Heater assembly
A heater assembly for a haircare appliance includes an air duct defining an air flow path extending from an upstream end to a downstream end; a first heater element positioned in the flow path, the first heater element having a first electrical path defined between cut-outs in a first sheet, the air flow path extending through said cut-outs; and a second heater element positioned in the flow path downstream of the first heater element, the second heater element having a second electrical path defined between cut-outs in a second sheet, the air flow path extending through said cut-outs. The first electrical path has a first width and the second electrical path has a corresponding second width which is different to the first width.
1 . A heater assembly for a haircare appliance, the heater assembly comprising:
an air duct defining an air flow path extending from an upstream end to a downstream end;
a first heater element positioned in the flow path, the first heater element having a first electrical path defined between cut-outs in a first sheet, the air flow path extending through said cut-outs; and
a second heater element positioned in the flow path downstream of the first heater element, the second heater element having a second electrical path defined between cut-outs in a second sheet, the air flow path extending through said cut-outs,
wherein the first electrical path has a first width and the second electrical path has a corresponding second width which is different to the first width.
2 . The heater assembly according to claim 1 wherein the first width of the first electrical path is narrower than the second width of the second electrical path.
3 . The heater assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a third heater element positioned in the flow path downstream of the second heater element, the third heater element having a third electrical path defined between cut-outs in a third sheet, the air flow path extending through said cut-outs.
4 . The heater assembly according to claim 3 wherein the second width of the second electrical path is narrower than a corresponding third width of the third electrical path.
5 . The heater assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said widths is no more than 1 mm.
6 . The heater assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said widths is no less than 0.1 mm.
7 . The heater assembly according to claim 1 wherein the cut-outs of each of said electrical paths are formed by etching.
8 . The heater assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said electrical paths has a generally domed shape.
9 . The heater assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said electrical paths is generally planar.
10 . The heater assembly according to claim 1 wherein the air duct is formed by a stack of annular elements each of which defines an axial portion of the air duct.
11 . The heater assembly according to claim 10 wherein each heater element is embedded within a respective one of said annular elements.
12 . The heater assembly according to claim 10 wherein one of said annular elements forms a spacer between adjacent heater elements.
13 . The heater assembly according to claim 1 wherein the electrical path of each heater element is positioned substantially entirely within the air flow path.
14 . The heater assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least two neighbouring electrical path are spaced apart by no more than 5 mm.
15 . A haircare appliance comprising the heater assembly according to claim 1 .