Patent ID: 6130991
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: F24D,F26B

Abstract:
Portable, collapsible heater apparatus for receiving pressurized heated air from a hair dryer connected to said portable, collapsible heater apparatus and distributing the heated air, said portable heater apparatus comprising, in combination:a portable housing defining a plenum and a plurality of spaced air outlet openings communicating with said plenum, said portable housing comprising a plurality of rigid, interconnected housing segments, each of said housing segments being hollow and defining a plenum section and at least one of said spaced air outlet openings communicating with the respective plenum section;air passageway defining means comprising at least one flexible hose extending between adjacent housing segments to provide air flow communication between the plenum sections;attachment means for attaching said housing segments together in side-by-side relationship; andconnector means for selectively removably connecting said portable housing to a hair dryer to establish air flow communication between the hair dryer and said plenum whereby heated air received from the hair dryer will be introduced into said plenum, pass through said plenum and exit all of said plurality of spaced air outlet openings, said connector means comprising a hair dryer receptacle attached to one of said housing segments for receiving the outlet of an electrically Powered hair dryer and defining an aperture communicating with the plenum section thereof, said receptacle comprising a sleeve attached to said one housing segment, said sleeve for surrounding the outlet of an electrically powered hair dryer to support the outlet and maintain a connection between said portable housing and the electrically powered hair dryer, each of said housing segments having a front wall, a back wall, top and bottom walls, and side walls, said attachment means extending between walls of adjacent housing segments and comprising at least one hinge for allowing angular adjustment between adjacent housing segments, said at least one flexible hose being collapsible and varying in configuration responsive to angular adjustment of adjacent housing segments to which said at least one collapsible, flexible hose is connected, said housing segments being relatively movable between a collapsed condition wherein said housing segments are disposed with the front and back walls thereof substantially parallel and substantially in registry and a non-collapsed condition wherein said portable housing is self-supporting and disposed on the bottom walls of the housing segments thereof with the housing segments angularly disposed relative to one another and with at least some of said air outlet openings being spaced above said bottom walls for directing heated hair dryer air passing through said aperture, said plenum sections and said at least one collapsible, flexible hose out of the air outlet openings of all of said housing segments.