Abstract:
A holder for an appliance is disclosed. The holder is capable of supporting a variety of conventional hair dryers and permitting the flow of air to be directed in any desired direction while leaving the user&#39;s hands free for other purposes. The holder can be configured to be mounted on a surface such as, but not limited to, a wall.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to non-provisional application Ser. No. 11/697,402, dated Apr. 6, 2007, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of accessories for holders of appliances, and more particularly to a hair dryer mount capable of supporting a variety of conventional hair dryers and permitting the flow of air to be directed in any desired direction while leaving the user&#39;s hands free for other purposes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Portable hand-held electric blow dryers are widely used devices for drying and styling the hair of users. Such a hair dryer typically includes a heating element, a fan, and means to direct hot air toward the head of a user. Such hair dryers generally have an elongated graspable handle section and a barrel section extending generally perpendicularly with respect to one another from a central section. The user holds the hair dryer by the handle and directs the barrel toward the damp hair so that the warm air impinges on it. 
         [0004]    This mode of operation presents several drawbacks. For example, the user&#39;s arm may become tired after holding the drier up for a sustained period of time, notwithstanding the fact that commercially available driers are relatively lightweight. Moreover, since the user has to hold the blow drier in one hand adjacent his or her head, this severely limits the user&#39;s ability to style his or her hair during the drying operation. Many hair styles require the use of both hands to hold the hair in proper position while it is being combed and brushed so that the desired styling can be achieved. Additionally, it is difficult for a person who does not have full use of his or her arms because of some disability to fully use the conventional blow dryer. 
         [0005]    The use of stands and wall mounting devices for blow dryers are known in the art. More specifically, hair drying stands and wall mounted devices heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of drying hair are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
         [0006]    Some of the known holders, once the hand-held blow dryer has been fitted therein, do not allow for convenient adjustment of the height and directivity of the barrel. Some of the known holders do allow for adjustment of the height and directivity of the barrel but are difficult to assemble, complicated to use and/or costly to manufacture. Some of the known holders have too much gadgetry, e.g. wing nuts, using unhinging and repositioning of the device in order to obtain different air flow positions. Some of the known holders sit on a table top or counter, taking up valuable space, adding to clutter. Another problem with table top holders is that they do not allow the user to stand and optimally use the bathroom mirror. Some of the known holders use a goose-neck design, which allows a blow dryer to fall should the goose-neck succumb to gravity. 
         [0007]    Additionally, some users wishing to save time prefer the option of multi-tasking, e.g. brushing teeth, applying make-up, while a steady stream of well directed air removes excess moisture from the hair, prior to styling the finishing touches. Other problems exist. 
         [0008]    There is a need for a wall mounted appliance holder that is more stable and has less cost and complexity. 
         [0009]    There is also a need for a wall mounted appliance holder that is more flexible in its use. 
         [0010]    There is a need for a wall mounted appliance holder that is able to accommodate a variety of different kinds of blow dryers and which can suspend the blow dryer in any position relative to the user&#39;s head. 
         [0011]    There is a need for a wall mounted appliance holder where the position of the blow dryer and the direction of the air flow may be easily changed from one position to another without having to disengage the support mechanism, move the blow dryer and then re-engage the mechanism. 
         [0012]    There is a need for a wall mounted appliance holder that can be pushed from one position to another without need of adjusting the wall mounted appliance holder and which will stay in the desired position without further adjustment once it is put in place. 
         [0013]    Therefore, a need exists for a wall mounted appliance holder with these attributes and functionalities. The wall mounted appliance holder according to embodiments of the invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art. It can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved wall mounted appliance holder which can be used commercially. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills these objectives. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a wall mounted appliance holder. In particular, the present invention relates to a device that utilizes the principles of an elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand arrangement for adjustable support of a blow dryer. Generally speaking, the present invention permits hands-free drying of the user&#39;s hair, thus leaving both hands free of a user during the blow drying process to facilitate the styling of hair, the brushing of teeth, the applying of makeup, and the like. 
         [0015]    The present invention also provides an aesthetically pleasing resting position for a blow dryer when it is not in use, saving the user from having to store and retrieve the blow dryer in order to have a neat looking bathroom. The present invention also alleviates the drama of having a running blow dryer placed on a counter top while the user struggles to section her hair and properly position the brush when styling for smoothness. 
         [0016]    The present invention uses a combination of pivot members, e.g. press fit ball joints and spring steel snap rings, in order to facilitate ease of use and effectiveness. The ball joints make it easy to maneuver the air flow into a desired position with minimal effort. The spring steel snap rings keep enough tension of the ball joints to make the present invention&#39;s use lasting and strong. Additionally, a universal holder positioned at the top of a shaft and having gaskets, e.g. rubber gaskets, to assure a snug form fit, allows for practically any model blow dryer to be securely held in place while simultaneously allowing the user to grasp and remove and replace the blow dryer as needed. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment the present invention may be made and assembled in the following steps:
       Create a rounded base from plastic dimensioned to be fixed to a wall with fasteners, e.g. concrete screws   Form a round holder on the rounded base with cut out edges elevated from the round holder extending upward at approximately 90 degrees   Form a shaft having a lower ball and an upper ball   Place the lower ball of the shaft in the round holder   Secure the lower ball of the shaft with a spring steel snap ring around the cut out edges   Take a holder, e.g. a U-shaped holder, with a rounded out hollow base with cut out edges and place the U-shaped holder over the upper ball   Secure the U-shaped holder to the upper ball with a spring steel snap ring around the cut out edges of the U-shaped holder   Form U-shaped gaskets dimensioned to fit on the U-shaped holder and having sufficient friction holding characteristics to snugly hold a blow dryer in place.   Press the rubber gaskets onto the U-shaped holder   Check the tension and holding power of the assembly       
 
         [0028]    In one embodiment the wall mounted appliance holder is comprised of means for attachment to a substantially vertical surface, e.g. a wall, means for elbow element pivoting, a means for wrist element pivoting, means for hand element grasping and a forearm element that cooperates with the means for elbow element pivoting, the means for wrist element pivoting and the means for hand element grasping. 
         [0029]    In one embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a base mount held stable to a surface, e.g. a wall, with fasteners, e.g., screws, bolts, adhesives, magnets, hook and loop fasteners. The present invention is further comprised of a cup assembly connected to the base mount. The present invention is further comprised of a base-mount ball joint operable to cooperatively engage within the cup assembly. The present invention is further comprised of an arm shaft connected at the lower end of the arm shaft to the base-mount ball joint and held tight with a spring steel snap ring. The present invention is further comprised of a generally U-shaped universal holder dimensioned to hold a handle of a blow dryer. The universal holder cooperates with the arm shaft via a wrist-mount ball joint positioned and secured at the upper end of the arm shaft. The wrist-mount ball joint is held tight with a spring steel snap ring. The present invention is further comprised of a plurality of rubber gaskets disposed on the universal holder to securely hold a blow dryer handle. Rubber gaskets of various dimensions may be used in order to accommodate blow dryer handles of different dimensions. 
         [0030]    In some embodiments of the present invention the arm shaft and ball joints may be formed as one piece. In other embodiments of the present invention the arm shaft and ball joints may be formed as separate pieces and dimensioned such that the ball joints may be affixed to the arm shaft. 
         [0031]    The present invention pivots and positions in a manner that mimics the operation of a human elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand. A forearm-like arrangement cooperates both with an elbow-like arrangement and a wrist-hand-like arrangement to accomplish this simulation. 
         [0032]    In one embodiment the elbow arrangement mounts to a wall using fasteners, e.g. concrete screws; this arrangement provides a first cup assembly, i.e. a socket, for a shaft, i.e. a forearm, which is held securely in place by one or more snap rings, i.e., a spring steel snap ring. The shaft extends upward to second cup assembly, i.e. a wrist, which is also secured with an additional snap ring. The ability of the present invention to grasp a particular blow dryer is augmented by rubber gaskets which fit securely over the top of a U-shaped universal holder, i.e. mimicking a hand with fingers. 
         [0033]    The present invention is preferably made from a plastic such as polyurethane with a hardening substance such as glass or POM plastic to achieve the desired characteristics. The present invention may be made from other materials, e.g. brass, polished nickel, in order to provide an array of finishes to match the decor of a particular bathroom. The present invention may be constructed with a different mechanical approach than what is shown in the attached drawings. 
         [0034]    One aspect of the present invention to provide a new wall mounted appliance holder which has many of the advantages of the dryer support devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new wall mounted appliance holder which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art dryer support devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
         [0035]    Another aspect of the present invention is that is provides a wall mounted appliance holder which is more flexible in its use. 
         [0036]    Another aspect of the present invention is that it provides a hands free wall mounted appliance holder which is easy to install. 
         [0037]    Another aspect of the present invention is that it provides a hands free wall mounted appliance holder which is simple and easy to use. 
         [0038]    Another aspect of the present invention is that it provides an apparatus for supporting and holding commercially available blow dryers in a multitude of positions adjacent to the user&#39;s head to free the user&#39;s hands for other purposes. 
         [0039]    Another aspect of the present invention is that it provides an apparatus for adjustably supporting commercially available hand-held blow dryers. 
         [0040]    Another aspect of the present invention to provide a new wall mounted appliance holder which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
         [0041]    Another aspect of the present invention to provide a new wall mounted appliance holder which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
         [0042]    Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a new wall mounted appliance holder which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such handheld dryer support device economically available to the buying public. 
         [0043]    Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a new wall mounted appliance holder which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
         [0044]    Another aspect of the present invention is that it may be made from readily available materials. 
         [0045]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be presented in more detail in the following specification of the invention and the accompanying figures, which illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention. 
         [0046]    There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0047]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0048]    The invention, together with further advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0049]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a blow dryer holder, according interior assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0050]      FIG. 2  illustrates a right side plan view of a blow dryer holder, according interior assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0051]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front plan view of a blow dryer holder, according interior assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0052]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top plan view of a blow dryer holder, according interior assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0053]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a front plan view of a wall mount interior assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0054]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a left side plan view of a wall mount interior assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0055]      FIG. 6A  illustrates a front plan view of a wall mount exterior assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0056]      FIG. 6B  illustrates a perspective view of  FIG. 6A . 
           [0057]      FIG. 7A  illustrates a top plan view of a U-shaped holder, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0058]      FIG. 7B  illustrates a bottom plan view of a U-shaped holder, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0059]      FIG. 8  illustrates a front plan view of a shaft, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0060]      FIG. 9  illustrates a left side sectional plan view of a wall mount assembly with the lower ball joint of a shaft inserted, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0061]      FIG. 10  illustrates a right side sectional plan view of a U-shaped holder with the upper ball joint of a shaft inserted, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0062]      FIG. 11  illustrates a top plan view of a snap ring, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0063]      FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective view of a wall mounted blow dryer holder, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0064]      FIG. 13  illustrates a front plan view of a wall mounted blow dryer holder, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0065]      FIG. 14  illustrates a rear plan view of a wall mounted blow dryer holder, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0066]      FIG. 15  illustrates a left side plan view of a wall mounted blow dryer holder, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0067]      FIG. 16  illustrates a right side plan view of a wall mounted blow dryer holder, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0068]      FIG. 17  illustrates a top plan view of a wall mounted blow dryer holder, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0069]      FIG. 18  illustrates a bottom plan view of a wall mounted blow dryer holder, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0070]      FIG. 19  illustrates an exploded view of a wall mounted blow dryer holder, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0071]      FIG. 20  illustrates a perspective view of a top female element of a wall mounted blow dryer holder, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0072]      FIG. 21  illustrates a side perspective view of another embodiment of a wall mount interior assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0073]      FIG. 22  illustrates a bottom perspective view of  FIG. 21 . 
           [0074]      FIG. 23  illustrates side by side perspective views of the wall mount interior assemblies of  FIGS. 21 and 5A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0075]    The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to a few preferred embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known operations have not been described in detail so not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention. 
         [0076]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 20  in one embodiment, a wall mounted appliance holder  100  is comprised of a wall mount assembly  200 , a shaft assembly  300 , and an appliance holder assembly  400 . The appliance holder assembly  400  is dimensioned for the snug holding of a conventional hand held blow dryer. The shaft assembly  300  cooperates pivotally with the wall mount assembly  200  and the appliance holder assembly  400  to facilitate the positioning of the snuggly held blow dryer to the angle desired by a user. 
         [0077]    The shaft assembly is further comprised of a shaft element  310  having a bottom ball joint  320  at the near end of the shaft element  310  and a top ball joint  330  at the distal end of the shaft element  310 . The shaft assembly is further comprised of a plurality of snap ring  340 . 
         [0078]    The wall mount assembly  200  is further comprised of a wall mount interior assembly  210  and a wall mount exterior assembly  220 . The wall mount interior assembly  210  is further comprised of a wall mount interior base  211 , and a bottom ball joint holder  212  having a bottom ball joint holder sleeve  213 , formed substantially as illustrated in  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  and dimensioned for the insertion of the bottom ball joint  320 . At least one of snap ring  340  securely holds bottom ball joint  320  within bottom ball joint holder  212 . The wall mount interior base  211  is further comprised of a plurality of interior base fixture hole  214 . 
         [0079]    The wall mount exterior assembly  220  is comprised of a wall mount exterior base  221 , and an exterior encasement  222  having an exterior encasement hole  223  dimensioned for insertion of the bottom ball joint  320  therein. The wall mount exterior assembly  220  is further comprised of a plurality of exterior base fixture hole  224 . 
         [0080]    The appliance holder assembly  400  is comprised of a U-shaped holder  410 , and a plurality of gasket  420 . The U-shaped holder  410  is further comprised of a U-shaped cavity  411  on the bottom side of the U-shaped holder. Within the U-shaped cavity  411  is formed a top ball joint holder  412  having a top ball joint holder sleeve  412 , dimensioned for the insertion of top ball joint  330 . At least one of snap ring  340  securely holds top ball joint  330  within top ball joint holder  412 . 
         [0081]    In an exemplary embodiment, a wall mounted appliance holder  100  is comprised of a wall mount assembly, a shaft assembly, and an appliance holder assembly. 
         [0082]    The wall mount assembly is further comprised of a wall mount base  510  having a lower socket  511  formed on the non-wall side of the wall mount base  510 , a plurality of base fastener holes  512 , and a plurality of base fasteners  520 . The wall mount assembly  500  is further comprised of a bottom cap  530 . 
         [0083]    The appliance holder assembly is comprised of a male holder  710  having a male gripper insert  711  affixed. The appliance holder assembly is further comprised of a female holder  720  having a female gripper insert  721  affixed. The appliance holder assembly is further comprised of an upper socket  730  and upper socket fasteners  740  that attach the upper socket  730  to the female holder  720 . The male holder  710  is formed to mate securely to the female holder  720 . 
         [0084]    The shaft assembly is comprised of two halves designed to fit together, a male arm  610  and a female arm  620 . Arm fasteners  630  connect the male arm  610  with the female arm  620 . The shaft assembly is further comprised of a lower snap ring  640  and an upper snap ring  650 . The lower snap ring  640  connects the lower portion of the assembled shaft assembly to the lower socket  511 . The upper snap ring  650  connects the upper portion of the shaft assembly to the upper socket  730 . 
         [0085]    Referring now to  FIG. 21  through  FIG. 23 , a second embodiment of an interior wall mount assembly is shown. The use of an alternate holding structure and fasteners, e.g. lower socket fasteners, as shown, reduce manufacturing costs and complexities while providing secure movement of the shaft assembly. 
         [0086]    From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, many of the features and components described above in the context of a particular wall mounted appliance holder configuration can be incorporated into other configurations in accordance with other embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except by the appended claims.