U.S. patent application number 12/065046 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-06 for air diffuser for hair styling.
This patent application is currently assigned to DICKSON INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. Invention is credited to Wing Kin Chan.
Application Number | 20080271337 12/065046 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39938523 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080271337 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chan; Wing Kin |
November 6, 2008 |
Air Diffuser for Hair Styling
Abstract
An air diffuser includes a main body and an air diffusing baffle
for hair styling. The main body has an upstream end with an air
inlet and a coupler for attachment to a hair blower, and a
downstream end with an air outlet for delivery of air to a user.
The air diffusing baffle has an air baffling surface. The air
baffling surface is movable relative to the main body for varying
effective level of baffling to an air stream from the air inlet
portion.
Inventors: |
Chan; Wing Kin; (Hong Kong,
CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BUCHANAN, INGERSOLL & ROONEY PC
POST OFFICE BOX 1404
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22313-1404
US
|
Assignee: |
DICKSON INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD
KOWLOON
CN
|
Family ID: |
39938523 |
Appl. No.: |
12/065046 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
August 31, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2006/002382 |
371 Date: |
February 27, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
34/98 ; 132/271;
34/96 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 20/122
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
34/98 ; 34/96;
132/271 |
International
Class: |
A45D 20/12 20060101
A45D020/12; A45D 20/08 20060101 A45D020/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 1, 2005 |
CN |
05107674.3 |
Claims
1. An air diffuser comprising a main body and an air diffusing
baffle for hair styling, wherein said main body comprises an
upstream end with an air inlet and coupling means for attaching to
a hair blower, and a downstream end with an air outlet for delivery
of air to a user, and said air diffusing baffle includes an air
baffling surface, wherein said air baffling surface is movable
relative to said main body for varying an effective level of
baffling to an air stream from said air inlet portion.
2. An air diffuser comprising a main body and an air diffusing
baffle for hair styling, wherein said main body comprises an
upstream end with an air inlet and coupling means for attaching to
a hair blower, and a downstream end with an air outlet for delivery
of air to a user, and said air diffusing baffle includes an air
baffling surface; wherein said air baffling surface is movable
along the direction of air flow from said air inlet to provide
variable adjustability of an effective level of baffling to an air
stream from said air inlet portion.
3. An air diffuser according to claim 1, wherein said air baffling
surface is movable between said downstream end and said upstream
end to vary the effective baffling resistance.
4. An air diffuser according to claim 1, wherein said air baffling
surface is movable towards and away from said air inlet portion to
vary the effective separation between said air baffling surface and
said air inlet.
5. An air diffuser according to claim 1, wherein the effective
separation between said air inlet and said air baffling surface is
adjustable by moving said air baffling surface away from or towards
said air inlet.
6. An air diffuser according to claim 1, wherein said air diffusing
baffle comprises an air baffling member, said air baffling member
being extendible from and retractable towards said coupling
means.
7. An air diffuser according to claim 1, wherein said air inlet
defines an inlet aperture, said air outlet defining an outlet
aperture, said air outlet aperture being larger than said air-inlet
aperture.
8. An air diffuser according to claim 1, wherein said air baffling
surface of said movable air diffusing baffle is telescopically
movable towards and away from said air inlet.
9. An air diffuser according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of
apertures are distributed on said air baffling surface of said air
diffusing baffle.
10. An air diffuser according to claim 1, wherein said air baffling
surface is convex towards said air inlet.
11. An air diffuser according to claim 1 further comprising an
intermediate air diffusing baffle, wherein said intermediate baffle
is disposed intermediate said air inlet and said air diffusing
baffle, and said intermediate air diffusing baffle is movable
relative to said air diffusing baffle and said air inlet.
12. An air diffuser according to claim 11, wherein said
intermediate air diffusing baffle is supported by a plurality of
stays extending axially from said main body, and said air diffusing
baffle being supported by a plurality of stays extending axially
from said intermediate air diffusing baffle; wherein said air
diffusing baffle and said intermediate air diffusing baffle are
individually movable relative to said main body along said
stays.
13. An air diffuser according to claim 11, wherein said
intermediate air diffusing baffle and said air diffusing baffle are
individually movable relative to said air inlet along an axial
direction.
14. An air diffuser according to claim 11, wherein said
intermediate air diffusing baffle and said air diffusing baffle are
individually and telescopically movable relative to said air inlet
along an axial direction.
15. An air diffuser according to claim 10, wherein said
intermediate air diffusing baffle comprises a hollow housing, said
hollow housing being convex towards said air inlet and being
concave towards said air outlet with respect to each other.
16. An air diffuser according to claim 10, wherein said main body,
said intermediate air diffusing baffle and said air diffusing
baffle are stackable.
17. An air diffuser according to claim 2, wherein said air baffling
surface is movable between said downstream end and said upstream
end to vary the effective baffling resistance.
18. An air diffuser according to claim 2, wherein said air baffling
surface is movable towards and away from said air inlet portion to
vary the effective separation between said air baffling surface and
said air inlet.
19. An air diffuser according to claim 2, wherein the effective
separation between said air inlet and said air baffling surface is
adjustable by moving said air baffling surface away from or towards
said air inlet.
20. An air diffuser according to claim 2, wherein said air
diffusing baffle comprises an air baffling member, said air
baffling member being extendible from and retractable towards said
coupling means.
21. An air diffuser according to claim 2, wherein said air inlet
defines an inlet aperture, said air outlet defining an outlet
aperture, said air outlet aperture being larger than said air-inlet
aperture.
22. An air diffuser according to claim 2, wherein said air baffling
surface of said movable air diffusing baffle is telescopically
movable towards and away from said air inlet.
23. An air diffuser according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of
apertures are distributed on said air baffling surface of said air
diffusing baffle.
24. An air diffuser according to claim 2, wherein said air baffling
surface is convex towards said air inlet.
25. An air diffuser according to claim 2 further comprising an
intermediate air diffusing baffle, wherein said intermediate baffle
is disposed intermediate said air inlet and said air diffusing
baffle, and said intermediate air diffusing baffle is movable
relative to said air diffusing baffle and said air inlet.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to hair styling apparatus and, more
particularly, to air diffusers for hair styling applications. More
specifically, but not exclusively, this invention relates to an air
diffuser attachment for use with a hair blower.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Air diffusers for hair styling applications are well known
and are typically available in the form of a hair styling
attachment comprising a coupling portion for attaching to the
outlet of an air blower and a down-stream end for delivery of
diffused air towards the scalp of a user. Examples of known air
diffusers are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,398,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,783 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,608. In general,
air diffusers are adapted for spreading a jet of concentrated air
stream from a source hair blower and/or for slowing down the
velocity of an air stream before delivery to a user.
[0003] Conventional air diffusers typically comprise an upstream
air inlet and a downstream outlet of a significantly larger
aperture than that of the air inlet. An air baffle, typically in
the form of a grid with apertures, is mounted at the downstream end
to force an incoming air stream to diffuse. Such conventional air
diffusers are bulky due to the need of a large diffusing volume and
the need to have a transversal baffle spreading across the
downstream outlet.
[0004] Therefore, it will be advantageous if there can be provided
an improved air diffuser for hair styling applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to the present invention, there is provided an air
diffuser comprising a main body and an air diffusing baffle for
hair styling, wherein said main body comprises an upstream end with
an air inlet and coupling means for attaching to a hair blower, and
a downstream end with an air outlet for delivery of air to a user,
and said air diffusing baffle comprises an air baffling surface;
characterised in that said air baffling surface is movable relative
to said main body for varying effective level of baffling to an air
stream from said air inlet portion.
[0006] By having an air diffuser with a movable air baffling
surface, the air baffling characteristics can be varied or adjusted
according to individual requirements or for achieving specific
styling objectives.
[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided an air diffuser comprising a main body and an air
diffusing baffle for hair styling, wherein said main body comprises
an upstream end with an air inlet and coupling means for attaching
to a hair blower, and a downstream end with an air outlet for
delivery of air to a user, and said air diffusing baffle comprises
an air baffling surface; characterised in that said air baffling
surface is movable along the direction of air flow from said air
inlet to provide variable adjustability of an effective level of
baffling to an air stream from said air inlet portion.
[0008] By having an air diffuser with an air baffling surface which
is movable towards and away from a source of high velocity air
stream, the air baffling level can be effectively adjusted by a
user.
[0009] In a preferred example, said air baffling surface is movable
between said downstream end and said upstream end to vary the
effective baffling resistance. As a stream of air enters the
diffuser at the upstream end and leaves at the downstream end, an
air baffling surface which can be moved intermediate the upstream
and downstream ends and set to stay at a selected intermediate
position provides enhanced flexibility.
[0010] Preferably, said air baffling surface is movable towards and
away from said air inlet portion to vary the effective separation
between said air baffling surface and said air inlet. Similar, as
the velocity of an air stream gradually reduces as the stream of
air moves away from the air inlet, an air baffling surface which is
movable towards and away from the air inlet portion could be
effectively adjusted to set a desired separation between the air
baffle surface and the air inlet to alter the baffling
characteristics.
[0011] Advantageously, the effective separation between said air
inlet and said air baffling surface is adjustable by moving said
air baffling surface away from or towards said air inlet.
[0012] In a convenient example, said air diffusing baffle comprises
an air baffling member, said air baffling member being extendible
from and retractable towards said coupling means.
[0013] In a preferred example, said air inlet defines an inlet
aperture, said air outlet defining an outlet aperture, said air
outlet aperture being larger than said air-inlet aperture.
[0014] In another preferred example, said air baffling surface of
said movable air diffusing baffle is telescopically movable towards
and away from said air inlet. A telescopic extension and retraction
system is advantageous since it is simple and space efficient.
[0015] To form a baffled air passageway, a plurality of apertures
is distributed on said air baffling surface of said air diffusing
baffle.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, said air baffling surface is
convex towards said air inlet. A convex baffling surface is
advantageous since it provides a smooth and gradually expanding
diffusing surface.
[0017] In another preferred embodiment, the diffuser further
comprises an intermediate air diffusing baffle, wherein said
intermediate baffle is disposed intermediate said air inlet and
said air diffusing baffle, and said intermediate air diffusing
baffle is movable relative to said air diffusing baffle and said
air inlet. The provision of an additional intermediate air
diffusing baffle provides an added degree of flexibility so that a
user can adjust the baffling characteristics according to the
specific needs and/or preferences.
[0018] In a preferred example, said intermediate air diffusing
baffle is supported by a plurality of stays extending axially from
said main body, and said air diffusing baffle being supported by a
plurality of stays extending axially from said intermediate air
diffusing baffle; characterised in that said air diffusing baffle
and said intermediate air diffusing baffle are individually movable
relative to said main body along said stays. The use of rigid stays
provides a simple but robust telescopic extension and retraction
mechanism, such an extension system is particularly attractive for
a simple diffusing attachment.
[0019] Preferably, said intermediate air diffusing baffle and said
air diffusing baffle are individually movable relative to said air
inlet along an axial direction. The deployment of individually
movable diffusing baffles provides an added degree of flexibility
for a user to suit specific applications.
[0020] Advantageously, said intermediate air diffusing baffle and
said air diffusing baffle are individually and telescopically
movable relative to said air inlet along an axial direction.
[0021] As a specific example, said intermediate air diffusing
baffle comprises a hollow housing, said hollow housing being convex
towards said air inlet and being concave towards said air
outlet.
[0022] Advantageously, said main body, said intermediate air
diffusing baffle and said air diffusing baffle are stackable with
respect to each other. By having stackable members, the diffuser
can be fully collapsed into a more compact size for more efficient
storage and transport.
[0023] Preferably, said air diffusing baffle comprises a hollow
housing, said hollow housing being convex towards said air inlet
and being concave towards said air outlet.
[0024] More advantageously, each one of said intermediate air
diffusing baffle and said air diffusing baffle is telescopically
movable relative to said air inlet along an axial direction.
[0025] In a specific example, said intermediate air diffusing
baffle defines a central aperture, said central aperture
overlapping with said aperture of said air inlet. Preferably, said
air diffusing baffle comprises a hollow housing, said hollow
housing being convex with a rounded end extending towards said air
inlet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be
explained in further detail below by way of examples and with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:--
[0027] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of this
invention,
[0028] FIG. 2 is a side view of the air diffuser of FIG. 1 in the
fully extended configuration,
[0029] FIG. 2A is a side view of the air diffuser of FIG. 1 in the
fully retracted configuration,
[0030] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the air diffuser of FIG.
2,
[0031] FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the air diffuser of
FIG. 2A,
[0032] FIG. 4 is a view from bottom of the air diffuser of FIGS. 2
and 2A, and
[0033] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the component parts of the air
diffuser of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, there is shown a preferred
embodiment of an air diffuser 100 of this invention. The air
diffuser 100 comprises a main body 120 and a movable diffuser
assembly 140. The main body defines an air inlet at its upstream
end, an air outlet at its downstream end and comprises an air
diffusing housing 124 which inter-connects the air inlet and the
air outlet. In addition, the main body also defines a coupling
means 122 for coupling the air inlet to a hot air source, for
example, a hair blower.
[0035] The air diffusing housing 124 comprises a peripheral wall
130 which defines a downstream air-outlet aperture 132 and an
upstream air inlet aperture 134 of the air diffuser. The peripheral
wall 130 forms a hollow air diffusing housing 124 which defines an
air diffusing space so that air coming in from the air inlet and
moving towards the air outlet will pass through the air diffusing
space and will be spread before leaving the diffuser 100. In the
instant example, the air diffusing housing 124 is bowl shaped
wherein the area of aperture defined by the peripheral wall 130
gradually increases as the aperture moves away axially away from
the upstream end, that is, from the air-inlet aperture 134. As
shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the air-outlet aperture 132 defined by
the peripheral wall 130 at its downstream end is larger than that
of the air-inlet aperture 134. The bowl-shaped hollow air diffusing
housing 124 defines a hollow air diffusing compartment 131 which
flares towards the outlet aperture, as more particularly depicted
in FIG. 3. Although a bowl-shaped housing has been depicted here,
other form of housings which defines a flaring compartment, for
example, a frustoconical housing, a pyramidal housing, or like
shaped housing could also be used.
[0036] A coupling means 122 for coupling the air diffuser to the
downstream end, for example, a nozzle, of a hair blower (not shown)
is formed at its upstream end, and more specifically, adjacent the
air inlet. An exemplary coupling means of a bayonet type which
comprises a collar 126 and a fastening means 128 are depicted in
FIGS. 2, 2A, 3 and 4. The collar 126 forms a peripheral wall which
is adapted to surround the air-outlet aperture of a hair blower
upon coupling for maximum air coupling efficiency. This peripheral
wall in effect defines the air-inlet aperture 134 of the air
diffuser 100. The fastening means is for fastening the air diffuser
100 to a hair blower when the diffuser has been coupled or attached
to the hair blower. The fastening means depicted in this example
comprises three resilient hooks 128 for clipping onto the nozzle of
a hair blower. Each of the hooks is resiliently urged in the radial
direction for clipping on to the nozzle of a hair blower. Other
appropriate fastening means include, a screw threaded collar (with
internal or external threads).
[0037] As depicted in the Figures, the hollow housing defined by
the peripheral wall 130 and the collar member 126 are co-axial,
that is, sharing a common longitudinal axis. Of course, the collar
member is also co-axial with the nozzle of a hair blower with which
the diffuser collar member 126 is adapted to engage with during
use. In this specification, the term "axis" or "axial" refers to
the axis of the collar member or the nozzle of a hair blower. The
axial direction substantially defines the direction of air flow
from a hair blower.
[0038] The movable diffuser assembly 140 comprises a first movable
air diffusing baffle member 150 (the "first baffle member") and a
second movable air diffusing baffle member 160 (the "second baffle
member"). The first baffle member 150 comprises a hollow
bowl-shaped concave body 152 with an air diffusing surface 154 and
a central aperture 156. The air diffusing surface 154 is convexly
curved and is disposed opposite to the air-outlet aperture 132 of
the main body 120 so that air exiting from the air-outlet aperture
132 will be diffused when encountering the convexly curved air
diffusing surface 154 on moving towards the hair of a user. Part of
the air exiting from the air-outlet aperture 132 will pass through
the central aperture 156 of the first baffle member, move way from
the coupling means, and then move toward the second baffle
member.
[0039] The second baffle member 160 comprises another bowl-shaped
hollow member 162 which comprises an air diffusing surface 164
which is disposed, at least partially, within the compartment 151
defined by the hollow bowl-shaped member 152. Similarly, the air
diffusing surface 164 is convexly curved towards the air inlet. A
plurality of air diffusing apertures 166 are distributed on the
bowl-shaped member 162 so that air coming out from the central
aperture 156 can be diffused via the through apertures 166 or the
external curved surface 164.
[0040] The first and the second baffle members 150, 160 are movable
towards and away from the air-inlet aperture 134 or the coupling
means. The first baffle member 150 is axially movable and is
movable relative to the peripheral wall 132 of the main housing to
vary its axial separation with the air-inlet aperture. To
facilitate axial movements of the first baffle member, the first
baffle member 150 is supported by a plurality of posts or stays
axially extending from the main body 120. The stays are adapted so
that the first baffle member 150 can slide along the stays and
along an axial direction to move towards and away from the coupling
means. Similarly, the second movable baffle member 160 is supported
on the internal bowl surface of the first movable baffle member by
a plurality of axially extending posts or stays so that the second
baffle member can slide relative to the first baffle member 160 and
also along an axial direction. By causing axial sliding movements
of the second baffle member 160, the second baffle member will be
moved towards and away from the bowl-shaped member 152 of the first
movable baffle member 150. The bowl-shaped members 152 and 162 are
shaped and dimensioned so that the bowl-shaped member 162 of the
second baffle member is receivable within the compartment 151
formed by the first movable baffle member and the first baffle
member is receivable within the bowl compartment formed by the
peripheral wall 132 of the main body. As is depicted in FIGS. 3 and
3A, the bowl-shaped members 130, 152, and 162 are stackable.
Notably, each of the movable baffle members comprises an air
diffusing baffle surface for varying the air diffusing
characteristics of the air diffuser 100.
[0041] By providing a movable baffle member or movable baffle
members each of which can be received by the compartment of the
main body, an air diffuser which can be re-configured into a more
compact size for travelling or transport is provided. The movable
diffusers can be telescopically extended to an appropriate baffling
level for use. Each of the first 150 and second 160 baffle members
is individually movable so that a user can adjust each of the
baffle members independently. Although the movable diffuser
assembly comprises first and second baffle members, it will be
appreciated that an air diffuser may only comprise a single movable
baffle member, for example, either the first baffle member or the
second baffle member, without loss of generality. Where a diffuser
only comprises the first baffle member only, the central aperture
156 would be replaced by a plurality of smaller apertures or non
aperture at all. Of course, more than two individually movable
baffle members can be incorporated into a diffuser of this
invention.
[0042] In addition to making the air diffuser more compact by
having retractable or movable air baffle members, an air diffuser
of this configuration also enables the variation of air diffusing
characteristics by adjusting the relative separation between the
diffusing surfaces 154, 164 of the respective baffle members and
the upstream end of the air diffuser. As an example, each of the
main body and the baffling members could be formed of plastics and
can be formed by plastic moulding.
[0043] In use, a user can extend each of the baffle members 150,
160 to a desired baffling level and the baffle member will stay in
position by frictional engagement with the corresponding stays.
After use, the baffle members can be fully retracted for storage,
as shown in FIG. 2A.
[0044] While the present invention has been explained by reference
to the examples or preferred embodiments described above, it will
be appreciated that those are examples to assist understanding of
the present invention and are not meant to be restrictive.
Variations or modifications which are obvious or trivial to persons
skilled in the art, as well as improvements made thereon, should be
considered as equivalents of this invention.
[0045] Furthermore, while the present invention has been explained
by reference to an air diffuser of a specific shape and with two
movable baffle members, it should be appreciated that the invention
can apply, whether with or without modification, to air diffusers
of other shape and configuration without loss of generality.
* * * * *