Patent Publication Number: US-2021169195-A1

Title: High-efficiency cordless hair dryer

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a high-efficiency cordless hair dryer, and more particularly, to a high-efficiency cordless hair dryer, in which a power supply module is mounted at a rear side of a main body housing, and a battery is disposed in a direction of a flow of air, such that the battery may be prevented from being heated, thereby improving safety of use. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, a hair dryer refers to an electronic device used to dry moist hair with cool or hot air and uses the principle of drying hair by accelerating evaporation of water particles attached to the hair. 
     Most of the hair dryers in the related art are wired hair dryers with power plugs connected to power terminals. A cordless hair dryer has been developed for convenience of use, and the cordless hair dryer uses a battery. Therefore, it is important to ensure efficiency and safety of the battery. In particular, because excessive heat may be generated from the battery, studies are being conducted on a structure for arranging the battery. 
     In addition, in the case of most of the currently known cordless hair dryers, a battery is disposed in a handle of the dryer, because it is convenient to place the battery in the handle in consideration of the structure of the dryer. However, this structure may cause problems in that a user&#39;s hand may be burned by heat generated and transferred from the battery and the hair dryer may be damaged due to the heat generated from the battery. 
     For example, the cordless hair dryer, which is commercially available, is designed such that power consumption is 1,000 W at 10 V. In this case, if a high current of about 80 A is discharged, for example, there may be a remarkably high risk that an accident occurs as the battery is overheated. For example, in a case in which a high-output battery with highest performance is discharged at 20 A, a temperature of a surface of the battery is rapidly raised up to approximately 80° C. In this case, it can be assumed that the battery disposed in the handle may cause a great danger. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for development of a cordless hair dryer having a new structure capable of inhibiting overheating of the battery to enable stable use, and using heat emitted from the battery to heat air, thereby improving efficiency of a drying process. 
     As the related art, there is U.S. Patent Application Laid-Open No. US2018/0031318A1. This patent application discloses a configuration in which a battery is mounted in a handle part. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a high-efficiency cordless hair dryer, in which a power supply module is mounted at a rear side of a main body housing, and a battery is disposed in a direction of a flow of air, such that the battery may be prevented from being heated, safety of use may thus be improved, and air used to cool the battery may be heated, thereby improving efficiency of a drying process. 
     Technical Solution 
     A high-efficiency cordless hair dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include: a main body housing having, at a rear side thereof, an air inlet port through which air is introduced, having, at a front side thereof, a discharge port through which the air is discharged, and having an internal space in which a heating element is mounted; and a power supply module configured to supply power and detachably coupled to the rear side of the main body housing at which the air inlet port is formed, in which the power supply module is detachably coupled to the main body housing so as to be coincident with a direction of a flow of air in the main body housing. 
     In addition, the power supply module according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include: a battery mounting body including a plurality of battery mounting members disposed in a circumferential direction in a movement passage for air and configured such that a plurality of batteries is detachably coupled to the plurality of battery mounting members, respectively; and a module plate coupled to a rear side of the battery mounting body and mounted with a switch member for turning on/off the batteries or a remaining power level display member for indicating a remaining power level. 
     In addition, the power supply module according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include a thermally conductive thin film disposed along an inner surface of the battery mounting body and configured to dissipate heat generated from the batteries. 
     In addition, the battery mounting member according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may have a “ ” cross-sectional shape or a semicircular cross-sectional shape and configured such that the battery is coupled to or separated from the battery mounting member, and a conductive thin film may be formed along an inner surface of the battery mounting member. 
     In addition, the battery according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be fixed, by silicone, to a groove formed in the battery mounting member. 
     In addition, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a capacity of the battery or the number of batteries and the number of battery mounting members may be selectively determined in accordance with the amount of required power. 
     In addition, the battery according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be disposed such that a longitudinal direction of the battery is coincident with or perpendicular to the direction of the flow of air. 
     In addition, the power supply module according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be configured as a pouch type and detachably coupled to the rear side of the main body housing. 
     In addition, the module plate according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may have a charging terminal for charging the battery. 
     In addition, the power supply module according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include at least one filter disposed in front of or behind the battery mounting body. 
     In addition, the high-efficiency cordless hair dryer according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include a suction fan configured to suck air into the internal space of the main body housing, in which the suction fan is disposed between the module plate and the internal space of the main body housing or the battery mounting body. 
     In addition, the high-efficiency cordless hair dryer according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include a handle part mounted at a lower end of the main body housing and having an operation adjustment unit, in which the operation adjustment unit is adjustable after the switch member is turned on. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the power supply module is mounted at the rear side of the main body housing, and the battery is disposed in the direction of a flow of air, such that the battery may be prevented from being heated, safety of use may thus be improved, and air used to cool the battery may be heated, thereby improving efficiency of the drying process. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a schematic configuration of a high-efficiency cordless hair dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a power supply module detachably coupled to a main body housing illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a modified example of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a view illustrating a cross section taken along line A-A in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a configuration of a power supply module of a high-efficiency cordless hair dryer according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view illustrating a configuration of a power supply module of a high-efficiency cordless hair dryer according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the power supply module of the high-efficiency cordless hair dryer according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF MAIN REFERENCE NUMERALS OF DRAWINGS 
       100 : High-efficiency cordless hair dryer 
       110 : Main body housing 
       110 S: Internal space of main body housing 
       111 : Heating element 
       113 : Air inlet port 
       115 : Discharge port 
       120 : Power supply module 
       121 : Battery mounting body 
       122 : Battery 
       123 : Battery mounting member 
       124 : Thermally conductive thin film 
       125 : Module plate 
       126 : Switch member 
       127 : Remaining power level display member 
       128 : Charging terminal 
       130 : Handle part 
       131 : Operation adjustment unit 
       132 : On/off switch 
       133 : Hot air adjustment member 
       134 : Cool air button 
       140 : Suction fan 
       150 : Filter 
       220 : Power supply module 
       221 : Battery mounting body 
       222 : Battery 
       223 : Battery mounting member 
       224 : Conductive thin film 
     BEST MODE 
     Advantages and/or features of the present invention and methods of achieving the advantages and features will be clear with reference to exemplary embodiments described in detail below together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein but will be implemented in various forms. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided so that the present invention is completely disclosed, and a person with ordinary skill in the art can fully understand the scope of the present invention. The present invention will be defined only by the scope of the appended claims. Like reference numerals indicate like constituent elements throughout the specification. 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a schematic configuration of a high-efficiency cordless hair dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a power supply module detachably coupled to a main body housing illustrated in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3  is a modified example of  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 4  is a view illustrating a cross section taken along line A-A in  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a high-efficiency cordless hair dryer  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a main body housing  110 , a power supply module  120  detachably coupled to the main body housing  110 , a suction fan  140  configured to suck outside air into the main body housing  110 , and a handle part  130  mounted on the main body housing  110  and configured to serve as a handle. 
     With this configuration, it is possible to efficiently remove moisture from a user&#39;s hair, for example, while preventing heat generation caused by use of a battery, thereby improving safety of use. 
     Each configuration will be described. First, the main body housing  110  according to the present exemplary embodiment defines a basic external appearance and has an internal space  110 S. An air inlet port  113  may be formed at a rear side of the main body housing  110 , and a discharge port  115  through which cool air or hot air is discharged may be formed at a front side of the main body housing  110 . Although not illustrated, a cover (not illustrated) may be coupled to the discharge port  115  of the main body housing  110 , and an expanded flow of air may be provided through the cover. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a heating element  111  may be disposed in the internal space  110 S of the main body housing  110  so as to be adjacent to the discharge port  115 . The heating element  111  may be operated by power provided from the power supply module  120  to be described below and may heat air passing through the heating element  111 , such that a flow of air having an adjusted temperature may be provided through the discharge port  115 . 
     For example, the heating element  111  may be configured in the form of a spiral coil having a tube shape, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and other types of heating elements  111  may be used. 
     Meanwhile, as described above, in the case of a cordless hair dryer in the related art, a module for supplying power is provided in a handle, which causes a problem in that a user is injured due to heat generated when the battery operates. 
     Therefore, in the present exemplary embodiment, the power supply module  120  is detachably coupled to the main body housing  110 , such that a structure for mounting and separating the power supply module  120  is simplified. Further, the amount of heat, which may be generated from the power supply module  120 , may be minimized, and the generated heat may be used, such that the high-efficiency cordless hair dryer according to the present invention is more efficient and stable than that in the related art. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 , the power supply module  120  according to the present exemplary embodiment may include: a battery mounting body  121  having a plurality of battery mounting members  123  disposed in a circumferential direction and configured such that batteries  122  are detachably coupled to the plurality of battery mounting members  123 , respectively; and a module plate  125  coupled to a rear side of the battery mounting body  121 . In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the batteries  122  are disposed in the circumferential direction, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the batteries  122  may be disposed in a movement passage for air. 
     First, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the battery mounting body  121  has a hollow cylindrical shape corresponding to the shape of the internal space  110 S of the main body housing  110 , and the plurality of battery mounting members  123  is provided on an inner surface of the battery mounting body  121 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a total of six battery mounting members  123  may be provided on the battery mounting body  121 , and the batteries  122  may be mounted on the battery mounting members  123 , respectively. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the battery mounting member  123  may have a schematically “ ” shape closed (outward) at a lower side thereof, and the battery  122  may be mounted in a groove formed in the battery mounting member  123 . In this case, the battery  122  may be fixed to the battery mounting member  123  by means of silicone. 
     However, the number of batteries  122  and the number of battery mounting members  123  may be selectively determined in accordance with performance to be implemented by the hair dryer  100 .  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a total of six battery mounting members  123  and the batteries  122  coupled to the battery mounting members  123 , respectively. However, there may of course be provided more than six batteries  122  and more than six battery mounting members  123  in order to prepare for a case in which a larger amount of power is required. Likewise, a battery with a larger capacity may also be used as the battery  122 , as necessary. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the power supply module  120  according to the present exemplary embodiment may have a thermally conductive thin film  124  made of aluminum having high thermal conductivity, for example, disposed along the inner surface of the battery mounting body  121 , and configured to dissipate heat generated from the batteries  122 . 
     In particular, as described above, the battery mounting member  123  has a “ ” shape. The conductive thin film  124  is also formed along inner surfaces of the battery mounting members  123 , such that the heat generated from the batteries  122  may be appropriately dissipated from a center of the battery mounting body  121  along the thermally conductive thin film  124 . 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 4 , the conductive thin film  124  mounted on the battery mounting members  123  has a separation space to some extent from the batteries  122 , such that outside air may be appropriately transmitted to the batteries  122 , the heat generated from the batteries  122  may be appropriately dissipated through the conductive thin film  124 , and thus the batteries  122  may be more quickly cooled. 
     With the arrangement structure and the configuration of the power supply module  120 , it is possible to prevent the batteries  122  from being overheated and to efficiently used the heat generated from the batteries  122 . 
     In addition, when the high-efficiency cordless hair dryer  100  according to the present exemplary embodiment operates as described above, the outside air may be introduced, by the suction fan  140 , into the internal space  110 S of the main body housing  110  via the power supply module  120 , heated by the heating element  111 , and then provided to the user&#39;s hair and the like. 
     In this case, the batteries  122  may be heated due to the use of the batteries  122  or an influence of the heating element  111 , but the amount of heat generated from the batteries  122  may be minimized by the outside air because the outside air is introduced into the power supply module  120 , as described above. In addition, the heat generated from the batteries  122  is dissipated through the thermally conductive thin film  124 , and the dissipated heat is provided to the air directed toward the main body housing  110 , such that the air may be heated. 
     Meanwhile, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the module plate  125  according to the present exemplary embodiment is coupled to the rear side of the battery mounting body  121  and may include a switch member  126  for turning on/off the batteries  122 , a remaining power level display member  127  for indicating a remaining power level of the batteries  122 , and a charging terminal  128  for charging the batteries  122 . 
     The switch member  126  may be provided in various forms, but because the high-efficiency cordless hair dryer  100  is often carried by the user, the switch member  126  may be configured to turn on/off the batteries while sliding. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the switch member  126  may of course be configured as a touch type, a button type, or the like. 
     Since the remaining power level display member  127  indicates the remaining power level of the batteries  122 , the user may check the remaining power level of the batteries  122  and charge the batteries  122  by using the charging terminal  128 . The charging terminal  128  may be provided in accordance with several standards, and thus the hair dryer  100  according to the present exemplary embodiment may be charged by a portable auxiliary battery. 
     Meanwhile, the handle part  130  according to the present exemplary embodiment is mounted at a lower end of the main body housing  110  and may include an operation adjustment unit  131  including an on/off switch  132  for operating the hair dryer  100 , an adjustment member  133  for adjusting intensity of hot air, and a cool air button  134  for generating cool air. 
     Because the operation adjustment unit  131  of the handle part  130  may be unintentionally pushed when the user carries the hair dryer  100  in a bag or the like as described above, the operation adjustment unit  131  according to the present exemplary embodiment may operate in conjunction with the switch member  126  provided on the module plate  125 . In other words, an instruction for operating the operation adjustment unit  131  may be executed only after the batteries  122  are turned on by the switch member  126 . 
     Meanwhile, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the power supply module  120  according to the present exemplary embodiment may include filters  150  disposed in front of and behind the battery mounting body  121 . The filters  150  may filter the air to be introduced into the hair dryer  100  according to the present exemplary embodiment, thereby providing clean air to the user&#39;s hair or the like. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the filters are provided in front of and behind the battery mounting body  121 , one by one, respectively, such that the operation of filtering the air may be repeatedly performed, thereby providing clean air to the user. 
     In addition, referring to  FIG. 2 , in the present exemplary embodiment, the suction fan  140  may be provided in the internal space  110 S of the main body housing  110 , particularly, between the heating element  111  and the filter. The suction fan  140  may also be operated by power provided from the power supply module  120 , and the outside air may be introduced into the main body housing  110  via the power supply module  120  when the suction fan  140  operates. 
     In this case, as described above, the introduced air may cool the heated batteries  122  to some extent, and the heat generated from the batteries  122  may heat the air. Therefore, because the battery  122  is not mounted in the handle part  130  unlike the related art, it is possible to completely prevent the handle part  130  from being heated, and the outside air may prevent the battery  122  from being heated despite the structure in which the handle part  130  is coupled to the main body housing  110 , thereby preventing the entire hair dryer  100  from being heated. 
     Meanwhile, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the suction fan  140  may be mounted in the main body housing  110 , but as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the suction fan  140  may be mounted in the power supply module  120 . In other words, the suction fan  140   a  may be disposed between the battery mounting body  121  and the filter  150  at the rear side. In this case, the suction fan  140   a  may be closer to the outside, thereby more strongly sucking the outside air. 
     Meanwhile, the following table shows temperatures of a surface of the battery  122  with respect to velocities of air introduced into the hair dryer  100  according to the present exemplary embodiment. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Air Velocity (m/s) 
                 0 
                 12 
                 18 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Discharge Current (20 A) 
                 90° C. 
                 50° C. 
                 45° C. 
               
               
                 Discharge Current (15 A) 
                 48° C. 
                 36° C. 
                 32° C. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     It can be seen from the table that the temperature of the surface of the battery decreases when the velocity of air is high, and it can be ascertained that the temperature of the surface of the battery less increases when a discharge current is low. According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention as described above, the power supply module  120  is mounted at the rear side of the main body housing  110 , and the battery  122  is disposed in the direction of a flow of air, such that the battery  122  may be prevented from being heated, safety of use may thus be improved, and air used to cool the battery  122  may be heated, thereby improving efficiency of the drying process. 
     Meanwhile, a configuration of a hair dryer according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described, and a description of parts substantially identical to the parts of the above-mentioned exemplary embodiment will be omitted. 
       FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a configuration of a power supply module of a high-efficiency cordless hair dryer according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     As illustrated, a power supply module  220  according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a battery mounting body  221 , and a groove of each of a plurality of battery mounting members  223  provided on the battery mounting body  221  may have a semicircular shape corresponding to a shape of a battery  222 . In this case, since the shape of the groove of the battery mounting member  223  corresponds to the shape of the battery  222 , the battery  222  may be more stably mounted. 
     In addition, a conductive thin film  224  is mounted along inner surfaces of the battery mounting members  223 , such that the heat generated from the batteries  222  may be dissipated to the outside through the conductive thin film  224 , thereby improving efficiency in cooling the batteries  222 . 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view illustrating a configuration of a power supply module of a high-efficiency cordless hair dryer according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the power supply module of the high-efficiency cordless hair dryer according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a power supply module  320  according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a battery mounting body  321 . A plurality of battery mounting members  323  provided on the battery mounting body  321  may have one or more holders  323 - 1  configured to surround a battery pack including a plurality of batteries  322 , and a support  323 - 2  configured to fix the body to the battery mounting body  321 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the support  323 - 2  may fix the plurality of batteries  322  so that the plurality of batteries  322  is disposed at a center of the battery mounting body  321 . 
     In addition, a conductive thin film  324  is mounted along inner surfaces of the holders  323 - 1  of the battery mounting members  323 , such that the heat generated from the batteries  322  may be dissipated to the outside through the conductive thin film  324 , thereby improving efficiency in cooling the batteries  322 . 
     In the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments and the drawings, the case in which the plurality of batteries is disposed in the direction corresponding to the direction of the flow of air has been described above, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the batteries may of course be disposed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the flow of air or disposed to be inclined. 
     Meanwhile, in the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments, the power supply module has been described as having the structure attachable to and detachable from the main body housing, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the power supply module may be configured as a pouch type and detachably coupled to the rear side of the main body housing. 
     While the specific exemplary embodiments according to the present invention have been described above, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described exemplary embodiments and should be defined by not only the claims to be described below, but also those equivalent to the claims. 
     While the present invention has been described above with reference to the limited exemplary embodiments and the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments and may be variously modified and altered from the disclosure by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Therefore, the spirit of the present invention should be defined only by the appended claims, and all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives fall within the scope and spirit of the present invention.