U.S. patent application number 15/468740 was filed with the patent office on 2017-09-28 for attachment for a handheld appliance.
This patent application is currently assigned to Dyson Technology Limited. The applicant listed for this patent is Dyson Technology Limited. Invention is credited to Robert Mark Brett COULTON, Stephen Benjamin COURTNEY, Jonathan James Harvey HEFFER, Daniel John THOMPSON.
Application Number | 20170273426 15/468740 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56027333 |
Filed Date | 2017-09-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170273426 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
THOMPSON; Daniel John ; et
al. |
September 28, 2017 |
ATTACHMENT FOR A HANDHELD APPLIANCE
Abstract
An attachment including an air inlet for receiving airflow from
a hair styling apparatus, an air outlet, a duct for conveying air
from the air inlet to the air outlet, wherein the air inlet is
located at one end of the duct, and the air outlet extends along
the length of the duct and the cross-sectional area of the duct
decreases in size from the air inlet along the length of the air
outlet.
Inventors: |
THOMPSON; Daniel John;
(Bristol, GB) ; COULTON; Robert Mark Brett;
(Bristol, GB) ; COURTNEY; Stephen Benjamin; (Bath,
GB) ; HEFFER; Jonathan James Harvey; (Swindon,
GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dyson Technology Limited |
Wiltshire |
|
GB |
|
|
Assignee: |
Dyson Technology Limited
Wiltshire
GB
|
Family ID: |
56027333 |
Appl. No.: |
15/468740 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 20/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 20/12 20060101
A45D020/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 24, 2016 |
GB |
1605022.1 |
Claims
1. An attachment for a hair styling apparatus comprising: an air
inlet for receiving airflow from a hair styling apparatus; an air
outlet; a duct for conveying air from the air inlet to the air
outlet; wherein the air inlet is located at one end of the duct,
and the air outlet extends along the length of the duct; and the
cross-sectional area of the duct decreases in size from the air
inlet along the length of the air outlet.
2. The attachment of claim 1, wherein a cool wall surrounds the
duct between the air inlet and the air outlet.
3. The attachment of claim 1, wherein a spacing is maintained
between the duct and the cool wall.
4. The attachment of claim 3, wherein the spacing between the air
outlet of the duct and a top opening of the coolwall is
substantially constant.
5. The attachment of claim 3, wherein the spacing has a dimension
which is in the range of 1.5 to 5.5 mm.
6. The attachment of claim 1, comprising at least one rib extending
between the duct and the cool wall.
7. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the air inlet is circular and
the air outlet is an elongate rectangular shape.
8. The attachment of claim 2, wherein the air outlet of the duct
protrudes beyond the end of the cool wall.
9. The attachment of claim 1, comprising a contoured duct wall
extending between the air inlet and the air outlet.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority of United Kingdom
Application No. 1605022.1, filed Mar. 24, 2016, the entire contents
of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an attachment for a
handheld appliance, in particular a hair care appliance such as a
hot air styling device or hair dryer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In a conventional hot air styling device, air is drawn into
an inlet by a fan unit and directed towards the hair by an
attachment or head. Depending on the style desired, the airflow may
or may not be heated. Removable attachments are attached to the
airflow outlet end of the hot air styling device or hairdryer, and
serve to modify the velocity and form of the airflow emitted from
the hot air styling device before it is incident upon the hair of
the user.
[0004] A concentrator is a known attachment which focuses and
flattens the emitted airflow. Another known attachment is a
diffuser which reduces the velocity of the emitted airflow. Heated
airflow through an attachment may cause an outer surface of the
attachment to become uncomfortably hot to touch. It is desirable to
mitigate excessive heat on the outer surface whilst not impeding
the drying and styling function of the attachment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an
attachment for a hair styling apparatus, the attachment comprising
an air inlet for receiving airflow from a hair styling apparatus;
an air outlet; a duct for conveying air from the air inlet to the
air outlet; wherein the air inlet is located at one end of the
duct, and the air outlet extends along the length of the duct; and
the cross-sectional area of the duct decreases in size from the air
inlet along the length of the air outlet. Advantage is found in
such gradual reduction of the cross-sectional area of the duct
towards the distal end of the attachment, because this creates a
greater consistency of pressure throughout the duct.
[0006] Advantageously, the attachment functions as a rough drying
tool and the emitted airflow is uniform in temperature and velocity
across the width and length of the air outlet.
[0007] A cool wall preferably surrounds the duct between the air
inlet and the air outlet. Advantage the cool wall minimizes the
surface touch temperature of the attachment in use.
[0008] A spacing is preferably maintained between the duct and the
cool wall. Preferably, the spacing between the air outlet of the
duct and a top opening of the coolwall is substantially constant.
The spacing preferably has a dimension which is in the range of 1.5
to 5.5 mm.
[0009] Preferably, the attachment comprises at least one rib
extending between the duct and the cool wall. Such ribs are
provided on the external surface of the duct and function to
maintain a substantially constant spacing between the duct and the
coolwall.
[0010] It is preferred that the air inlet is circular and the air
outlet is a generally elongate rectangle shape. Preferably, the air
outlet of the duct protrudes beyond the end of the cool wall. The
attachment preferably comprises a contoured duct wall extending
between the air inlet and the air outlet.
[0011] In a second aspect, the present invention provides an
attachment for a hair styling apparatus comprising a duct having an
air inlet for receiving an airflow from a hair styling apparatus;
and at least one vane located within the duct for directing the
airflow towards an air outlet; and the air outlet is elongate in
shape and orientated generally parallel to the direction of airflow
at the air inlet.
[0012] Advantage is found in utilizing one or more vanes within the
duct in order to direct the inlet airflow smoothly towards the air
outlet. The at least one vane is preferably connected to the duct.
Preferably, the at least one vane is connected to a wall of the
duct. The airflow exiting the attachment is straight, even flow
with an outlet airflow velocity lower than the inlet airflow
velocity.
[0013] It is preferred that the at least one vane has an
aerofoil-shaped cross-section.
[0014] In one preferred embodiment, the at least one vane is an
unbroken vane.
[0015] In a further preferred embodiment, the at least one vane is
a split vane having a minor section and a major section.
Preferably, the major section is positioned generally perpendicular
to the air outlet. The minor section is preferably positioned
between the major section and the air inlet. Advantage is found in
utilizing a split vane within the duct in order to ensure enhanced
attachment of incident airflow to the vanes and minimized
turbulence.
[0016] In a further preferred embodiment, the attachment comprises
two or more vanes. Preferably, a first vane is in closest proximity
to the air inlet and the first vane is an unbroken vane.
Furthermore, the embodiment preferably comprises at least one split
vane and at least one unbroken vane.
[0017] In another embodiment, the attachment preferably comprises
five vanes fixed within the duct.
[0018] It is preferred that each vane extends across the duct from
a first duct wall to a second duct wall, and preferably the first
duct wall and the second duct wall are at opposing sides of the
elongate air outlet. Advantageously, the vanes function to guide
the inlet airflow through approximately 90 degrees to the airflow
outlet. The vanes may also be referred to a "baffles".
[0019] Advantageously, the attachment minimizes turbulent airflow
within the attachment and consequently the audible volume of the
hot air styling device with attachment is minimized in use.
[0020] Features described above in connection with the first aspect
of the invention are equally applicable to the second aspect of the
invention, and vice versa.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] Preferred features of the present invention will now be
described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an attachment, according to
an aspect of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the attachment;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a side view of the attachment;
[0025] FIG. 4 is an end view of the attachment;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a top view of the attachment;
[0027] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in
FIG. 5;
[0028] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in
FIG. 5;
[0029] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in
FIG. 5;
[0030] FIG. 9 is a side view of an example of a hot air styling
device to which an attachment may be connected.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5 are external views of an attachment 10.
The attachment 10 comprises an air inlet 12 for receiving an
airflow from an air outlet end of a hot air styling device or
similar apparatus. The air inlet 12 is generally circular in shape,
to enable an air-tight connection with a generally annular air
outlet end of the hot air styling device.
[0032] The air inlet 12 is in fluid communication with a duct 16.
The duct 16 has an air outlet 18, which in this example is elongate
in shape. A external surface of the attachment 10 is in the form of
a cool wall 14 extending partially about the duct 16. The air
outlet 18 extends beyond a top opening 20 of the cool wall 14.
[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates the three components of the attachment,
and the internal features thereof.
[0034] A first component 21 defines a first half of the duct 16 and
has a plurality of vanes 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 integrally moulded. A
second component 28 defines a second half of the duct 16 and has
the air inlet 12 integrally moulded. The first component 21 and the
second component 28 are joined together to form the duct 16. During
assembly, these components may be joined together in a snap-fit
connection or by gluing or welding. A third component 29 is cool
wall 14 which, during assembly, is then slid over the duct 16.
Several structural ribs 30 are positioned on the outer surface of
the duct 16. These ribs 30 function to maintain a substantially
constant spacing between the inner surface of the cool wall 14 and
the outer surface of the duct 16. The ribs 30 are fused to the
inner surface of the cool wall 14 by, for example, ultrasonic
welding. Such a fused structure also functions to add rigidity to
the cool wall 14. Also illustrated in FIG. 2, is an assembly clip
32 which aids positioning of the cool wall 14 in relation to the
duct 16 during assembly of the components.
[0035] A preferred embodiment of the attachment 10 illustrated in
FIG. 2 has a series of four split vanes 22, 23, 24, 25 and one
unbroken vane 26 positioned within the duct 16. The major section
22a, 23a, 24a, 25a of each split vane is positioned in proximity to
the air outlet 18 and the minor section 22b, 23b, 24b, 25b of each
split vane is positioned towards a rounded wall of the duct 16. The
unbroken vane 26 is located closest to the air inlet 12.
[0036] In FIG. 3, regularly spaced protrusions 34 on the annular
air inlet 12 enable a click-fit connection to an air outlet end of
a hot air styling device. Alternative connection options will be
apparent to the skilled person, such as screw-fit or push-fit
arrangements.
[0037] An end face 36 of the cool wall 14, as shown in FIG. 4, has
contour edges within the general profile of the end face 36, as
indicated by finer lines in the figure.
[0038] With particular reference to FIG. 5, the air outlet 18 of
the duct 16 is in the form of a slot with a squared form at the
upstream end and a rounded form at the downstream end. The elongate
top opening 20 of the cool wall 14 has a larger area than the air
outlet 18 and a spacing 27 of a constant distance is maintained
between the air outlet 18 and the top opening 20, along the
longitudinal dimension of the attachment 10. In a preferred
embodiment, the dimensions of the air outlet 18 are 80 mm in length
and 4 mm in width and the width of the spacing 27 between the air
outlet 18 and top opening 20 may be 1.5 mm-5.5 mm. It is also shown
in FIG. 5 that the vanes 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 within the duct 16 are
visible when the attachment 10 is assembled. The vanes 22, 23, 24,
25, 26 are positioned approximately 5mm from the edge of air outlet
18 in order to avoid splitting of the airflow.
[0039] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view which shows a gradually
reducing height of the duct 16 towards a distal end of the
attachment 10. Consequently, and with reference to FIG. 2, the
cross-sectional area of the duct 16 decreases, or tapers, gradually
towards the distal end of the attachment 10. The cross-sectional
area of the cool wall 14 does not vary in size along its length
towards the distal end of the attachment 10, and so the spacing 27
between the duct 16 and the cool wall 14 gradually increases in
cross-sectional area towards the distal end of the attachment 10.
At the upstream end of the duct 16, a contoured wall 38 extends
between the air inlet 12 and air outlet 18.
[0040] A preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 shows an
attachment 10 comprising five vanes 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. The
unbroken vane 26 is in closest proximity to the airflow inlet end
of the duct 16 and has an aerofoil form. The orientation of the
unbroken vane 26 is aligned closely to the natural airflow
direction, and a downstream end terminates normal to the air outlet
18.
[0041] The four further vanes 22, 23, 24, 25 are split vanes, each
comprising a major section 22a, 23a, 24a, 25a and a minor section
22b, 23b, 24b, 25b. Each vane 22, 23, 24, 25 has slightly differing
dimensions and proportions. In a preferred embodiment illustrated
in FIG. 6, there is a distance of approximately 1.5 mm between the
major section 22a, 23a, 24a, 25a and the minor section 22b, 23b,
24b, 25b of each split vane 22, 23, 24, 25. A longitudinal axis of
each minor section 22b, 23b, 24b, 25b is approximately
10.degree.-15.degree. to the inlet airflow direction and the
rounded aerofoil end of each minor section 22b, 23b, 24b, 25b has a
diameter of approximately 3 mm. A downstream end of the major
section 22a, 23a, 24a, 25a of each split vane 22, 23, 24, 25 is a
narrow tail which terminates normal to, and in close proximity to,
the air outlet 18. The downstream ends of the major section 22a,
23a, 24a, 25a of each split vane 22, 23, 24, 25 are positioned at
approximately regular intervals of 14 mm-15 mm.
[0042] In use, the attachment 10 is attached to the airflow outlet
end of a hot air hair styling device. The airflow passes through
the air inlet 12 of the attachment to enter the duct 16. The
airflow is guided by the vanes 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 towards the air
outlet 18 where the airflow is emitted from the attachment 10.
[0043] At the upstream end of the duct 16, the contoured wall 38
functions to direct the airflow towards the air outlet 18 with a
minimum of turbulence and low velocity flow. The airflow velocity
of the airflow proximal to the airflow inlet 12 is adequate to
ensure a required level of attachment of the airflow to the
unbroken vane 26. Split vanes 22, 23, 24, 25 function to improve
attachment of the airflow to the vane as the incident airflow
velocity is reduced. The airflow exiting the attachment 10 is
straight, even flow with an outlet airflow velocity lower than the
inlet airflow velocity. Furthermore, the outlet airflow has a
relatively slow velocity decay and leaves the duct 16 uniformly at
right-angles to the direction of the incident airflow into the
attachment 10. In an exemplary embodiment, the velocity of the
airflow exiting the duct 16 is around 30 m/s-35 m/s.
[0044] The cross-sectional area of the duct 16 tapers gradually
towards the distal end of the attachment 10. The function of this
reduction in cross-sectional area is to ensure a constant pressure
of airflow exiting the attachment along the entire length of the
air outlet 18 and to prevent turbulent flow. Specifically, the
reduction in cross-sectional area is proportional to falling mass
flow rate of the airflow within the duct 16. The mass flow falls as
airflow exits the duct 16 via the air outlet 18 from the upstream
end of the attachment 10 to the downstream end of the attachment
10. Consequently, the reduction in cross-sectional area of the duct
16 results in a constant outlet airflow velocity along the length
of the air outlet 18. It is also observed that attachment of
airflow to vanes 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 is improved as a consequence of
the reduction in cross-sectional area of the duct 16.
[0045] The inlet airflow may be heated before entering the
attachment 10 and consequently the duct 16 may become hot during
use. The cool wall 14 functions to minimize the temperature of the
outermost surface of the attachment 10, as the air-filled spacing
27 insulates the cool wall 14 from the duct 16.
[0046] Alternative embodiments of the attachment may comprise
different arrangements of vanes. For example, more than five vanes
or fewer than five vanes may be used, and unbroken vanes and split
vanes may be present in any combination. In a preferred alternative
embodiment, a first vane at the airflow inlet end of the duct is a
split vane and four further downstream vanes are unbroken. In a
further preferred alternative embodiment, all vanes are
unbroken.
[0047] Advantageously, turbulent airflow is minimized within the
attachment and consequently the audible volume of the hot air
styling device with attachment is minimized in use.
[0048] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of
FIG. 5 which is approximately at the distal end of the attachment
10. The cross-sectional area of the duct 16 is at a minimum in FIG.
7. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 5
which is approximately at the upstream end of the attachment 10.
The cross-sectional area of the duct 16 is at a maximum in FIG. 8.
With reference also to FIG. 6, the cross-sectional area of the duct
tapers gradually between the minimum cross-section at the distal
end and the maximum cross-section at the upstream end. It is also
apparent in FIGS. 7 and 8, that the cross-sectional dimensions of
the cool wall 14 are constant between the upstream end and the
distal end of the attachment. Several vanes 22, 23, 24, 25,26 are
also visible in this view and it is apparent that each vane extends
transversely from side to side of the duct 16 forming an airtight
join with the sides of the duct 16.
[0049] The attachment 10 may be fabricated from any suitable heat
resistant material, and in a preferred embodiment, is fabricated
from glass-filled nylon. The highest preferred operating
temperature of such an attachment 10 connected to a hot air styling
device is approximately 130 degrees centigrade.
[0050] In an alternative embodiment, it may be desirable to produce
a reduced exit airflow velocity from an attachment 10 whilst
utilizing a similar hot air styling device to provide the input
airflow. This may be achieved by increasing the overall dimensions
of the attachment 10. For example, each of the overall length,
height and width of the attachment may be 10 mm greater, and the
width of the air outlet may be increased to 8 mm.
[0051] FIG. 9 shows an example of a hot air styling device 38 to
which the attachment 10 may be connected. The hot air styling
device 38 comprises a generally tubular handle 40 having an air
inlet 42 and an air outlet 44 at opposing ends. At the air inlet
42, an array of apertures 46 extend around and partially along the
handle 40. A fan unit (not shown) is housed within the handle and
comprises a fan and a motor. In use, the motor drives the fan and
air is drawn in through the air inlet 42, along an air flow path
which extends through the length of the handle 40. The air is
optionally heated by a heater (not shown) before exiting the hot
air styling device 38 at the air outlet 44.
[0052] The invention is not limited to the detailed description
given above. Variations will be apparent to the person skilled in
the art.
* * * * *