Patent Publication Number: US-2013232809-A1

Title: Hair dryer attachment

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/608,530, filed Mar. 8, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to hair dryer attachments and, more particularly, to hair dryer attachments for directional air flow to prevent frizz and provide an ergonomic benefit. 
     Using a conventional hair dryer can cause frizz due to the large area of air output and the lack of providing directionality to the air flow out of the hair dryer. 
     By expelling air straight out of a hair dryer, the user has to adjust their arm position to focus the air flow onto the recipient&#39;s head. This can be tiring and, often, the user will not be directing the airflow onto the recipient&#39;s head and may direct the airflow more toward the person&#39;s hair strands, resulting in frizz. 
     Conventional hair dryers typically do not allow for focusing air flow, not only in a smaller area, but in a selective direction. As a result, the user often has to hold the hair dryer at unusual angles, usually with their arms over their shoulders, resulting in fatigue and potential shoulder injury. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a hair dryer attachment that concentrates airflow and provides an adjustable angle of airflow output from the hair dryer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a hair dryer attachment comprises an attachment end fitting on an airflow output end of a hair dryer; a first set of opposing side walls reducing an airflow width toward an output opening of the hair dryer attachment; a second set of opposing side walls extending from the attachment end to the output opening of the hair dryer attachment; and an airflow diverter adjustably disposed at the output opening of the hair dryer attachment, the airflow diverter movable between at least three positions, each position providing an airflow output from the hair dryer attachment at different angles relative to a longitudinal axis of the hair dryer attachment. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a hair dryer attachment comprises an attachment end fitting on an airflow output end of a hair dryer; a first set of opposing side walls reducing an airflow width toward an output opening of the hair dryer attachment; a second set of opposing side walls extending from the attachment end to the output opening of the hair dryer attachment; an airflow diverter adjustably disposed at the output opening of the hair dryer attachment, the airflow diverter movable between at least three positions, each position providing an airflow output from the hair dryer attachment at different angles relative to a longitudinal axis of the hair dryer attachment; end pieces pivotably disposed on the second set of opposing side walls, the end pieces supporting the airflow diverter; protrusions extending from the end pieces and fitting into one of a plurality of holes formed in the second set of opposing side walls, wherein movement of the airflow diverter causes the protrusions to be disposed in one of the plurality of holes corresponding to one of the at least three positions; and vanes disposed in the output opening of the hair dryer attachment. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hair dryer attachment, in a zero degree orientation, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the hair dryer attachment of  FIG. 1 , illustrating a first angled adjustment; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the hair dryer attachment of  FIG. 1 , illustrating a second angled adjustment; and 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a hair dryer attachment that provides a concentrated, adjustable-direction air flow to prevent frizz and provide an ergonomic benefit to the user. The hair dryer attachment fits over an airflow output end of a hair dryer and includes side walls that concentrate the air flow out of an elongated slot of the attachment. An adjustment mechanism is disposed at the airflow output of the attachment to allow the user to adjust the direction of the airflow output. The adjustment mechanism can be fixed at two of more angles in addition to allowing the air flow to pass straight out of the attachment. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 8 , a hair dryer attachment  10  can fit onto a hair dryer  14  at its airflow output end. Typically the hair dryer attachment  10  can frictionally fit on the end of the hair dryer  14  with a connection end  12  of the hair dryer attachment  10 , however, various attachment mechanisms can be provided to more securely connect the hair dryer attachment  10  to the hair dryer  14 . Such attachment mechanisms, such as pins and slots, protrusions and indents, clips, or the like, are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. 
     First sets of opposite sides  30  of the hair dryer attachment  10  can be angled to reduce an output opening  32  of the hair dryer attachment  10 . A second set of opposite sides  16  of the hair dryer attachment  10  can support an adjustable airflow diverter  24 . The first set of opposite sides  30  and the second set of opposite sides  16  can define the output opening  32  which is smaller than the output of the hair dryer  14 , thus concentrating the airflow. In some embodiments, the length of the output opening  32  can be wider than the output of the hair dryer. 
     The adjustable airflow diverter  24  can span the length of the output opening  32  and can be supported by end pieces  26 . The end pieces  26  can pivot on the second set of opposite sides  16  about a pivot point  18 . Pivoting the end pieces  26  causes the adjustable airflow diverter  24  to direct the airflow output of the hair dryer attachment  10  to a desired angle. In some embodiments, an outer periphery of the end pieces  26  can have a high friction surface, such as a ridged surface as shown in  FIG. 1 , to allow a user to use their thumbs or fingers adjust the angle of the adjustable airflow diverter  24 . 
     The second set of opposite sides  16  can have a plurality of holes  20  formed therein. The end pieces  26  can have a protrusion  28  fitting into each of the plurality of holes  20  as the adjustable airflow diverter  24  is adjusted. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the protrusion  28  is disposed in an uppermost hole  20 , providing approximately a zero degree output from the hair dryer attachment  10  (degree measurement relative to the airflow out of the hair dryer  14 ). As shown in  FIG. 5 , the end pieces  26  can be pivoted so that their protrusions  28  are in a middle one of the holes  20 , providing a first angled air delivery, such as an angled air delivery of about 45 degrees. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the end pieces  26  can be pivoted so that their protrusions  28  are in a lower one of the holes  20 , providing a second angled air delivery, such as an angled air delivery of about 90 degrees. 
     By adjusting the angle of air output, the user can direct air flow out of the output opening  32  to provide a comfortable position for use. With a conventional hair dryer, the user often has to hold the hair dryer above their shoulders, often at awkward angles. This results in fatigue and potential shoulder injury. With the hair dryer attachment of the present invention, the user can adjust the angle of output of air flow to provide a concentrated, directed airflow that can prevent the need to hold the hair dryer at awkward angles. 
     While the Figures show three holes  20  providing three adjustments, additional holes can be included to provide additional adjustment positions for the airflow diverter  24 . 
     Two or more diffuser vanes  22  can be disposed in the output opening  32 . The vanes  22  can help diffuse the airflow while also providing support for the airflow diverter  24  that is disposed between the end pieces  26 . 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.