U.S. patent application number 12/659415 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-21 for compact hair dryer with replaceable styling attachments.
Invention is credited to Charlotte Wynne.
Application Number | 20100263223 12/659415 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42979883 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100263223 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wynne; Charlotte |
October 21, 2010 |
Compact hair dryer with replaceable styling attachments
Abstract
A hair dryer has a cylindrical body with an open forward end. A
turbine-like fan, a motor and a heater within the housing are
powered by a power source in the housing. Several attachments may
be replaceably substituted on the housing to achieve different
functions, including: a retractable bristle brush through which air
can flow from the cylindrical body; a comb having a hollow spine
with a plurality of hollow teeth projecting from one side thereof
and through which air can flow from the body; and a flexible nozzle
that is bendable to direct air from the cylindrical housing in a
desired direction. The nozzle has an outer end constructed to form
a plurality of axially projecting fingers that can be used to
separate hair as it is being dried with the dryer.
Inventors: |
Wynne; Charlotte; (Topanga,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Dennis H. Lambert
7000 View Park Drive
Burke
VA
22015
US
|
Family ID: |
42979883 |
Appl. No.: |
12/659415 |
Filed: |
March 8, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61209378 |
Mar 6, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
34/97 ;
132/271 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 20/50 20130101;
A45D 20/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
34/97 ;
132/271 |
International
Class: |
A45D 20/12 20060101
A45D020/12 |
Claims
1. A hair dryer comprising: a cylindrical body having an open
forward end and a closed rearward end with at least one air intake
opening; a motor and heater coils within the housing; a power
source in the housing, said power source connected with the motor
and heater coils for supplying power thereto; a fan connected to be
driven by the motor, said fan comprising turbine-like blades; a
screen extending across the open end of the housing to prevent
undesired entry of materials or objects into the housing, said
screen being recessed in the open end of the housing; switches
accessible on the exterior of the housing for controlling supply of
power from the power source to the blower and heater, respectively;
and a retractable bristle brush attachment replaceably attached to
the open forward end of the housing for flow of air from the
cylindrical body and through the brush.
2. A hair dryer comprising: a cylindrical body having an open
forward end and a closed rearward end with at least one air intake
opening; a motor and heater coils within the housing; a power
source in the housing, said power source connected with the motor
and heater coils for supplying power thereto; a fan connected to be
driven by the motor, said fan comprising turbine-like blades; a
screen extending across the open end of the housing to prevent
undesired entry of materials or objects into the housing, said
screen being recessed in the open end of the housing; switches
accessible on the exterior of the housing for controlling supply of
power from the power source to the blower and heater, respectively;
and a comb attachment replaceably attached to the open forward end
of the housing, said comb comprising a hollow back or spine with a
plurality of hollow teeth projecting from one side thereof, said
teeth having one or more openings extending through the sides
thereof, so that when the dryer is operated air flows through the
spine and outwardly through the teeth into the hair.
3. A hair dryer comprising: a cylindrical body having an open
forward end and a closed rearward end with at least one air intake
opening; a motor and heater coils within the housing; a power
source in the housing, said power source connected with the motor
and heater coils for supplying power thereto; a fan connected to be
driven by the motor, said fan comprising turbine-like blades; a
screen extending across the open end of the housing to prevent
undesired entry of materials or objects into the housing, said
screen being recessed in the open end of the housing; switches
accessible on the exterior of the housing for controlling supply of
power from the power source to the blower and heater, respectively;
and a flexible nozzle attachment replaceably attached to the open
forward end of the cylindrical body, said nozzle attachment being
bendable to direct air from the cylindrical housing in a desired
direction, said nozzle attachment having an outer end constructed
to form a plurality of axially projecting fingers that can be used
to separate hair as it is being dried with the dryer.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
patent application 61/209,378, filed Mar. 6, 2009.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to hair dryers, and more particularly
to a compact blower for drying hair, wherein replaceable styling
attachments, including a styling brush with retractable bristles,
may be quickly and easily placed on the dryer.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] A variety of devices that blow air to dry hair are known in
the prior art. Some of these devices include styling attachments
that enable the user to style the hair while it is being dried.
Examples of such devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat Nos. 6,775,922,
6,782,636, 6,922,909, 7,124,763 and 7,264,004. These devices tend
to be bulky and inconvenient to carry. They also are relatively
complex and expensive in construction and can be awkward to
use.
[0004] Brushes for styling hair also are known in the art,
including brushes having a round cross-section, with bristles
projecting radially outwardly from the brush around its
circumference. These brushes are commonly used to curl hair by
winding or wrapping the hair around the brush, and in most cases
applying heat and/or one or more hair treatment solutions to set
the curl. While such brushes are effective for the intended
purpose, the disadvantage is that they are difficult to remove from
the curl without disturbing it. The only way to remove the brush is
to pull it axially out of the curl, either with or without first
unrolling or partially unrolling the curl. In either event, strands
of hair are enmeshed in the bristles of the brush and the curl or
other style imparted to the hair is damaged.
[0005] In an effort to solve this problem, brushes have been
designed that have retractable bristles so that after the curl is
formed the bristles can be retracted and the brush pulled axially
out of the curl without disturbing the styled hair. Exemplary of
such prior art brushes are those described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,962,742, 4,191,200, 4,467,821 and 4,596,261. While these brushes
do solve the problem of withdrawing the styling brush after the
curl or other style is formed, they are relatively complex and
expensive in construction, and/or are relatively difficult to
operate.
[0006] There is need for a compact hair dryer that may be
conveniently carried, that is simple and inexpensive in
construction, easy to use, and that has easily replaceable styling
attachments, including a styling brush with retractable
bristles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is a compact hair dryer that may be
conveniently carried, that is simple and inexpensive in
construction, easy to use, and that has easily replaceable styling
attachments, including a styling brush with retractable
bristles.
[0008] The hair dryer of the invention has a compact cylindrical
shape and may be conveniently carried in a purse or similar
receptacle. Further, it may be battery operated or plugged into an
outlet. It can have multiple speed and temperature settings, and
preferably does not produce a maximum temperature that would be
injurious or uncomfortable to the user.
[0009] The attachments include a comb that has hollow teeth through
which air is circulated from the blower. Movement of the teeth
through wet hair while air is circulated through the teeth and into
the hair facilitates the drying process and aids in detangling the
hair.
[0010] Another attachment is a flexible nozzle that can be
reoriented in any direction. The nozzle has hair separating fingers
on its free end
[0011] The attachments also include a styling brush with
retractable bristles that enable the hair to be wound around the
brush to form a curl, and when it is desired to remove the brush
from the styled hair a single finger or the thumb on the hand
holding the dryer with brush attachment can be used to retract the
bristles so that the brush can be pulled from the styled hair
without disturbing it.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of
the invention, will become apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts
throughout the several views, and wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a hair dryer with
retractable bristle styling brush attached thereto in accordance
with the invention, showing the bristles in their extended
operative position.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the dryer
of FIG. 1, showing the air intakes at the rearward end of the
dryer.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary longitudinal
sectional view of the dryer with brush attachment shown in FIG. 1,
depicting the bristles of the brush in extended operative
position.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the
dryer and brush of FIG. 3, showing the bristles in their retracted
position.
[0017] FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along
line 5-5 in FIG. 3.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the dryer of the invention,
wherein the outlet end of the dryer housing is adapted for a
friction fit with attachments to be assembled thereto.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the dryer of the
invention, showing a bayonet type lock for assembling attachments
to the dryer.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a rear portion
of the brush of FIGS. 1-5, with portions broken away to show the
actuating mechanism for moving the bristles between their extended
and retracted positions.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the brush attachment of
the invention, showing the bristles in their retracted
position.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a comb
attachment for use with the dryer of FIG. 6.
[0023] FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view taken along line
11-11 in FIG. 10.
[0024] FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a flexible
nozzle attachment for the dryer of FIG. 6.
[0025] FIG. 13 is a side view in elevation of the flexible nozzle
attachment of FIG. 12, showing the nozzle flexed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0026] A dryer 10 with a retractable bristle brush attachment 11
according to a first form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1-9.
As seen best in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, the dryer 10 comprises a compact
cylindrical housing 12 having an open forward end 13 and a closed
rearward end 14 with at least one air intake opening 15. The
housing may be made of plastic, metal, or other suitable material.
A power source 16, which can be one or more disposable or
rechargeable batteries and/or an adapter to plug into a wall
outlet, is in the rear of the housing for supplying power to a
motor 17 and heater coils 18. The motor drives a fan or blower 19
that in a preferred embodiment comprises turbine-like blades. A
screen or grid 20 extends across the open end of the housing to
prevent undesired entry of materials or objects into the housing.
In the embodiment shown the screen is recessed in the open end of
the housing. Switches 22 and 23 are accessible on the exterior of
the housing for actuating the blower and heater, respectively. In a
preferred construction the motor and heater are relatively low
power units, e.g. 1,000 watts, so that the maximum temperature of
the heated air expelled by the dryer does not exceed about
140.degree. F.
[0027] In a preferred construction the dryer is very compact and
convenient to carry and use, being only about 5 to 6 inches long
and 1 to 1.25 inches in diameter.
[0028] The retractable bristle brush attachment 11 also comprises a
cylindrical housing 30 of approximately the same size as the
housing 12 of the dryer, and has a forward closed end 31 and an
open rearward end 32. The end 32 is adapted to attach to the
forward open end 13 of the dryer by any suitable means, such as a
friction fit as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8, a bayonet connection as
shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, or a threaded connection (not shown) or the
like. As seen best in FIGS. 3-5, 8 and 9 an elongate rod 34 extends
coaxially within the housing 30 and extends slidably through and is
guided and supported at its forward end by a guide disc 35 near the
forward closed end of the housing. The rearward end of the rod is
connected to and supported by a plurality of radially extending
spokes 36 that extend outwardly from the rod and through elongate
slots 37 in the side of the housing. The outer ends of the spokes
are connected with an actuator ring 38 that slides longitudinally
on the outside of the housing. Sealing sleeves 39 and 40 extend
axially from opposite sides of the actuator ring to cover and seal
the slots against loss of air through them when the blower is
operating. The rod carries a plurality of brush bristles 41 that
extend radially outwardly from the rod and through openings 42 in
the side of the housing. When the actuator ring is moved forwardly
as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, the bristles are pushed outwardly
through the openings 42 to an extended operative position. When the
actuator ring is moved rearwardly as depicted in FIGS. 4 and 9, the
bristles are retracted through the openings to a retracted
inoperative position. In a preferred construction the rod is a
twisted wire with the bristles captured at their inner end by the
twisted wire, but the rod may have any other suitable construction,
such as a tube or shaft with the inner ends of clusters of bristles
fixed in pockets in the tube or shaft.
[0029] An alternate attachment is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, wherein
the attachment comprises a comb 50. The back or spine 51 of the
comb is hollow and has a plurality of hollow teeth 52 projecting
from one side thereof. One or more openings 53 extend through the
sides of the teeth, and the outer end of each tooth preferably is
open at 54. One end 55 of the comb is adapted to attach to the
forward end of the dryer so that when the dryer is operated air
flows through the spine and outwardly through the teeth into the
hair.
[0030] A further form of attachment is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. In
this form of the invention the attachment comprises a flexible
nozzle 60 that may be bent to direct air in a desired direction.
The outer end of the nozzle is constructed to form a plurality of
axially projecting fingers 61 that can be used to separate the hair
as it is being dried. The fingers can have a triangular shape as
shown, or they can be rod shaped or have any other shape suitable
for the intended purpose. The end 62 of the nozzle opposite the
fingers is adapted to attach to the dryer.
[0031] Although particular embodiments of the invention are
illustrated and described in detail herein, it is to be understood
that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention
without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention.
* * * * *