U.S. patent application number 15/689693 was filed with the patent office on 2018-03-01 for 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, Nathan Haruna Waters IMHASLY, Brian MCVEIGH, Christopher Ashley MONK, Daniel John THOMPSON.
Application Number | 20180055184 15/689693 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57119765 |
Filed Date | 2018-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180055184 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MCVEIGH; Brian ; et
al. |
March 1, 2018 |
HANDHELD APPLIANCE
Abstract
A handheld appliance having a body and an attachment, the body
including an outer tube and fluid flow path extending from a fluid
inlet to a fluid outlet within the outer tube and a printed circuit
board (PCB) arranged within the fluid flow path wherein, the PCB is
housed within a housing. The body may further include an inner wall
and the inner wall provides the housing for the PCB and the fluid
flow path may extend around the housing. The housing may be
generally rectangular and may extend across an internal radius of
the outer tube. The fluid flow path may extend around both sides of
the housing. The housing may include a heat sink which may be in
contact with the fluid flow path on one side and with components on
the PCB on the other side.
Inventors: |
MCVEIGH; Brian; (Bristol,
GB) ; MONK; Christopher Ashley; (Bristol, GB)
; IMHASLY; Nathan Haruna Waters; (Bath, GB) ;
COULTON; Robert Mark Brett; (Bristol, GB) ; THOMPSON;
Daniel John; (Bristol, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dyson Technology Limited |
Wiltshire |
|
GB |
|
|
Assignee: |
Dyson Technology Limited
Wiltshire
GB
|
Family ID: |
57119765 |
Appl. No.: |
15/689693 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 6/20 20130101; A45D
20/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 6/20 20060101
A45D006/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 30, 2016 |
GB |
1614661.5 |
Claims
1. A handheld appliance comprising a body and an attachment, the
body comprising an outer tube and a fluid flow path extending from
a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet within the outer tube and a printed
circuit board (PCB) arranged within the fluid flow path, wherein
the PCB is housed within a housing.
2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises an
inner wall and the inner wall provides the housing for the PCB.
3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow path extends
around the housing.
4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the housing is rectangular and
extends across an internal radius of the outer tube.
5. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the fluid flow path extends
around both sides of the housing.
6. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a heat
sink.
7. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the heat sink is in contact
with the fluid flow path on one side and with components on the PCB
on the other side.
8. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the heat sink comprises a
metal sheet.
9. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the metal sheet is sealed with
respect to the housing.
10. The appliance of claim 1, wherein an upstream end of the
housing connects to an electrical connector in the body.
11. The appliance of claim 1, wherein a downstream end of the
housing curves round an end of the PCB.
12. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow path is split
by the housing into a first and a second fluid flow path.
13. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the first and the second
fluid flow paths unite at a downstream end of the housing.
14. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the housing is formed in two
parts.
15. The appliance of claim 14, wherein the housing forms part of an
inner wall and the inner wall is formed in two parts.
16. The appliance of claim 15, wherein the inner wall additionally
houses a fan unit.
17. The appliance of claim 16, wherein around the PCB the inner
wall is rectangular and around the fan unit the inner wall is
circular.
18. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the housing forms part of an
inner wall and the fluid flow path extends between the inner wall
and the outer tube around the housing.
19. The appliance of claim 18, wherein a part of the inner wall
forms a second housing for a fan unit, and wherein at the second
housing the fluid flow path extends within the inner wall.
20. The appliance of claim 18, wherein a part of the inner wall
forms a third housing for a heater wherein at the third housing the
fluid flow path extends within the inner wall.
21. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a hair care
appliance.
22. The appliance of claim 21, wherein the hair care appliance is a
hot styling appliance.
23. A handheld appliance comprising a body and an attachment, the
body comprising an outer tube and a fluid flow path extending from
a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet within the outer tube and an inner
wall extending within the outer tube, wherein a part of the inner
wall forms a housing for a PCB, and wherein at the housing the
fluid flow path extends between the outer tube and the inner
wall.
24. The appliance of claim 19, wherein a part of the inner wall
forms a second housing for a fan unit, and wherein at the second
housing the fluid flow path extends within the inner wall.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority of United Kingdom
Application No. 1614661.5, filed Aug. 30, 2016, the entire contents
of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a handheld appliance and in
particular to a hair care appliance such as a hot styling
device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In a conventional hot styling appliance, air is drawn into
an inlet by a fan unit and directed towards the hair by an outlet.
Often, one appliance is provided with different attachments, each
having a different outlet and thus a different function, for
example drying, curling or volumising. Depending on the style
desired, the air may or may not be heated. The attachment may
include bristles onto which hair is wrapped and held for
styling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to one aspect, the invention provides a handheld
appliance having a body and an attachment, the body comprising an
outer tube and fluid flow path extending from a fluid inlet to a
fluid outlet within the outer tube and a printed circuit board
(PCB) arranged within the fluid flow path wherein, the PCB is
housed within a housing.
[0005] Preferably, the body further comprises an inner wall and the
inner wall provides the housing for the PCB.
[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the fluid flow path extends
around the housing.
[0007] Preferably, the housing is generally rectangular and extends
across an internal radius of the outer tube.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the fluid flow path extends
around both sides of the housing.
[0009] Preferably, the housing includes a heat sink.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the heat sink is in contact with
the fluid flow path on one side and with components on the PCB on
the other side.
[0011] Preferably, the heat sink comprises a metal sheet.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the metal sheet is sealed with
respect to the housing.
[0013] Preferably, an upstream end of the housing connects to an
electrical connector in the body.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, a downstream end of the housing
curves round an end of the PCB.
[0015] Preferably, the fluid flow path is split by the housing into
a first and a second fluid flow path.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, at the downstream end of the
housing the first and the second fluid flow paths are united.
[0017] Preferably, the housing is formed in two parts.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the housing forms part of an
inner wall and the inner wall is formed in two parts.
[0019] Preferably, the inner wall additionally houses a fan
unit.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment, around the PCB the inner wall is
generally rectangular and around the fan unit the inner wall is
generally circular in shape.
[0021] Preferably, the housing forms part of an inner wall and the
fluid flow path extends between the inner wall and the outer tube
around the housing.
[0022] According to a second aspect, the invention provides a
handheld appliance having a body and an attachment, the body
comprising an outer tube and fluid flow path extending from a fluid
inlet to a fluid outlet within the outer tube and an inner wall
extending within the outer tube wherein a part of the inner wall
forms a housing for a PCB and wherein at the housing the fluid flow
path extends between the outer tube and the inner wall.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment, a part of the inner wall forms a
second housing for a fan unit wherein at the second housing the
fluid flow path extends within the inner wall.
[0024] Preferably, a part of the inner wall forms a third housing
for a heater wherein at the third housing the fluid flow path
extends within the inner wall.
[0025] Preferably, the appliance is a hair care appliance.
[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the hair care appliance is a hot
styling appliance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] The invention will now be described by way of example, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
[0028] FIG. 1 shows an appliance on which an attachment mechanism
according to aspects of the invention can be utilised;
[0029] FIG. 2 shows a cross section through part of an appliance
according to aspects of the invention;
[0030] FIG. 3 shows a cross section through an inner wall according
to aspects of the invention;
[0031] FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of a housing according to
aspects of the invention; and
[0032] FIG. 5 shows a different isometric view of a housing
according to aspects of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, an example of a hand held appliance 10
is shown. The appliance has a handle 210 and an attachment 20 for
styling hair. In order to enable a user to create different styles
and to give the appliance multi functionality, the attachment 20 is
removable and can be replaced with an alternative attachment. In
addition, the attachment 20 can be removed to allow easier storage
of the appliance when not in use.
[0034] The handle 210 includes a number of different user operated
buttons 38, 138 enabling the user to select between a number of
different heat and flow settings. The handle 210 is formed from an
outer tube 200 and includes a PCB 90, a fan unit 70 which includes
a fan and a motor, a heater 80 (both shown schematically) and an
inner wall 220. In use the fan unit 70 draws fluid in through a
fluid inlet 212, the fluid passes the PCB 90, is drawn through the
fan unit 70 and through the heater 80 which optionally heats the
fluid which is then emitted by the fluid outlet 22 in the
attachment 20. The fluid inlet 212 is the upstream end of the fluid
flow path.
[0035] The inner wall 220 provides a structure into which the
components within the handle 210 can be placed. This eases
manufacture and reduces product variation. In particular, the inner
wall 220 conveniently provides a housing 222 for the PCB 90. This
is not essential as the housing could be a separate part to the
inner wall but convenient as it reduces the number of parts.
[0036] The PCB 90 is a printed circuit board onto which electronic
components are mounted. During use of the appliance, certain of
these components can heat up and require cooling. Whilst it is
possible to place the PCB in direct contact with the fluid flow
path this increases turbulence in the flow through the appliance
and increases noise so the housing 222 is provided with a heat sink
224. The heat sink 224 can be any material that conducts heat in
this embodiment, it is a metal sheet. A rubber gasket or seal
extends between the heat sink 224 and the housing 222
[0037] The housing 222 is generally rectangular and in this
embodiment, the width W of the housing corresponds to the internal
radius of the outer tube 200 and the housing 222 is disposed along
a longitudinal axis Y-Y of the handle 210. Fluid entering the fluid
flow path 50 at the fluid inlet 212 can pass either side of the PCB
90 within the housing 222. The fluid flow path 50 extends between
the inner wall 220 and the outer wall 200 at this position within
the fluid flow path 50.
[0038] The outer tube 200 is supported by the housing 222 in one
direction and to provide support at 90.degree. to this a pair of
support fins 226 is provided extending from the housing 222 to the
outer tube 210.
[0039] Conveniently, the housing 222 and the inner wall 220 are
formed from two parts enabling the PCB 90 to be placed in one part
of the housing 222a before the other part of the housing 222b is
attached.
[0040] At the upstream end 90a of the PCB 90, the housing connects
to an electrical connector 100 (shown schematically). The
electrical connector 100 connects wiring in the appliance via a
power cord 102 to a mains electricity supply. Conveniently, the
electrical connector is housed within the inner wall 220 in a
connector housing 104 connected to the upstream end 22 of the
housing 222.
[0041] At the downstream end 90b of the PCB 90, the two parts of
the housing 222a, 222b curve towards each other and the centre
until they meet at a junction 228. Ideally along the whole length
of the housing 222 the surface presented to the fluid flow path 50
is smooth and without angular transitions so as to disturb the flow
as little as possible.
[0042] The next component in the fluid flow path 50 is the fan unit
70 followed by the heater 80. In order for these components to work
effectively, the fluid flow path 50 must pass through them. So,
downstream of the housing, the inner wall 220 extends from radially
opposite sides 30, 32 of the housing 222 to become a circular wall
24 which houses the fan unit 70 and the heater 80. At this point,
the fluid flow path 50 extends within the inner wall 220 and
becomes a single circular flow rather than the two approximate
semicircles formed around the housing 222 of the PCB 90. The inner
wall 220 can be considered to include a fan unit housing 72 and a
heater housing 82.
[0043] The invention has been described in detail with respect to a
hot styling device however, it is applicable to any appliance that
draws in a fluid and directs the outflow of that fluid from the
appliance.
[0044] The appliance can be used with or without a heater; the
action of the outflow of fluid at high velocity has a drying
effect.
[0045] The fluid that flows through the appliance is generally air,
but may be a different combination of gases or gas and can include
additives to improve performance of the appliance or the impact the
appliance has on an object the output is directed at for example,
hair and the styling of that hair.
[0046] The invention is not limited to the detailed description
given above. Variations will be apparent to the person skilled in
the art.
* * * * *