Patent Publication Number: US-2004047620-A1

Title: Hair dryer assembly

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001] The present invention is directed to a hair dryer assembly which includes a diffuser portion. The diffuser portion contains a heating element to assist in drying and/or styling hair. The operation of the diffuser heating element may be controlled by an additional switch on the hair dryer, a switch on the diffuser itself or by the same power switch as the hair dryer.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002] Portable hair dryers are extremely popular in today&#39;s world. Typically, hair dryers include an air intake portion and a fan which draws outside air into the air intake. The fan blows the air over an electrical heating element. The air is warmed and is then blown out of the hair dryer through an opening.  
       [0003] Most portable hair dryers have a gun-type shape comprised of a handle portion and a barrel portion. The user holds the hair dryer at the handle portion. The opening through which the warm air is expelled is located at the end of the barrel portion. In use, the user generally holds the hair dryer by the handle such that the opening at the end of the barrel is substantially adjacent to wet hair that the user hopes to dry using the hair dryer.  
       [0004] Recently, hair dryers have not only been used to dry hair but also to assist with curling or styling hair. Generally, this is accomplished by the user using a type of brush or other implement in conjunction with the hair dryer. In some cases it is desirable to decrease the volume of air and/or the speed of the air blowing on the hair to facilitate the styling of the hair while drying. Implements, referred to as diffusers, are often attached to hair dryers to facilitate this. The diffusers essentially diffuse or divert a portion of the air coming from the hair dryer so that less air is blowing on the hair. SUMMARY  
       [0005] Several reasons exists for providing an additional heating element on a diffuser. For instance, diffusers create additional distance between the hair dryer&#39;s heat source and the hair. Therefore when the air passes through the diffuser, heat is lost in the process. In addition, heat is lost due to the spreading of the air from the hair dryer over a greater area with the diffuser. In addition, sometimes additional heat is required to assist the user with achieving a desired hairstyle while drying the hair. In conventional hair dryers additional heat is oftentimes combined with increased air flow through the hair dryer for faster drying. However, in instances where a user desires to style the hair while drying, it is desirable to have extra heat without additional air volume or air speed blowing on the hair. It also may be desirable to have the heat in closer proximity to the hair to assist with drying or styling or to make up for heat lost due to the distance between the hair dryer heater and the hair which is caused by the diffuser. Further, placing a heated device in close proximity to the hair can assist with styling.  
       [0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair dryer assembly comprising a hair dryer portion and a diffuser portion which includes a heating element.  
       [0007] The hair dryer element provides an implement to blow warm air over hair. The diffuser portion limits the amount of air that is blown directly onto the hair. The heating element is added to the diffuser to provide extra heat to the air used in drying hair and to assist with drying and styling of the hair while drying.  
       [0008] The diffuser attachment of the present invention may comprise a diffuser housing having a resistance heater positioned therein. An insert may be positioned within the diffuser housing. The insert may have one or more holes or spaces therein for allowing air flow through the insert. The resistance heater may be positioned around the insert. The diffuser further comprises a means for electrically connecting the resistance heater on the insert to a power supply circuit of a hair dryer.  
       [0009] The invention is disclosed further through the following drawings and the detailed description presented herein. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010]FIG. 1 illustrates elements of a conventional hair dryer.  
     [0011]FIG. 2 is a side view of a hair dryer/diffuser assembly in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0012]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a hair dryer assembly in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0013]FIG. 4 is a rear view of a diffuser in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0014]FIG. 5 is a side view of a diffuser in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0015]FIG. 6 is a front view of a diffuser in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0016] In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which, in conjunction with this detailed description, illustrate and describe a hair dryer assembly. The invention may also be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to only the disclosed embodiments. The provided embodiments are included so the disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to persons of ordinary skill in the art.  
     [0017] Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a typical electric portable hair dryer, generally designated  2 . A hair dryer  2  as used with the present invention may be comprised of a handle  10  and a barrel  12 ; however, other configurations are within the scope of this invention. The outer shell portion of the hair dryer may be fabricated of a substantially non heat conducting, and/or electrically insulated material such as plastic. In typical hair dryers, a motor rotates a fan  48  to achieve air flow through the hair dryer. Power may be supplied to the motor by line voltage, batteries, butane or other fuel containing cartridges, or any other suitable energy source. For instance, the handle of the hair dryer may be configured to receive a conventional electric power supply cord  16 .  
     [0018] When power is supplied to the motor and the fan rotates, air is drawn into the hair dryer  2  through air inlets  14 . Any number of alternate placements of air inlets are contemplated by the present invention. The air drawn into the hair dryer through air inlets  14  passes over a heating element  20 . The heating element may be a conventional type heating element such as a resistance wire that is powered by the same energy source as the fan and motor  48 . The heating element warms the air as it passes over the heating element before it is expelled from the hair dryer  2  through an outlet  18  in the end of the barrel portion  12 . The outlet  12  does not need to be completely open to accomplish the hair dryer&#39;s purpose. For the purposes of this invention, any means which will allow air to pass out of the air outlet of the hair dryer is considered an opening. For instance, the outlet end  18  of the barrel may comprise slits or holes through which the air flows (as illustrated in FIG. 3).  
     [0019] FIGS.  2 - 7  illustrate a diffuser, generally designated  22 , for use in a hair dryer assembly in accordance with the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the diffuser  22  of the present invention is comprised of a heat resistant rigid plastic material which can withstand elevated temperatures without softening, melting and/or deforming. In one embodiment, the diffuser comprises a housing  19  having a bowl shape. It should be understood that various shapes and materials for diffusers may be employed and still be within the scope of the present invention. The housing  19  comprises a first end  21  for removably attaching the diffuser  22  to the hair dryer  12  and an opposite second end  23  through which air is expelled. These features are best seen in FIG. 5. The first end of the diffuser which attaches to the hair dryer  21  is configured to be removably attached to the air outlet end of the hair dryer. The first end  21  of the diffuser may have a diameter that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the air outlet of the hair dryer, so that the first end  21  of the diffuser  22  fits into the air outlet end of the barrel of the hair dryer. In another embodiment, the first end  21  of the diffuser  22  may have a diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the air outlet of the hair dryer so that the first end of the diffuser may be positioned around the hot air outlet end of the barrel of the hair dryer. In either of these embodiments, the diffuser may be held in place on the end of the barrel of the hair dryer by a variety of means including but not limited to frictional engagement with the end of the hair dryer, by a combination of corresponding slots and projections or ridges and grooves on the hair dryer barrel and/or the first end of the diffuser and/or by a means for electrically connecting the diffuser to the power supply circuit of the hair dryer.  
     [0020] One of the ways that a diffuser decreases the volume of air flow from a hair dryer is by spreading the air flowing from the hair dryer through the diffuser over a larger surface area. Another way that a diffuser decreases air flow from the hair dryer is by covering at least a portion of the the air outlet end  23  of the diffuser. In a preferred embodiment, the structure of the diffuser in accordance with the present invention facilitates these purposes. This diffuses or blocks some of the air coming from the hair dryer from blowing onto the hair.  
     [0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, the diffuser comprises a bowl shaped diffuser housing  19 . Positioned inside the diffuser housing  19  is a diffuser insert  40 . The insert  40  serves to both diffuse the air flowing out from the hair dryer and it includes an additional heating element. In one embodiment, the insert  40  may be comprised of a circular piece of plastic. In a second embodiment, a diffuser insert may be comprised of a piece of metal secured inside the diffuser housing. It is contemplated by the present invention that diffuser inserts may be flat, have concave or convex curvatures or other shaped surfaces. It is contemplated by the present invention that an insert as described herein could be made of various materials. An insert  40  in accordance with the present invention may have one or more holes  41  therein for allowing air to flow from the outlet  18  of the hair dryer  2  through the insert  40 . In one embodiment, a heating element  28  is secured around the outer circumference of the insert  40 . The heating element  28  may be secured to the insert  40  by any number of means, including but not limited to clips or prongs  28  as shown in FIG. 3. In a preferred embodiment, the heating element comprises a resistance wire enclosed in an electrically insulating sleeve. This type of heater is commonly known as a rope heater. In other embodiments, the heating element may be ceramic heater comprised of a resistance wire encapsulated in a ceramic material, a positive temperature coefficient thermistor heater (“PTC heater”), or any other suitable heating element. In a preferred embodiment, the heating element is at least partially insulated for the safety of the user and to avoid melting or softening of the plastic material which makes up the diffuser housing and the insert. It should be understood that the heating element may be positioned on the insert or within the diffuser housing in a variety of configurations, all of which are contemplated by the present invention.  
     [0022] In addition, it is contemplated by the present invention that a metal insert could be used without an additional heating element, if used with a hot air producing hair dryer. The hot air from the hair dryer could be used to heat up the metal insert. The heat from the metal insert would impart an additional measure of heat to the hair of a user.  
     [0023] The insert may be held inside the diffuser housing by a variety of means. For instance, the insert may be held inside the bowl shaped diffuser housing by means of screws or pins. However, it should be understood that the insert may be held inside the diffuser by many different means all of which are within the scope of the present invention.  
     [0024] The insert is positioned inside the diffuser so that the air expelled from the hair dryer through the diffuser receives additional warming before flowing onto the hair of the user. In addition, the heating element  28  in the diffuser can be used to provide additional heat directly to the person&#39;s hair as it is being dried. This provides beneficial drying and styling effects to the user.  
     [0025] In another embodiment of the present invention, the insert may be comprised of any type of heat resistant porous material such as a sheet of foam or fabric. In another embodiment, the outlet end portion  23  of the diffuser  19  housing may be covered with a heat resistant porous material which can block some of the air exiting from the hair dryer. A heating element as described above may be encased in a similar porous material and placed around the circumference of the diffuser housing. In other embodiments of the present invention, the heating element may be positioned around an inner circumference of the diffuser housing or be placed in varying patterns in the diffuser housing or on the insert. It is contemplated by the present invention that the heating element  28  could be located in any position on or within the diffuser such that it will provide additional heat directly to the hair as it is being dried or to the air exiting through the outlet end  23  of the diffuser  22 .  
     [0026] In another embodiment, the diffuser may be additionally equipped with styling implements such as those represented by  26  in FIGS. 3 and 6. The styling implements may be used for various purposes such as to lift the hair while drying, to comb or detangle the hair while drying.  
     [0027] It should be understood that the features of the diffuser shown in the drawings and described herein are interchangeable and the scope of the invention should not be limited only to the embodiments shown in the drawings. For instance, the heating element may be a part of an insert or attached directly to the diffuser housing. As another example, porous material as described above could be used with a heating element on the outside of the diffuser. The styling implements  26  (FIG. 2) could also be used in conjunction with or as an alternative to both of these embodiments.  
     [0028]FIG. 3 illustrates how the diffuser  22  and the hair dryer  2  are electrically coupled together to form a hair dryer assembly in accordance with the present invention. In one embodiment, the barrel end of the hair dryer will be equipped with a means for connecting  30  the diffuser  22  to the dryer  2  such that there is an electrical connection between the diffuser and the hair dryer. In this embodiment, an electrical connection terminal  24  is attached at the first end  21  of the diffuser that attaches to the hair dryer. The terminals may be of a conventional “pin” type  24  or of any other known type. In one preferred version, the air outlet of the hair dryer there is positioned a socket adapter  30  configured to accept the electrical connection terminal of the diffuser. Conventionally known leads connect the socket adaptor to the power supply circuit of the hair dryer. The diffuser&#39;s electrical attachment means  24  and the connecting means  30  of the hair dryer can be connected to form the assembly of the present invention. The power supply distribution may be controlled by one or more on-off switches which correspond to the hair dryer, the diffuser or both, such as switch  46  shown in FIG. 1.  
     [0029] The power level from the energy source should be sufficient to maintain a temperature which is sufficient for drying or curling hair. It should be understood that any range of temperatures could be used so long as they are comfortable for users of the hair dryer and do not scorch or burn the hair when used for drying and/or styling.  
     [0030] As an example of the present invention, in an embodiment where the hair dryer uses line voltage as a power source, there will typically be a single electric power supply cord (e.g.  16 , FIG. 1) which can be connected to a typical wall outlet. Inside the hair dryer, the power cord provides power to two separate lines in the hair dryer. A first line will provide power to the motor and heating element in the hair dryer while the second line will provide power to the heating element of the diffuser.  
     [0031] Switches to control electrical functions are known. Any combination of switches to control single or multiple electrical functions are within the scope of the present invention.  
     [0032] In one embodiment, two separate switches can be connected to the hair dryer to control the power of each of the hair dryer motor and heater and the diffuser heating element. One example switch is designated as  46  in FIG. 1. Thus, the hair dryer can be used with or without the diffuser and heating element. In this embodiment, one switch will be connected to the power line connected to the hair dryer motor and heater and will turn on the hair dryer for drying of the hair. The other switch controls the power line leading to the diffuser attachment of the hair dryer. The diffuser is essentially “plugged in” to the hair dryer. When the second switch is turned on, power is supplied to the heating element of the diffuser by the second line. When the heating element of the diffuser is warmed, additional heat is transmitted to the air passing through the hair dryer and diffuser to facilitate drying and styling of the hair. Alternatively, the switch which controls the power to the diffuser heating element may be on the diffuser rather than the hair dryer.  
     [0033] In another embodiment, the same power line may provide power to both the motor, hair dryer heater, and the diffuser heating element. In this embodiment, only one switch will be required. When the switch is turned to it&#39;s “ON” position, both the motor, the hair dryer heater and the diffuser heater will operate. It should be understood that a diffuser as described herein could also be used with a hair dryer which does not have a heating element or has an inoperable heating element.  
     [0034] In still another embodiment, no electrical connection is required between the diffuser and the hair dryer. In this embodiment, the diffuser will have an opening at the narrow end for attaching to the barrel of the hair dryer. The diffuser can be attached to the barrel of the hair dryer through known mechanical means. For instance, the opening in the narrow end of the diffuser can be just slightly larger than the end of the hair dryer barrel and narrow slightly inward so that the diffuser can slide a short distance on to the barrel of the hair dryer. Other mechanical means for holding the diffuser to the barrel of the hair dryer include cam action, clips, set screws and any other known means. In this embodiment, the diffuser heating element will have its own power supply such as a power supply cord, batteries a butane or other fuel containing cartridge or other suitable power source. The diffuser will be equipped with a switch for turning on the power of the heating element.  
     [0035] Further, the diffuser may be provided as a part of the hair dryer and be turned on/off by its own power switch or by the same power switch as the hair dryer as described above. In this embodiment, the hair dryer and diffuser form a single, non-separable unit.  
     [0036] In addition, the diffuser described above could be provided as a retro-fit kit for existing hair dryers. The diffuser in this embodiment may have its own power source or may comprise a means to connect it to the power source of existing hair dryers. For instance, the diffuser may have its own power supply cord, be equipped for battery or fuel cartridge power or could be spliced into the power supply of existing hair dryers.  
     [0037] It is contemplated by the present invention that the hair dryer may have a range of temperature and/or air speed settings and that the heating element of the diffuser may have a range of temperature settings. For instance the switch which controls the motor and/or heating element of the hair dryer may have HIGH, MEDIUM and LOW settings which refer to the temperature of the hair dryer heating element and the speed of the motor. Similarly, the switch which controls the diffuser may have a range of settings such as HIGH, MEDIUM and LOW which refer to the temperature of the heater in the diffuser. The switch may control the temperature of the diffuser heater by controlling the power supplied to the heating element.  
     [0038] The invention described above can be used in several fashions to dry hair. For instance, sections of wet, damp or dry hair can be positioned into the diffuser. When the hair dryer portion is powered on, air will begin to flow onto the hair. The heating element of the diffuser can further be powered on either before or after the hair dryer is turned on. Alternatively, the heating element of the diffuser or the hair dryer could be used alone to assist with styling of the hair. The hair dryer could be utilized with or without having the diffuser attached thereto or with or without turning on the diffuser heating element. It is contemplated that the hair dryer assembly of the present invention could be used on wet, damp or dry hair.  
     [0039] The foregoing disclosure is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although one or more embodiments of the invention have been described, persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that numerous modifications could be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed invention. As such, it should be understood that all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as described. The written description and drawings illustrate the present invention and are not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed. Modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well as other embodiments, are included within the scope of the invention.