Abstract:
An appliance is provided with a water dispenser. A fan or heater assembly, a hair dryer assembly, and a brush assembly are disclosed. Each of these assemblies includes a water dispenser incorporated therein.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to various appliances, and in particular, to appliances having a built-in water dispenser that dispenses water to enhance the use of the appliance.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Numerous conventional appliances are are readily available in the marketplace. Fans and heaters are provided to improve comfort and the living environment inside homes. Hair dryers and brushes are provided to help individuals style their hair.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention provides an appliance that has a water dispenser. In one embodiment of the present invention, a fan or heater assembly has a base portion, a blower portion that blows air into the environment, a water tank that contains water, and water outlets fluidly coupled to the water tank for dispensing water into the environment.  
         [0006]     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a hair dryer assembly has a handle portion, a blower portion that blows air into the environment, a water tank, a plurality of nozzles fluidly coupled to the water tank, and a pump system that delivers water from the water tank to the nozzles for dispensing water into the environment.  
         [0007]     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a brush assembly has a handle portion, and a water spray portion secured to the handle portion, the water spray portion having a tube with nozzles provided about the body. The brush assembly also has a water tank that is fluidly coupled to the nozzles, a pump system that delivers water from the water tank to the nozzles for dispensing water into the environment, and a brush portion that is coupled to the tube.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a heater assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the heater assembly of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the humidifier portion of the heater assembly of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a hair dryer assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the hair dryer assembly of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the hair dryer assembly of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a brush assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are two different exploded perspective view of the brush assembly of  FIG. 7 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  illustrates the brush assembly of  FIG. 7  in use with a different brush head. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate one embodiment of a heater assembly  20  according to the present invention. The heater assembly  20  has a base portion  22 , a blower portion  24  and a humidifier portion  26 . The base portion  22  houses the circuit board, power system, and other electronics for the heater assembly  20 . The circuit board, power system and electronics can be the same as for any of the conventional heater assemblies that are currently available in the marketplace, and will not be described in further detail. A power cord  28  extends from the base portion  22  to provide power from an external power source. A control panel  29  can be provided on a side wall  34  of the blower portion  24  for controlling the operation of the assembly  20 .  
         [0019]     The blower portion  24  has a heater  30  that is housed inside a housing that is made up of two side walls  32 ,  34  and a front wall  36  that are attached together to form a hollow interior space that receives and holds the heater  30 . Air inlets  38  are provided in the side walls  32 ,  34  through which air can be drawn for use by the heater  30 . Air outlets  40  are provided in the front wall  36  through which heated air can be ejected. In addition, water outlets  44  are provided in the front wall  36  through which water can be ejected.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIGS. 2-3 , the humidifier portion  26  can be any conventional humdifier that is provided at the top of the walls  32 ,  34 ,  36 . The humidifier portion  26  includes the components of a conventional humidifier, including a housing  261  that houses a filter  262 , a water tank  263 , a motor (not shown) and a blower or fan  264 . A mist section  265  is provided above the housing  261 , and has mist outlets  266  through which cool or warm mist can be introduced into the environment. The motor can be retained in either the mist section  265  or the housing  261 . A control panel  267  can be provided on either the mist section  265  or the housing  261  to allow for control of the humidifier separate from control for the heater  30 . In addition, a power cord  268  extends from the housing  261  to allow power to be provided separately to the humidifier and the heater  30 . Alternatively, wiring (not shown) can extend through the blower portion  24  to couple the circuit board and electronics in the base portion  22  to the motor in the humidifier portion  26 .  
         [0021]     A pump  42  is provided in the housing  261  of the humidifier portion  26 . The pump  42  can be embodied in the form of any conventional negative-pressure pump, and functions to deliver water from the water tank  263  to at least one water tube  46  which extends from the humidifier portion  26  into the interior of the blower portion  24 . Each water tube  46  is fluidly coupled to a corresponding water conduit  48  that is located at a position that is adjacent to the front wall  36 . Water outlets  50  are provided on the conduit(s)  48  at locations adjacent to the water outlets  44 .  
         [0022]     In use, a user can turn on the heater  30  by controlling the control panel  29 , such as by turning on one or more switches. The heater  30  emits warm air through the air and water outlets  40 . In one embodiment, the blower portion  24  rotates in a reciprocal manner about the fixed base portion  22  to disperse the heat. If the user desires to provide a less dry (i.e., slightly more humid) environment, the user can turn on the humidifier by controlling the control panel  267  on the mist section  265 . The user can additionally (and optionally) actuate the pump  42  (by pressing) to cause water to be pumped from the water tank  50  via the tube(s)  46  and conduit(s)  48 , and ejected through the water outlets  50  and  44 . Thus, the user can operate the heater  30  and the humidifier portion  26  separately and independently from each other. In other words, the user can operate the humidifier portion  26  alone, the heater  30  alone, or both the heater  30  and the humidifier portion  26 .  
         [0023]     Even though  FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a heater assembly  20 , the heater  30  can be a conventional cooling fan, in which case the blower portion  24  would be blowing cool air as opposed to warm air. The construction, structure and features of conventional blower portions used for fan assemblies are well-known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0024]     In addition, although the humidifier portion  26  is illustrated as being provided above the blower portion  24 , it is also possible to position the humidifier portion  26  below the blower portion  24 , or to one side of either of the side walls  32  or  34 .  
         [0025]      FIGS. 4-6  illustrate one embodiment of a hair dryer assembly  100  according to the present invention. The hair dryer assembly  100  has a handle portion  102 , a blower portion  104  and a water tank  106 .  
         [0026]     The handle portion  102  houses the electronics  108  for a conventional hair dryer. A power cord  110  extends from the handle portion  102  to supply external power to the hair dryer assembly  100 . Switches  112  are provided on the handle portion  102  for controlling the hair dryer  100 , including turning the hair dryer  100  on and off.  
         [0027]     The blower portion  104  has a generally cylindrical housing  120  having an open rear end  122  and an open front end  124 . A fan system  126 , a heater  136  and a pump system are housed inside the housing  120 . The fan system  126  is positioned adjacent the opening in the rear end  122 , and includes a fan  130  carried on a shaft  132  extending from a motor  134  in a conventional manner well-known in the art. A heater  136  is positioned in front of the fan  130 . The water tank  106  is positioned above the heater  136  through an opening  138  cut out of the housing  120 . The water tank  106  has a water inlet  140  through which water can be introduced. A cover  128  blocks and secures the inlet  140 . The pump system includes a sprayer  142  which is fluidly connected with the interior of the water tank  106  by a first tubing  144 . The sprayer  142  is positioned between the heater  136  and the fan  130  adjacent the handle portion  102 , and is coupled to a pump  146  that has a pump button  147  extending through the housing  120  for actuation and control by the user. The pump system further includes a spray mount  150  positioned adjacent the front end  124  and in front of the heater  136 . A second tubing  148  extends below the heater  136  and fluidly connects the sprayer  142  and an internal conduit  152  provided in the spray mount  150 . The internal conduit  152  is fluidly connected to a plurality of nozzles  154  through which water can be ejected. The pump  146  can be embodied in the form of any conventional negative-pressure pump, and functions to deliver water from the water tank  106  (via the tubings  144  and  148 ) to the spray mount  150 .  
         [0028]     The hair dryer assembly  100  can be used in the following manner. First, a switch  112  can be actuated to turn on the fan system  126  and the heater  136 . The fan system  126  draws air through the opened rear end  122  and the fan  130  generates a flow of air that is directed towards the heater  136  and the front end  124  of the housing  120 . The heater  136  generates heat to warm up the air that passes through the heater  136  from the fan  130  to the front end  124 . The warmed air is blown out through the open front end  124 . When the user desires to wet his or her hair, the user presses on the pump button  147 , which creates negative pressure to draw water from the water tank  106  through the first tubing  144  to the sprayer  142  and pump  146 , where the negative pressure further delivers the water through the second tubing  148  to the nozzles  154  (via the internal conduit  152  in the spray mount  150 ), where the water is ejected and sprayed. The water in the water tank  106  can be replenished by removing the cover  128  at the inlet  140  of the water tank  106 .  
         [0029]      FIGS. 7-10  illustrate one embodiment of a brush assembly  200  according to the present invention. The brush assembly  200  can be used as a conventional brush. The brush assembly  200  has a handle portion  202 , a water tank  204 , a water spray portion  206 , and a brush portion BP 1 .  
         [0030]     The handle portion  202  has an elongated housing  208  which houses the electronics (not shown) to power a heating element  209 . A power cord  210  extends from the housing  208  to supply external power to the brush assembly  200 . A switch  211  can be provided on the housing  208  for turning the heating element  209  on and off. If the brush assembly  200  is used as a conventional brush without the need for electrical power, the electronics, the heating element  209 , the power cord  210  and the switch  211  can be omitted.  
         [0031]     The housing  208  defines a cut-out region  212  which is adapted to receive the removable water tank  204 . The water tank  204  can be fitted into the cut-out region  212 , with the housing  208 , the cut-out region  212  and the water tank  204  configured so that the entire handle portion  202  (with the water tank  204  attached thereto) has an ergonomically and aesthetically pleasing overall configuration. Aligned ridges (e.g., see  218 ,  219 ) can be provided on the housing  208  and the water tank  204  to secure the water tank  204  in the cut-out region  212 . An opening  214  is provided at a front wall  216  of the housing  208 . The water tank  204  has a cover  213  that closes the opening in the water tank  204  through which water is introduced.  
         [0032]     A pump system  215  is provided in the water tank  204  to pump water from the inside of the water tank  204  to the water spray portion  206 . A pump button  220  extends from the pump system  215  for the user to actuate the pump system  215 .  
         [0033]     The water spray portion  206  is fixedly secured to the brush portion BP 1 . The water spray portion  206  has an elongate tube  230  having a plurality of nozzles  232  provided in spaced-apart manner about the tube  230 . A spray conduit  234  extends from one end of the tube  230  and is adapted to be fitted into the opening  214  in the front wall  216  of the housing  208  and through a water outlet  236  at one end of the water tank  204 . A locking ring  235  can be provided on the conduit  234  to secure the conduit  234  at the opening  214 .  
         [0034]     The brush portion BP 1  has a board  240  on which a plurality of bristles  242  are provided. The brush portion BP 1  can be a brush portion for a conventional brush. The board  240  can assume any shape or size, and  FIG. 7  illustrates the board  240  as having a generally oval shape. A slot  244  is provided along an edge of the board  240 , and is adapted to receive, retain and expose a portion of the tube  230 . In particular, the tube  230  is fixedly secured to board  240  at the location of the slot  244 . The slot  244  also exposes a portion of the tube  230  (as best shown in  FIG. 7 ) and some nozzles  232 . Thus, water emitted through the nozzles  232  can exit through the slot  244 .  
         [0035]     The same handle portion  202  (and the water tank  204  carried thereon) can be used with a different brush portion, such as brush portion BP 2  shown in  FIG. 10 . The brush portion BP 2  can be a conventional curling brush, and has a tubular body  250  that defines an internal bore. The body  250  has at least one elongated slit  252  provided along the length thereof. A plurality of the nozzles  232  from the tube  230  are positioned along the slit  252 . A plurality of bristles  254  are provided about the body  250 . The tube  230  is adapted to be inserted into, and fixedly retained inside, the bore of the body  250 .  
         [0036]     To use the brush assembly  200  with brush portion BP 1 , the user grips the handle portion  202  to comb his or her hair, and if the user desires to spray a little water to his or her hair, the user presses the pump button  220 , which causes water from the water tank  204  to be delivered via the outlet  236  and the conduit  234  to the tube  230  and ejected through the nozzles  232 . If a heating element  209  is provided, the user can turn on the switch  211  to turn on the heating element  209 , which will warm up the water retained inside the water tank  204 , so that the ejected water can be warm.  
         [0037]     To use the brush assembly  200  with brush portion BP 2 , the user grips the handle portion  202  to comb his or her hair, and if the user desires to spray a little water to his or her hair, the user presses the pump button  220 , which causes water from the water tank  204  to be delivered via the outlet  236  and the conduit  234  to the tube  230  and ejected through the nozzles  232  and the slit  252 . If a heating element  209  is provided, the user can turn on the switch  211  to turn on the heating element  209 , which will warm up the water retained inside the water tank  204 , so that the ejected water can be warm.  
         [0038]     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.