U.S. patent application number 13/381808 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-03 for cyclone blower barrel hair dryer configuration.
This patent application is currently assigned to Haejeong Min. Invention is credited to Jin-Ho Choi.
Application Number | 20120102775 13/381808 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43411185 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120102775 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Choi; Jin-Ho |
May 3, 2012 |
CYCLONE BLOWER BARREL HAIR DRYER CONFIGURATION
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a hair dryer with a cyclone
blast barrel that discharges airflow farther and faster by means of
a helical blast barrel structure, and particularly, to a hair dryer
comprising: a first blast barrel and a second blast barrel for
discharging air in cyclone form; a heater that generates heat of a
predetermined temperature; a fan-motor for rotating a fan to blow
air; and a cover for providing an enclosure for securing components
and a protection against impacts, wherein the hair dryer strongly
discharges air at high speed for the same output of a drive motor,
and has the effect of discharging air that is uniform in
temperature.
Inventors: |
Choi; Jin-Ho;
(Dongducheon-si, KR) |
Assignee: |
Min; Haejeong
Aliso Viejo
CA
|
Family ID: |
43411185 |
Appl. No.: |
13/381808 |
Filed: |
July 8, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
July 8, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR09/03729 |
371 Date: |
December 30, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
34/98 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 20/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
34/98 |
International
Class: |
A45D 20/08 20060101
A45D020/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 3, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0060810 |
Claims
1. A structure of a hair dryer with a cyclone blast barrel for
discharging a selection between a cold wind and a heated wind, the
structure comprising: a first blast barrel for defining selected
one or more of a helical groove and a helical protrusion, and for
conditioning a wind inlet at an internal circumference into a
discharge of a cyclone pattern; a second blast barrel fixedly
inserted in the internal circumference of the first blast barrel
and defining selected one or more of a helical groove and a helical
protrusion to condition a wind inlet into a discharge of another
cyclone pattern; a heater fixedly inserted in an internal
circumference of the second blast barrel for radiating heat at a
predetermined temperature upon receiving a supply from a power
source; a fan-motor installed behind the heater for supplying the
wind generated by rotating a fan upon receiving the supply from the
power source to the first blast barrel and the second blast barrel,
respectively; and a cover securely fastened to a rear end of the
first blast barrel for maintaining the second blast barrel, the
heater, and the fan-motor locked in position while providing a
protection against external impacts and letting in external
airflows.
2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the first blast barrel and
second blast barrel each comprises selected one of the helical
groove and the helical protrusion with helical grooves or helical
protrusions extending either adjoined all along the length or
spaced by a predetermined clearance.
3. The structure of claim 2, wherein the helical protrusion on the
internal circumference of the first blast barrel is held in
abutment against the helical protrusion on an external
circumference of the second blast barrel, whereby affixing the
first blast barrel and second blast barrel together.
4. The structure of claim 2, wherein the helical protrusion on the
internal circumference of the first blast barrel is arranged
corresponding to the helical protrusion on the internal
circumference of the second blast barrel, whereby affixing the
first blast barrel and second blast barrel together.
5. The structure of claim 3, wherein the helical groove on the
internal circumference of the first blast barrel is arranged
corresponding to the helical groove on the external circumference
of the second blast barrel, whereby defining a continuous closed
helical space.
6. The structure of claim 4, wherein the helical groove on the
internal circumference of the first blast barrel is arranged
corresponding to the helical groove on the internal circumference
of the second blast barrel.
7. The structure of any one of claims 1 through 6 claim 1, wherein
the first blast barrel and second blast barrel each comprises a
discharge outlet and a wind inlet having a larger diameter than the
discharge outlet.
8. The structure of claim 2, wherein the helical groove and the
helical protrusion extend along a full helical length of the first
blast barrel and second blast barrel either continuously,
discontinuously or partially by a predetermined length.
9. The structure of claim 1, wherein a selected one or more of the
helical groove and the helical protrusion is formed with the
external circumference of the second blast barrel held in abutment
against the internal circumference of the first blast barrel.
10. The structure of claim 9, wherein the internal circumference of
the first blast barrel is devoid of a formation of the selected one
or more of the helical groove and the helical protrusion.
11. The structure of claim 9, wherein the helical groove and the
helical protrusion are formed in coextension by different sizes
from each other.
12. The structure of claim 1, wherein the second blast barrel
comprises an insulator for withstanding a melt and deformation from
a transmission of heat.
13. The structure of claim 1, wherein the first blast barrel is
provided with either a smooth exterior surface independently of a
construction of the internal circumference of the first blast
barrel or a contour corresponding to the helical groove and the
helical protrusion on the internal circumference.
14. The structure of claim 1, wherein the helical groove and the
helical protrusion are selected interchangeably by a number of one
or more, and extend in either left-hand or right-hand rotation.
15. The structure of claim 14, wherein the helical groove and the
helical protrusion are formed into one or more of a circular shape
and other polygonal shapes.
16. The structure of claim 1, wherein the heater uses either a
direct heating method or indirect heating method.
17. The structure of claim 16, wherein the heater is optionally
provided with a temperature controller.
18. The structure of claim 2, wherein the first blast barrel and
second blast barrel each comprises a discharge outlet and a wind
inlet having a larger diameter than the discharge outlet.
19. The structure of claim 3, wherein the first blast barrel and
second blast barrel each comprises a discharge outlet and a wind
inlet having a larger diameter than the discharge outlet.
20. The structure of claim 4, wherein the first blast barrel and
second blast barrel each comprises a discharge outlet and a wind
inlet having a larger diameter than the discharge outlet.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a structure of a cyclone
blast barrel of a hair dryer for blowing spiral airflow like
whirlwind (`cyclone` hereinafter). More particularly, the present
disclosure relates to a cyclone blower barreled hair dryer with
helical grooves and protrusions formed on the barrel to supply
airflow farther and faster.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In drying washed or damp hair, a generally used appliance is
hair dryer that conventionally has an electrically powered motor
with a driving shaft to which a propeller or a fan is fixed to
generate a motor-driven airflow in one direction and a heating
element (heater) in an ejecting path of the airflow for heating the
same. When a user turns on the power supply for drying the hair,
the heating element operates to radiate heat as the motor runs to
rotate the fan which ejects the airflow warmed up by the radiated
heat.
[0003] Conventional hair dryers of such construction rely on
increased size of the drive motor and the fan to provide a
sufficient discharge of the airflow.
[0004] However, the known methods need a larger motor consuming
more power and a bigger and thus noisier fan, resulting in an
undesirably bulkier hair dryer.
[0005] Moreover, there are problems of uneven mixture of airflow
leaving separate hot and cold airflows failing to provide an even
temperature which in turn damages hair and causes frequent
malfunctions arising from the temperature irregularities.
[0006] Korean Patent Application No. 10-1995-25139 filed on Aug.
16, 2009 entitled Cyclone Apparatus for Hair Dryer suggests a
partial improvement over the prior art.
[0007] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an exemplary prior art
cyclone discharge structure of a hair dryer.
[0008] To describe the prior art in detail referring to the
drawings, a hair dryer 1 having a body 2 is provided with a blower
fan 3 and a front end outlet 4 encompassing a bearing 8 and snap
rings 9, 9' for rotatably supporting a shaft 10 which is distally
fitted with a cyclone propeller 6. In this construction, cyclone
propeller 6 rotates on its axis.
[0009] For example, when hair dryer 1 operates blower fan 3 to
drive wind to outlet 4, the wind is warmed through a heating
element 5 that has become hot and then turns cyclone propeller 6
which is intended to swirl the wind into a cyclone forced to exit
the hair dryer rapidly to a relatively longer distance.
[0010] However, the extra components of bearing 8, snap rings 9,
9', and shaft 10 exact the addition of the cost related to the
inventory management of parts and manufacturing of the hair dryers
which entail more time for production and more failure factors due
to increased moving units.
[0011] Moreover, it brings about occasional failures of cyclone
propeller 6, when the wind stops exiting the dryer to normally cool
the heat built up by the heating element, causing damages of hair
dryer 1 with melted outlet 4 and even burns to the user.
[0012] Therefore, there is a need to provide an improved technology
of hair dryer blower barrel requiring less components with the
manufacturing time and number of moving units reduced towards less
failure factors and a longer service life while making a well mixed
discharge of cold and heated winds into a strong and fast airflow
to be delivered in an even temperature.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0013] Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned technical problems
and need, the present disclosure provides a cyclone blast barreled
hair dryer configured for generating and discharging an airflow
cyclone by forming certain grooves and protrusions inside an
existing barrel portion without adding to the number of essential
dryer components.
[0014] The disclosure also provides a cyclone blast barreled hair
dryer configured for evenly blending and mixing differently warmed
winds into a discharge of airflow of a constant overall
temperature.
[0015] In addition, the disclosure provides a cyclone blast
barreled hair dryer structured with no extra moving parts allowing
a simple and sturdy blast barrel to bring down failure factors but
generate and discharge an airflow cyclone with increased blast
speed and forces.
Technical Solution
[0016] An aspect of the present disclosure provides a structure of
a hair dryer with a cyclone blast barrel for discharging a
selection between a cold wind and a heated wind, the structure
including: a first blast barrel for defining selected one or more
of a helical groove and a helical protrusion, and for conditioning
a wind inlet at an internal circumference into a discharge of a
cyclone pattern; a second blast barrel fixedly inserted in the
internal circumference of the first blast barrel and defining
selected one or more of a helical groove and a helical protrusion
to condition a wind inlet into a discharge of another cyclone
pattern; a heater fixedly inserted in an internal circumference of
the second blast barrel for radiating heat at a predetermined
temperature upon receiving a supply from a power source; a
fan-motor installed behind the heater for supplying the wind
generated by rotating a fan upon receiving the supply from the
power source to the first blast barrel and the second blast barrel,
respectively; and a cover securely fastened to a rear end of the
first blast barrel for maintaining the second blast barrel, the
heater, and the fan-motor locked in position while providing a
protection against external impacts and letting in external
airflows.
[0017] Preferably, the first blast barrel and second blast barrel
each comprises selected one of the helical groove and the helical
protrusion with helical grooves or helical protrusions extending
either adjoined all along the length or spaced by a predetermined
clearance.
[0018] In the meantime, the helical protrusion on the internal
circumference of the first blast barrel is held in abutment against
the helical protrusion on an external circumference of the second
blast barrel, whereby affixing the first blast barrel and second
blast barrel together.
[0019] In addition, the helical protrusion on the internal
circumference of the first blast barrel is arranged corresponding
to the helical protrusion on the internal circumference of the
second blast barrel, whereby affixing the first blast barrel and
second blast barrel together.
[0020] Here, the helical groove on the internal circumference of
the first blast barrel is arranged corresponding to the helical
groove on the external circumference of the second blast barrel,
whereby defining a continuous closed helical space.
[0021] Moreover, the helical groove on the internal circumference
of the first blast barrel is arranged corresponding to the helical
groove on the internal circumference of the second blast
barrel.
[0022] In the meantime, the first blast barrel and second blast
barrel each comprises a discharge outlet and a wind inlet having a
larger diameter than the discharge outlet.
[0023] Additionally, the helical groove and the helical protrusion
extend along a full helical length of the blast barrels either
continuously, discontinuously or partially by a predetermined
length.
[0024] In the meantime, a selected one or more of the helical
groove and the helical protrusion is formed with the external
circumference of the second blast barrel held in abutment against
the internal circumference of the first blast barrel.
[0025] Further, the internal circumference of the first blast
barrel is devoid of a formation of the selected one or more of the
helical groove and the helical protrusion.
[0026] Here, the helical groove and the helical protrusion are
formed in coextension by different sizes from each other.
[0027] Moreover, the second blast barrel comprises an insulator for
withstanding a melt and deformation from a transmission of
heat.
[0028] In addition, the first blast barrel is provided with either
a smooth exterior surface independently of a construction of the
internal circumference of the first blast barrel or a contour
corresponding to the helical groove and the helical protrusion on
the internal circumference.
[0029] Here, the helical groove and the helical protrusion are
selected interchangeably by a number of one or more, and extend in
either left-hand or right-hand rotation.
[0030] In the meantime, the helical groove and the helical
protrusion are formed into one or more of a circular shape and
other polygonal shapes.
[0031] Furthermore, the heater uses either a direct heating method
or indirect heating method, and is optionally provided with a
temperature controller.
Advantageous Effects
[0032] The present disclosure in this construction defines the
helical groove or protrusion on the blast barrel of the hair dryer
and thereby offers the users the convenience of cyclone wind
blowing without increasing the number of components.
[0033] Moreover, the present disclosure has the industrial
application of providing a high speed and power of wind ejection
for the same rating of driving motor by using helical groove or
protrusion integrated in the blast barrels.
[0034] Further, the present disclosure has the effect of
facilitating hair grooming in an increased speed while preventing
damages to the hair since it provides a cyclone method for speedy
and uniform blending of differently conditioned airflows to prevent
drastic temperature changes of the dryer.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0035] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a cyclone discharging
structure of a hair dryer according to the prior art;
[0036] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cyclone barreled hair
dryer constructed according to an aspect of the present
disclosure;
[0037] FIG. 3 is a schematic functional block diagram of an
electric circuit configuration of a cyclone barreled hair dryer
operated by a power supply according to an aspect;
[0038] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an assembly of a cyclone
barreled hair dryer according to an aspect;
[0039] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cyclone barreled
hair dryer of an aspect of FIG. 2 taken along the line A-A;
[0040] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cyclone barreled
hair dryer of an aspect of FIG. 2 taken along the line B-B;
[0041] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative cyclone
barreled hair dryer to the FIG. 2 aspect taken along the line
B-B;
[0042] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cyclone barreled hair
dryer constructed according to another aspect of the present
disclosure;
[0043] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the cyclone barreled
hair dryer of the aspect of FIG. 8 taken along the line C-C;
[0044] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a cyclone barreled hair
dryer of another aspect of FIG. 8 taken along the line C-C;
[0045] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a cyclone barreled hair
dryer of an aspect of FIG. 8 taken along the line C-C;
[0046] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a cyclone barreled hair
dryer of yet another aspect of FIG. 8 taken along the line C-C;
[0047] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a cyclone barreled hair
dryer of an aspect of FIG. 8 taken along the line D-D;
[0048] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a cyclone barreled hair
dryer of another aspect of FIG. 8 taken along the line D-D;
[0049] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a double helical structure
of another aspect of the cyclone barreled hair dryer of FIG. 2;
[0050] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a triple helical structure
of yet another aspect of the cyclone barreled hair dryer of FIG.
2;
[0051] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a double helical structure
of another aspect of the cyclone barreled hair dryer of FIG. 8;
and
[0052] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a triple helical structure
of yet another aspect of the cyclone barreled hair dryer of FIG.
8.
MODE FOR INVENTION
[0053] Terms or words used in this specification and claims are not
limited in their interpretations to typical or lexically identified
meanings, but they should be interpreted to meet the technical idea
of the present disclosure based on the principle that an inventor
is permitted to appropriately define the concepts of the disclosure
to its best possible description.
[0054] Hair dryer is the first hand appliance that basically
functions to fast dry user's wetted hair or groom hair into a neat
form, and upon receiving a power supply it drives a motor and
rotates its axially mounted fan to generate and discharge wind so
that the wind passes a heat radiating heater element energized by
the power supply in a heated state as it exits the dryer. At this
time, conventional hair dryers were susceptible to have well warmed
sections and insufficiently warmed sections in the wind which was
directed straight out of the dryer and the resultant hot air to be
used in drying hair has failed to give a definable drying
temperature leading to damaged hair conditions. The present
disclosure reforms the hair dryer blower barrel instead of
increasing its components to generate swirling winds in the form of
cyclone which evenly mixes well/under-heated winds to a constant
temperature and increase the wind velocity.
[0055] In the description of the present disclosure, the
expressions of the grooves and concaves are interchangeably used as
with the protrusions and protrusions in appropriate lines to
facilitate the explanation and understanding. In addition, although
the grooves and protrusions are structurally opposite shapes, their
functions and operations are same so that the groove may take the
place of the protrusion and vice versa and hence these elements are
interchangeably used unless they present a functional issue.
[0056] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cyclone barreled hair
dryer constructed according to an aspect of the present
disclosure.
[0057] To detail the dryer referring to FIG. 2, dryer 100 has an
exterior shell of a housing 110 comprised of a first blast barrel
140 and a cover 180 which is joined and fastened to first barrel
140 through screw threading. Alternatively, fastening may include
binding agents, joint pins or other means. At one side of first
barrel 140 is a switch 120 fixed for turning ON-OFF the power
supply through a power cord 130 which is connected between switch
120 and electricity utility. Mounted inside cover 180 is a
fan-motor unit which is driven by the power supply and is provided
with an air-inlet for drawing air from atmosphere.
[0058] First blast barrel 140 has a contoured exterior with
continuous spiral grooves or protrusions forming helical
concavo-convex surfaces. In addition, the exterior may be
optionally shaped to be plainly round.
[0059] FIG. 3 is a schematic functional block diagram of an
electric circuit configuration of a cyclone barreled hair dryer
operated by the power supply according to an aspect.
[0060] To detail the circuit referring to FIG. 3, power cord 130
having a wall-plug is in connection with switch 120. Under the
ON-OFF control, switch 120 makes or breaks the power supply from
power cord 130 to a fan-motor 170 and a heater 160 which are
connected in series. Although not depicted, switch 120 may be a
multi-level selection type or a sliding type by a design option for
controlling the heat radiating operation of heater 160. In
addition, heater 160 is constructed from a selection between a
direct heating method using a nichrome wire of an alloy of nickel,
15-20% of chromium and others and an indirect heating method with a
heating element wrapped by ceramic, quartz or the like, and it may
be further provided with an automatic heat controller for keeping
the heat under a certain temperature.
[0061] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an assembly of cyclone
barreled hair dryer 100 according to an aspect.
[0062] To detail the assembly referring to FIG. 4, dryer 100 is
equipped with switch 120 that receives an ON-OFF control to make or
break the supply of the electricity utility from the wall plug
through power cord 130, and it comprises first blast barrel 140,
second blast barrel 150, heater 160, fan-motor 170, and cover
180.
[0063] First blast barrel 140 is roughly in the shape of a tapered
cylinder that has an air-inlet wider than its outlet and is also
provided with a part of a handle at the air-inlet side and at least
one of inward protrusions and grooves which helically extend
continuously over the interior surface of the barrel. In the
drawing, for example, it shows that the helical protrusions or
(and) grooves extend adjoined all along the length. Such helical
grooves or protrusions guide a wind or airflow introduced through
the air-inlet into a cyclone pattern which clears the dryer at the
outlet. The depth and/or height of the helical grooves and
protrusions and an optimal value of their pitch around the barrel
for a particular dryer design are desirably selected from repeated
experiments over time. In addition, the direction of the helical
turns of the grooves and protrusions is determined selectively into
the right or left. In addition, the helical grooves and protrusions
may be continuous around the barrel or discontinuous in
predetermined lengths or partially formed in a fixed length. In the
meantime, first blast barrel 140 may be formed by one piece or two
pieces selectively.
[0064] Cyclone, the powerful revolutions of centrifugal force is
generated by a strong wind swirling with a suction force,
destructive force, linearity and other properties, generally
referring to a tropical low pressure typhoon in meteorology. Around
a hair dryer, adding a revolution force to its airflow will provide
a wind ejection with a reinforcement and longer distance to travel.
Therefore, the faster cyclone wind from the hair dryer penetrates
deep into the hair even in a bushy type. Hence, the cyclone wind
provides faster, stronger and more penetrative hot or cold airflow
which can dry or groom hair faster.
[0065] Second blast barrel 150 may be constructed similar to first
blast barrel 140 in that it receives wind through a portion having
a larger diameter than that of an outlet portion to form a tapered
barrel, and has its helical turns of the grooves and protrusions
that may be continuous around the barrel or discontinuous in
predetermined lengths or partially formed in a fixed length. The
pitches of the helical grooves and protrusions of second blast
barrel 150 may be equal to those of first blast barrel 140 while
the depth and/or height thereof may be either equal or different
but desirably determined from repeated experiments over time.
[0066] Second blast barrel 150 may be comprised of an insulator
which can stop the transmission of heat and withstand the same even
at an excessive temperature, and consisted of a single piece or two
sections.
[0067] Thus formed second blast barrel 150 transforms inlet wind
through the respective grooves and/or protrusions spirally formed
on its interior and exterior surfaces into the cyclone blast to
eject.
[0068] In other words, the introduced airflow is transformed into
the cyclone wind for ejection by the helical grooves and
protrusions formed respectively on the inner walls of first blast
barrel 140 and the outer walls of second blast barrel 150, and
second blast barrel 150 also has its internally formed helical
grooves and protrusions to transform and eject the introduced
airflow into a separate cyclone wind.
[0069] At this time, the helical protrusions of first blast barrel
140 and the helical protrusions of second blast barrel 150 are
fixedly adjoined together along their most adjacent portions in
distal occlusion. Therefore, there is a large closed helical space
continually formed by the recessed interior circumference or groove
of first blast barrel 140 and the recessed exterior circumference
or groove of second blast barrel 150 so that the introduced airflow
is rotated in the cyclone pattern as it exits the dryer.
[0070] Moreover, the recessed interior circumference of first blast
barrel 140 and the recessed exterior circumference of second blast
barrel 130 may be held affixed and arranged corresponding to each
other with a certain distance maintained therebetween. Therefore,
an open helical space is continually formed by the interior groove
of first blast barrel 140 and the exterior groove of second blast
barrel 150 to rotationally eject the introduced airflow in the
cyclone pattern.
[0071] Since the cyclone pattern of wind generated by the interior
circumference of first blast barrel 140 and the exterior
circumference of second blast barrel 150 and the cyclone pattern of
wind generated by the interior circumference of second blast barrel
150 are rotated in the same direction at the exit end of hair dryer
100, they are strongly blended to reinforce the swirling cyclone
wind under the even mixture and blending, resulting in very uniform
distribution of the wind temperature.
[0072] Therefore, the present disclosure has the structural
advantage that blasts the wind of uniform temperature from the
dryer by a stronger ejection to reach farther which allows a treat
of uniform supply of wind for even the opposite side of thick hair
otherwise unreachable heretofore.
[0073] Moreover, the dual structure of first blast barrel 140 and
second blast barrel 150 provides the benefit of soundproofing to
block an internal noise of dryer 100 from leaking out.
[0074] In the meantime, in an unfortunate event where heater 160 is
troubled or fan-motor 170 is in failure, the insulator material of
second blast barrel 150 alone safely handles the transmission of
heat, which is structurally reinforced to safeguard the user with
the dual structure slowing down the excessive heat to reach the
outermost surface of dryer 100.
[0075] While first blast barrel 140 and second blast barrel 150
maintain the interspace for generating the cyclone wind as
described right above, they may join together leaving no spaces
between them, which will be described as an aspect in the
following.
[0076] Heater 160 is comprised of a heating element 162 for
radiating heat with a supply of electricity from the power source
and an insulator element 164 that hardly allows the flow of heat.
The cross section of insulator element 164 is generally
cross-shaped and takes windings of heating element 162 at certain
intervals, though insulator element 164 may be modified as heating
element 162 is changed in structure. Meanwhile, heater 160 is
inserted in the interior circumference of second blast barrel 150
and fixed thereto. In addition, heater 160 itself may be provided
with an optional temperature controller for preventing heater 160
from generating heat over a preset temperature. Further, heater 160
may be constructed from a selection between a direct heating method
of using heat radiations of heat element 162 comprised of an alloy
of nickel and chromium and an indirect heating method incorporating
a ceramic heating element, a quartz heating element or the
like.
[0077] Radiating heat, such heater 160 functions to warm up the
adjacently passing airflow into a hot blast or warm wind.
[0078] Fan-motor 170 includes a motor 174 having a shaft rotated
with the supply from power source and a fan 172 which is rotatably
fixed with the shaft for introducing and discharging the airflows
one-way in and out the dryer. The shape of fan 172 in the drawing
is illustrative only, and fan 172 can assume any shapes as long as
it generates and discharges wind unidirectionally and is
installable in hair dryer 100.
[0079] Meanwhile, in an implementation of the disclosure, fan-motor
170 is fixed on cover 180, although any other fastening structures
are applicable as long as it is installed inside hair dryer 100 for
discharging wind in a single direction.
[0080] Power cord 130 draws in the external electricity utility for
supplying, and switch 120 connected in series with fan-motor 170
and heater 160 makes or breaks power supply under ON-OFF
control.
[0081] In addition, switch 120 controls the rotational speed of
fan-motor 170 and the temperature of heater 160 by providing
stepwise selections represented by LOW, MIDDLE, HIGH or the like.
Then, the control or adjustment may be made by using a linear or
rotary sliding controller for selecting an arbitrary value.
[0082] Through one or more fastening methods selected from screw
threading, hook and eye fastening, and binding agents among others,
cover 180 is held together with first barrel 140 to securely
protects second barrel 150, heater 160, fan-motor 170, and switch
120 fitted inside first barrel 140 as well as power cord 130
against external impacts. In the present aspect, it is desirable to
use the screw fastening. The external impacts include physical,
mechanical, and chemical impacts due to intrusion of water,
chemicals or the like.
[0083] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cyclone barreled
hair dryer of an aspect of FIG. 2 taken along the line A-A.
[0084] As illustrated, second blast barrel 150 is fixedly inserted
in the interior circumference of first blast barrel 140, and heater
160 having heating element 162 and insulation element 164 is
fixedly inserted in the interior circumference of second blast
barrel 150.
[0085] The helical protrusions formed on the interior circumference
of first blast barrel 140 and the helical protrusions formed on the
exterior circumference of second blast barrel 150 are shown fixedly
adjoined together. Methods for keeping the fixture may include a
mechanical press fitting or using a separate fastener, a spacer for
maintaining a certain clearance, and a binding agent.
[0086] Also shown in the drawing is a helical space jointly formed
by a helical groove recessed into the interior circumference of
first blast barrel 140 and another helical groove recessed into the
exterior circumference of second blast barrel 150. Extending
spirally along the length of first and second blast barrels 140,
150, the helical space is thus enclosed by the same barrels.
Alternatively, such helical space may be formed into discontinuous
sections along the helical line or a partial formation of a
predetermined length, wherein the intervals between the sectional
helical spaces may be formed with smoothly contoured cylindrical
spaces to facilitate passage of the airflow.
[0087] The interior circumference of second blast barrel 150 also
forms a spirally extending space.
[0088] Although the drawings illustrate a quadruple helical space
as an example, a single or coupled cluster of more than two similar
spaces may be chosen as an optimal value by a designer's preference
or through repeated experiments. In addition, the direction of
revolution of the helical spaces may be either left or right with
no restrictions.
[0089] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cyclone barreled
hair dryer of an aspect of FIG. 2 taken along the line B-B.
[0090] As illustrated, fixed to the underside of first blast barrel
140 is second blast barrel 150, to the underside of which is fitted
with heater 160 including heating element 162 and insulation
element 164.
[0091] Formed between first blast barrel 140 and second blast
barrel 150 is the space for the cyclone pattern of wind discharge
to pass, and also formed between second blast barrel 150 and heater
160 is a space for passing the cyclone pattern of wind discharge,
as illustrated.
[0092] Here, the wind is discharged in a first independent cyclone
pattern through the space between first blast barrel 140 and second
blast barrel 150 and a second independent cyclone pattern through
the space between second blast barrel 150 and heater 160.
[0093] The present disclosure in this construction provides first
and second blast barrels 140, 150 with ribbed surfaces from the
helical grooves and/or protrusions which may be continuous,
discontinuous or partial to discharge the cyclone pattern of wind,
and in particular establishes a mixture of the separate discharges
of the cyclone winds near the outlet of the dryer into an even
stronger cyclone wind. In addition, the dual structure of blast
barrel cluster effectively blocks the internal noise.
[0094] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative cyclone
barreled hair dryer to the aspect of FIG. 2 taken along the line
B-B.
[0095] As illustrated, second blast barrel 150 is positioned
underside of first blast barrel 140 with a predetermined clearance
therebetween. At the same time, the protrusions on the interior
circumference of first blast barrel 140 are arranged corresponding
to the grooves on the exterior circumference of second blast barrel
150. Except that the modified coupling between first and second
blast barrels 140, 150 forms an open helical space, this aspect is
functionally similar to the aspect of FIG. 6 and hence the
description would not be repeated.
[0096] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cyclone barreled hair
dryer constructed according to another aspect of the present
disclosure.
[0097] Similar to hair dryer 100 of FIG. 2, this aspect of cyclone
barreled hair dryer 100 has an exterior shell of housing 110
comprised of first blast barrel 140 and cover 180 which is joined
and fastened to first blast barrel 140 preferably through screw
threading among other various fastening methods, and fixed at one
side of first blast barrel 140 is switch 120 for turning ON-OFF the
power supply through power cord 130 that connects the electricity
utility to switch 120, and mounted inside cover 180 is a fan-motor
unit which is driven by the power supply and is provided with an
air-inlet for drawing air from atmosphere.
[0098] However, the exterior of first blast barrel 140 is constant
and smooth apart from its interior circumference with spirally
formed protrusions and grooves which is the difference.
[0099] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the cyclone barreled
hair dryer of the aspect of FIG. 8 taken along the line C-C.
[0100] To describe in detail referring to the drawing, second blast
barrel 150 is held in abutment against the interior circumference
of first blast barrel 140, and a rectangularly recessed cyclone
groove 190 is formed in spiral. Although a quadruple helical
cyclone groove 190 is formed, any one may be selected from a
single, double, triple, quintuple, or other coupled cluster of
grooves, and it is preferable to choose an optimal value through
repeated experiments.
[0101] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a cyclone barreled hair
dryer of another aspect of FIG. 8 taken along the line C-C.
[0102] Referring to the drawing in particular, second blast barrel
150 is held in abutment against the interior circumference of first
blast barrel 140, and a semicircularly recessed cyclone groove 190
is formed in spiral. Although a quadruple helical cyclone groove
190 is formed, any one may be selected from a single, double,
triple, quintuple, or other coupled cluster of grooves similar to
the aspect of FIG. 9, and it is preferable to choose an optimal
value through repeated experiments.
[0103] Cyclone grooves 190 according to FIGS. 9 and 10 are to show
examples of structures from a circular shape and other polygonal
shapes. In addition, the drawings are intended to show cyclone
grooves 190 formed on both of first blast barrel 140 and second
blast barrel 150 at their same diametrical locations as well as the
cyclone grooves 190 formed on second blast barrel 150 but not on
first blast barrel 140, suggesting that cyclone grooves 190 may be
formed in either way selected.
[0104] In addition, cyclone grooves 190 may be formed extending
throughout the respective blast barrels or by a number of
discontinuous sections of a predetermined length or into a
predetermined length of a singular section on each of the blast
barrels, and it is preferable to choose one of these constructions
through repeated experiments.
[0105] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a cyclone barreled hair
dryer of an aspect of FIG. 8 taken along the line C-C.
[0106] Referring to the drawing in particular, second blast barrel
150 is held in abutment against the interior circumference of first
blast barrel 140, and a rectangularly protruding cyclone protrusion
195 is formed in spiral. Although a quadruple helical cyclone
protrusion 195 is formed, any one may be selected from a single,
double, triple, quintuple, or other coupled cluster of protrusions
similar to the aspect of FIG. 10, and it is preferable to choose an
optimal value through repeated experiments.
[0107] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a cyclone barreled hair
dryer of yet another aspect of FIG. 8 taken along the line C-C.
[0108] Referring to the drawing in particular, second blast barrel
150 is held in abutment against the interior circumference of first
blast barrel 140, and a semicircularly protruding cyclone
protrusion 195 is formed in spiral. Although a quadruple helical
cyclone protrusion 195 is formed, any one may be selected from a
single, double, triple, quintuple, or other coupled cluster of
protrusions similar to the aspect of FIG. 11, and it is preferable
to choose an optimal value through repeated experiments.
[0109] Cyclone protrusions 195 according to FIGS. 9 and 11 are to
show examples of structures from a circular shape and other
polygonal shapes.
[0110] In addition, the drawings are intended to show cyclone
protrusions 195 formed on both of first blast barrel 140 and second
blast barrel 150 at their same diametrical locations as well as the
cyclone protrusions 195 formed on second blast barrel 150 but not
on first blast barrel 140, suggesting that cyclone protrusions 195
may be formed in either way selected. In addition, cyclone
protrusions 195 may be formed extending throughout the respective
blast barrels or by a number of discontinuous sections of a
predetermined length or into a predetermined length of a singular
section on each of the blast barrels, and it is also preferable to
choose one of these constructions through repeated experiments.
[0111] Although not shown in the drawings, it is optional to adopt
a double formation which incorporates a smaller cyclone protrusion
195 onto cyclone groove 190 in coextension or coextensively forms a
smaller cyclone groove 190 onto cyclone protrusion 195.
[0112] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a cyclone barreled hair
dryer of an aspect of FIG. 8 taken along the line D-D.
[0113] Referring to the drawing in particular, second blast barrel
150 is held in abutment against the underside of first blast barrel
140, and the helical cyclone groove 190 is depicted in longitudinal
cross section with heater 160 comprised of heating element 162 and
insulating element 164 fixed in place under second blast barrel
150.
[0114] Then, cyclone groove 190 leads the wind to be discharged in
the swirling fashion of cyclone.
[0115] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a cyclone barreled hair
dryer of another aspect of FIG. 8 taken along the line D-D.
[0116] Referring to the drawing in particular, second blast barrel
150 is held in abutment against the underside of first blast barrel
140, and the helical cyclone protrusion 195 is depicted in
longitudinal cross section with heater 160 comprised of heating
element 162 and insulating element 164 fixed in place under second
blast barrel 150.
[0117] Then, cyclone protrusion 195 leads the wind to be discharged
in the revolving fashion of cyclone.
[0118] Here, the helical cyclone groove 190 or cyclone protrusion
195 are in a selected one of a circular shape and other polygonal
shapes. In addition, a single hair dryer may choose to incorporate
both the helical cyclone groove 190 and cyclone protrusion 195 in
optional superimposed or adjoining posture with a predetermined
space maintained between adjacent pairs of cyclone groove 190 and
cyclone protrusion 195. Moreover, a selected number of cyclone
grooves 190 and cyclone protrusions 195 may be provided, though it
is preferable to bring an optimal number of them through
experiments, and they may be formed extending throughout or by
discontinuous sections or into a predetermined length of a singular
section.
[0119] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a double helical structure
of another aspect of the cyclone barreled hair dryer of FIG. 2, and
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a triple helical structure of yet
another aspect of the cyclone barreled hair dryer of FIG. 2.
[0120] To further detail referring to the drawing, FIG. 15 suggests
that helical grooves and/or protrusions are provided in, for
example, pairs extending in either left-hand or right-hand rotation
on the interior circumferences of the barrels of the hair dryer by
depicting such internal profiles as seen externally, and FIG. 16
superficially illustrates the helical grooves and/or protrusions in
triplets. Then, the functions by these interior structures are same
as described above referring to FIG. 2.
[0121] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a double helical structure
of another aspect of the cyclone barreled hair dryer of FIG. 8,
while FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a triple helical structure
of yet another aspect of the cyclone barreled hair dryer of FIG.
8.
[0122] To further detail referring to the drawing, FIG. 17 suggests
that helical grooves and/or protrusions are provided in, for
example, pairs extending in either left-hand or right-hand rotation
on the interior circumferences of the barrels of the hair dryer
under its smooth and sleek exterior surfaces, and FIG. 16
superficially illustrates the helical grooves and/or protrusions in
triplets. Then, the functions by these interior structures are same
as described above referring to FIG. 8.
[0123] In the above, although the description details the
particular aspects as stated besides various other possible
modifications and changes, such changes are obvious for a person
skilled in the art to constitute the claims herein enclosed.
* * * * *