Abstract:
By providing a plurality of portals in a housing which forms a hair dryer attachment which is merely fixed to the exist portal of any conventional hair dryer, a hair dryer attachment is realized which is capable of substantially reducing the drying time required for drying the hair of any individual, while also being easily employed and comfortable. In the preferred embodiment, at least one raised, sloping panel is formed adjacent the inlet portal of the attachment with the panel sloping outwardly from the generally circular shaped inlet portal. In addition, a plurality of apertures or portals are formed in the panel for enabling ambient air to freely flow therethrough. In this way, the heated air flowing through the central portion of the attachment creates a low-pressure zone on the inside surface of the portals, drawing ambient air through the portals into the interior of the hair dryer attachment, thereby enabling the quantity of the air reaching the hair of the user is substantially increased.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/438,542, filed Jan. 6, 2003, entitled ATTACHMENT FOR HAIR DRYERS. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to hair dryers and, more particularly, to an attachment for a hair dryer which substantially enhances and improves the drying of the hair fibers. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Men and women have had, for many decades, the desire of drying their hair after washing. Typically, a hand-held hair dryer is employed, which is constructed for drawing ambient air through an elongated passageway in which a heat source is retained. As the air flows over the heat source, the temperature of the following air is raised, with the heated air being channeled to an exit portal where the heated air is applied to the user&#39;s wet hair fibers. By continuously exposing the wet hair fibers to the heated air stream, the desired drying effect is realized. 
     In order to meet the substantial demand that has been developed for hand-held hair dryers, a wide variety of styles, configurations, and product enhancements have evolved. However, in spite of the substantial effort that has been expended in developing a universally acceptable hair dryer, the industry has failed to achieve a hand-held hair dryer which is capable of satisfying all of the consumer demands imposed thereon. In this regard, one principal objection raised by many users is the inability of achieving optimum drying of one&#39;s hair in a minimum period of time. 
     In attempting to satisfy this desire of most consumers, the heating elements contained in the hand-held hair dryers have been increased in order to impart higher and higher temperatures to the air flow. However, although increased temperatures have been realized, consumers have been reluctant to employ hair dryers having substantially increased air flow temperatures, due to the discomfort produced by these products. 
     In addition, various attachments have been produced for being affixed to the exit portal of a hair dryer in an attempt to channel the air flow in a particular manner which will enhance and/or reduce the necessary drying time. Although some of these attachments have met with some success in satisfying consumer needs, these products have been incapable of achieving universal acceptance by all consumers. 
     In general, these prior art attachments tend to be large and/or extremely bulky in size, causing the user to experience added weight during the hair drying process, as well as causing the hair dryer itself to have an altered center of gravity. As a result, the user experiences substantial difficulty and inconvenience in holding and supporting the hair dryer, due to the added weight and bulk of the attachment affixed to the discharge end of the hair dryer. Due to these difficulties and inconveniences, these prior art products have not been widely accepted. 
     Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a hair dryer attachment which enables the user to achieve complete drying of the hair in a substantially reduced period of time. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a hair dryer attachment having the characteristic features described above which is quickly and easily affixed to the hair dryer, and comprises a small, compact, light weight construction. 
     Another object to the present invention is to provide a hair dryer attachment having the characteristic features described above which is capable of substantially increasing the flow of air exiting the attachment, enabling the hair to be dried more rapidly. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a hair dryer attachment having the characteristic features described above which is capable of reducing the hair drying time, without requiring the air to be heated to high temperatures. 
     Another object to the present invention is to provide a hair dryer attachment having the characteristic features described above which also enables the user to completely control the increased airflow in a simple and easily employed manner. 
     Other a more specific objects will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     By employing the present invention, all of the difficulties and drawbacks found in prior art hair dryers and hair dryer attachments have been overcome and a hair dryer attachment is realized which is capable of substantially reducing the drying time required for drying the hair of any individual, while also being easily employed and comfortable. In accordance with the present invention, two unique construction elements are provided in a single hair dryer attachment which is merely affixed to the exit portal of any conventional hair dryer to achieve the substantially improved and enhanced results. 
     In the present invention, a hair dryer attachment is attained which incorporates a substantially circular entry zone or portal constructed for being quickly and easily affixed to any conventional circular shaped hair dryer exit portal. In addition, the opposed or exit end of the hair dryer attachment of the present invention is formed incorporating an enlarged, diverging wall configuration, constructed for channeling and directing the air flowing through the hair dryer attachment to expand or fan outwardly as the air flow exits the attachment. In this way, the air flow stream exiting in the attachment is maximized. 
     In addition, cooperating with the enlarged, expanding, exit portal of the attachment of the present invention, the present invention also incorporates a plurality of inlet portals formed on the outer surface of the attachment, directly adjacent to the circular shaped entry zone. In the preferred embodiment, at least one raised, sloping panel is formed adjacent the inlet portal of the attachment with the panel sloping outwardly from the generally circular shaped inlet portal. In addition, a plurality of apertures or portals are formed in the panel for enabling ambient air to freely flow therethrough. 
     By incorporating a plurality of air inlet panels formed on the outer surface of the hair dryer attachment, the heated air flowing through the central portion of the attachment creates a low-pressure zone on the inside surface of the portals, drawing ambient air through the portals into the interior of the hair dryer attachment. As a result, the quantity of the air reaching the hair of the user is substantially increased. 
     Although the ambient air drawn into the hair dryer attachment slightly reduces the temperature of the flowing air, it has been found that the substantially increased quantity of air flowing through the attachment to the user&#39;s hair causes a substantial increase in the hair drying efficacy of the hair dryer, substantially reducing the drying time required to dry the individual&#39;s head of hair. By combining this unique portal and increased air flow construction with the enhanced enlarged diverging wall configuration, the hair dryer attachment of the present invention is capable of substantially reducing the drying time normally required by an individual in a totally passive product, having no moving parts and causing no detrimental or adverse effects to the user. 
     In the preferred construction, two radially extending, sloping panels are formed on the outer surface of the hair dryer attachment with each panel being diametrically opposed from the other. In addition, each panel incorporates a plurality of apertures or slots formed therein for providing the desired air flow passageways. In addition, the hair dryer attachment also preferably incorporates an open ended, hollow, cylindrical tube member having a leading edge adjacent the inlet portal of the hair dryer attachment and a terminating edge which is generally aligned with the terminating edges of the apertures formed in the sloping panels. 
     By employing this construction, the heated air flow from the hair dryer flows through the substantially cylindrically shaped tube member in a manner which controls the flow to optimize the creation of a reduced pressure zone directly adjacent the terminating edge of the tube member. In this way, a low-pressure zone is created which causes the ambient air to flow into the portals formed in the sloping panels, and merge with the heated air flow stream, delivering a substantially increased volume of air to the user. In this way, the substantially increased and enhanced benefits of the present invention are realized. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the hair dryer attachment of the present invention incorporates a flow adjusting collar cooperatively associated with the inlet portals formed in the hair dryer attachment for enabling the user to vary the number of portals effectively exposed to the ambient air. In this way, the quantity of air which is capable of entering the hair dryer attachment of the present invention can be increased or decreased in accordance with the user&#39;s desires. 
     In the preferred construction, the flow adjusting collar incorporates a generally circular shaped, rotatable ring member in which at least one, elongated, enlarged portal is formed. In addition, the ring member is constructed for being coaxially aligned with and peripherally surrounding the portion of the hair dryer attachment incorporating the portals. In this way, by arcuately rotating the ring member about its central axis, the enlarged portal formed therein is capable of effectively opening and/or closing one or more of the portals formed in the hair dryer attachment. As a result, the maximum air flow rate through the portals is easily controlled by the user. 
     By employing the present invention, it has been found that the hair dryer attachment of the present invention provides substantially enhanced performance and improved hair drying speeds, regardless of which embodiment of the present invention is employed. In those instances when complete control over the airflow is required, the alternate embodiment of the present invention with the rotatable control collar is employed. 
     The invention accordingly comprises a product possessing the features, properties, and the relation of components which will be exemplified in the product hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     
       THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view depicting a conventional hair dryer with the hair dryer attachment of the present invention mounted thereto; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the hair dryer attachment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view of the hair dryer attachment of the present invention depicting the inlet portal thereof; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of the hair dryer attachment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view, partially in cross-section, depicting the hair dryer attachment in operation, affixed to a hair dryer, the major portion of which has been broken away; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 — 6  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional end view taken along line  7 — 7  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment for the hair dryer attachment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a rear elevation view of the hair dryer attachment of  FIG. 8 , depicting the inlet portal thereof; and 
         FIG. 10  is cross-sectional side elevation view of the hair dryer attachment taken along line  10 — 10  of FIG.  9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     By referring to  FIGS. 1-10 , along with the following detailed discussion, the construction and operation of the two preferred, alternate embodiments of the hair dryer attachment of the present invention can best be understood. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention are fully disclosed herein, further alternate constructions may be implemented without departing from the scope of this invention. Consequently, it is to be understood that this detailed disclosure is provided for exemplary purposes only and is not intended as a limitation of the present invention. 
     As fully depicted in  FIGS. 1-10 , hair dryer attachment  20  of the present invention comprises a uniquely constructed housing  21  in combination with inner tube member  22 . In addition, outer housing  21  incorporates a circular shaped inlet portal  23  and an outlet portal  24 . 
     In the preferred embodiments, inlet portal  23  is constructed for being quickly and easily securely mounted to the exit portal of a conventional hair dryer  25 , as depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 5 . Although any desired mounting/engagement system can be employed, it has been found that the incorporation of radially extending tabs or ridges  26  formed on the outer surface of portal  23  enables hair dryer attachment  20  to be quickly and easily inserted into the exit portal of hair dryer  25  and locked in place. 
     In accordance with the present invention, housing  21  of hair dryer attachment  20  incorporates outwardly extending raised cavities  30  and  31  which are preferably formed diametrically opposed from each other. Each of the outwardly extending, raised cavities  30  and  31  comprise an upwardly, sloping surface or panel  32  extending upwardly from the inlet portal side of housing  21 , and downwardly extending panel or surface  33  extending from the terminating edge of panel/surface  32  towards outlet portal  24 . In addition, a plurality of apertures  34  are formed in each panel/surface  32 . In the preferred construction, apertures  34  comprise elongated slots extending substantially the entire width of panels  32 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 5 , tube member  22  comprises a generally cylindrical truncated conical shape extending from leading edge  38  having a first diameter, to trailing edge  39  having a second diameter which is less than the first diameter. In the preferred embodiment, tube member  22  extends substantially the entire width of upwardly sloping panels  32 , with trailing edge  39  lying in a plane which is substantially equivalent with the juncture between sloping panels  32  and  33 . By employing this construction, interior zone or pocket  40  is established between the outer surface of tube member  22  and the inside surface of panels  32 . In addition, as depicted in  FIG. 6 , pocket or zone  40  also extends the entire arcuate length of panels  32 . 
     By employing this construction, the heated air exiting hair dryer  25  enters inlet portal  23  of hair dryer attachment  20  and is channeled through tube member  22 , narrowing as the inside wall thereof narrows. Since tube member  22  effectively defines a continuous, narrowing pathway for the heated air flow, all of the heated air flow from hair dryer  25  flows into inlet portal  23  and through tube member  22 . In addition, as the heated air stream from hair dryer  25  flows rapidly passed trailing edge  39  of inner tube member  22 , a pressure drop or low-pressure effect is created directly adjacent pocket/zone  40 . This low-pressure effect is created in accordance with the well-known Bernoulli&#39;s Principle. 
     By creating an area of low-pressure directly adjacent trailing edge  39  and pocket/zone  40 , ambient air is automatically drawn through slots  34  of sloping panels  32  of cavities  30  and  31 , as shown by arrow  41 . As is well-known, whenever any area of low-pressure exists, air from a higher pressure source will flow to the low-pressure area in an attempt to stabilize the low-pressure area. Since a continuous flow of heated air from hair dryer  25  maintains the low-pressure area adjacent pocket/zone  40 , ambient air continuously flows into slots  34  in a constant attempt to eliminate or stabilize the area of low-pressure. As a result, the volume of air flowing out of hair dryer  25  and through hair dryer attachment  20  is substantially increased by the air drawn through slots  34 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , in the preferred construction of the present invention, inner tube member  22  incorporates a radially extending flange  44  formed co-extensively with leading edge  38 . Flange  44  is constructed for nested engagement with a slot formed in the interior surface of housing  21 . In this way, tube member  22  is securely positioned in housing  21 , in the precisely desired position and orientation. 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 1-5 , outlet portal  24  comprises an enlarged, generally oval shape, which is formed by arcuately curved, diverging sidewalls  45  and  46 . In the preferred construction, sidewalls  45  and  46  are integrally formed on the diametrically opposite sides of housing  21 , commencing in an area generally adjacent trailing edge  39  of tube member  22 . Sidewalls  45  and  46  extend from this initial position in a diverging, outwardly extending configuration, forming enlarged, fan-shaped, oval outlet portal  24 . By continuously expanding outwardly to form outlet portal  24 , this construction encompasses a substantially increased volume than would otherwise be achieved by a conventional circular shaped tube. As a result, the substantially increased air volume achieved by drawing ambient air into the flow path is capable of being easily accommodated and effectively delivered to the user. 
     By providing enlarged outlet portal  24  along with arcuately curved, diverging sidewalls  45  and  46 , which defines the flow path for the combined heated air and ambient air, a unique, highly effective, air flow delivery system is achieved for producing a substantially increased volume of air and delivering the increased volume of air directly to the hair of the user at a substantially elevated temperature. As a result, substantially increased and enhanced drying of the user&#39;s hair is realized. 
     By referring to  FIGS. 8-10 , along with the following detailed discussion, the construction and operation of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention can best be understood. In this embodiment, hair dryer attachment  20  is constructed in a manner consistent with the embodiment detailed above. As a result, similar reference numerals are employed in  FIGS. 8-10  when referring to substantially identical components. 
     As depicted, in this embodiment, hair dryer attachment  20  comprises housing  21  in combination with tube member  22  which is mounted within housing  21 . In addition, housing  21  incorporates a generally circular shaped inlet portal  23  and an output portal  24 . 
     In this embodiment, as with the embodiment detailed above, inlet portal  23  is constructed for being quickly and easily securely mounted to the exit portal of a conventional hair dryer. Although any desired mounting/engagement system can be employed, the incorporation of radially extending tabs or ridges  26  formed on the outer surface of portal  23  enables hair dryer attachment  20  to be quickly and easily inserted into the exit portal of a hair dryer and locked in place. 
     In this embodiment, housing  21  of hair dryer attachment  20  incorporates outwardly extending raised cavities  30  and  31  which are preferably formed diametrically opposed from each other. In addition, outwardly extending raised cavities  30  and  31  each comprises an upwardly sloping surface or panel  32  extending upwardly from the inlet portal side of housing  21 , and a downwardly extending panel or surface  33  extending from the terminating edge of panel/surface  32  towards output portal  24 . In addition, a plurality of apertures  34  are formed in each panel/surface  32 . In the preferred construction, apertures  34  comprise elongated slots extending substantially the entire width of panel/surface  32 . 
     In the preferred construction of this alternate embodiment, attachment  20  also incorporates air flow control member  50  mounted to housing  21 . In the preferred embodiment, air flow control member  50  comprises a generally circular shaped ring member which peripherally surrounds the entire outer surface of housing  21  in the area which comprises panels/surfaces  32  of raised cavities  30  and  31 . In addition, air flow control member  50  incorporates at least one, elongated opening or portal  51  which comprises a substantial arcuate length thereof. 
     In its preferred construction, air flow control member  50  incorporates two portals  51 , each of which are constructed with an arcuate length and position for cooperating with portals  34  formed in panels/surfaces  32  of raised cavities  30  and  31 . As depicted, portals  51  of air flow control member  50  are positioned in juxtaposed, spaced, vertically aligned, overlying, cooperating relationship with portals  34 . By arcuately rotating air flow control member  50  relative to housing  21  about the central axis defined by air flow control member  50 , portals  51  of air flow control member  50  are moved into blocking relationship with portals  34  of panels/surfaces  32 . Furthermore, depending upon the arcuate movement of air flow control member  50  about housing  21 , portals  34  may be blocked in their entirety or, alternatively, any desired quantity of portals  34  can be exposed or opened. 
     By employing air flow control member  50 , a user is able to alter the amount of ambient air which is capable of flowing through portals  34 . If no additional air flow is desired, portals  34  be closed in their entirety, by arcuately rotating air flow control member  50  into a position where portals  51  overlies an area of raised cavities  30  and  31  which is devoid of any portals  34 . 
     Alternatively, if maximum air flow is desired, portals  51  of air flow control member  50  are arcuately rotated to a position where portals  51  are aligned with portals  34  in a manner which exposes portals  34  formed in raised cavities  30  and  31 . Furthermore, as is evident from this detailed discussion, air flow control member  50  may be rotated into any desired alternate position, thereby blocking and/or exposing any desired quantity of portals  34 . In this way, the quantity of air which is capable of flowing through portals  34  into hair dryer attachment  20  of the present invention is capable of being quickly and easily controlled by the user. 
     The remaining elements and construction details incorporated into this embodiment of hair dryer attachment  20  is substantially identical to the elements and construction details provided above in reference to  FIGS. 1-7 . Consequently, all additional disclosure provided above is incorporated herein by reference. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above article without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.