible tube between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, in other words any inlet and discharge connectors are positioned respectively before and after the bent inlet and outlet portions, the terms “before” and “after” being understood with reference to the direction of flow of the fluid to be pumped. Therefore, any inlet and outlet connectors used may simply be straight connectors and it will not be necessary to use elbow connectors to change the direction of the liquid flowing into and out of the pump.

According to a preferred embodiment, the head comprises a casing having at least an inlet duct and an outlet duct for the flexible tube, the inlet duct and/or the outlet duct forming a curvature guide capable of giving the flexible tube its bent shape. The ducts acting as curvature guide may be integrated in or attached to the casing.

According to one variant embodiment, the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet for the flexible tube are equipped with connectors for connection to a supply tube and a discharge tube, respectively, the connectors preferably being attached to the pump head. Bearing in mind the explanation given above as regards the repositioning of the flexible tube, the connectors used will preferably be straight connectors. The connectors are preferably arranged on a frontal and/or rear face of the pump head. Alternatively, the connectors may be located at a distance from the pump head, and in particular shifted to a location that facilitates maintenance.

Obviously, depending on the arrangement sought, this will not prevent the use of elbow connectors, in particular bent at 90°, if the flow of liquid needs to be redirected in such a direction. This still makes it possible to adjust the width of the handle of the appliance exactly to the width of the pump head and avoid losing space laterally.

According to another embodiment, the flexible tube extends out of the pump head by a length that can allow direct connection to a source of fluid to be pumped and/or to a member to be supplied with fluid pumped from the source of fluid. Thus, it is even possible, where applicable, to dispense with intermediate connectors or to place same at a distance from the pump head, for example, in a place more easily accessible for maintenance purposes.

Preferably, the axes of the fluid inlet and fluid outlet make, with a drive axis of the rotor, a sector with an angle of less than 45°, preferably less than 30°. Such a configuration allows further savings in terms of compactness and limits any deformation of the flexible tube and/or crushing that could impair the flow rate.

Also preferably, the pump head has a substantially cylindrical or almost cylindrical general shape, the frontal and opposite faces having an at least almost circular general shape.

The present invention also relates to a household electrical appliance for styling the hair, comprising a peristaltic pump according to the invention.

Preferably, the household electrical appliance is an appliance that dispenses steam, the peristaltic pump being connected, at the inlet, to a tank of water and, at the outlet, to a steam generator that can be supplied with water by said pump.

Preferably, the peristaltic pump is arranged inside a handle of the household electrical appliance. Also preferably, a distance between a lateral face of the peristaltic head and a wall of the handle is less than 5 mm; preferably less than 1 mm, even practically zero in the case where the surfaces are in contact or flush.

Advantageously, the appliance is portable, a tank of fluid being integrated in the appliance, in particular in a handle.

Advantageously, the household electrical appliance comprises a handle, the peristaltic pump being arranged in this handle, in particular at a free end of said handle opposite a treatment end.

According to a preferred embodiment, the appliance is a hair brush or a straightening iron.

Further aims, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the following description, which is given only by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[Fig 1] schematically depicts a hair brush that can apply steam to the hair.

[Fig 2] schematically depicts, in longitudinal section, the brush of figure 1 showing a handle housing a water supply unit using a peristaltic pump according to the present application.

[Fig 3] schematically depicts an exploded view of a peristaltic pump according to the present application.

[Fig 4] depicts, in longitudinal section, the peristaltic pump of figure 3.

[Fig 5] is an overall schematic view of the peristaltic pump of figure 3 showing the flexible tube for circulation of the fluid. Figures 1 and 2 schematically depict a hair brush 100 capable of dispensing steam onto the hair.

Although a hair brush is shown by way of example, the present application may also concern other household electrical appliances that dispense a fluid, in particular other household electrical appliances for treating the hair which are capable of dispensing a fluid onto the hair, in particular steam. An example of another appliance is a straightening iron as described in particular in FR2967018A1.

The hair brush 100 includes a gripping handle 110 and a treatment head 120. The head 120 includes a set of teeth 121 arranged on a support plate 122 in a plurality of rows. The rows of teeth 121 extend substantially along a longitudinal axis of the brush X. As stated above, the brush may comprise a single row of teeth, and it is then called a comb.

In the example shown, the support plate 122 is substantially flat and has a substantially rectangular shape lying in the extension of the gripping handle 122. Naturally, it could be envisaged to have a curved support plate, the teeth 123 then being preferably located on a concave surface of the support plate, or indeed a substantially semi-cylindrical or cylindrical support plate.

In one particular embodiment, the support plate 122 and/or the teeth 123 may heat up. Preferably, only the teeth 123 heat up.

The head 120 also includes a plurality of steam outlets 130 emerging on the support plate 122. The steam outlets or nozzles 130 may be located between the teeth 123 of one or more rows or be separate and in particular arranged along an edge of the support plate 122.

Alternatively, the steam outlets 130 may be made in the teeth 123, and in particular emerge on a side of the teeth.

According to the embodiment shown, the steam nozzles 130 emerge between the teeth of one same row, in this case between the teeth of a middle row, thus forming a row of steam outlets 130 lying substantially in the extension of the handle 110.

The steam is conveyed to the steam outlets from a vaporization chamber (not visible) integrated in the appliance 100, through one or more distribution channels passing through the support plate 122, and the teeth 123 where applicable. According to the example shown, the vaporization chamber is integrated in the support plate 122. Such elements are well known to those skilled in the art.

The vaporization chamber is itself supplied with liquid water from a tank 300 by a peristaltic pump 200 according to the present application, as shown in figures 3 to 5. Preferably, the tank 300 is integrated in the device 100, in particular in the handle 110. It may advantageously be removable so that it can be replaced easily. Otherwise, a filling hole 301 may be provided in a wall of the handle 110. The filling hole 301 may be equipped with a valve for preventing liquid from leaking out of the tank 300.

The peristaltic pump 200 comprises an assembly 201, constituting a pump head, to which a motor 202 is secured, the shaft of the motor rotating a cage or rotor

203 comprising a plurality of rollers 204. The rollers 204 are in contact with a deformable tube 205 which they crush to form a seal. The angular movement of the point of sealing causes, behind the crushed area, a depression in the deformable tube 205 which straight away fills with the liquid to be pumped (water).

The amount of liquid trapped in the deformable tube 205 between two rollers

204 is then pulsed to an outlet of the pump. A liquid, pumped at an open end 205i of the deformable tube 205, referred to as the intake end or fluid inlet, is thus discharged at the other end of the deformable tube, referred to as the discharge end or fluid outlet 205e.

The vast majority of peristaltic pumps include a casing having a cylindrical inner face 20 Ip, referred to as the contact face, against which the tube is crushed by the rollers so as to seal the deformable tube. The envelope swept by the trajectories of the outer faces of the rollers is called the rolling path. The casing takes the form of a cover 201c, which is preferably removable, closing off the assembly 201 on a front or frontal face of the pump head (the assembly 201 and the motor 202 being to the rear). Where applicable, the assembly 201 may comprise some or all of the contact face.

According to the example shown, the pump head has a substantially cylindrical or almost cylindrical general shape, the frontal and opposite (rear) faces having an at least almost circular general shape. Other shapes can of course be envisaged.

The main element of a peristaltic pump is its pump body tube, generally made of elastomer.

According to the present application, the peristaltic pump 200 is characterized in that the deformable tube 205 forms, at the fluid inlet 205i and the fluid outlet 205e, a bend which reorients said tube from its direction peripheral to the rotor 203 into a reorientation direction that makes, with an axis of rotation of said rotor, an angle of less than 45°. In this case, in the example shown, the reorientation direction is substantially coaxial to the axis of rotation of the rotor.

Thus, the fluid inlet 205i and the fluid outlet 205 ^e are positioned on the same face of the pump head, in particular on a frontal face, in the cover 201c of the casing.

More particularly, the deformable tube 205 is continuous between the inlet 205i and the fluid outlet 205e and is flush with, or even projects from, the casing and its cover 201c, outside the pump head. Advantageously, it may thus be connected directly to the tank 300 and to the vaporization chamber without being interrupted by reorientation connectors or other intermediate connectors.

According to the embodiment shown, the casing, in particular its cover 201c, has an inlet duct 201 i and an outlet duct 201e for the flexible tube 205, the inlet 20 li and outlet 20 le ducts forming a curvature guide capable of giving the flexible tube 205 its bent shape.

More specifically, the inlet 20 li and outlet 20 le ducts have a first hole 20 Ir emerging on the contact face and an opposite second hole 20 lo emerging on the outside of the pump head. The ducts 20 li, 20 le are configured in such a way as have a curvature for curving the deformable tube 205 gradually. Advantageously, the radius of curvature is substantially constant between the inlet and the outlet of the duct. Furthermore, the curvature is preferably identical for the inlet duct and the outlet duct.

Thus, the deformable tube 205 enters via the hole 20 lo of the fluid inlet duct 20 li positioned on the front face of the casing, in the cover 201c, before being curved so as to emerge on the contact face via the hole 20 Ir and follow the rolling path around the rotor 203 between the contact face 201p and the rollers 204. It then reaches the hole 20 Ir of the outlet duct 20 le emerging on the contact face before being curved again by the outlet duct 201e towards the outlet hole 201r on the front face of the casing, in the cover 201c.

The flexible tube 205 may thus be connected directly to the steam chamber to be supplied with liquid.

According to the example shown, the axes of the fluid inlet and fluid outlet make, with a drive axis of the rotor, a sector having an angle of less than 45°, preferably less than 30°.

As stated above, an inner wall of the handle of the appliance may thus be located as close as possible to the pump head. In particular, a distance between a lateral face of the pump head and a wall of the handle is less than 5 mm; preferably less than 1 mm, even practically zero, the wall being flush in the latter case.

As shown in figure 2, the peristaltic pump 200 may thus be arranged at a free end of the handle 110, opposite the treatment end 120, the motor 202 being located entirely at the rear of the device.