EP1108376A2 - Hair treating apparatus , especially hair dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

The hair dryer has a sensor built into the switch (22, 24). This switches the dryer off when it is laid down on a surface or placed in a mounting and switches it back on when it is lifted up or removed.

Description

The invention relates to a hand-held hair treatment device, in particular one Hair dryer according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a device is known from PCT application WO 96/3363. There is one Hand hair dryer with a specially adapted, wall-mountable Combined holder. The hair dryer has an on-off switch with a handle when inserting the hair dryer into the wall holder from a projecting part of the Wall holder is pressed into the off position. After removing the The hairdryer can be removed from the holder by pressing the handle Hand be turned on again. It is inconvenient that the switch or its Handle after each storage of the device, e.g. B. during a short break, must be operated by hand to switch on. Another disadvantage can be that a specially adapted holder is required to switch off when the hair dryer is put down to effect. The holder cannot be used when traveling and is required in the household your own, often hard to find space on the wall.

From the German patent 43 16 141 is also a hair dryer with a Body of the user responsive capacitive proximity switch known. This The hair dryer is switched on as long as the user's hand grips it. Such a However, proximity switches have the disadvantage of being susceptible to faults and circuitry thus also to be expensive in terms of production costs.

The invention has for its object a hair treatment device according to the generic term of claim 1 to create the disadvantages of the known devices largely avoided and easy to use with little manufacturing effort is.

This object is achieved according to the invention by devices with the features of independent Claims 1 or 2. The ease of use is significantly increased, that the device automatically resumes when recording after temporary filing switches on. The fact that a sensor in the solution according to claim 1 determines whether that Device housing rests on a storage surface, the device can be used with any storage surface such as B. interact with a table or a wall-mounted bathroom shelf or with a special z. B. on the wall in the bathroom mounted shelf. However, the shutdown works when not in use of the device even without special storage, which is particularly convenient for travel. The Solution also has the advantage that it can be manufactured with relatively little manufacturing effort and is simple and robust to carry out.

The alternative solution according to claim 2 has the advantage that the switch inclusive the motion sensor can be completely enclosed by the device housing and after does not appear on the outside. This has advantages in terms of cleanability and aesthetic design of the device housing. The motion sensor is characterized in that it is also protected against interference from pollution, which the Device reliability increased.

According to an advantageous development, the signals of the motion sensor are prevented receiving timer that the switch during the use of the device is opened. The duty cycle of the timer is preferably during manufacture of the device can be set to a useful duration determined by tests but also made adjustable for adaptation to the respective user become.

In a further development of the solution according to claim 1, two can lie opposite one another Sensors arranged on the sides of the device housing should be present the device is switched off with any storage. This is particularly useful since the Device can be held with the right or left hand when in use.

The sensor can advantageously be on or in a special device assigned to the device Storage be arranged. This allows the arrangement of sensors on the device housing be avoided, what advantages in terms of aesthetic design and cleanability of the device housing and caused by the placement of the switch Limitations of the internal cross section of the device housing or its Blower tube avoids. However, it can also be useful to connect this sensor to combine the shelf with a sensor on the device housing of the hair dryer, see above that the hair dryer is universal, e.g. B. when traveling, even without the shelf can. In this case, the power cord of the hair dryer is electrical Operationally releasably connect the connector to the shelf.

According to a preferred embodiment, the sensor can be a mechanical sensor exhibit. This can interact directly with the switch, creating a low manufacturing effort is achieved, especially when an actual switch the biasing device z. B. contains in the form of a resilient contact lamella. However can a mechanical sensor z. B. via an inductive customer also on an evaluation circuit act, which then operates the actual switch. Alternatives are various other inductive, pneumatic, capacitive or optical sensors instead of the mechanical sensor applicable. For example, an optical reflex sensor can be used that emits a beam and a receiver for reflections of this Beam. As soon as the device rests on a storage surface, an adequate one becomes Part of the beam is reflected to cause the actuator to operate the switch in its off position.

The sensor can advantageously be covered by an elastic cap, whereby Contamination of the sensor and the resulting malfunctions are avoided become. An elastic cap can not only with a mechanical inside Sensors, but also interact with various other types of sensors.

The device housing preferably has a projecting anti-slip element at its support point made of a material with high surface friction or static friction on, the sensor being combined with this element. For example, the elastic cap of the sensor can be designed as an anti-slip element. Alternatively, the sensor or a sensor channel also pass through the anti-slip element or immediately be arranged at the edge of the same. The combination of an anti-slip element with a sensor can have advantages with regard to the shape of the device.

According to a preferred development, the device housing can be made in a manner known per se A hand-operated on-off switch can be arranged, this being electrical in series with the switch controlled by the sensor or with the switch controlled by sensors Switches is connected. As a result, the handling convenience and Device security further increased.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht eines von Hand zu haltenden Haartrockners;

Fig. 2

eine rückseitige Ansicht des Haartrockners gemäß Fig.1 von rechts in Fig. 1 gesehen;

Fig. 3

in vergrößerter Darstellung einen Schalter in einer ausschnittsweisen Darstellung eines Schnittes entlang der Linie III-III in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

ein Schaltschema des Haartrockners gemäß den Figuren. 1 - 3;

Fig. 5

in einem Schnitt entsprechend dem der Fig. 3 eine abgewandelte Ausführungsform;

Fig. 6

in einer Darstellung entsprechend der der Figuren 3 und 5 eine weitere abgewandelte Ausführungsform;

Fig. 7

in einer Darstellung entsprechend der der Figuren 3, 5 und 6 eine weitere Ausführungsform mit einem optischen Sensor 8 in einer Seitenansicht eine weitere abgewandelte Ausführungsform eines Haartrockners in Verbindung mit zugeordneten Ablage;

Fig. 9

Die Ablage des Gerätes gemäß Fig. 8 in einer Ansicht von links in Fig. 8 gesehen und

Fig. 10

ein Schaltschema einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines Handhaartrockners, dessen Seitenansicht in Verbindung mit dem Schaltschema in unterbrochenen Linien angedeutet ist.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of schematic drawings of exemplary embodiments. It shows:

Fig. 1

a side view of a hand-held hair dryer;

Fig. 2

a rear view of the hair dryer according to Figure 1 seen from the right in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

an enlarged view of a switch in a partial representation of a section along the line III-III in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

a circuit diagram of the hair dryer according to the figures. 1-3;

Fig. 5

in a section corresponding to that of Figure 3, a modified embodiment.

Fig. 6

in a representation corresponding to that of Figures 3 and 5, a further modified embodiment;

Fig. 7

in a representation corresponding to that of Figures 3, 5 and 6, a further embodiment with an optical sensor 8 in a side view, a further modified embodiment of a hair dryer in connection with associated storage;

Fig. 9

8 in a view from the left in FIG. 8 and

Fig. 10

a circuit diagram of a further embodiment of a hand hair dryer, the side view of which is indicated in broken lines in connection with the circuit diagram.

The hairdryer 2 shown in Figures 1 to 4 has a device housing 4 with a blower tube 6, from which a handle 8 projects downward in the rear region. The blower tube has a rear side 11 with suction openings 10 and a front side 12 with discharge openings, not shown. Are adjacent to the handle 8 the center of gravity of the hair dryer 2, at the opposite, laterally most protruding points of the cylindrical blower tube 6 two anti-slip elements 16 and 18 in the form of spherical rubber caps arranged. The device housing 4 comes with these when placed on a flat surface to the support and is thereby secured against slipping or moving too easily. The anti-slip elements 16 and 18 and the wall behind it 9 of the device housing 6 are each penetrated by a channel 20 through which each extends a mechanical sensor in the form of a pin 22 or 24. This mechanical Sensors each form part of an actuator of a switch 26 and 28 respectively

The switch 26 shown in FIG. 3 has one on the inside of the side wall 9 of the fan tube 6 attached electrically insulating support 30, which is a parallel substantially rigid contact lamella 32 extending to the side wall and a extending behind resilient contact plate 34 carries. The elastic contact lamella 34 presses the pin 22 of the mechanical in the operating position of the hair dryer 2 Feeler slightly outwards, with the pin 22 attached to a fixed collar 134 abuts the inside of the side wall of the blower tube 6 and prevents it from falling out is secured. The elastic contact lamella 34 carries a contact 36 which is shown in FIG this operating position rests on the rigid contact lamella 32. The elastic contact lamella 34 still acts with a snap device, not shown, for acceleration of the switching process together. The spring forces of the elastic lamella 34 and The snap-in device is designed so that part of the pressure with which the hair dryer 2 at this support point is sufficient to move the pin 22 inwards and to lift the contact 36 off the system on the fixed contact lamella 32. The length of the pin 22 is such that its outer end is completely in the channel 20 can be pushed back so that the hair dryer 2 with the anti-slip element serving rubber cap 16 rests on the shelf.

As shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 4, are between two with a power cord 43 connected power terminals 40 and 42, the switches 26 and 28 in series with each other and an on-off switch 44 and a heating resistor 46 switched to heat the fan air. An electric motor 48 for driving one is not The fan shown is connected in the usual way in parallel to part of the heating resistor. The on-off switch 44 is arranged on the front of the handle 8 Handle 50 can be actuated. The switches 26 and 28 are in their on position preloaded breaker switches.

5 shows a section of a modified hair dryer 502 with a blower tube 504 whose side wall 509 is penetrated by a channel 520. In the channel 520, a mechanical sensor 522 is arranged, which, like the sensor pin 22 in FIG interacts not shown contact blades. The sensor has an inner one Collar 534. At its outer end, the sensor 522 has a flange 523 which in Axial direction of the slide is slidable in an outer depression 507 of the side wall 509 is arranged. The flange 523 projects outward beyond the side wall 509 a spherical section-shaped anti-slip element 516 made of rubber is attached, one part of the mechanical sensor 522 and thus a switch actuation device forms.

FIG. 6 shows a section of a side wall 609 of a fan tube 606 of a modified one Hair dryer 602. The side wall 609 is penetrated by a channel 620 in which a sensor pin 622 is arranged. This acts on the inside with not shown Contact blades similar to those shown in Figure 3 together. The side wall 609 has a depression 607 surrounding channel 620, into which the outer end of the sensor 622 covering cap 616 is inserted. The cap 616 is made of an elastic material with a high surface friction or static friction in particular on porcelain. When storing the hair dryer 602 with the corresponding side in the relaxed state, it is approximately spherical shell-shaped, from the blower tube outwardly projecting cap 616 deformed and pressed a little flatter, the Pin 622 is pressed into the interior of the blower tube 606 and one not shown Actual switch operated.

According to a modification, not shown, of the embodiment according to FIG. 6, Another place of the mechanical sensor 622 behind the elastic cap 616 Sensor z. B. an optical or capacitive sensor of the movements of the Cap 616 ordered.

In the hair dryers of the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 4, 5 and 6 It should also be noted that the device housing has three support points on one shelf and the contact pressure is usually distributed unevenly over these three points. A sensor in the form of a mechanical sensor is expedient in the area a support point with increased contact pressure. Such a support point will usually be in the rear area of the blower tube, as is usually there the heaviest functional parts, namely the blower with the blower motor are arranged.

7 shows a detail of a side wall 709 of a fan tube 706 of a modified one Hair dryer 702 shown. The sidewall 709 is supported by a channel 720 penetrated into which an optical reflex sensor 722 is inserted. Surrounding channel 720 is a spherical section-shaped anti-slip element on the outside of the side wall 709 716 made of rubber and is extended by a channel 720 Channel 721 penetrated. The reflex sensor 722 extends a bit into the channel 721 of the anti-slip element 716 and ends before its outer end. The reflex sensor In addition to each other, 722 has a transmitter that radiates outwards and one Reflections of this beam collecting receiver, which are not shown here. When the hair dryer 702 is placed on a shelf, it reflects one Part of the transmitted beam, which causes a signal change in the receiver. The Signal of the receiver is fed to an evaluation circuit, not shown, with the sensor 722 forms an actuating device, which also in this case switch, not shown, opens and the power supply to the functional elements of the Hair dryer interrupts. Lifting the hair dryer 702 causes a signal change, which causes the switch to turn on.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a hair dryer 802 according to a further modified one Embodiment. The hairdryer 802 has a device housing 804 with a Blower tube 806 and a handle 808 projecting downward from it. The handle 808 carries on its front a handle 850 of an on-off switch, not shown. A special shelf 860 is assigned to the hair dryer 802. This owns a vertical leg 862 attachable to a wall and one in the wall thereof upper area protruding from the wall, the upper side has a depression 866 extending parallel to the wall, into which the fan tube 806 is insertable. The handle can be opened through a cutout 868 which is open to the front Hang the support tray 864 down. The 802 hair dryer has one at the bottom End of the handle 808 merging power cord 870 leading to the shelf 860 leads and is connected to a switch 872 arranged therein. The switch 872 is a circuit breaker biased in the switch-on direction with an upwards in mechanical sensor 874 projecting recess 866 as an actuating device. When the hair dryer 802 is placed in the recess 866, the sensor 874 is removed from the Pressed the bottom of the fan tube 806 down and opens the switch 872. The Switch 872, on the other hand, is connected via a further power cord 876 to a Mains connector 878 can be connected to the mains.

A shelf similar to that of the embodiment according to FIGS. 8 and 9 can also be used a hair dryer with a sensor arranged thereon according to the embodiments be combined according to FIGS. 1 to 7. It can be useful for this be on the shelf, in a modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, to arrange a socket in the one on the power cord of the hair dryer arranged power plug can be inserted. This makes the hair dryer from the shelf separately z. B. usable when traveling

A further modified hair dryer 902 is indicated in broken lines in FIG. 10. The hair dryer 902 has a device housing 904 with a blower tube 906 and a handle 908. In the blower tube 906 are a heating resistor 946 and a Electric motor 948 arranged to drive a fan, not shown. in the Handle 908 is an on-off switch 944 arranged by means of one on the front the handle 908 arranged handle can be brought into its on or off position is. A switch unit 980 is also arranged in the handle. This includes one Switch 982, which is actuated by an evaluation circuit 984. This receives signals from a motion sensor 986, which is fixed in the handle 908. The motion sensor 986 gives 904 when the device housing moves while picking up a storage and signals during movements in use to the evaluation circuit 984 and forms together with this an actuator for the switch 982. Die Evaluation circuit 984 comprises a timer which switches 982 for a certain time Minimum duration in the on position lasts even if the motion sensor 986 is lacking sufficient movement does not give an impulse. A convenient time constant of the timer can be determined and set permanently through use attempts or made changeable for the user. The motion sensor 986 can e.g. B. have a closed chamber in which several contacts are arranged are as well as a mercury ball that shifts and changes with movements connects different contacts.

The on-off switch 944, the switch unit 980 or its switch 982 and the heating resistor 946 are connected in series between two power supply terminals 940 and 942, which are connected to a power cord, not shown. The blower motor 948 is connected in parallel to part of the heating resistor. 10 is the device is in its stored state during an interruption of work with the open Switch 982 shown but closed on-off switch.

Claims (14)

Hand-held electrical hair treatment device, in particular hair dryer, with a device housing in which an electrical consumer is arranged and with an electrical switch that switches the consumer, to which an actuating device is assigned, which brings the switch into its switched-off position when the device is put down, characterized in that the Actuating device (22, 24; 522; 622, 616; 722; 874) has a sensor (22, 24; 522; 622; 722; 874) for determining whether the device housing (4; 504; 604; 704; 804) is open a storage surface (866) rests and the actuating device (22, 24; 522; 622, 616; 722; 874) when the device housing (4; 504; 604; 704; 804) is lifted from the storage surface (866) the switch (26, 28; 872) can return to its off position. Device according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the actuating device (984, 986) has a movement sensor (986) arranged in the device housing (904) and the switch (982) when the device housing (904) moves into its switched-on position and when it is missing Brings movement to its switch-off position. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the actuating device (984, 986) comprises a time switch which keeps the switch (982) switched on for a time after each signal coming from the motion sensor (986) and caused by a movement of the device housing (904) . Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (22, 24; 522; 622; 722) is arranged on the device housing (4; 504; 604; 704) in the region of a support point with which the device housing is placed on a flat storage surface rests on this. Device according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the device housing (4) has a blower tube (6) with rear suction openings (10) and front outlet openings and a handle (8) projecting downwards therebetween and the sensor (22, 24) is arranged on the side of the device housing (4), preferably on the side of the blower tube (6). Device according to one of claims 1, 4 or 5, characterized by two sensors (22, 24) arranged on opposite sides of the device housing (4) of two switches (26, 28) electrically connected in series. Device according to one of claims 1 or 4 to 6, with an associated shelf (860) and an electrical power cord (870, 876), characterized in that the power cord (870, 876) is guided through the shelf (860) and the switch ( 872) with the sensor (874) on the shelf (860) and electrically connected in the power cord (870, 876). Device according to one of claims 1 or 4 to 7, characterized in that the sensor (22, 24; 522; 622; 874) has a mechanical sensor (22, 24; 522; 622; 874) which counteracts the weight of the device a pretensioning device (34) can be brought into a switch-off position. Device according to one of claims 1 or 4 to 7, characterized in that the sensor is an optical sensor, for example a reflex sensor (722). Device according to one of claims 1 or 4 to 9, characterized in that an anti-slip protruding element (16, 18; 516; 616; 716) with a material of high surface friction protrudes outwards at a support point of the device housing (4; 504; 604; 704) arranged and the sensor (22, 24; 522; 622; 722) is combined with the anti-slip element. Device according to one of claims 8 or 10, characterized in that the anti-slip element (516) is arranged on the mechanical sensor (522) and can be displaced together with it relative to the device housing (504) Device according to one of Claims 1 or 4 to 10, characterized by a cap (616), which projects outwards and is attached to the device housing (604) and is made of an elastic material, preferably high surface friction, which covers the sensor (622). Device according to one of Claims 1 or 4 to 12, characterized in that the switch is a breaker switch (26, 28; 872) which is biased mechanically or electrically in the switch-on direction and which, when the device housing (4, 804) is lifted off the holder (860) returns to its on position. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a manually operated on / off switch (44; 850; 944) is arranged on the device housing (4; 804; 904) and is electrically connected in series with that of the sensor (22, 24; 874; 986) controlled switch (26, 28; 872; 982) is connected.

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