Abstract:
The present invention relates to hair dryer having a fan and a heater. The hair dryer has a PCB board having programmable integrated circuit (IC) components mounted thereon, wherein the fan and the heater are also connected to the PCB board; a plurality of presets defining operating levels of the fan and the heater, alone or in any combinations; a multi-mode switch connected to the PCB board for controlling the plurality of presets, the multi-mode switch is positioned at an one-hand operable location on the hair dryer, wherein user is able to operate the hair dryer with only a hand holding hair dryer and controlling the plurality of presets through the multi-mode switch.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Chinese utility model application entitled “Hair Dryer” filed on 29 Dec. 2008 having application number 2008202357526 and International patent application entitled “Hair Dryer” filed on 14 Sep. 2009 having application number PCT/SG2009/000335. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an electric appliance. In particular, the present invention relates to an electric hair dryer. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Electric hair dryers are available in various forms offering attractive features. Regardless of the variations, the electric hair dryers available in the market are configured with two or more of distinct buttons/switches, or combination of both for normal operations. 
         [0004]    Typically, at least one button/switch is adapted to control the motor driving electric fan components, whereas the heating components are controlled by the distinct button/switch. Each of these buttons/switches further provides control of fan and heat in various levels. For user friendliness, these buttons/switches are usually placed at the handle where they are reachable easily through the fingers of the hand holding the hair dryer. Due to the size restrain on the handle, the various levels are limited. For example, a full-featured hair dryer comprises both buttons/switches employing three-level adjustments, wherein, level 0 represents no airflow for the electric component, level 1 represents regular airflow and level 2 represents high airflow for the electric component. Similarly, level 0-2 for button/switch associated to the heating component represents no heat, regular heat and high heat respectively. Some hair dryers can even feature with more distinct buttons/switches as the features and controls increase. 
         [0005]    There are of course some mini- or portable or travel hair dryers available on the market. These hair dryers adopt one single switch that switching between regular heated air, regular air, and no air blow for simplicity. In addition, such travel hair dryers or those ordinary or professional hair dryers, also feature with a mechanical switch for switching between different voltages. 
         [0006]    In high power (generally above 1500 W) hair dryers, or professional grade hair dryers, it is generally not practical to adapt dual voltages switching. The hair dryers are generally made to suit the voltage level of intended region/market. 
         [0007]    It can be seen and understood to users that controlling the hair dryer via two or more distinct buttons/switches can be complicated. It can also be wasteful in energy usage due to the limited level controls, and thus decrease users&#39; satisfactions in many regards. 
         [0008]    It can thus be seen that there exists a need for a simple and robust way for a hair dryer. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hair dryer having a fan and a heater. The hair dryer comprises a PCB board having programmable integrated circuit (IC) components mounted thereon, wherein the fan and the heater are also connected to the PCB board; a plurality of presets defining operating levels of the fan and the heater, alone or in any combinations; and a multi-mode switch connected to the PCB board for controlling the plurality of presets, the multi-mode switch is positioned at an one-hand operable location on the hair dryer, wherein user is able to operate the hair dryer with only a hand holding hair dryer and controlling the plurality of presets through the multi-mode switch. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the multi-mode switch is a rotary dial. It is also possible that the multi-mode switch is a toggle switch. The toggle switch may be toggleable in an up-down direction or a left-right direction. It is also possible that the toggle switch is an omni-directional toggle switch that is able to toggle in at least up-down and left-right directions. 
         [0011]    Alternatively, the multi-mode switch is a push button. Further, the button may comprise a first button and a second button, or the button may be a single button. It is also possible that the multi-mode switch comprises a combination of any one of the above multi-mode switches. The multi-mode switch may be located on an upper side of the handle of the hair dryer. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment, the hair dryer may further include a far infrared emitter and an ionic generator connected to the PCB board, wherein their operating status is defined in one of the presets. The PCB may further comprises a switch mode power supply unit and a auto-cut-off circuit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    This invention will be described by way of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of a hair dryer in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a hair dryer according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a hair dryer according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a hair dryer according to a further embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a hair dryer according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a hair dryer according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a hair dryer according to yet a further embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a hair dryer according to yet an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of a hair dryer according to yet further embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view of a hair dryer according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view of a hair dryer according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    In line with the above summary, the following description of a number of specific and alternative embodiments are provided to understand the inventive features of the present invention. It shall be apparent to one skilled in the art, however that this invention may be practiced without such specific details. Some of the details may not be described at length so as not to obscure the invention. For ease of reference, common reference numerals will be used throughout the figures when referring to the same or similar features common to the figures. 
         [0026]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electric hair dryer comprises a heater, a fan, a multi-mode button/switch and a printed circuit board (PCB) connecting the heater, the fan and the multi-mode button/switch. The PCB provides a simultaneous control over the heater and the fan via the multi-mode button/switch. With simple operations for the electric hair dryer in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, a user can simultaneously control the working temperature and airflow easily with one hand. Because the power of an electric hair dryer is controlled and adjusted by built-in programs, it saves energy consumption. The advantages offer more users&#39; satisfactions. For avoidance of doubt, the fan referred herein includes a motor and fan blades, wherein the motor is operationally driving the fan blades to generate airflow. A skilled person would appreciate that any means of generating airflow can be desired. Further, it is also understood that controlling fan or the like has the same meaning as controlling the airflow. 
         [0027]    Further, the present invention is adaptable in high power hair dryer, which includes professional grade hair dryer. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of an electric hair dryer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The electric hair dryer  100  comprises a multi-mode trigger  102 , a Controller  104 , a heater  106  and a fan  108 . Specifically, The Controller  104  generally comprises one or more IC components. The heater  106  operationally generates heat for the electric hair dryer  100 . The heater  106  can be any heating wire transforming electrical energy into heat. The fan  108  operationally generates airflow for the electric hair dryer  100 . The fan  108  comprises a fan and an electric motor to generate airflow. Both heater  106  and fan  108  are respectively connected to the Controller  104 . The Controller  104  provides controls on power level to the fan  108  and heat level to the heater  106  in many levels or combination of levels. The Controller  104  is further connected to the multi-mode trigger  102  that allow users to fully control the electric hair dryer  100  through the single multi-mode trigger  102 . 
         [0029]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , when operating the electric hair dryer  100  with the multi-mode trigger  102 , the multi-mode trigger  102  generates signals to trigger the Controller  104  and simultaneously provides appropriate controls over the heater  106  and the fan  108 . For example, once the Controller  104  receives a signal from the multi-mode trigger  102 , and based on built-in programs resides in the Controller  104 , it controls the heater  106  and the fan  108  by employing a corresponding adjustment process in response to the signal. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic diagram of an electric hair dryer  200  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The electric hair dryer  200  also includes the Controller  104 , the heater  106 , and the fan  108 . The electric hair dryer  200  further comprises a multi-mode trigger  202  exposed on an inner side of a handle  201  of the electric hair dryer  200 . The multi-mode trigger  202  includes a rotary dial that is rotatable clockwise and anticlockwise in all angles. The rotary dial further comprises a potentiometer reside thereto; the potentiometer operationally generates signals through turning the rotary dial from a first angle to a second angle. Certainly, controls and adjustments of the heat level and the airflow power are controlled in accordance with the controlled according to the built-in program resides in the Controller  104  in response to the signals from the multi-mode trigger  102 . 
         [0031]    For the electric hair dryer  200  adapting the Controller  104  for controlling the major operations, the built-in program resided in the IC component is configured to read the signals from the multi-mode trigger  102 , and provide a relevant response to control the heater and fan. For example, the Controller  104  of the electric hair dryer  200  are configured to control the heater  106  and the fan  108  thereof such that the heat generated by the heater  106  is adjusted to a required level A and the airflow supplied by the fan  108  is adjusted to a required level B, upon the signal is received by the Controller  104 , the heat generated by the heater  106  is adjusted to the required level A, and the airflow supplied by the fan  108  is adjusted to the required level B. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  illustrates a schematic diagram of an electric hair dryer  300  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The electric hair dryer  300  has substantially a same design as the electric hair dryer  200  of  FIG. 2 , except that the multi-mode trigger  302  has a rotary dial that is rotatable within a limited angle and less than one full revolution, in the present example, 270 degree. Such configuration allows the multi-mode trigger  302  be used as an ON/OFF switch when it is dialed to one extreme position. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate two electric hair dryers  400 ,  500  having a multi-mode trigger in accordance with the alternative embodiments of the present invention. In  FIG. 4 , the multi-mode trigger comprises a toggle switch  402  to toggle in an up-down direction, whereby  FIG. 5  has its toggle switch  502  to toggle in a left-right direction. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  illustrates an electric hair dryer  600  having a multi-mode trigger  602  in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention. The multi-mode trigger  602  comprises an omni-directional toggle rod that is able to toggle at least in up-down and left-right directions (i.e. four directions). The omni-directional toggle rod is a single rod that protrude on the handle. By default, the single rod is orientated upright to the handle (i.e. not tilting anywhere). As the rod is being pushed/toggled, the potentiometer connected thereto generates a corresponding signal and sends to the Controller  104  for the relevant controls. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  illustrates an electric hair dryer  700  in accordance with yet a further embodiment of the present invention. The electric hair dryer  700  includes an up-down directional pad  702 . The up-down directional pad  702  may be a soft touch button or the like that makes the operations more user friendly. The up-down directional pad may have a similar operational setting as the toggle switch and toggle rod mentioned above. 
         [0036]      FIG. 8  illustrates a multi-mode trigger  802  in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The multi-mode trigger  802  comprises a push button. 
         [0037]    In yet a further embodiment, the multi-mode trigger can be one single trigger integrating one or more of the aforementioned triggers. 
         [0038]    The triggers provide in the aforesaid embodiments, may or may not provide intermediate values. Certainly, those that provide intermediate values are capable of providing more operational controls on the electric hair dryer. 
         [0039]    In another embodiment, the multi-mode trigger is stepless multi-mode trigger, i.e. continuous signal measurements. The controller  104  may have a sampling rate for acquiring the signal measurements during the operation. 
         [0040]    In further embodiment, the Controller  104  controls the heat and airflow levels in a fixed-step manner i.e. each step associated to a prescribed heat/airflow level. In yet a further embodiment, the Controller  104  includes a plurality of operational modes that pre-store level of heat or airflow or combination of both. 
         [0041]    In a further embodiment, the multi-mode trigger may be located on the handle of the electric hair dryer. Certainly, the multi-mode trigger may also be located on other positions of the electric hair dryer, such as airflow cylinder or external remote control apparatus. 
         [0042]    In yet a further embodiment, the multi-mode trigger may integrate switch function with respect to the different embodiments as described above, e.g. to turn on or turn off the power supply by turning the rotary component to a certain angle or the like. 
         [0043]    The electric hair dryer according to the other embodiments of the present invention comprises a heater, an electric component, an multi-mode trigger and an integrated circuit component connecting with the heater, the electric component and the multi-mode trigger, the integrated circuit component being used for simultaneously controlling the heater and the multi-mode trigger in response to the signal from the multi-mode trigger, such that the working temperature and airflow of the electric hair dryer are controlled simultaneously through simple operations. Because the power of the electric hair dryer is controlled and adjusted by built-in programs, it can save energy, and thus the user&#39;s satisfaction is increased. In addition, various multi-mode triggers can be provided for user&#39;s various operation needs. 
         [0044]      FIG. 9  illustrates an electric hair dryer  900  according yet another embodiment of the present invention. The electric hair dryer  900  further comprises a LCD display  905  for displaying operating information. For example, the LCD display  905  may show the current heat and airflow level or the current operating mode. 
         [0045]      FIG. 10  illustrates a cross sectional view of an electric hair dryer  950  in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention. The IC component of the Controller  104  is mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB). Besides the IC components, it is possible that the PCB may further comprise a voltage converter, which allow the electric hair dryer  950  to be used in multiple regions adapting different voltage level. The PCB may further provide a switch mode power supply unit. As the PCB is adapted, which is not suggested or taught in any of the prior hair dryer, more features and controls can be achieved with the hair dryer  950 . For example, the PCB may include safety features such as auto cut off, in case of any faulty. 
         [0046]    The PCB is further mounted within the cavity of the handle. The PCB is positioned within the handle, as it is furthest away from the heating elements of the electric hair dryer  950 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 11  illustrates a cross sectional view of a spout of an electric hair dryer  980  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The electric hair dryer  980  further comprises a far-infra red emitter  985  mounted at the spout cylinder of the hair dryer. The far-infra red emitter  985  is used to improve the blood circulations. 
         [0048]    The above are the detailed embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that some modifications and variations could be made within the spirit of the present invention for those skilled in the art, and these modifications and variations should be regarded within the protection scope of the present invention.