Abstract:
An air diffuser includes a main body and an air diffusing baffle for hair styling. The main body has an upstream end with an air inlet and a coupler for attachment to a hair blower, and a downstream end with an air outlet for delivery of air to a user. The air diffusing baffle has an air baffling surface. The air baffling surface is movable relative to the main body for varying effective level of baffling to an air stream from the air inlet portion.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to hair styling apparatus and, more particularly, to air diffusers for hair styling applications. More specifically, but not exclusively, this invention relates to an air diffuser attachment for use with a hair blower. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Air diffusers for hair styling applications are well known and are typically available in the form of a hair styling attachment comprising a coupling portion for attaching to the outlet of an air blower and a down-stream end for delivery of diffused air towards the scalp of a user. Examples of known air diffusers are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,398, U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,783 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,608. In general, air diffusers are adapted for spreading a jet of concentrated air stream from a source hair blower and/or for slowing down the velocity of an air stream before delivery to a user. 
         [0003]    Conventional air diffusers typically comprise an upstream air inlet and a downstream outlet of a significantly larger aperture than that of the air inlet. An air baffle, typically in the form of a grid with apertures, is mounted at the downstream end to force an incoming air stream to diffuse. Such conventional air diffusers are bulky due to the need of a large diffusing volume and the need to have a transversal baffle spreading across the downstream outlet. 
         [0004]    Therefore, it will be advantageous if there can be provided an improved air diffuser for hair styling applications. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to the present invention, there is provided an air diffuser comprising a main body and an air diffusing baffle for hair styling, wherein said main body comprises an upstream end with an air inlet and coupling means for attaching to a hair blower, and a downstream end with an air outlet for delivery of air to a user, and said air diffusing baffle comprises an air baffling surface; characterised in that said air baffling surface is movable relative to said main body for varying effective level of baffling to an air stream from said air inlet portion. 
         [0006]    By having an air diffuser with a movable air baffling surface, the air baffling characteristics can be varied or adjusted according to individual requirements or for achieving specific styling objectives. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air diffuser comprising a main body and an air diffusing baffle for hair styling, wherein said main body comprises an upstream end with an air inlet and coupling means for attaching to a hair blower, and a downstream end with an air outlet for delivery of air to a user, and said air diffusing baffle comprises an air baffling surface; characterised in that said air baffling surface is movable along the direction of air flow from said air inlet to provide variable adjustability of an effective level of baffling to an air stream from said air inlet portion. 
         [0008]    By having an air diffuser with an air baffling surface which is movable towards and away from a source of high velocity air stream, the air baffling level can be effectively adjusted by a user. 
         [0009]    In a preferred example, said air baffling surface is movable between said downstream end and said upstream end to vary the effective baffling resistance. As a stream of air enters the diffuser at the upstream end and leaves at the downstream end, an air baffling surface which can be moved intermediate the upstream and downstream ends and set to stay at a selected intermediate position provides enhanced flexibility. 
         [0010]    Preferably, said air baffling surface is movable towards and away from said air inlet portion to vary the effective separation between said air baffling surface and said air inlet. Similar, as the velocity of an air stream gradually reduces as the stream of air moves away from the air inlet, an air baffling surface which is movable towards and away from the air inlet portion could be effectively adjusted to set a desired separation between the air baffle surface and the air inlet to alter the baffling characteristics. 
         [0011]    Advantageously, the effective separation between said air inlet and said air baffling surface is adjustable by moving said air baffling surface away from or towards said air inlet. 
         [0012]    In a convenient example, said air diffusing baffle comprises an air baffling member, said air baffling member being extendible from and retractable towards said coupling means. 
         [0013]    In a preferred example, said air inlet defines an inlet aperture, said air outlet defining an outlet aperture, said air outlet aperture being larger than said air-inlet aperture. 
         [0014]    In another preferred example, said air baffling surface of said movable air diffusing baffle is telescopically movable towards and away from said air inlet. A telescopic extension and retraction system is advantageous since it is simple and space efficient. 
         [0015]    To form a baffled air passageway, a plurality of apertures is distributed on said air baffling surface of said air diffusing baffle. 
         [0016]    In a preferred embodiment, said air baffling surface is convex towards said air inlet. A convex baffling surface is advantageous since it provides a smooth and gradually expanding diffusing surface. 
         [0017]    In another preferred embodiment, the diffuser further comprises an intermediate air diffusing baffle, wherein said intermediate baffle is disposed intermediate said air inlet and said air diffusing baffle, and said intermediate air diffusing baffle is movable relative to said air diffusing baffle and said air inlet. The provision of an additional intermediate air diffusing baffle provides an added degree of flexibility so that a user can adjust the baffling characteristics according to the specific needs and/or preferences. 
         [0018]    In a preferred example, said intermediate air diffusing baffle is supported by a plurality of stays extending axially from said main body, and said air diffusing baffle being supported by a plurality of stays extending axially from said intermediate air diffusing baffle; characterised in that said air diffusing baffle and said intermediate air diffusing baffle are individually movable relative to said main body along said stays. The use of rigid stays provides a simple but robust telescopic extension and retraction mechanism, such an extension system is particularly attractive for a simple diffusing attachment. 
         [0019]    Preferably, said intermediate air diffusing baffle and said air diffusing baffle are individually movable relative to said air inlet along an axial direction. The deployment of individually movable diffusing baffles provides an added degree of flexibility for a user to suit specific applications. 
         [0020]    Advantageously, said intermediate air diffusing baffle and said air diffusing baffle are individually and telescopically movable relative to said air inlet along an axial direction. 
         [0021]    As a specific example, said intermediate air diffusing baffle comprises a hollow housing, said hollow housing being convex towards said air inlet and being concave towards said air outlet. 
         [0022]    Advantageously, said main body, said intermediate air diffusing baffle and said air diffusing baffle are stackable with respect to each other. By having stackable members, the diffuser can be fully collapsed into a more compact size for more efficient storage and transport. 
         [0023]    Preferably, said air diffusing baffle comprises a hollow housing, said hollow housing being convex towards said air inlet and being concave towards said air outlet. 
         [0024]    More advantageously, each one of said intermediate air diffusing baffle and said air diffusing baffle is telescopically movable relative to said air inlet along an axial direction. 
         [0025]    In a specific example, said intermediate air diffusing baffle defines a central aperture, said central aperture overlapping with said aperture of said air inlet. Preferably, said air diffusing baffle comprises a hollow housing, said hollow housing being convex with a rounded end extending towards said air inlet. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in further detail below by way of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:— 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of this invention, 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the air diffuser of  FIG. 1  in the fully extended configuration, 
           [0029]      FIG. 2A  is a side view of the air diffuser of  FIG. 1  in the fully retracted configuration, 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the air diffuser of  FIG. 2 , 
           [0031]      FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of the air diffuser of  FIG. 2A , 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a view from bottom of the air diffuser of  FIGS. 2 and 2A , and 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the component parts of the air diffuser of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , there is shown a preferred embodiment of an air diffuser  100  of this invention. The air diffuser  100  comprises a main body  120  and a movable diffuser assembly  140 . The main body defines an air inlet at its upstream end, an air outlet at its downstream end and comprises an air diffusing housing  124  which inter-connects the air inlet and the air outlet. In addition, the main body also defines a coupling means  122  for coupling the air inlet to a hot air source, for example, a hair blower. 
         [0035]    The air diffusing housing  124  comprises a peripheral wall  130  which defines a downstream air-outlet aperture  132  and an upstream air inlet aperture  134  of the air diffuser. The peripheral wall  130  forms a hollow air diffusing housing  124  which defines an air diffusing space so that air coming in from the air inlet and moving towards the air outlet will pass through the air diffusing space and will be spread before leaving the diffuser  100 . In the instant example, the air diffusing housing  124  is bowl shaped wherein the area of aperture defined by the peripheral wall  130  gradually increases as the aperture moves away axially away from the upstream end, that is, from the air-inlet aperture  134 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  5 , the air-outlet aperture  132  defined by the peripheral wall  130  at its downstream end is larger than that of the air-inlet aperture  134 . The bowl-shaped hollow air diffusing housing  124  defines a hollow air diffusing compartment  131  which flares towards the outlet aperture, as more particularly depicted in  FIG. 3 . Although a bowl-shaped housing has been depicted here, other form of housings which defines a flaring compartment, for example, a frustoconical housing, a pyramidal housing, or like shaped housing could also be used. 
         [0036]    A coupling means  122  for coupling the air diffuser to the downstream end, for example, a nozzle, of a hair blower (not shown) is formed at its upstream end, and more specifically, adjacent the air inlet. An exemplary coupling means of a bayonet type which comprises a collar  126  and a fastening means  128  are depicted in  FIGS. 2 ,  2 A,  3  and  4 . The collar  126  forms a peripheral wall which is adapted to surround the air-outlet aperture of a hair blower upon coupling for maximum air coupling efficiency. This peripheral wall in effect defines the air-inlet aperture  134  of the air diffuser  100 . The fastening means is for fastening the air diffuser  100  to a hair blower when the diffuser has been coupled or attached to the hair blower. The fastening means depicted in this example comprises three resilient hooks  128  for clipping onto the nozzle of a hair blower. Each of the hooks is resiliently urged in the radial direction for clipping on to the nozzle of a hair blower. Other appropriate fastening means include, a screw threaded collar (with internal or external threads). 
         [0037]    As depicted in the Figures, the hollow housing defined by the peripheral wall  130  and the collar member  126  are co-axial, that is, sharing a common longitudinal axis. Of course, the collar member is also co-axial with the nozzle of a hair blower with which the diffuser collar member  126  is adapted to engage with during use. In this specification, the term “axis” or “axial” refers to the axis of the collar member or the nozzle of a hair blower. The axial direction substantially defines the direction of air flow from a hair blower. 
         [0038]    The movable diffuser assembly  140  comprises a first movable air diffusing baffle member  150  (the “first baffle member”) and a second movable air diffusing baffle member  160  (the “second baffle member”). The first baffle member  150  comprises a hollow bowl-shaped concave body  152  with an air diffusing surface  154  and a central aperture  156 . The air diffusing surface  154  is convexly curved and is disposed opposite to the air-outlet aperture  132  of the main body  120  so that air exiting from the air-outlet aperture  132  will be diffused when encountering the convexly curved air diffusing surface  154  on moving towards the hair of a user. Part of the air exiting from the air-outlet aperture  132  will pass through the central aperture  156  of the first baffle member, move way from the coupling means, and then move toward the second baffle member. 
         [0039]    The second baffle member  160  comprises another bowl-shaped hollow member  162  which comprises an air diffusing surface  164  which is disposed, at least partially, within the compartment  151  defined by the hollow bowl-shaped member  152 . Similarly, the air diffusing surface  164  is convexly curved towards the air inlet. A plurality of air diffusing apertures  166  are distributed on the bowl-shaped member  162  so that air coming out from the central aperture  156  can be diffused via the through apertures  166  or the external curved surface  164 . 
         [0040]    The first and the second baffle members  150 ,  160  are movable towards and away from the air-inlet aperture  134  or the coupling means. The first baffle member  150  is axially movable and is movable relative to the peripheral wall  132  of the main housing to vary its axial separation with the air-inlet aperture. To facilitate axial movements of the first baffle member, the first baffle member  150  is supported by a plurality of posts or stays axially extending from the main body  120 . The stays are adapted so that the first baffle member  150  can slide along the stays and along an axial direction to move towards and away from the coupling means. Similarly, the second movable baffle member  160  is supported on the internal bowl surface of the first movable baffle member by a plurality of axially extending posts or stays so that the second baffle member can slide relative to the first baffle member  160  and also along an axial direction. By causing axial sliding movements of the second baffle member  160 , the second baffle member will be moved towards and away from the bowl-shaped member  152  of the first movable baffle member  150 . The bowl-shaped members  152  and  162  are shaped and dimensioned so that the bowl-shaped member  162  of the second baffle member is receivable within the compartment  151  formed by the first movable baffle member and the first baffle member is receivable within the bowl compartment formed by the peripheral wall  132  of the main body. As is depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 3A , the bowl-shaped members  130 ,  152 , and  162  are stackable. Notably, each of the movable baffle members comprises an air diffusing baffle surface for varying the air diffusing characteristics of the air diffuser  100 . 
         [0041]    By providing a movable baffle member or movable baffle members each of which can be received by the compartment of the main body, an air diffuser which can be re-configured into a more compact size for travelling or transport is provided. The movable diffusers can be telescopically extended to an appropriate baffling level for use. Each of the first  150  and second  160  baffle members is individually movable so that a user can adjust each of the baffle members independently. Although the movable diffuser assembly comprises first and second baffle members, it will be appreciated that an air diffuser may only comprise a single movable baffle member, for example, either the first baffle member or the second baffle member, without loss of generality. Where a diffuser only comprises the first baffle member only, the central aperture  156  would be replaced by a plurality of smaller apertures or non aperture at all. Of course, more than two individually movable baffle members can be incorporated into a diffuser of this invention. 
         [0042]    In addition to making the air diffuser more compact by having retractable or movable air baffle members, an air diffuser of this configuration also enables the variation of air diffusing characteristics by adjusting the relative separation between the diffusing surfaces  154 ,  164  of the respective baffle members and the upstream end of the air diffuser. As an example, each of the main body and the baffling members could be formed of plastics and can be formed by plastic moulding. 
         [0043]    In use, a user can extend each of the baffle members  150 ,  160  to a desired baffling level and the baffle member will stay in position by frictional engagement with the corresponding stays. After use, the baffle members can be fully retracted for storage, as shown in  FIG. 2A . 
         [0044]    While the present invention has been explained by reference to the examples or preferred embodiments described above, it will be appreciated that those are examples to assist understanding of the present invention and are not meant to be restrictive. Variations or modifications which are obvious or trivial to persons skilled in the art, as well as improvements made thereon, should be considered as equivalents of this invention. 
         [0045]    Furthermore, while the present invention has been explained by reference to an air diffuser of a specific shape and with two movable baffle members, it should be appreciated that the invention can apply, whether with or without modification, to air diffusers of other shape and configuration without loss of generality.