Abstract:
The invention relates to a hand hair dryer ( 1 ), comprising an electric fan ( 2 ) and an in-series electric heating device ( 3 ), for the generation of an air stream ( 4 ) out of a tube section ( 5 ), whereby the fan ( 2 ) is arranged in a housing section ( 6 ) and the heating device ( 3 ) arranged in the tube section ( 6 ). An operating element ( 7 ), with a first handle grip ( 8 ), is arranged on the housing section ( 6 ) at approximately 90 degrees to the tube section ( 5 ). The tube section ( 5 ) is embodied as a second handle grip ( 9 ), thus providing ergonomic advantages on operating the hand hair dryer ( 1 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the National Stage Entry of PCT/EP04/08360, filed Jul. 26, 2004 and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d) to German Patent Application DE 1033358862, filed Jul. 24, 2003. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a hand hair dryer. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     One such hand hair dryer is known for instance from European Patent Disclosure EP 1086631 A1, which is provided with an electric fan and an electric heater, located in line with it, for generating an air stream from a barrel portion. The fan is located in a housing portion, and the heater is located inside the barrel portion. A handle grip that has operator control elements (switches) is located on the housing portion, at an angle of approximately 90° to the barrel portion. When the stylist is holding the dryer with one hand on the handle grip, he can use the operator control elements to set a certain type of drying with a defined temperature level and fan level; typically, these levels are rarely changed during a treatment period. To improve the stability (conditioning) of a section of hair, formed with a brush, cold air from the fan is briefly blown at this section; for that purpose the heater is briefly switched off via a cold air switch. In certain positions for holding the hand hair dryer, the hand hair dryer cannot be handled ergonomically. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This object is attained by the characteristic of the definitive body of claim  1 . Advantageous refinements of the invention are defined by the dependent claims. 
     The invention will be described in further detail in terms of an exemplary embodiment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1 , in a side view, a hand hair dryer with a first and a second handle grip; 
         FIG. 2 , a typical manipulating position using the first handle grip of a hand hair dryer, when a stylist is treating the hair on one side of the head with an air stream; 
         FIG. 3 , a typical manipulating position with the first handle grip of a hand hair dryer when a stylist is treating the hair on top of the head with an air stream; 
         FIG. 4 , unlike  FIG. 3 , an ergonomic advantage in manipulating the hand hair dryer using a second handle grip of the hand hair dryer; 
         FIG. 5 , an ergonomic difference where a person is drying her own hair with a hand hair dryer which has a first and a second handle grip; 
         FIG. 6 , in a side view, a hand hair dryer as in  FIG. 1 , but with a first cold air combination switch; 
         FIG. 7 , in a side view, a hand hair dryer as in  FIG. 1 , but with a second cold air combination switch; 
         FIG. 8 , in a side view, a hand hair dryer as in  FIG. 1 , but with a third cold air combination switch; and 
         FIG. 9 , in a side view, a hand hair dryer as in  FIG. 6 , but with a second handle grip that remains cold. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a hand hair dryer  1  with an electric fan  2  and with an electric heater  3 , located in line with it, for generating an air stream  4  from a barrel portion  5 ; the fan  2  is located in a housing portion  6 , and the heater  3  is located inside the barrel portion  5 . A first handle grip  8 , which has operator control elements  7  (fan speed switch  26 , heat level switch  27 ) is located on the housing portion  6 , at an angle of approximately 90° to the barrel portion  5 . The barrel portion  5  is embodied as a second handle grip, which has approximately the same diameter (dimensioning) as the first handle grip  8 . As a result, when the hand hair dryer  1  is being used, it can selectively be held by the second handle grip  9  instead, which makes for an ergonomic improvement in manipulating the hand hair dryer  1 , as can be seen for instance from  FIGS. 2 through 5 . 
     The second handle grip  9  is embodied as heat-insulated (see also  FIG. 9 ), and as a result cannot become hot (cold handle grip zone). 
     Alternatively or in addition, the barrel portion  5  can be embodied as heat-insulated from outside, and as a result the second handle grip  9  cannot get hot. 
     The second handle grip  9  is shaped cylindrically, resulting in simple grasping and holding. 
     Selectively, the first and second handle grips  8 ,  9  are each provided with a nonslip surface  13 . This makes for a secure grip when holding the hand hair dryer  1 . 
     A first cold air switch  10  is located on the first handle grip  8 , and a second cold air switch  11  is located on the second handle grip  9 . The second cold air switch  11  is located in the vicinity  12  of, or inside, the housing portion  6 . As a result, even when holding the second handle grip  9 , ergonomic operation of the second cold air switch  11  is obtained. The cold air switches  10 ,  11  are preferably provided in the form of pushbuttons  10 ,  11 . By actuation of a given cold air switch  10 ,  11 , a power supply to the heater  3  is interrupted, so that only the cold air  31  ( FIG. 9 ) from the fan  2  emerges from the air stream outlet  35 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a typical manipulating position using the first handle grip  8  of a hand hair dryer  1  when a stylist  20  is treating hair  14  in a rear hair region  14 . 1  with an air stream. 
       FIG. 3  shows a typical manipulating position at the first handle grip  8  of a hand hair dryer  1  when hair  14 . 2  on top of the head is being treated with an air stream by a stylist  20 . The unfavorable posture of the arm of the stylist  20  is clearly apparent. A power cord  25  moreover extends unfavorably close to the person  15  here. 
       FIG. 4 , in a distinction to  FIG. 3 , shows an ergonomic advantage in manipulating the hand hair dryer  1  by using a second handle grip  9  of the hand hair dryer  1 . Here the low arm position of the stylist  20 , which is more ergonomically 
     favorable, can be clearly seen. Moreover, the power cord  25  extends more favorably away from the person  15 . 
       FIG. 5  shows an ergonomic distinction in when a person is drying her own hair with a hand hair dryer  1  that has a first and a second handle grip  8 ,  9 . Two essential distinctions are clearly visible, for the same positioning of the hand hair dryer  1  relative to the hair  14 . 
     1. When the hand hair dryer  1  is held by the first handle grip  8 , the right arm  21  must be held markedly higher than the left arm  22  when the hand hair dryer  1  is held by the second handle grip  9 . 
     2. Because there is a greater distance X 1  between a wrist point  23  and a center of gravity  24  of the hand hair dryer  1 , it is harder to hold the hand hair dryer  1 . It is also difficult to keep an intended distance between an air outlet  25  and the hair  14 . By means of a smaller distance X 2  between a wrist point  23  and a center of gravity  24  of the hand hair dryer  1 , holding the hand hair dryer  1  is ergonomically more advantageous, and it is easier to keep an intended distance between the air outlet  25  and the hair  14 . 
       FIG. 6 , in a side view, shows a hand hair dryer  1  of  FIG. 1 , but with a first cold air combination switch  16 , which is located between the first and second handle grips  8 ,  9 . As the first cold air combination switch  16 , a pushbutton  17  is provided here, which can be actuated with one finger (F 1 ) selectively from the first or second handle grip  8 ,  9 . As a result, a second cold air switch  11  is dispensed with. 
       FIG. 7 , in a side view, shows a hand hair dryer  1  of  FIG. 1 , but with a second cold air combination switch  16 . 1 , which is located between the first and second handle grips  8 ,  9 . Here, a one-legged toggle switch  18  is provided as the second cold air combination switch  16 . 1 ; it can be actuated selectively from the first or second handle grip  8 ,  9 , using one finger (F 2 , F 3 ). As a result, a second cold air switch  11  is dispensed with. 
       FIG. 8 , in a side view, shows a hand hair dryer  1  of  FIG. 1 , but with a second cold air combination switch  16 . 1 , located between the first and second handle grips  8 ,  9 . Here, a two-armed (V-shaped) toggle switch  19 , is provided as the third cold air combination switch  16 . 2 ; it can be actuated selectively from the first or second handle grip  8 ,  9 , using one finger (F 2 , F 3 ). As a result, a second cold air switch  11  is dispensed with. 
     In  FIG. 9 , compared to the hand hair dryer  1  of  FIG. 6 , an especially advantageous hand hair dryer  1  is shown, in which the second handle grip  9  remains especially cool because a centrally located warm-air conduit  28  and a coaxial cold-air conduit  29  are provided in the barrel portion  5 . The central warm-air conduit  28  is formed by a hollow-cylindrical barrel  30 , in which the heater  3  is located. The coaxial cold-air conduit  29  is formed by the barrel portion  5  and the central warm-air conduit  28 . The central warm-air conduit  28  and the coaxial cold-air conduit  29  are subjected to a cold air stream  31  of the fan  2 , and by means of the heater  3 , a warm air stream outlet  32  from the central warm-air conduit  28  and a cold air stream  33  from the coaxial cold-air conduit  29  are effected, and the constant cold air stream  31  in the coaxial cold-air conduit  29  makes for a cool second handle grip  9 . 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           1  Hand hair dryer 
           2  Fan 
           3  Heater 
           4  Air stream 
           5  Barrel portion 
           6  Housing portion 
           7  Operator control elements 
           8  First handle grip 
           9  Second handle grip 
           10  First cold air switch 
           11  Second cold air switch 
           12  Vicinity of housing portion  6   
           13  Nonslip surface 
           14  Hair 
           14 . 1  Rear hair region 
           14 . 2  Hair on top of the head 
           15  Person 
           16  First cold air combination switch 
           16 . 1  Second cold air combination switch 
           16 . 2  Third cold air combination switch 
           17  Pushbutton 
           18  One-legged toggle switch 
           19  Two-legged toggle switch 
           20  Hair stylist 
           21  Right arm 
           22  Left arm 
           23  Right wrist point 
           24  Left wrist point 
           25  Power cord 
           26  Fan speed switch 
           27  Heat level switch 
           28  Central warm-air conduit 
           29  Coaxial cold-air conduit 
           30  Barrel 
           31  Cold air stream/fan  2   
           32  Warm air stream outlet 
           33  Cold air stream outlet 
           34  Air intake region 
           35  Air stream outlet 
         F 1 - 3  Switch actuation direction 
         X 1 , X 2  Distance between wrist point and center of gravity of hand hair dryer