Abstract:
A detachable or integral nozzle for a hair dryer is shown that can easily be modified from a first configuration delivering a stream of hot air with an approximately circular cross section, until a stream of air is produced with an approximately rectangular cross section, that is broad and flat. The nozzle includes a sleeve fitted with two folding vents capable of making an axial pivoting movement about geometrical axes, and a pair of flaps capable of making a pivoting movement about geometrical axes perpendicular to the pivot axes of the folding vents.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a hair dryer and a hair dryer nozzle whose shape can be modified to deliver either an essentially cylindrical stream of air (that is, with a circular cross section), or a stream of air in the form of a relatively broad flat lamina. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Electric hair dryers are designed to produce a stream of air which is heated by an electrical element and is delivered by action of a fan. The very design of the hair dryer, in particular its cylindrical circular-section geometry which must house the fan, gives the stream of air a circular cross section. In certain cases, however, users want a relatively broad flat lamina of air. 
     To accomplish a laminar flow, it is usual practice to fit a nozzle on the outlet end of the hair dryer where the stream of air is produced. The nozzle ends in a flattened outlet generally in the form of an elongate rectangle. A nozzle of this kind can be fitted permanently to the outlet opening of the hair dryer, but it is usually detachable. In the case of a detachable nozzle, the user may mislay it, and thus, experiences the nuisance of looking after an extra component. 
     While the hair dryer is in use, the circular stream and the broad flat stream are sometimes found to be alternately necessary and thus oblige the user to remove and replace the nozzle. This quickly becomes a nuisance, especially as it is hot. 
     The prior art includes a number of teachings regarding various air flow configurations from hair dryers. French Patent 2 640 857 to Bomtoux illustrates a nozzle arrangement which is configured from a flexible material. Rotation of the nozzle causes a mechanism to alter the nozzle&#39;s cylindrical opening to a rectangular configuration so as to create a laminar air flow. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,540 to Bastien describes an air diffuser that is mountable on the exhaust end of a hair dryer. Within the barrel of the diffuser is a perforated valve plate which can be rotated to partially block air flow. Under such circumstances, heated air exits through the valve plate perforations and through perforations that are present about the circumference of the barrel. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,598,640 and 5,661,910 to Schepisi describe a hair dryer having a diffuser mounted on its exhaust end. A pair of flapper valve plates in the diffuser can be actuated to either block the principle air opening or to open it. The barrel includes a plurality of holes which act as exhaust holes when the principal air exhaust path is closed by the flapper valves. Air exhaust through the barrel is controlled by the positioning of a cylinder that is slidably mounted thereon. By moving the cylinder, the flapper valves are actuated and holes in the cylinder line-up with holes in the barrel of the hair dryer. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,757 to McDougall describes a hand-held hair dryer which includes a rotatable valve that blocks, in one position, air flow through a central exhaust path and redirects the air flow through openings in the barrel. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,211 to Shulman describes a hair dryer attachment that includes an air deflection plate that is rotatable about an axis that is coextensive with the axis of the air exhaust path of the hair dryer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,623; to DaSilva describes a hair dryer with an air outlet that includes a pair of valve members that are pivotally mounted. The positioning of the valve members is controlled by a knob that extends through the dryer housing. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,286 to Cantor describes a hair dryer having a barrel with a plurality of holes positioned about its periphery. Separate chambers are provided within the barrel to direct hot air, both to a principal exit and to the holes that are positioned along the barrel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide both a detachable nozzle for a hair dryer and a hair dryer with a fixed nozzle, both of which can easily be modified from a first configuration delivering a stream of hot air of circular cross section, to a stream of air with an approximately rectangular cross section, that is to say broad and flat. 
     The term “rectangular” must be understood as including shapes having slightly circular or even oval-like corners or sides. Similarly the term “circular” can be applied to slightly oval shapes. 
     The invention avoids the drawbacks of the prior art where, when the hair dryer is in use, the standard circular stream and the broad flat stream are found to be alternately necessary, thus obliging the user to remove and replace the nozzle. 
     More specifically, an object of the invention is to produce a mechanism that can be fitted to or is integral with a hair dryer, in order to make it easy to provide a nozzle of variable shapes, capable of delivering both a circular-sectioned stream of air as well as a broad flat stream of air. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments illustrated hereinafter in the ended drawings. 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a nozzle in a first position producing a stream of hot air of circular cross section. 
     FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 in which the nozzle releases a stream of hot air in the form of a broad flat lamina. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 show other perspective view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, which show more clearly the movement of the flaps with which the hair-dryer nozzle is fitted. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hair dryer of the invention with pop-out vents in a close position. 
     FIG. 6 is the perspective view of FIG. 5, with a cover portion removed. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the hair dryer of FIG. 5, with pop-out vents in an open position. 
     FIG. 8 is the perspective view of FIG. 7, with a cover portion removed. 
     FIG. 9 is the side sectional view of the hair dryer of FIGS.  5 - 8 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to FIG. 1, nozzle  1  may be an integral part of a hair dryer or a separate item which can be fitted to an existing hair dryer. Nozzle  1  comprises a cylindrical or frustoconical sleeve  3 , one end of which is either an integral part of a hair dryer, as illustrated in FIGS. 5-9, or can be fitted to the outlet orifice of a hair dryer. 
     In one position (FIGS.  1  and  3 ), the stream of air released at the outlet of the nozzle is of a substantially circular cross section. For certain applications, however, the user may want a stream of air in the form of a relatively broad flat lamina. To produce this effect, sleeve  3  is fitted with two folding vents  5  that are capable of making a pivoting movement about geometric axes  7 , and with two flaps  9  capable of making a pivoting movement about geometric axes  11 . Axes  11  are orthogonal to pivot axes  7  of vents  5 . 
     In the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, flaps  9  are parallel to the axis of the stream of air corresponding to the shape of sleeve  3 , and vents  5  are in a closed position. As shown, upper walls  5 A of vents  5  slide over the upper flap  9  and the lower walls  5 B of these same vents  5  slide under lower flap  9 ′. 
     In this configuration, a stream of hot air continues to maintain a circular cross section that is divided into three longitudinal slices (in sleeve  3 ) by flaps  9  and  9 ′ that are positioned parallel to the air flow stream flow. 
     The configuration of the sides of vents  5  may, of course, be adapted to be slightly circular so as to match the general circular shape of the sleeve  3  when in the closed position. 
     To bring about the pivoting movements of the folding vents  5  and flaps  9  and  9 ′ about their respective axes  7  and  11 , suitable control means are provided as described below with respect to FIG.  9 . In order to modify the configuration of the nozzle, vents  5  are pivoted about the geometrical axes  7  so as to provide air flow paths  12  and  12 ′. Simultaneously, as vents  5  are opened, walls  5 A and  5 B are removed from flaps  9  and  9 ′ (see FIGS.  2  and  4 ). 
     Flaps  9  and  9 ′ are spring biased to rotate away from each other about axes  11 . Accordingly, flaps  9  and  9 ′ are enabled to rotate until they respectively engage the inner walls of sleeve  3 . The initially circular-sectioned stream of air therefore strikes flaps  9  and  9 ′ and is directed towards and out rectangular opening  14 . 
     Simultaneously the stream of air also diverges to the left and right, following the sides of the now open vents  5 , giving a stream of air which is of a generally rectangular laminar shape. 
     Any appropriate means can be used to bring about modification of the air flow configuration. Springs (not shown) may, for example, be used to act on flaps  9 ,  9 ′ and folding vents  5  to keep them in the positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. A force may be applied, for example with the aid of a ring (not shown) whose diameter is slightly greater than that of the sleeve  3  and which is slid so as to cover the folding vents  5  progressively from the rear to the front. Under such a condition, walls  5 A and  5 B bear on the outer surfaces of flap  9 ,  9 ′, respectively and act against the force of the bias springs. This action, in addition to closing vents  5 , pushes flaps  9 ,  9 ′ towards positions that are aligned with the axis of sleeve  3 , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. 
     A slight fillet may be provided, either on the folding vents (the extremities of the upper wall or lower wall) or on the flaps, if necessary. In practice, it has been found that movements of the vents and flaps occurs easily, without excessive friction and without significant loss of cross-sectional opening for the passage of the stream of air, when switching from the position in FIG. 1 to that in FIG.  3 . The folding side vents can, if of appropriate dimension, maintain a reasonable cross section for the air stream (when flattened), which corresponds to about two thirds of the circular cross section. 
     FIGS. 5-9 illustrate a hair blower  50  with an integral nozzle of a design substantially identical to that shown in FIGS. 1-4. FIG. 5 illustrates hair blower  50 , with vents  5  in their respective closed positions and with walls  5 A and  5 B maintaining flaps  9  and  9 ′ in alignment with the direction of air flow. FIG. 6 is the same as FIG. 5, but with sleeve  3  removed to enable the positions of vents  5  and flaps  9  and  9 ′ to be better visualized. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate hair blower  50  with vents  5  in the open position. The opening of vents  5  causes walls  5 A and  5 B to be withdrawn from over/under flaps  9  and  9 ′. Spring bias members act on flaps  9  and  9 ′ and cause them to rotate away from each other until they abut the inner walls of sleeve  3  and close off air flow, except through opening  14  and vents  5 . 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a mechanism used to control the positions of vents  5 . A control wheel  20  is coupled to an L-shaped actuating rod  22  which, in turn, is coupled to walls  5 B. Actuation of wheel  20  in a counter-clockwise direction by the user, moves rod  22  to the left and causes vents  5  to rotate outwardly to the open position. At the same time, as flaps  9  and  9 ′ are no longer blocked by the wall portions of vents  5 , they rotate away from each other. Actuation of wheel  20  in a clockwise direction by the user, moves rod  22  to the right and causes vents  5  to rotate inwardly to the closed position. The wall portions of vents  5  ride up over flaps  9  and  9 ′ and force them towards each other. 
     It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.