CN114847612A

CN114847612A - Hair drier

Info

Publication number: CN114847612A
Application number: CN202210115867.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 阿图罗·莫甘迪
Original assignee: Tenacta Group SpA
Current assignee: Tenacta Group SpA
Priority date: 2021-02-03
Filing date: 2022-02-07
Publication date: 2022-08-05
Also published as: EP4039125A1; EP4039125B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hair dryer; more particularly, the present invention relates to a hair dryer having a recess in its rear outer body. This allows a user to use the recess to grip the blower as a replacement for the conventional handle of the blower, thereby providing improved ergonomics for the blower. In fact, the user can decide, at his/her convenience, which handle to use for safe operation and firm grip, according to the operational needs.

Description

Hair drier

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a hair dryer; more particularly, the present invention relates to a hair dryer having a recess in the rear portion thereof.

Background

Hair dryers have been known for some time and are generally provided with a main body in which an air duct, a motor and a fan are housed to promote the flow of air within the duct from an air inlet to an air outlet. Such blowers are also typically provided with a heating element to heat the air within the duct and a handle to facilitate gripping of the blower by a single hand of a user.

The applicant of the present patent application highlights the fact that the handles used in hair dryers known in the art are generally not suitable for self-use, i.e. the user applies the hair dryer to himself.

In fact, the use of a hair dryer by the user himself also typically involves the use of a brush to form wrinkles in the hair during the blowing phase. In this case, a typical blower handle is not always suitable for a user to hold when a right-handed user intends to fold the hair to the left, or vice versa, when a left-handed user intends to fold the hair to the right, or when the user passes the brush behind the neck. In fact, the user, in addition to often holding a typical grip, also holds various parts of the hair dryer, trying to hold the front part of the hair dryer, which is usually the hottest part of the hair dryer, is easily scalded.

The applicant has therefore found that it is necessary to make a hairdryer equipped with an alternative handle which allows the user to hold the hairdryer completely safely and in any case use it effectively, even in association with a brush.

The applicant has also found that it is desirable to manufacture a hair dryer equipped with an ergonomic handle.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention relates to a device for drying hair, such as the device of claim 1.

In fact, the applicant has surprisingly found that the above technical problem can be effectively and reliably solved by a device for drying hair comprising a main body provided with an outer body, an air inlet at the rear of the device and an air outlet at the front of the device, wherein the main body further comprises: the air conditioner includes a duct for flowing air from the air inlet to the air outlet, at least one fan for facilitating the flow of air within the duct, and at least one cover.

In the hair dryer of the present invention, said cover (or dome) is constituted by a substantially spherical or hemispherical portion adapted to at least partially surround said fan and a substantially cylindrical end portion facing said air intake, wherein said end portion has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cover of the substantially spherical or hemispherical portion.

Further, a portion of the body located outside of the body at the end portion of the cap is provided with a recess formed in the body, the recess having an outwardly concave shape and being arranged along substantially the entire circular portion of the body of the end portion of the cap.

The hair dryer of the present invention is characterized in that said concave surface is comprised of a) a first portion facing the front of said device, b) a second portion facing the rear of said device, and c) a central portion between said first portion and said second portion, wherein the slope of said concave surface varies, wherein the diameter D1 of said first portion decreases in a direction from the front of said device towards said central portion, and the diameter D2 of said second portion increases from said central portion towards said rear of said device, such that the diameter D3 of said central portion is smaller than the diameter D1 of said first portion and the diameter D2 of said second portion.

This allows the blower body to be provided with a recess in the back of the blower where the air is usually cold or not too hot, the latter allowing the user to use it as a replacement for the conventional handle of the blower, thereby providing an ergonomically optimised blower.

In this way, the user can decide which handle to use safely at his/her convenience according to the operational needs and hold firmly.

According to a preferred embodiment, the diameter D1 is between 101% and 150%, preferably between 110% and 140%, relative to the diameter D3, and the diameter D2 is between 101% and 150%, preferably between 110% and 140%, relative to the diameter D3.

In this way, the concavity is provided with a pronounced slope, which further facilitates the grip of the user, contrary to some devices known in the art, in which there are no recesses provided with such concavities.

According to a preferred embodiment, the diameter D1 is between 35mm and 100mm, preferably between 45mm and 90mm, the diameter D2 is between 35mm and 100mm, preferably between 45mm and 90mm, and the diameter D3 is between 30mm and 70mm, preferably between 40mm and 60 mm.

In this manner, the diameter D3 of the region of varying concavity slope is varied within a suitable range to accommodate the general size of the user's finger so that the user can grasp the device of the invention with his or her own hand. Furthermore, the above ranges of dimensional changes of diameters D1 and D2 allow such diameters D1 and D2 to be always larger than diameter D3.

According to a preferred embodiment the distance D in the longitudinal direction of the device between the point where the concavity facing the front of the device starts and the point where the concavity facing the back of the device ends is between 20mm and 60mm, preferably between 25mm and 50 mm.

In this way, the distance D between the starting point and the end point of the concavity allows to obtain a depression near said substantially cylindrical end portion facing said air intake opening, so as to have enough space and at the same time not too large to facilitate the insertion of the user's hand into this depression, so as to easily grip the device of the invention.

According to a preferred embodiment, the central intermediate portion between the first and second portions in which there is a change in the slope of the concavity is located substantially at a point intermediate between the point at which the concavity starts facing the front of the device and the point at which the concavity ends facing the rear of the device.

In this way, the concavities are symmetrically arranged between the point at which the concavities begin and the point at which the concavities end, although they may be asymmetrically arranged in other embodiments.

According to a preferred embodiment, the recess is made of a different material than the rest of the body, so that it is easier to grip.

According to a preferred embodiment, the recess is made of a transparent material or of a different colour than the body.

In this way, the user is facilitated to identify the recessed area that serves as an additional handle.

According to a preferred embodiment, the recess is made of a smooth or rubber-like material.

In this way, the user's grip is further facilitated.

According to a preferred embodiment, said recesses are arranged along substantially the entire circular portion of said outer body at said terminal end of said cap.

In this way, the user can grasp the device of the invention at any point of the recess obtained in the outer body.

According to a preferred embodiment, said recess consists of a groove provided with an outwardly facing concave surface.

In this way, the user's grip is further facilitated by inserting several fingers into the groove.

According to a preferred embodiment, the portion of the concavity facing the rear of the device has a greater slope than the concavity facing the front of the device.

According to another alternative embodiment, the concave surface facing the rear of the device has a slope less than or equal to the concave surface facing the front of the device.

In this way, the more or less convex concavity towards the front or rear of the hair dryer of the invention further facilitates the grip of the user.

According to a preferred embodiment, said cap terminal portion is constituted by a projection of a substantially spherical or semi-spherical portion facing the rear of the device.

According to a preferred embodiment, the terminal portions (protrusions) constituting the cap and the substantially spherical or hemispherical portions are integrally molded with each other, thereby forming an integral cap. In an alternative embodiment, the two parts are different elements connected to each other, performing the same function as the cover in a single piece.

According to a preferred embodiment, the inside of the lid is smooth.

According to an alternative embodiment, the inside of the cover is provided with a plurality of raised ribs or fins, suitable for reducing noise.

According to a preferred embodiment, the hair dryer of the invention further comprises a filter arranged at the air inlet.

In this way, the filter prevents particles and dirt from entering the device of the invention through the air inlet.

According to a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the end portion of the cover is smaller than or equal to the diameter of the filter.

In this way, the particles are further prevented from entering the inside of the lid.

According to a preferred embodiment, said end portion is substantially circular and internally hollow.

According to another preferred embodiment, the interior of said end portion is provided with a plurality of passages designed to put said air intake in communication with the interior of said substantially spherical or semi-spherical portion of said lid.

In this way, the air flow can be optimally directed to the inside of the cover.

According to a preferred embodiment, each of said channels is cylindrical or hourglass-shaped (i.e. substantially cylindrical with a taper in the central portion), parallelepiped, or the like.

According to a preferred embodiment, the channels are arranged substantially parallel to each other.

Thus the air flow is evenly distributed.

According to a preferred embodiment, said fan is of the centrifugal type, designed to suck air along a central axis of the device, where the central axis of the device is an axis parallel to the flow of sucked air.

In this way, the suction area is therefore half the diameter of the fan itself or less.

According to a preferred embodiment, the hair dryer of the invention also comprises, in its interior, a motor adapted to activate said fan.

According to a preferred embodiment, the hair dryer of the invention further comprises at least one heating element adapted to heat the air inside said duct.

According to a preferred embodiment, said at least one heating element consists of at least one flexible sheet of substantially conical or frustoconical shape provided with a plurality of electrical resistances fixed to said sheet in a uniform manner.

In this way, the heating element can occupy substantially the entire front of the device of the invention.

Drawings

Further advantages and advantages of the invention will better emerge from a reading of the following preferred but not exclusive embodiments, illustrated by way of non-limiting example, with the support of the attached drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of a hair dryer according to the invention;

figure 2 is a detailed view of the internal part of the lid visible in figure 1;

figure 3 is a detailed view of the rear part of the device of figure 1, in which the recess is visible;

figure 4 is a detailed view of the rear part of a second embodiment of the device of the invention, which differs from the first embodiment shown in figure 1 only in that the recess is less protruding;

figure 5 is a detailed view of the inside of another cap, which differs from the cap of figure 2 only in that it has a plurality of grooves;

figure 6 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of a hair dryer according to the invention, which differs from the first embodiment shown in figure 1 only in that it has the cover shown in figure 5 and does not have the cover shown in figure 2.

Detailed Description

The following detailed description relates to specific embodiments of blowers according to the present invention.

With particular reference to figures 1-3, a first embodiment of a hair dryer 1 of the present invention is shown.

With particular reference to fig. 1, there is shown a side view of a device 1 comprising a main body, an air inlet 3 at the rear P of the device 1, an air outlet 4 at the front a of the device 1 and a main body 2 outside the main body.

Also in the main body are a duct 5 for the flow of air from the inlet 3 to the outlet 4, a fan 6 capable of promoting the flow of air in the duct 5, a motor 9 for activating the fan 6 and a heating element 10 adapted to heat the air in the duct 5.

The fan 6 is of the centrifugal type, i.e. capable of sucking air along the central axis of the device 1, i.e. parallel to the axis of the sucked air flow; the heating element 10 consists of at least one substantially conical or frustoconical flexible sheet having a plurality of electric resistances uniformly fixed around the sheet, so that the heating element 10 occupies substantially the whole front portion a of the interior of the device 1.

The substantially hemispherical portion 7a of the cover 7 is arranged around the fan 6 (see the details of the cover 7 in fig. 2); the inner portion 14 of the substantially hemispherical portion 7a of the lid 7 is substantially smooth without any raised portions.

The cover 7 also has an end portion 7b, the end portion 7b being composed of a substantially cylindrical protrusion 7b, the protrusion 7b being separated from the substantially hemispherical portion 7a toward the intake vent 3. The diameter of the end portion 7b is smaller than the diameter of the hemispherical portion 7a of the lid 7.

Furthermore, the body comprises in the rear part P a filter 12 at the air inlet 3, which filter 12 prevents particles and dirt from entering the device 1 through the air inlet 3. The diameter of part of the terminal 7b of the cover 7 is smaller than or equal to the diameter of the filter 12.

The end portion 7b in the embodiment shown in detail in fig. 2 is provided with a plurality of passages 8, the plurality of passages 8 communicating the intake vent 3 with the interior of the substantially hemispherical portion 7a of the cover 7 in order to optimally direct the air flow towards the interior of the cover 7. The channel 8 may be cylindrical in shape, or even hourglass shaped (i.e. substantially cylindrical with a taper in the central portion), parallelepiped or the like. They are preferably arranged parallel to each other in order to distribute the gas flow evenly.

The arrangement shown in fig. 1, which is realized by means of a centrifugal fan 6, here indicated to be able to draw in air along the central axis of the device 1, while being realized by means of a protrusion 7b (of the cover 7) in the rear region P of the device 1 between the fan 6 and the air inlet 3, is such as to allow air to be sent out through the protrusion 7b, the protrusion 7b having a smaller diameter than the fan surrounded by a substantially hemispherical portion 7a (of the cover 7).

This particular configuration of the fan 6 and the cover 7 allows the body 2 of the hair dryer 1 to be shaped with the end portion 7b of the cover 7 disposed in the rear portion P of the hair dryer (see figure 3 for details of the rear portion 1 of the device), where the air in the rear portion is generally less hot than the air in the front portion a, since the rear portion has not been heated by the heating element 10. The recess 11 is constituted by a concave surface facing outwards and arranged substantially along the entire central portion of the body 2 at the end portion 7b of the lid 7.

The recess 11 obtained in the body 2 of the rear portion P of the hair dryer 1 (the air of the rear portion P is generally cold or in any case less hot) can therefore be used by the user as a replacement handle for the traditional handle 13 of the hair dryer, thus providing improved ergonomics of the hair dryer 1.

In this way, the user can decide which of the recess 11 and the conventional handle 13 to use at a convenient time according to the operation needs, thereby being able to hold safely and firmly.

The concave depression 11 consists of a depression 11a facing the front a of the device 1, a depression 11b facing the back P of the device 1 and an intermediate central portion 11c between the first and

second portions

11a, 11b, wherein the depressions have a slope that varies.

The diameter D1 of the first portion 11a decreases in a direction from the front a of the device 1 towards the central portion 11c, and the diameter D2 of the second portion 11b increases in a direction from the central portion 11c towards the rear P of the device 1, such that the diameter D3 of the central portion 11c is smaller than the diameter D1 of the first portion and the diameter D2 of the second portion 11 b.

For example, in the configuration shown in fig. 1-3, the diameter D1 (measured in the portion 11a at the point where the concavity 11 begins facing the front a of the device 1) is equal to 76 mm; the diameter D2 (measured in the portion 11B at the point facing the rear B of the device 1 where the concavity 11 ends) is equal to 72mm and the diameter D3 measured at the central portion 11c is equal to 58 mm.

Thus, the diameter D3 of the region of varying concavity slope is of a suitable size to allow the user to hold the device 1 in his or her hand.

In addition, diameter D1 was about 130% of diameter D3, and diameter D2 was about 125% of diameter D3. Thus, the concave surface 11 seems to be provided with a pronounced slope, which further facilitates the grip of the user, contrary to some devices known in the art, which are not provided with such concave depressions at all.

Furthermore, in the configuration shown in fig. 1-3, the distance D in the longitudinal direction of the device 1 between the point where the concavity 11 facing the front a of the device 1 starts and the point where the concavity 11 facing the back B of the device 1 ends is equal to about 40 mm.

In this way, the distance D allows a sufficiently small space, while not being too large, to allow the user to easily hold the device 1.

The central portion 11c, where there is a change in the slope of the concavity, is arranged in a substantially symmetrical manner with respect to the first and

second portions

11a, 11b, even though the concavity may be arranged asymmetrically in other embodiments.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the slope of both the concave ramp portion 11a and the ramp portion 11b is reduced relative to the corresponding portions shown in fig. 1 and 3, but is still related. In fact, although diameter D3 is substantially the same as the diameter of FIGS. 1-3, diameter D1 and diameter D2 shown in FIG. 4 are equal to about 70mm and 65mm, respectively, or about 125% and 115% of diameter D3, respectively. Thus, an angle is formed at the change in curvature between the two

concave surfaces

11a and 11b, which angle is reduced compared to that shown in figures 1 and 3, but which also allows the user to hold the device in a safe and effective manner.

Fig. 5 shows in detail an alternative embodiment of the lid which differs from the embodiment shown in fig. 2 only in that the interior 14 of the substantially hemispherical portion 7a of the lid 7 is provided with a plurality of grooves 15 or protruding fins, instead of being substantially smooth as in fig. 2. Each groove 15 is arranged along the circumference of the inner portion 14 such that the plurality of grooves 15 form a series of concentric barriers adapted to reduce the passage of noise air through the cover 7.

Fig. 6 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the device 1, which differs from the embodiment shown in fig. 1 only in that it has a cover as shown in fig. 5 instead of the cover as shown in fig. 2. For simplicity, fig. 6 shows only the recess 15 inside the substantially hemispherical portion 7a of the cover 7, also shown in fig. 5, without reporting all the other parts of the device 1, since these other parts are identical to those of fig. 1.

Of course, many modifications and variations to the described preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, while still remaining within the scope of the invention.

The invention is therefore not limited to the described preferred embodiments, which are shown by way of non-limiting example only, but is defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Hair dryer (1) comprising a body provided with an outer body (2), an air inlet (3) located at the rear (P) of the device (1) and an air outlet (4) located at the front (A) of the device (1), wherein the body further comprises: -a duct (5) for the air to flow from the air inlet (3) to the air outlet (4), -at least one fan (6) for promoting the air flow inside the duct (5), and-at least one cover (7),

said lid (7) being constituted by a substantially spherical or semi-spherical portion (7a) adapted to at least partially surround said fan (6) and a substantially cylindrical end portion (7b) facing said intake mouth (3), wherein said end portion (7b) has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the substantially spherical or semi-spherical portion (7a) of said lid (7), and the portion of said body (2) external to said body at said end portion (7b) of said lid (7) is provided with a recess (11) formed in said body (2), said recess having an outwardly facing concavity (11) and being arranged substantially along the entire circular portion of said outer body (2) of said end portion (7b) of said lid (7),

wherein said concave surface (11) comprises a) a first portion (11a) facing said front portion (A) of said device (1) and B) a second portion (11B) facing said rear portion (B) of said device (1), and c) a central portion (11c) between said first portion (11a) and said second portion (11b), wherein the slope of the concavity (11) varies, wherein the diameter D1 of the first portion (11a) decreases in a direction from the front portion (A) towards the central portion (11c) of the device (1), the diameter D2 of the second portion (11b) increasing from the central portion (11c) towards the rear portion (P) of the device (1), so that the diameter D3 of the central portion (11c) is smaller than the diameter D1 of the first portion (11a) and the diameter D2 of the second portion (11 b).

2. Hair dryer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said diameter D1 is between 101% and 150% with respect to said diameter D3, preferably between 110% and 140%, and said diameter D2 is between 101% and 150% with respect to said diameter D3, preferably between 110% and 140%.

3. Hair dryer (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said diameter D1 is between 35mm and 100mm, preferably between 45mm and 90mm, said diameter D2 is between 35mm and 100mm, preferably between 45mm and 90mm, and said diameter D3 is between 30mm and 70mm, preferably between 40mm and 60 mm.

4. Hair dryer (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance D in the longitudinal direction of said device (1) between the point where said concavity facing the front portion (A) of said device (1) starts and the point where said concavity facing the rear portion (B) of said device (1) ends is between 20mm and 60mm, preferably between 25mm and 50 mm.

5. Hair dryer (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a filter (12) arranged at said air outlet (3).

6. Hair dryer (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said terminal portion (7b) of said cover (7) has a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of said filter (12).

7. Hair dryer (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said terminal portion (7b) is internally hollow and is provided with a plurality of passages (8) suitable for putting said air intake (3) in communication with the inside of said substantially spherical or semi-spherical portion (7a) of said cover (7).

8. Hair dryer (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fan (6) is of the centrifugal type, designed to suck in air along an axis parallel to the sucked air flow.

9. Hair dryer (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises an electric motor (9) inside it, said electric motor (9) being adapted to activate said fan (6).

10. Hair dryer (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises at least one heating element (10), this at least one heating element (10) being suitable for heating the air inside said duct (5), wherein said at least one heating element (10) consists of at least one flexible sheet of substantially conical or frustoconical shape provided with a plurality of electric resistances fixed to said sheet in a uniform manner.