U.S. patent application number 12/812255 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-11 for portable hair dryer system.
Invention is credited to Edwina J. Hawes.
Application Number | 20100282810 12/812255 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40853451 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100282810 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hawes; Edwina J. |
November 11, 2010 |
PORTABLE HAIR DRYER SYSTEM
Abstract
A portable carrier for a hair dryer comprises a receptacle
adapted to receive the hair dryer and one or more straps
facilitating carrying of the portable carrier by a user. The
portable carrier contains ventilation netting on a portion intended
to cover air intake vents of the hair dryer. Openings are provided
in the carrier to accommodate hair dryer cords and plugs. The hair
dryer is preferably of a turtle shell shape and is powered by
rechargeable batteries and remote controlled.
Inventors: |
Hawes; Edwina J.;
(Princeton, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Briscoe, Kurt G.;Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, PA
875 Third Avenue, 8th Floor
New York
NY
10022
US
|
Family ID: |
40853451 |
Appl. No.: |
12/812255 |
Filed: |
January 8, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
January 8, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US09/30419 |
371 Date: |
August 4, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61019880 |
Jan 9, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
224/653 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 20/24 20130101;
A45D 20/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/653 |
International
Class: |
A45F 3/04 20060101
A45F003/04 |
Claims
1. A portable carrier for a hair dryer comprising: a) a receptacle
having an interior space adapted to removably receive a
heater/blower component of a hair dryer, said receptacle
comprising: i) ventilation netting material on at least a portion
of the receptacle intended to cover an air intake vent of said
heater/blower; and ii) one or more hose openings adapted to receive
an external hose of said hair dryer; and b) at least one strap
attached to said receptacle for facilitating carrying of the
portable carrier by a user thereof.
2. The portable carrier according to claim 1, which is composed at
least in part of heat-resistant material.
3. The portable carrier according to claim 2, wherein the
heat-resistant material comprises nylon/denier.
4. The portable carrier according to claim 1, which comprises a
plurality of said hose openings.
5. The portable carrier according to claim 1, which has one strap
allowing the portable carrier to be slung over the shoulder of a
user.
6. The portable carrier according to claim 1, which has two straps
allowing the portable carrier to be carried on the back or chest of
a user with one strap being positioned over each shoulder of said
user.
7. The portable carrier according to claim 1, which further
comprises at least one additional opening adapted to receive a cord
connecting a remote control unit for said hair dryer to said
heater/blower component when contained in said receptacle.
8. The portable carrier according to claim 1, which further
comprises at least one additional opening adapted to receive a cord
connecting a rechargeable battery pack contained in said
heater/blower component to a recharging power source or connecting
said heater/blower component to an electrical outlet.
9. The portable carrier according to claim 1, which further
comprises at least one storage compartment on an outside surface or
an inside surface of said receptacle.
10. The portable carrier according to claim 1, wherein said
interior space is sealable.
11. The portable carrier according to claim 10, wherein said
interior space is rendered sealable by means of a zipper.
12. The portable carrier according to claim 10, wherein said
interior space is rendered sealable by means of mating hook and
loop material.
13. A combination comprising: a) the portable carrier according to
claim 1; and b) a heater/blower component contained in said
receptacle.
14. The combination according to claim 13, which further comprises
a hose connected on one end to said heater/blower component and
emanating through one of said hose openings.
15. The combination according to claim 14, wherein said hose is
connected on its other end to a bonnet.
16. The combination according to claim 13, wherein the
heater/blower is controlled by a remote control unit.
17. The combination according to claim 16, wherein the remote
control unit is attached to the heater/blower by a cord and the
cord passes through said adapted opening for said cord.
18. The combination according to claim 13, wherein the
heater/blower component is powered by rechargeable batteries.
19. The combination according to claim 13, wherein the
heater/blower component has a turtle shell shape.
20. A combination comprising: a) a receptacle having an interior
space adapted to removably receive a heater/blower component of a
hair dryer, said receptacle comprising: i) ventilation netting
material on at least a portion of the receptacle intended to cover
an air intake vent of said heater/blower; and ii) one or more hose
openings adapted to receive an external hose of said hair dryer; b)
at least one strap attached to said receptacle for facilitating
carrying of the portable carrier by a user thereof; c) a
heater/blower component contained in said receptacle; d) a hose
connected on one end to said heater/blower component, said hose
emanating through one of said hose openings; e) a bonnet attached
to said hose at its other end; f) a remote control unit operably
linked to said heater/blower component; and g) a rechargeable
battery power source for powering said heater/blower component.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/019,880, filed on Jan. 9, 2008.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a portable hair dryer
system.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Attempts to make hair dryer systems portable are in
principle known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.
5,651,190; U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,262; U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,116; and
U.S. Pat. No. 7,096,597. All these systems suffer one or more
obvious disadvantages. They are too bulky, too complicated or
lacking in flexibility and versatility.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention solves these problems by providing a
novel carrier for the heater/blower component of a hair dryer,
wherein the novel carrier comprises:
[0007] a) a receptacle having an interior space adapted to
removably receive a heater/blower component of a hair dryer,
wherein the receptacle comprises: [0008] i) ventilation netting
material on at least a portion of the receptacle intended to cover
an air intake vent of the heater/blower; and [0009] ii) one or more
hose openings adapted to receive an external hose of the hair
dryer; and
[0010] b) at least one strap attached to the receptacle for
facilitating carrying of the portable carrier by a user
thereof.
[0011] In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a
combination of the novel carrier and a heater/blower component
contained in said receptacle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The invention will now be described in greater detail with
reference to the drawings.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic of the front view of a female user
carrying the inventive carrier on her front. The carrier has two
straps permitting the carrier to be worn like a backpack. The
carrier contains, for example, a turtle shell dryer. The carrier
has ventilation netting on the portion that covers the air intake
vent of the turtle shell dryer. A hose from the turtle shell dryer
exits the carrier at the top and a distal end of the hose is
attached to a bonnet worn atop the user's head. On the left-side of
the carrier, an external remote control unit for the turtle shell
dryer is held in the user's hand. The remote control unit is
attached to the turtle shell dryer by a cord that passes through an
adapted opening in the carrier.
[0014] FIG. 2 shows the carrier with a single strap being slung
over the user's shoulder.
[0015] FIG. 3 shows the carrier with two straps being worn on the
user's back.
[0016] In the figures, the reference numerals represent the
following features: [0017] 1 inventive carrier [0018] 2 cord to
remote control unit [0019] 3 strap(s) [0020] 4 hood/bonnet [0021] 5
hose [0022] 6 zipper [0023] 7 pocket [0024] 8 ventilation [0025] 9
center use hose portal [0026] 10 right use hose portal [0027] 11
remote control unit
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] The portable carrier according to the present invention can
be composed of any suitable material, but is preferably composed at
least in part of heat-resistant material. In a preferred
embodiment, the heat-resistant material comprises nylon/denier.
[0029] The portable carrier has at least one hose opening.
Preferably, the portable carrier has a plurality of the hose
openings to allow versatility in the positioning of the hose.
[0030] The portable carrier typically has one or two straps. When
one strap is employed, the portable carrier can be worn by the user
as a sling. When the portable carrier has two straps, these can be
positioned so that the portable carrier can be worn by the user as
a backpack. In this configuration, of course, the user can also
make use of only one of the two straps, slinging the one strap in
use over one shoulder.
[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the hair dryer is controlled by a
remote control unit. The control may be wireless or wired. In the
event the control is wired, the portable carrier can be provided
with one or more adapted openings to receive wires passing between
the remote control unit and the heater/blower component.
[0032] The heater/blower component may be powered by AC current or
batteries. For maximum portability, batteries, especially
rechargeable batteries, are preferred. The portable carrier can be
provided with one or more adapted openings to receive a cord
connecting a rechargeable battery pack contained in the
heater/blower component to a recharging power source.
Alternatively, the portable carrier can be provided with one or
more adapted openings to receive a cord connecting the
heater/blower component to an electrical outlet, for example, a
wall outlet.
[0033] For storing accessories, the portable carrier can be
provided with at least one storage compartment on an outside
surface or an inside surface of the receptacle.
[0034] The interior space of the receptacle is preferably sealable,
for example, with a zipper or with VELCRO.RTM. (mating hook and
loop material).
[0035] The portable carrier can be designed to accommodate any
suitable hair dryer shape. In a preferred embodiment, the
heater/blower component has a turtle shell shape.
[0036] The present invention has many clear advantages:
[0037] Hood/Bonnet drying is a longer drying process, but has been
long thought to be easier on the hair than the direct heat of a
blow dryer. Many consumers realize the damaging effects of blow
drying hair; however, they use this method out of the desire to
spend less time in the hot bathroom. Some users prefer the look of
blown dry hair. However, many hairstylists have developed methods
to create a blown dry look with the use of a hood drying
method.
[0038] From an everyday/household use perspective, the present
invention allows the user the freedom of movement to do any
activities normally done while wearing a back/pack or sling.
[0039] From a salon or fitness facility point of view, clients will
be able to move or be taken to other locations about the salon,
thus being easily accommodated for additional services like
manicures, pedicures, and makeup and some aesthetic treatments.
[0040] From a healthcare/hospital perspective, patients (especially
the elderly, wheelchair bound or physically compromised) could have
their hair needs completed while remaining in a comfortable
position.
[0041] From a hotel/cruise ship travel perspective, patrons who
prefer to relax or prepare for business meetings can do so outside
of the confines of a typically smaller bathroom, and without having
to be tied to limitations of the dryer cord.
[0042] From a camping and/or limited-electrical access point of
view, users can benefit from a styling/drying method without the
need of an electrical outlet.
[0043] While the present invention has been described in
conjunction with the specific embodiments set forth above, many
alternatives, modifications and other variations thereof will be
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. All such
alternatives, modifications and variations are intended to fall
within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
* * * * *