Abstract:
A portable electric hair dryer has a power switch which is automatically switched off as the hair dryer is mounted on a wall mount. The wall mount comprises a one-piece molded plastic body having integrally-molded clamping jaws for gripping the hair dryer handle. To deter theft, provision is made for storing and retaining intermediate lengths for the hair dryer&#39;s power cord behind the wall mount.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to a portable electric hair dryer and a mount therefor. However, aspects of this invention may be used for other appliances and mounts therefor. The invention is primarily intended for use in mounting a portable hair dryer on a vertical wall but it is recognized that wall mounts can also be used for mounting hair dryers on horizontal or sloping surfaces, and this invention may similarly be used. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various wall mounted, portable hair dryers have been proposed and marketed. These often are provided with an arrangement for ensuring that the hair dryer is switched off when the hair dryer is placed on the wall mount. The known prior art hair dryers have wall mounts with relatively complex means for supporting the hair dryers or relatively complex means for turning the hair dryers off when placed on their wall mounts. 
     The hair dryer and wall mount of this invention are designed for commercial use such as in hotel and motel rooms or other places available to the public. Thefts of hair dryers from hotels and motels have become a problem that needs to be better addressed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of this invention is to provide an improved, portable, electrically-operated hair dryer and a wall mount therefor so constructed that the hair dryer can be easily and securely assembled onto the wall mount, easily removed from the wall mount, and reliably switched off as the hair dryer is assembled onto the wall mount in the event an attempt is made to assemble the appliance onto the wall mount while it is switched on. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide an improved wall mount for a portable hair dryer that has a power cord that can store either short or long lengths of the power cord out of sight. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a hair dryer and wall mount with features that deter theft of the hair dryer from places, such as hotel and motel rooms, accessible to the public. 
     A portable electric hair dryer in accordance with this invention has a power switch which is automatically switched off as the hair dryer is mounted on a wall mount. The wall mount comprises a one-piece molded plastic body having integrally-molded clamping jaws for gripping the hair dryer handle. The hair dryer is assembled onto the wall mount by simply thrusting the hair dryer toward the wall mount to bring cooperating protuberances and recesses on the wall mount and the hair dryer handle into mutual engagement. 
     To deter theft, provision is made for storing and retaining intermediate lengths of the hair dryer&#39;s power cord around a reel located behind the wall mount and for preventing one from pulling the power cord out from behind the wall mount. Accordingly, one attempting to steal the hair dryer would either have to remove the wall mount from the wall or cut the power cord, which would render the hair dryer less valuable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view of a hair dryer and a wall mount therefor in accordance with this invention, as viewed generally from the front of the wall mount. 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the hair dryer and the wall mount of FIG.  1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the hair dryer and the wall mount, taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a simplified, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the hair dryer and the wall mount taken on line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 3 , and illustrating a power switch within the handle of the hair dryer. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded, fragmentary view, with parts in cross section illustrating the hair dryer power switch approaching the wall mount with the switch in an “on” position so that the hair dryer is energized. 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary view, with parts in cross section illustrating the hair dryer power switch engaged with the wall mount and in an “off” position so that the hair dryer is deenergized. 
         FIG. 7  is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view of the hair dryer and the wall mount, as viewed generally from the rear of the wall mount. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded, fragmentary, perspective view illustrating a mounting screw in a wall on which the wall mount may be mounted and a screw socket provided on the wall mount that receives the head of the mounting screw. 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the parts illustrated in FIG.  8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the parts illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  when such parts are assembled together. 
         FIG. 11  is a fragmentary elevational view showing an electrical outlet plug of a type useful with the hair dryer and wall mount of this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , this invention provides an assembly of a portable electric hair dryer, generally designated  20 , and a wall mount therefor, generally designated  22 , shown mounted on a vertical wall W. The hair dryer  20  has an elongate, hollow handle  24  and a power switch  26  ( FIG. 4 ) mounted on the handle  24  for controlling the operation of a blower motor (not shown) mounted within a tubular blower housing  28  located on top of the handle  24 . A power cord  30  for connection of the hair dryer  20  to a source of house current extends upwardly through the handle  24  and out through the bottom of the handle  24  and downwardly through a cord guard  32  that depends from the handle  24 . Here it may be noted that  FIG. 4  is simplified because  FIG. 4  shows the switch  26  without showing how the switch  26  is mounted and  FIG. 4  does not show the power cord  30  or other details of construction, all of which may be entirely conventional. As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 11 , the free end of the power cord  30  is preferably provided with a commercially available polarized Appliance Leakage Circuit Interrupter (ALCI) outlet plug  34 . 
     With reference also to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the switch  26  includes a movable switch-operating member or button  36  which can be manually moved into a position to open the switch  26  to deenergize the hair dryer  20 . The particular switch  26  illustrated in the drawing is a common type of three position switch used in hair dryers. The hair dryer is switched off when the button  36  is centered with the entire button  36  extending equally partly out of the handle  24 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  6 , switched to a low speed “on” position illustrated in  FIG. 5 , when the switch button  36  is tilted so that its upper end extends further into the handle  24  than its lower end, and switched to a high speed “on” position (not illustrated) when the lower end of the button  36  is recessed further into the handle  24  than its upper end. Although a switch having a three-position switch operating button is illustrated, it will become apparent that other types of switches can be used in the practice of this invention, provided that there is a switch operating member that can be moved to a position in which the switch is opened or switched off by engagement of the switch operating member with the wall mount  22 . 
     The blower housing  28  has a rear end covered by a cool air intake screen  38  and a front end covered by a front screen or guard  39  through which heated air exits during operation of the hair dryer  20 . In accordance with this invention, the switch operating member or button  36  is mounted on the front face of the handle  24 , facing generally toward the same forwardly direction as the front end of the blower housing  28 . The handle  24  and the blower housing  28  can be manufactured from a suitable plastic material, such as a polycarbonate, and molded in two parts that are later joined together along a vertical centerline of the handle  24 . 
     The wall mount  22  comprises a relatively rigid, one-piece, molded plastic body, which may be molded from an ABS or other suitable plastic material, and having a front face  40  and a rear face  42 . The wall mount  22  is generally ovate as seen from the front or the rear, and has a rearwardly-facing outer edge  44  that lies in a single plane so that it can fit flush against the vertical wall W. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 8  through  10 , the wall mount  22  may be affixed to the wall W by means of a pair of mounting screws  46  which have heads  48  received, respectively, in upper and lower screw-receiving tubes  50 . The tubes  50  are open to the front face  40  of the wall mount  22  so that the screws  46  can be engaged by a screw driver (not shown) extended through the tubes from the front. In addition, the screw-receiving tubes  50  have rear walls  54  against which the screw heads  48  bear when the wall mount  22  is supported on the wall W. In addition, the tubes  50  have downwardly-facing openings  56  that permit the tubes  50 , and thereby the wall mount  22  to be lifted off the screw heads  48  without removing the screws  46 . This construction enables speedy removal of the wall mount  22  from a wall in the event of an emergency, such as a fire behind the wall mount  22 . The opening  56  in the upper tube  50  faces straight downwardly whereas the opening  56  in the lower tube  50  faces partly to one side (to the left as viewed in FIG.  7 ). Because of this construction, someone familiar with the construction of the dryer mount  22  will be able to remove the mount by pushing the lower end of the mount to the side to align the lower opening  56  with the head of the lower screw  46  and then by moving the entire wall mount  22  upwardly away from both screws  46 . This provides a deterrent to theft while enabling a knowledgeable person, such as a motel maintenance employee, to quickly remove the wall mount  22  should that become necessary. 
     When viewed in vertical cross section, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the wall mount  22  is generally domed-shaped but its front face  40  is recessed to form a socket  60  for the front end of the blower housing  28 , a recessed pocket  62  for the switch button  36 , and a shallow, concave recess  64  which provides a stop or rest for the lower end of the dryer handle  24 . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the blower housing-receiving socket  60  has a center axis  66  to that slopes forwardly away from the wall W and downwardly so that the hair dryer  20  would tend to fall off the wall mount  22  under the influence of gravity unless means are provided to positively secure the hair dryer  20  to the wall mount  22 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the switch button-receiving pocket  62  has a size and shape that substantially matches the size and shape of the exposed portion of the switch button  36  when the switch button  36  is in the “off” position. The bottom wall, designated  68 , of the pocket  62  functions as a switch operating surface to move the switch button  36  to its “off” position as the hair dryer  20  is assembled onto the wall mount  22 . To this end, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  5  and  6 , the switch operating surface  68  has an arcuately convex surface portion that mates with switch button  36 , which is arcuately concave. Accordingly, if the switch button  36  happens to be in one of its switch-closed or “on” positions, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the engagement of the switch button  36  by the switch-operating surface  68  as the hair dryer  20  is assembled onto the wall mount  22  will cause the switch button  36  to be moved to its centered or “off” position shown in FIG.  6 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 1 , the switch button-receiving pocket  62  is located within a handle-receiving channel  70  that extends downwardly from the blower-housing receiving socket  60  along the vertical centerline of the wall mount  22 . To positively secure the hair dryer  20  to the wall mount  22 , a pair of mutually-confronting, outwardly-extending, rectangular, mutually-spaced clamp jaws  72  project forwardly along the sides of the channel  70 . The jaws  72  are an integral part of the wall mount  22 ; otherwise they are separated from the body of the wall mount  22  by U-shaped slots having, as viewed in  FIG. 1 , upper and lower horizontal slot portions  74  and forwardly-facing, vertical slot portions  76 . Small clamping protuberances  78  are formed on the confronting, outer faces of the jaws  72  that are adapted to be received within small clamping recesses  80  in the handle  24 . As shown best in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the handle  24  is generally ovate and the recesses  80  are located on the rearward side of the handle  24 . The clamping recesses  80  are spaced from the base of the channel  70  by a distance such that their forwardmost edges are engaged by rearward edges of the clamping protuberances  78  and biased thereby toward the front face  40  of the wall mount  22 . The hair dryer  20  is thereby securely held against the wall mount  22  and the switch  26  assuredly switched off. 
     As viewed in  FIG. 7 , the free ends and sides of the clamp jaws  72  are provided with stiffening ribs  82  extending therealong, the side ribs being integrally connected to surrounding parts of the wall mount  22 . This construction provides clamp jaws  72  which are quite stiff, long lasting, yet sufficiently resilient to enable the hair dryer  20  to be easily assembled onto and removed from the wall mount  22 . 
     To use the hair dryer  20 , one may simply grasp the handle and pull it away from the wall mount  22 , and switch the hair dryer  20  to one of its “on” positions. To return the hair dryer to the wall mount  22 , one may simply point the front end of the hair dryer toward the wall mount  22 , and insert the front end of the blower housing  28  into the blower housing-receiving socket  60 . If the handle  24  is advanced toward the wall mount  22  along a substantially vertical plane, it will be guided by the surfaces of the wall mount  22  opening to the blower housing-receiving socket  60  and the handle-receiving channel  70  into a position wherein the protuberances  78  on the clamp jaws  72  enter the clamping recesses  80 . Provided the protuberances  78  enter the recesses  80 , the switch button  36 , if not previously moved to its “off” position, will be moved to its “off” position because of the engagement by the switch button  36  with the switch operating surface  68 . One using the hair dryer  20  and the wall mount  22  will quickly learn that the hair dryer  20  can be securely mounted with a simple thrusting of the hair dryer  20  toward the center of the wall mount. If the hair dryer  20  is switched on while being advanced toward the wall mount  22 , the heated air exiting from the front of the blower housing  28  will enter the socket  60  and be partly reflected back around the blower housing  28  and partly vented through an array of vents  84  in the wall of the socket  60 . 
     In the event the handle  24  is not properly gripped by the clamp jaws  72  in the manner just described, the switch  26  may not be switched off. However, the wall mount  22  will not in that case prevent the hair dryer  20  from falling off the wall mount  22  so that it will be evident to the user that the hair dryer  20  has to be repositioned on the wall mount  22 . 
     Here it may be observed that the locations of the protuberances  78  and the recesses  80  illustrated herein and described above are preferred. However, their positions could be interchanged, with the handle  24  provided with protuberances and the clamp jaws  72  provided with recesses for receiving the protuberances. 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , an intermediate portion of the power cord  30  is hidden behind the wall mount  22 . A pair of cord-receiving-notches  86  are located at the bottom of the wall mount  22  through which the power cord  30  can be threaded. A strain relief, generally designated  88 , is provided that also frictionally engages the power cord  30  in two places. The strain relief  88  includes the aforementioned lower screw-receiving tube  50  and a pair of arcuate pressure plates  90  located sufficiently close to the lower tube  50  to resist sliding movement of the power cord  30  between the lower tube  50  and the pressure plates  90 . A post  91  is located beneath the lower tube  50  for additional strain relief should that be desired. In addition, the back side of the socket  60  functions as a reel or cord wrap  92  for taking up excessive lengths of the power cord  30  between the location of the wall mount  22  and the electrical receptacle (not shown) into which the plug  34  is inserted. A circular array of outwardly projecting flanges or teeth  94  at the base of the reel  92  help retain the power cord  30  on the reel  92 . In  FIG. 7 , the power cord  30  is shown simply wrapped over the top of the reel  92 . In practice, there could be one or more turns of the power cord  30  coiled about the reel  92 . In any event, when the power cord  30  is wrapped over the reel  92 , it is essentially impossible to pull the power cord  30  out from behind the back of the wall mount  22 . 
     Although the presently preferred embodiment of this invention has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of the invention various changes may be made within the scope of the following claims.