U.S. patent number 3,612,069 [Application Number 05/002,735] was granted by the patent office on 1971-10-12 for hair drying and treating appliance.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sunbeam Corporation. Invention is credited to William H. Scott, Robert S. Waters.
United States Patent |
3,612,069 |
Waters , et al. |
October 12, 1971 |
HAIR DRYING AND TREATING APPLIANCE
Abstract
A hair dryer of the type having a base which supports a rigid
head receiving helmet. Means are provided in the base to supply
alternatively either hot air or steam which is discharged into the
interior of the helmet through perforations in the inner wall of
the helmet. The motor driven blower for supplying the hot air and
the steam generator are mounted within the base housing on a
transversely extending metal supporting wall. Control means for the
appliance permits selective alternative energization of either the
steam generating means or the motor driven blower and the air
heater. Simplified measuring and valving means are provided to
control the insertion of measured amounts of water into the steam
generator.
Inventors: |
Waters; Robert S. (Oak Brook,
IL), Scott; William H. (Lombard, IL) |
Assignee: |
Sunbeam Corporation (Chicago,
IL)
|
Family
ID: |
21702236 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/002,735 |
Filed: |
January 14, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/212; 34/99;
392/383; 392/405 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D
20/44 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A45D
20/00 (20060101); A45D 20/44 (20060101); A45d
020/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;132/9,5,7 ;34/96,97,92
;128/254 ;219/364 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mancene; Louis G.
Assistant Examiner: McNeill; Gregory E.
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent
of the United States is:
1. A hair drying and setting appliance comprising upper and lower
plastic housing members assembled together to form a flat generally
circular base housing enclosing a motor driven blower and a steam
generator, a metal partition extending horizontally across within
said housing to divide said housing into an upper motor chamber and
a lower fan chamber, said generator being supported on said
partition in said upper chamber and being spaced from said housing
members, an air discharge passageway extending upwardly from said
lower chamber through said upper chamber to an air conduit
extending from the top of said housing, said air conduit supporting
at its upper end a hair drying helmet which is positioned to
receive a head having hair to be dried or treated with steam, said
helmet having an air manifold connected to said air conduit and
discharge openings to discharge air or steam into said hair, said
passageway being formed by vertical walls formed integrally with
said upper housing member, a discharge conduit on said generator
projecting through an opening in said vertical wall into said
passageway, and a rubber wall member positioned around said conduit
in sealed engagement therewith and engaging said wall around said
opening to seal said opening.
2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said generator comprises a
cast metal enclosure having spaced bottom and top walls with a
sheathed heating element cast integrally with said bottom wall,
supporting projections of small cross-sectional area extending from
said bottom wall into supporting engagement with said partition to
reduce heat transfer between said generator and said partition.
3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said generator is formed with
a water inlet in said top wall, a water reservoir formed by an
upwardly facing recess in said upper housing member, a valve
controlled opening at the bottom of said recess, said inlet being
spaced below said valve controlled opening, and conduit means
extending between said valve controlled opening and said water
inlet to permit water to be discharged from said recess into said
generator.
4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said upper housing member is
formed with a valve passage within which a valve control member is
mounted for vertical reciprocating movement, a valve seat formed at
the lower end of said passageway, means biasing said control member
upwardly, a valve closure at the lower end of said member biased
into sealing engagement with said valve seat, said recess
communicating with said passage through an opening above said valve
seat, and a manually operable actuator on the upper end of said
control member.
5. The combination of claim 2 including thermostatic control means
connected in series with said heating element to deenergize said
element when said generator heats up substantially above the normal
operating temperature while generating steam, said thermostatic
switch comprising a unitary switch which is clamped between said
bottom wall of said enclosure and said partition.
6. In a hair dryer of the type having a rigid helmet supported on a
base by a combined support and air conduit, the improvement
comprising a base housing within which a motor driven blower and a
steam generator are mounted, said generator having a closed boiler
heated by a sheathed electrical heating element cast integrally
with the bottom wall of said boiler, said generator having a valve
controlled water inlet and an open discharge which extends into the
air passage from said blower, a water receiving recess formed in
the upper surface of said base housing, a drain opening in the
bottom of said recess, valve and conduit means for controlling the
flow of water from said drain opening in said recess to said steam
generator inlet, said valve means including a normally closed valve
having a manual actuator to cause water to flow from said recess to
said generator.
7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said valve means includes a
slidably mounted valve control member supported in the upper wall
of said housing and having a pushbutton actuator at its upper end
and a closure member at its lower end, said closure member being
spring biased into sealing engagement with a valve opening formed
in said housing wall and communicating with said drain opening.
8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said boiler is a cast metal
enclosure and includes spaced top and bottom walls which extend
horizontally, said sheathed heating element being cast into said
bottom wall and having parallel terminal ends extending from said
bottom wall, the parallel ends of said element being closely spaced
and the interconnecting portion of said element being generally
circular in shape, said circular shape being substantially greater
in diameter than the space between said ends.
9. The combination of claim 6 wherein said boiler is a cast metal
enclosure and includes spaced top and bottom walls which extend
horizontally, said sheathed heating element being cast into said
bottom wall, the interior of said enclosure including a fillet
extending upwardly from the bottom wall into the sidewall of the
enclosure in surrounding said element, said element having spaced
parallel end portions which extend outwardly from said boiler.
10. A combined steaming and drying hair treating appliance
comprising means for delivering heated air to the head through a
conduit and a double walled helmet having a perforated inner wall,
a base enclosing steam generating means and a motor driven blower
having means for heating the air circulated by said blower, wall
means in said base for directing air from said blower and heater to
said conduit, control means for selectively connecting said steam
generating means or said motor and heater in circuit with a source
of electrical power, means for delivering measured amounts of water
into said steam generating means whereby steam is generated for a
period corresponding to the measured amount of water, a
thermostatically controlled signalling means responsive to the
temperature of said steam generating means to provide a signal
after the water and steam has been dissipated from said generating
means, conduit and helmet.
11. The appliance of claim 10 wherein said signalling means
includes a light in said control means connected in circuit with a
temperature responsive switch on said steam generating means, said
control means includes a manually operable switch having plural
positions in which either said steam generating means or said motor
and heater are energized.
12. The appliance of claim 10 wherein said signalling means
includes a light connected in parallel with the heating element of
said steam generating means and said temperature responsive switch
on said steam generating means connected in series with said
heating element.
13. The combination of claim 10 wherein said steam generating means
comprises a cast metal boiler having a heating element cast
integrally in the bottom wall thereof, a laterally extending
discharge on said boiler extending through said wall means to
discharge steam into said conduit, said means for delivering
measured amounts of water including a normally closed check valve
in the top of said boiler, said valve having an opening in the
bottom of an open water reservoir, and indicia on the side of said
reservoir to permit measuring the amount of water placed therein.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many appliances have been developed in recent years to facilitate
the care and treatment of women's hair in the home rather than in
the beauty parlor. These home appliances have differed considerably
from the professional equipment found in the beauty parlor for
reasons of cost and space requirements. The individual housewife is
not willing to invest many hundreds of dollars in a hair dryer or
hair treating appliance which is only used occasionally. In
addition, the professional equipment of the type used in beauty
parlors is very bulky and would normally be inconvenient to use or
store in the normal home. As a consequence of the inadequacies of
the professional hair dryers, small, compact hair dryers have been
developed for use by women in the home. Exemplary of one such type
of hair dryer is the so-called hard hat hair dryer, having a base
enclosing a motor driven blower and heater which discharges heated
air upwardly through a support conduit into a rigid helmet of
suitable size to receive a woman's head with her hair styled in
rollers or the like. This helmet is made with a double walled
construction so that the heated air can be circulated to all parts
of the helmet and discharged inwardly toward the head through
perforations in the inner wall of the helmet. Hair dryers of this
type have been popular since they are relatively low in cost and
operate almost as effectively as the professional units found in
beauty parlors. In addition, such hair dryers are designed so that
they may be folded up into a very compact shape for storage
purposes.
It has been found that in the normal grooming of their hair, women
desire to set their hair several times each week while they are not
interested in washing it that often. Although there are various
commercial solutions available to set the hair on these occasions
when it is not washed, it has been found that steam is effective to
dampen the hair after which it may be dried on curlers to produce a
reasonably long lasting curl in the hair. Accordingly, some hair
dryers have been designed with steam generators which produce
substantial quantities of steam which is discharged onto the hair
of the user for the purposes of setting the hair on the occasions
when it has not been washed prior to setting. The steam generated
in this manner is conventionally fed through the support conduit,
helmet manifold and discharged through the same perforations as the
heated air used in connection with drying the hair. One of the
problems associated with the construction of such an appliance is
that the base is conventionally fabricated of molded plastic which
is relatively sensitive to heat. Since the steam generator itself
is subjected to relatively high temperatures, it must be mounted in
such a way that the temperatures generated therein do not damage or
deform the plastic housing. In addition, it is important that the
controls for the appliance be arranged so that there is no
likelihood of energizing the blower while there is still steam in
the conduit and manifold. Experience has indicated that the steam
cools sufficiently when it moves through the passageways more or
less by convection. When forced through the conduit and manifold by
the blower, it arrives at the head of the user at a high enough
temperature that some injury might occur.
After developing some experience with setting the hair by steaming
and then drying it, the user usually develops an accurate idea as
to how long the hair should be steamed to thoroughly dampen it so
that when dried the curls will have a relatively firm set. Because
of differences in the hair itself as well as the hair style
desired, the period involved may differ considerably. In order to
regulate this time, it has been conventional to measure the amount
of water placed in the steam generator and to use this amount as
the gauge to the period of steam generation. Various means have
been provided to measure the quantities of water placed in the
steam generator. Most of these means have been characterized by
involving separable measuring containers or the like which are
easily mislaid and lost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention involves an improved hair drying and treating
appliance which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. The
invention relates to an appliance of the type having a rigid helmet
which is adapted to receive the head of a woman with her hair set
and having means for supplying alternatively either heated air or
steam to the manifold within the helmet whereby the heated air or
steam is discharged into the hair of the user.
The steam generator consists of a cast aluminum boiler having a
heating element molded integrally therewith and having a discharge
tube which delivers the generated steam into the combined helmet
support and air conduit. The broiler is sealed except for the
discharge passage and is formed with a normally closed inlet valve
which permits measured quantities of water to be delivered from a
measuring receptacle into the boiler.
The steam generating boiler is mounted within the base of the
appliance on a metallic partition which positions the boiler in
spaced relation to the plastic walls of the housing. The partition
on which the steam generator is supported also serves as a support
for the motor driven blower and the air heater.
The control circuit for the appliance lessens the possibility of
operating the motor driven blower until such time as the steam
generation has been completed and the steam is largely eliminated
from the support conduit and the helmet manifold.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved
hair dryer having means for generating steam for use in the
treatment and setting of hair.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hair
dryer having a steam generator which is mounted along with a motor
driven blower on a metallic partition within the base of the
appliance.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an
improved steam generating hair dryer having a boiler with
simplified means for dispensing measured quantities of water into
the boiler.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hair
dryer having steam generating means with a normally closed
pushbutton valve arranged to automatically dispense measured
quantities of water into the boiler when the valve is
depressed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a control
circuit and signalling means which facilitate switching from
steaming operation of the appliance to a hair drying condition only
after the high temperature steam has been dissipated from the
system.
Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the
following description proceeds and the features of novelty which
characterize the invention will be pointed out in the claims
annexed to and forming a part of this specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may
be had to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair drying and treating
appliance embodying our invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line
2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the portion
of the appliance which dispenses measured amounts of water into the
steam generating boiler;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line
4--4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the appliance with certain
portions of the helmet and base cut away for illustrative
purposes;
FIG. 7 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical circuit of
the appliance shown in FIGS. 1 through 6;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8--8 of FIG.
4; and
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9--9 of FIG. 4.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings in which like parts are designated by
like numerals in the various views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a
combined hair drying and treating appliance designated generally by
reference numeral 11. The appliance 11 includes a base 12, an air
conduit 13 which delivers heated air or steam from the base 12 to
the rigid helmet or hood 14. The base 12 includes means for
delivering either heated air or steam upwardly through the conduit
13 to the helmet 14 which distributes the air or steam to the hair
of the person using the appliance 11. As is best shown in FIG. 1
the user is positioned with her head extending upwardly into the
helmet 14 while the base 12 is supported on a table or shelf at a
convenient height to support the helmet 14 as shown.
Considering first the structure of the helmet 14, reference should
be made to FIG. 6 which shows the helmet partially in section for
illustrative purposes. The helmet 14 is generally hemispherical in
shape having a bottom opening 16 through which the head extends
into the interior of the helmet. An outer imperforate wall 17 is
positioned in spaced relationship to an inner wall perforate 18
which defines therebetween a continuous space or manifold 19
through which air or gas may pass to the discharge openings or
perforations 20. The inner wall 18 and the outer wall 17 are
connected only at their lower edges by an annular wall 21 which
defines the lower edge of the manifold 19.
In order to increase the volume enclosed by the helmet 14, there is
provided at the lower edge thereof an extension or attachment 22
which extends downwardly from the opening 16 in the helmet 14. The
attachment 22 is more completely described in copending application
Ser. No. 2,736, entitled HAIR DRYER AND FACIAL SAUNA, filed
concurrently with this application and assigned to the same
assignee. The helmet 14 with the attachment 22 form an enclosure
which may completely surround the head and face of the user so that
the entire head and face may be treated with steam or any other
vapor or gas desired. The attachment 22 is formed with a front
control 23 which serves to regulate the level of steam within the
enclosure and facilitates breathing by the user during steam
treatment. Adjacent the upper edge of the attachment 22 there is
provided an inwardly directed flange 24 which rests in engagement
with a flange 25 formed around the outer periphery of the lower
edge of the helmet 14. The inner diameter of the attachment 22 is
such that it may be telescopically received over the helmet 14 as
shown in FIG. 6 with the flanges 24 and 25 interengaging to support
attachment 22 in its downwardly extending position.
When the appliance 11 is intended to be used simply as a hair
dryer, the attachment 22 may be lifted from the position shown in
FIGS. 1 and 6 and reassembled to the helmet 14 with the walls of
the attachment 22 extending upwardly from the flange 24 so that the
attachment 22 does not project below the flange 25 but is simply
nested around the helmet 14 as is more completely disclosed in the
above-cited copending application.
The base 12 includes a housing 27 which is defined by a lower
housing member 28 and an upper housing member 29 which encloses a
motor driven blower 30, a steam generator 31, and an air heater 32.
The lower housing member 28 is a somewhat dish-shaped plastic
molding having a generally circular bottom wall 33 and cylindrical
sidewalls 34. The upper housing member 29 fits together with the
lower housing member to define a somewhat flat circular enclosure.
The housing member 29 is formed with a circular peripheral flange
35 which engages a stepped shoulder 36 on the sidewalls 34 of the
lower housing member 28. Positioned between the lower and upper
housing members 28 and 29 is a sheet metal partition 38 which
serves as a support for the motor driven blower assembly 30, the
steam generator 31, and the heater 32.
The assembly 30 includes a shaded pole motor 39 which is mounted on
the partition 38 with the output shaft thereof extending downwardly
through an opening 40 in the partition 38. The motor shaft at its
lower end supports a centrifugal fan 41 mounted in the area beneath
the partition 38. The fan 41 is surrounded by a scroll wall 42
which is formed integrally with the lower housing member 28 and
extends around the fan 41 in gradually greater spaced relationship
to the fan 41 to direct the air flow produced by the fan 41
upwardly through the discharge passageway 44 shown best in FIG. 4.
Before entering the discharge passage 44, the air passes across the
heater 32 mounted on the lower face of the partition 38 and then
upwardly through opening 45 in partition 38. The opening 45 is
positioned on the outside of the scroll wall 42 as shown in FIG. 4
and permits the air to pass up into the discharge passage 44. After
passing through the passageway 44, the air exits from the housing
27 through an opening 46 which is covered by a grill 47 which
prevents the user from contacting the heater 32 or the steam
generator 31 and prevents foreign objects from being inserted into
the housing 27 through the opening 46.
After passing through the grill 47 positioned within the opening
46, the heated air passes upwardly through the combined helmet
support and air conduit 13 upwardly into the manifold 19 formed in
helmet 14. The lower end of the conduit 13 is connected by a hinge
48 to the upper housing member 29 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.
Similarly, the upper end of the conduit 13 is connected by a hinge
49 to the inner wall 18 of the helmet 14. In the operative or use
position shown in FIG. 6, the lower end of the conduit 13 is in
registry with the discharge opening 46 in the base 12 while the
upper end of the conduit 13 is in registry with an opening 50 which
extends through the lower connecting wall 21 of the helmet 14 into
the manifold 19.
A suitable latch is provided to retain the helmet 14 and the
conduit 13 in the relative positions shown in FIG. 6. When the
appliance 11 is collapsed for storage purposes, the latch is
disengaged to permit the conduit 13 to pivot with respect to the
helmet 14 about the hinge 49. The conduit 13 is simultaneously
pivoted counterclockwise about the hinge 48 to a position extending
transversely across the top of the base 12 while the helmet 14
nests down against the base 12. Suitable retaining means 52 and 53
shown in FIG. 1 are provided to secure the helmet 14 in its storage
position on the base 12. When the helmet 14 is moved to the storage
position on the base 12 as explained above, the attachment 22 is
placed in the inverted position so that it extends upwardly from
the helmet flange 25 and is telescopically received around the
outer wall 17 of the helmet 14.
Because of the substantial heat associated with the steam generator
31, means are provided to mount the steam generator 31 so that it
is spaced from and somewhat insulated from the plastic housing
members 28 and 29. Accordingly, the steam generator 31 is secured
to the metallic partition 38 rather than being secured to any of
the plastic portions of the base 12. As is best shown in FIGS. 4
and 5, the steam generator 31 comprises a lower die cast boiler
portion 54 into which sheathed heating element 55 is cast and an
upper boiler portion 56. The upper and lower boiler portions 54 and
56 fit together and are sealed by a suitable high-temperature
silicon cement to form a steam generating chamber 57 within which
steam is generated by the electrical sheathed heating element
55.
For the purpose of introducing water into the steam generator 31,
the upper boiler portion 56 is formed with a circular opening 58
which is defined by cylindrical, upstanding flange 59. The upper
housing member 29 in the area above the steam generator 31 is
formed with a recess 60 as is best shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5.
The recess 60 is a somewhat elongated trough which extends
transversely across the base 12 and is formed with a plurality of
measuring steps or ridges 61 shown in FIG. 4. The purpose of the
steps or ridges 61 is to measure the quantity of water which may be
placed in the recess 60 to obtain a desired period of steam
generation. Accordingly, if the user desires a substantial period
of steam treatment, the recess or water receptacle 60 is filled to
the upper of the three steps 61. When filled to this level, the
steam generator will produce mist for approximately 10 minutes. The
succeeding lower steps will produce mist for periods of
approximately 7 1/2 and 5 minutes. Any suitable water containing
means such as a glass may be used to pour the desired amount of
water into the recess 60 filling it up to the desired indicating
step.
The wall of the recess 60 opposite the indicating steps or ridges
61 is displaced laterally to form a pocket 63 (see FIG. 5) within
which a pushbutton valve control member 62 is slidably mounted. As
is best shown in FIG. 5, the portion of the housing member 29
within the pocket 63 is formed with an upwardly extending boss 65
which boss has a central opening for receiving a valve stem 66. The
valve stem 66 carries at its upper end the pushbutton 64 and at its
lower end the conical valve member 67. The pushbutton 64 and the
valve stem 66 form the somewhat T-shaped valve control member 62
which is biased to an upper valve closing position by spring 68
which is received in a pocket 69 and which acts upwardly against
the underside of the pushbutton 64 as is best shown in FIG. 4.
The bottom of the recess 60 is formed with a small, crescent-shaped
opening 70 which is positioned in and adjacent to the boss 65 and
extends through to the underside of the housing member 29 providing
a passageway for water to pass downwardly and outwardly from the
reservoir or recess 60. Formed immediately adjacent the opening 70
is a conical valve seat 71 against which the valve member 67 is
engaged as shown in FIG. 4.
In order to connect the discharge opening 70 with the inlet opening
58 on the steam generator 31, there is provided a molded, coupling
72 which is formed of a high temperature-resistant silicone rubber.
The coupling 72 resiliently engages the flange 59 on the upper
boiler portion 56 at its lower end and at its upper end engages a
corresponding flange 73 which surrounds the valve seat 71 providing
a sealed passageway between the recess 60 and the chamber 57 in the
steam generator 31. In operation, the recess or reservoir 60 is
filled to the desired indicating step or ridge 61 and the
pushbutton 64 is then depressed allowing the water to pass through
the opening 70 through the coupling 72 into the chamber 57. As soon
as the pressure on the pushbutton 64 is released, the spring 68
will bias the valve control member 62 and the valve member 67 into
sealing engagement with the valve seat 71. This arrangement
provides a simple and effective means for dispensing a measured
quantity of water into the steam generator 31 and sealing the water
inlet except during the short period in which the water is actually
being dispensed into the chamber 57.
As is best shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the steam generator 31
is shaped somewhat like the head of a golf club with the portion
from which the terminal ends of the heating element 55 extend being
narrow and the other end being substantially enlarged. This
configuration permits the use of a sheathed heating element which
may be formed to a reasonably large radius of curvature so that the
danger of shorting the element against the enclosing sheath is
reduced to a minimum. The element 55, if viewed from above, would
follow the general exterior contour of the steam generator 31 and
is spaced slightly inwardly from the outer wall of the lower boiler
portion 54. As is shown in FIG. 4, the lower boiler portion is
formed with an inwardly extending rib or fillet 74 which extends
around the lower edge of the steam generating chamber 57. The rib
or fillet 74 provides sufficient material to completely enclose the
heating element 55. When water is dispensed into the chamber 57, it
is spread out against bottom wall 75 which extends horizontally
between the element enclosing fillet 74. With the water engaged
with the bottom wall 75 and the fillet 74, good heat conduction to
the water is assured and prompt generation of the steam is
achieved. The interior of the boiler portion 56 is formed with
several upwardly extending bosses 76 which serve to receive
assembly screws 77 which secure the steam generator 31 to the
partition 38.
For the purpose of discharging the steam from the generator 31 into
the air conduit 13, the lower and upper boiler portions 54 and 56
are formed with sidewardly extending channel-shaped portions 78 and
79 which form a discharge conduit 80 extending laterally from one
side of the chamber 57. Extending upwardly from the conduit 80 is a
pipe 81 which angles upwardly and terminates immediately beneath
the grill 47 in the air outlet 46. Thus, in operation the water
which is converted into steam by the action of the heating element
55 within the chamber 57 passes sidewardly through the discharge
conduit 80 and then upwardly through the pipe 81 from which it is
discharged through the grill 47 into the conduit 13. The
arrangement of the heating element within the fillet 74 and the low
mass of the bottom wall 75 permits the boiler 31 to be heated
promptly to thereby convert the water into steam quickly after it
has been dispensed into the steam generator 31 from the recess or
reservoir 60.
In order to minimize the heat transfer between the steam generator
31 and the surrounding parts of the base 12, the lower boiler
portion 54 is formed with a plurality of supporting feet 83 which
minimize the area of contact between the steam generator 31 and the
metallic partition 38. In addition, the coupling 72 insulates the
upper housing member 29 from the high temperatures associated with
the upper boiler portion 56. Because of the necessity for the
discharge pipe 81 to extend into the air discharge passage 44 and
because of the necessity to seal against air leakage through the
wall of the passageway 44 through which the discharge portion of
the steam generator 31 extends, a silicon rubber wall member 84 is
utilized to provide a seal between the steam generator 31 and the
adjacent wall portions of the upper housing member 2. The upper
housing member 29 is formed with a wall 82 forming one side of the
passageway 44. The wall 82 is provided with an opening 82a through
which conduit 80 and pipe 81 of the steam generator 31 extend into
passageway 44. The rubber wall member 84 is adhesively secured at
its edges to the portions of wall 82 surrounding opening 82a. An
opening 85 in rubber member 84 is of such size that the edges
defining opening 85 resiliently engage the steam generator 31 and
prevent leadage of air outwardly from the discharge passage 44 into
the area surrounding the steam generator 31. This provides a simple
and effective manner of mounting the steam generator within the
base 12 in such a manner that it is insulated from the adjacent
plastic wall portions which are generally sensitive to high
temperatures of the order produced in the steam generator 31. The
steam generator 31 is itself compact and efficient with the heating
element 55 being positioned for maximum heat transfer between the
element 55 and the water which is dispensed into the steam chamber
57. As a consequence, the steam generation occurs promptly on the
dispensing of the water into the heated chamber.
For the purpose of controlling the operation of the motor 30 and
the steam generator 31, there is provided a control 86 which is
positioned in the top surface of the upper housing member 29. The
control 86 includes a switch having a rotary knob 87 and an
indicator light 88. Suitable indicia 89 positioned adjacent the
knob 87 permit selection of the various modes of operation of the
appliance 11. These various modes of operation will be described in
connection with the schematic diagram shown in FIG. 7. As shown in
the schematic diagram, the appliance 11 is provided with a suitable
power cord 90 which may be connected to a utility line outlet and
which has one side thereof connected directly to a switch 91. The
control knob 87 of the switch 91 is designed to connect one side of
the line to either one of four terminals which are numbered in the
schematic diagram of FIG. 7. In position 1, the line is connected
to the steam generator 31 which includes the heating element 55 and
the indicator light 88 which is connected in series with the
element 55. Mounted on the bottom of the steam generator 31 is a
thermostat 92 which is adapted to open the circuit through the
heating element 55 when the water is dissipated from the steam
chamber 57 and the temperature of the steam generator 31 rises
considerably over its normal operating temperature during the
generation of steam. The thermostat 92 is calibrated so that it
will not open the circuit shutting off the element 55 and the mist
indicating light 88 for a period of 30 seconds or so after the
water has actually been dissipated from the steam generator 31.
This permits the steam within the air conduit 13 and the manifold
19 to lower in temperature and to be largely dissipated before the
light 88 shuts off. At the time the light 88 shuts off indicating
that the steaming portion of the hair treating cycle has been
completed, the operator turns the control knob 87 to any one of the
remaining three positions which provide either medium temperature
heated air, low temperature heated air, or a cool air condition in
which the heater 32 would be deenergized. In either the "2" or "3"
settings of the switch 91, the heater 32 is energized at a
different level while the motor 30 is energized to drive the fan to
cause airflow through the conduit 13 and into the manifold 19. The
switch 91 provides internal connection so that on the "2" and "3"
settings, the motor 30 is connected in parallel with a portion of
the heater 32. On setting "1," the motor 30 is not energized, while
on setting "4" only the motor 30 is energized.
The thermostat 92 is retained in position against the bottom wall
75 of the steam generator 31 by means of an L-shaped retaining lug
38a which is formed integrally with the partition 38 as is best
shown in FIG. 5. A cylindrical projection 92a on the thermostat 92
registers with an opening 38b in the lug 38a to prevent
displacement of the thermostat 92 with respect to the lug 38a. A
spring washer 94 is positioned between the lug 38a and the
thermostat 92 to apply a resilient upwardly directed force against
the thermostat 92 turning it into heat transfer relationship with
the bottom wall 75.
One of the difficulties associated with this type of appliance is
the possibility of energizing the motor and causing the high
temperature steam to be blown through the conduit 13 and onto the
head of the user while the steam is dangerously hot. In the present
arrangement, the delay introduced by the thermostat 92 before the
indicator light 88 is shut off prevents the motor 30 from being
energized before the steam is largely dissipated from the system.
Accordingly, this arrangement is both simple and satisfactory from
a safety standpoint.
While there has been shown and described a single embodiment of the
present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art
that various changes and modifications may be made without
departing from the invention in its broader aspects and it is,
therefore, contemplated in the appended claims to cover all such
changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope
of the present invention.
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