WO2009035394A1

WO2009035394A1 - Device for the temporary formation of an air curtain during hairdressing work

Info

Publication number: WO2009035394A1
Application number: PCT/SE2008/000508
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Andersson
Original assignee: Hans Andersson
Priority date: 2007-09-13
Filing date: 2008-09-11
Publication date: 2009-03-19
Also published as: SE530846C2; EP2313659A4; EP2313659A1; SE0702097L

Abstract

Portable fan device (1) with an accompanying separate charging station (18) for the formation of an air curtain (2), intended to be carried (worn) on the body, comprised of at least one fan unit (3) and at least one fastening device (4). The fan unit (3) contains an encasing, for example comprised of a front side (6) and a back side (7) and at least two electrically driven fans (8, 9). The fans are connected to at least one electrical energy source and to at least one trigger unit (13) for regulating the fans. The novelty of the fan device (1) lies in that it is intended to be worn on the chest or in the vicinity of the chest of a person for the purpose of forming a temporary air curtain (2) that partially separates a first space (15), comprised of a work area essentially around a person's hands, and a second space (16) essentially comprised of a space around the carriers (wearers) face.

Description

Device for the Temporary Formation of an Air Curtain during Hairdressing work

Technical Field

The present invention concerns a portable device for creating an air curtain. More specifically the present invention regards a portable device, intended to be worn on a person's body, for the temporary formation of an air curtain in accordance with the claims.

Background of the Invention

In many instances, while a person conducts some form of work with their hands, substances either used or created emit vapors or the like, which may be unpleasant or unhealthy (harmful) to inhale or irritating for the eyes. Situations as such exist for example during the work carried out by for example hairdressers, those who solder and during many other types of work.

In conjunction with hairdressing exists situations where the hairdresser uses substances where the long term effects of exposure to these substances via inhalation and/or contact via the skin are not yet fully known. Examples of such substances are the different types of chemicals used for coloring and/or tinting hair. There are indications that exposure to substances used during hairdressing may result in children to mothers, who under their pregnancy worked as hairdressers and were exposed to substances commonly used in hairdressing, having a lower average weight at birth than newborns whose mothers were not exposed to these substances under their pregnancy. Even persons that are not pregnant consider the inhalation of these substances as unpleasant.

Even if for example hair coloring substances are more or less unhealthy, the demand for hair coloring, tinting or similar is so great that hairdressers perform these services (treatments) anyway. The fact that these more or less harmful substances are still in use is largely due to that no reliable, less harmful or harmless substances for hair coloring and the like have been developed. In order to alleviate the above mentioned problems with exposure to harmful substances, several different types of ventilation devices have for example been developed. Each of these ventilation devices fulfils their purpose adequately, but they are seen as cumbersome by hairdressers and may even be intimidating or bothersome for the customer. A further problem is that the device is needed at several different places simultaneously, such as for example during the mixing of such substances and during the dressing of customers' hair. There is a clear and obvious need for a flexible device and method, intended to minimize hairdressers' inhalation of vapors and the like.

Yet another problem during hairdressing work is the occurrence of cutting dust (parts of hair strands and the like) and other small particles floating in the air in a hair salon. These particles can for example irritate airways and the eyes of both hairdresser and customer. There is an obvious need to cleanse the air from these types of particles. No earlier known design of portable devices for the formation of a temporary air curtain contains an ionization unit which significantly reduces the amount of particles in the air in the space where the device is used.

Prior Art

Use of air curtains, air doors and the like to partition one space from another is earlier known from other areas. Thus the use of air curtains in doors and doorways in order to separate the outside climate from an indoor climate is since earlier generally known.

The use of air blowing devices worn on a person in order to reduce the person's exposure to smoke from cigarettes and the like are previously known. Thus patent document US6464468 describes a fan design articulately connected with a strap or similar which is designed to be fastened to the forehead, throat, arm or similar. The design's intention is to blow away for example cigarette smoke or other odor from the user. The design differs significantly from the present invention because it does not produce an air curtain (air barrier). It only produces a concentrated airflow. The concentrated airflow only prevents to a limited extent for example vapors and the like from rising from a work area at a wearer's hands to the wearer's face. Furthermore the design does not contain an ionizing unit.

Many patents describe fanning devices that are worn on the body of the user. One example of these designs is patent document US5304035 which describes a portable fan design intended to be worn with a strap around the neck. During use the fan design, which is placed on the bearer's stomach, blows air up against the bearers face. The design differs significantly from the present invention because the fan is only intended to be used for cooling the user. Furthermore the design does not contain an ionizing unit in accordance with the present invention.

Patent document EP033651 describes a fanning device intended to be worn by a person in conjunction with welding or similar work. The design differs significantly from the present invention because it produces an airflow that would create a substantial discomfort for the customer if the device was used during hairdressing. Furthermore the fanning device is not intended to be fastened with clips to an apron. Still further the design does not contain a function with which the produced airflow's direction can be controlled in accordance with the present invention. Furthermore the design does not contain an ionizing unit in accordance with the present invention.

Even if the above mentioned designs can fulfill their proposed purposes, none of them contain a device intended to be used to separate a first space, comprised of a work area essentially at a person's hands, and a second space essentially comprised of the space around the bearer's (wearer's, user's, carrier's) face.

Brief Description of the Invention Concept

The main purpose of the present invention is to bring about a substantial improvement of the above mentioned problems regarding for example hairdressers' exposure to harmful substances. Another purpose of the present invention is to create a portable device which both reduces problems with emitted vapors and the like as well as reduces the amount of particles in the air in conjunction with hairdressing work. These purposes are achieved with a device and a method for using the device in accordance with the claims.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will be described in detail in the following text with reference to the enclosed drawings that show the current most preferred embodiments of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 show a device in perspective according to the present invention.

Figure 3 illustrates the current working condition for hairdressers.

Figure 4 shows in perspective the use of the fan unit according to the present invention. Figure 5 shows a side view of the fan unit in use according to the present invention.

Figure 6 shows the fan device placed in a charging unit.

Figures 7 and 8 show an alternative charging station with an ionization unit.

With reference to the enclosed figures and more specifically to figure 1 , a portable fan device 1 is shown for creating a temporary air curtain 2 (shown in figure 5) according to the present invention. The portable device 1 consists of a fan unit 3 and a fastening device 4 consisting of for example at least one clip 5. The fan unit 3 consists of a surrounding encasing, mainly comprised of a front side 6 and a back side 7. The fastening device 4 shown in figures 1 and 2 is specifically intended to be used for attaching the fan device 1 to an apron or the like. The fastening device 4 may be detachable (such as shown in figures 1 and 2) from or alternatively be integrated with, the back side 7.

Furthermore the fan unit consists of at least two fans 8 and 9. At least two fans are necessary to create an air curtain. The number of fans may be three or more in alternative embodiments. A limitation on the number of fans that can be used in the fan unit is the weight and size of the device in itself. The weight and size of the portable fan device must be kept within the scope of what is reasonably bearable without causing discomfort for the user. The fans are preferably angled in relation to one another in order to create a more efficient air curtain. The best effect is achieved if the fans are angled in relation to one another within an interval of 10 to 35 degrees. This angle means that the fans' axial centers (the fans' rotating axels) are angled within an interval of 10 to 35 degrees in the direction of the front side. In alternative embodiments the angle between the fans can be adjustable within the interval 10 - 35 degrees. Adjustment of the angle between the fans can be achieved with the aid of adjusting screws or the like.

The fans 8 and 9 are driven by and connected to at least one electrical energy source (not shown in the figures) such as an accumulator, battery or other for the purpose suitable energy source. The front side 6 is equipped with at least one air outlet 10 preferably a large number of air outlets 10. The back side 7 is equipped with at least one air inlet 11 preferably a large number of air inlets 11. The fan unit is equipped with ribs 12 in order to steer air flow. These ribs 12 are preferably intended to steer the outgoing air flow from the air outlets 10. The ribs preferably have a fixed angle in relation to the outgoing air flow. In alternative embodiments the ribs may be designed to be twistable in the ribs' axial direction, whereby the outgoing air flow from the air outlets 10 can be controlled with great flexibility. The ribs are in their twistable embodiment equipped with bearings (not shown in the figures) at their ends. The fan unit consists of, in a customary manner, a control unit (not shown in the figures) with an accompanying trigger unit 13 with which the fan unit can be controlled. The control unit is used to regulate the fans' outgoing air flow by regulating the fans' rotational speed. The control unit is designed according to earlier known technology and is therefore not described in more detail in this patent application. The trigger unit contains, in a customary manner, in accordance with know technology, switches, knobs, buttons or similar for input, adjustment and control. Figure 3 illustrates the current problem for hairdressers. The figure shows how a hairdresser performs a treatment with a powerful substance such as is done for example during hair coloring. The figure shows how vapors and other volatile substances rise up from the person under treatment and create discomfort for the hairdresser.

Figures 4 and 5 show principally how the fan device 1 can for example be used by a hairdresser to reduce exposure to vapors emitted from substances used for coloring, styling and the like or other existing substances used within the hairdressing occupation. The hairdresser wears the fan unit 3 on the chest or in the vicinity of the chest. Figure 4 shows how the fan unit 3 forms an air curtain, shown by arrows 14 (an air curtain even exists between the arrows), which separates a first space 15, comprised of a work area where for example the bearer of the fan device conducts a hair treatment on a customer (the hair of the treated person) with their hands, and a second space 16 where the bearer of the fan device has their face positioned. The smaller arrows 17 show how air is sucked in into the fan unit 3 due to the vacuum created by the fans. Thanks to the air curtain, a layer of air is formed which significantly reduces the amount of vapors that rise up to the face of the hairdresser. The produced air flow's flow speed is limited to reaching a maximum speed of 2 m/s and preferably to 1 m/s. Generated (emitted) air flow with flow speeds higher than 2 m/s are perceived as very uncomfortable by the treated person (customer).

Use of the fan device forms an air curtain 2 whose direction can be regulated by the carrier's body movement. This means that the user of the portable fan device can by herself adjust the air barriers direction with her body. Thanks to the fact that the fan device is worn on the body, it can be moved from one work station to another work station such as to a work station where for example mixing of the substances to be used is performed. Furthermore figure 4 shows how the air stream flows away in an upward direction to a ventilation shaft that is a part of the work place's ordinary ventilation. Alternatively a special exhaust may be arranged to ventilate the air stream with accompanying vapors. The exhaust need not be permanently mounted in a wall but can be made of a portable exhaust device or similar.

The air outlet can be designed to emit a laminar flow or a more diffuse flow of air. In figure 4 is shown an air curtain which is formed by a more diffuse air stream. A diffuse air stream provides for a relatively short air curtain. An air curtain which is formed by a more laminar flow of air receives a relatively longer length compared to an air curtain formed by a more diffuse air stream. An air curtain of laminar type moves vapors a longer distance away from the place where the vapors are emitted than an air curtain of diffuse type.

The fan device 1 is preferably intended to be worn with or in an apron or the like. Alternatively the fan device may be carried by another article of clothing suitable for the purpose. The fan device 1 is preferably attached to the apron with the aid of a fastening device 4 containing at least one clip 5. It is even conceivable that the fan device 1 be attached to the apron, alternatively another article of clothing, with the aid of velcro or the like. Alternatively, other earlier known fastening devices which are suitable for the purpose can be used to fasten the fan unit to the apron or other article of clothing. The air curtain's height is regulated by the placement of the fan unit on the apron or the apron's placement on the person wearing the apron. Furthermore the air curtain's height may be regulated by the height of the chair that the customer sits on, which in most hair salons can be regulated.

It is even conceivable that the fan device 1 could be worn around the neck in a neck strap (not shown in the figures) or the like. The fastening device 4 in this case is comprised of two mountings in the form of loops, hooks or the like in which a neck strap is attached in each of its sides. The neck strap may contain an adjustment device with which the length of the neck strap can be adjusted. Figure 5 shows in principle the separation of a first space 15 from a second space 16 with the aid of an air curtain 2 generated by a fan device 1.

The present invention includes a separate charging station 18. An example of the charging station is shown in figure 6. The charging station is intended to be used for charging of the chargeable batteries in the fan unit 3. The charging station is even intended to be used as a stand or holder for the fan device. Figures 7 and 8 show an alternative embodiment of the charging station 18 which contains at least one fan unit 19 and at least one ionization unit 20. The ionization unit 20 creates charged ions, so called anions. Ionization units can be regulated to produce negative or positive charged anions. The present invention preferably uses an ionization unit which emits negatively charged anions. Figure 8 shows in principle how the charging station 18, containing at least one fan unit 19 and at least one ionization unit 20, sucks in air 21 (illustrated by the arrows 21) into the charging station and blows out air via the air outlets 22. The ionization unit 20 in the charging station 18 is placed so it releases anions 23 into the air flow through the charging station. The air flow with anions is released out through the charging station by the air outlets 22 into the surrounding environment. When the anions 23 in the air flow disperse into the surrounding environment, such as a hair salon, the anions attract particles and the like. Anions with attached particles become heavier than what can float in the air whereby they fall to the floor or other surfaces. This procedure efficiently cleanses the air from particles and the like. In an alternative embodiment the fan unit 3 contains an ionization unit (not shown in the figures) which in a similar way as the charging station releases anions into the air flow through the fan unit. The outgoing air from the fan unit 3 contains anions which attract particles and the like from the air in the space in which the fan unit is used. The design reduces the amount of particles and the like in the air in the environment in which hairdressing takes place, to a substantial extent.

A loose front (not shown in the figures) can be fastened to the fan unit 3. The front can be interchangeable or be fastened to the outside of the existing front of the fan unit. The front is fastened to the fan with a quick coupler, screws or the like. Alternatively, other previously known technology, suitable for the purpose, can be used to fasten the front to the fan unit 3. The loose front has the technical- effect of steering the emitted (generated) air flow (air stream) from the device. A large number of different embodiments of fronts are possible. The number of outlets, which may vary from one and up, are chosen so that an optimal emitted air flow from the fan unit, in relation to the work task, is achieved. The angle of the ribs 12 in the front that steer the angle of the emitted air flow from the fan unit may vary to a great extent. A shorter person may be in need of an air flow directed essentially somewhat upward in order to achieve an efficient separation of vapors and the like. A taller person may be in need of an air flow directed somewhat downward in order to achieve an efficient separation of vapors. Even if certain preferred embodiments have been described in detail, variations and modifications can within the scope of the invention become evident for specialists in the field. All such are regarded as falling within the scope of the present invention. The design can thus be used in other situations than the discussed hairdressing case. The design can for example be used in conjunction with soldering or similar. It is further conceivable that the fan unit could be temporarily attached to a separate stand or mounted on a wall or similar in the immediate vicinity of a work place that is to be separated from another area.

Alternatively, the fan unit may be placed in the charging station when it generates (emits) an air curtain. It is conceivable that several charging units and fan devices be placed in an area with all of the devices generating an air curtain. During soldering for example, a fan unit placed in the charging unit may rest on a table or similar. In alternative embodiments the fan device can be equipped with lighting. The lighting is preferably comprised of some type and form of LED design. Furthermore the fan unit can contain a radio and/or an MP3 player or the like. Still another conceivable variant of the fan unit is that it can contain a fragrance emitting function. For example some form of pleasant fragrance can be emitted from a container placed in the fan unit.

Several advantages are achieved through the present invention of which the most important is that a person wearing the fan device significantly reduces their exposure to vapors and the like. Another advantage with the invention is that a portable device is created which in a simple and flexible way can be moved between different work areas. Yet another advantage is that the fan unit allows for the adjustment of the characteristics of the generated air curtain, such as for example adjustability between a diffuse air curtain to a more laminar air curtain. Still a further advantage is that the direction of the generated air flow can be steered. Furthermore, even an air cleansing function is achieved with the present invention.

Claims

1. Portable fan device (1 ) with an accompanying separate charging station (18), intended to be carried (worn) on the chest or in the vicinity of the chest of a person for the formation of an air curtain (2) in conjunction with hairdressing work, in which the fan device (1) contains at least one fan unit (3) and at least one fastening device (4) in which the fan unit (3) contains an encasing, for example comprised of a front side (6) and a back side (7), said fan unit containing at least two electrically driven fans (8, 9) connected to at least one electrical energy source and to at least one trigger unit (13) for regulating the fans and that the fan device (1) is designed to generate (emit) an air flow via at least one air outlet (10) for the formation of a temporary air curtain (2) characterized by that the air curtain (2) partially separates a first space (15), comprised of a work area essentially around a person's hands and the treated person's head, and a second space (16) essentially comprised of a space around the carriers (wearers) head and face, and that the fan device (1) is designed to be attached to and supported by an apron with at least one fastening device (4) and that the charging station (18) contains at least one fan unit (19) and at least one ionization unit (20).

2. Portable fan device (1) according to claim 1 characterized by that the fan unit (3) contains an ionization unit for the emission of anions into the air flow through the fan unit.

3. Portable fan device (1) according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by that the fastening device (4) is comprised of a clip (5).

4. Portable fan device (1) according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by that the generated (emitted) air stream (flow) that creates the air curtain (2), is designed to be adjustable between a laminar flow and a more diffuse flow.

5. Portable fan device (1) according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by that the fan device (1) contains ribs (12) which are designed to be twistable.

6. Portable fan device (1) according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by that the adjustability of the generated (emitted) air stream (flow) that creates the air curtain (2), is accomplished by at least one addition to the fan unit (3).

7. Portable fan device (1) according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by that the fans (8, 9) are angled internally.

8. Portable fan device (1) according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by that the fans are angled in relation to one another within an interval of 10 - 35 degrees.

9. Portable fan device (1) according to one or more of the previous claims characterized by that the angle between the fans is adjustable within an interval of 10 - 35 degrees.

10. Method for use of a portable fan device (1) according to claims 1 - 9 characterized by that the fan device is attached with the fastening device (4) to an apron worn by a person, after which the fan device (1) if needed is regulated to form and generate (emit) an air curtain (2) which separates a first space (15) from a second space (16), after which vapors and the like are essentially prevented from moving from the first space (15) to the other space (16).