GB2211732A

GB2211732A - Hair dryer

Info

Publication number: GB2211732A
Application number: GB8825794A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wing Kin Chan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-11-03
Filing date: 1988-11-03
Publication date: 1989-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2008-11-03
Also published as: GB2211732B; GB8725681D0; HK104591A; GB8825794D0

Abstract

A fixture for a hair dryer, such as a styling comb or diffuser or an iron, comprises a fixing ring 2 defining a space 3 for receiving a hair dryer (15) so that the hair dryer may act as the heat source for the fixture. The hair dryer is clamped by means of a clamping mechanism comprising clamping members 7 which are moved inwardly by cam surfaces 9 on the fixing ring. A releasable ratchet mechanism is provided to hold the hair dryer once clamped. The ratchet mechanism is simply released by pressing buttons 13 to disengage the ratchet teeth 10,11. <IMAGE>

Description

"HAIR DRYER" The present invention relates to a hair dryer, and in particular to means for clamping thereto a fixture such as a flat iron.

Irons have been used for many centuries for the pressing of fabrics, and in particular clothes; to remove creases and for various other purposes.

In the past the iron was heated by placing it in or above a fire, but in more recent times this traditional iron has been replaced by the electic iron. In the electric iron an electric element is provided as the heat source.

Electric irons have of course gained widespread acceptance with the public and are seen in almost every household. They are not without certain disadvantages however. The need to provide an electric element, with an associated thermostat and controls, increases the cost of the iron and makes it somewhat bulky. This last point is of particular relevance if it is desired to take an iron on holiday, or on a business trip.

Viewed from one broad aspect the present invention provides a flat-iron having a holder comprising adjustable clamping means for clamping a hair dryer to the iron in such a manner that the hair dryer communicates with an ironing surface of the iron for use as the heat source for the flat-iron.

By means of this arrangement, at least in its preferred forms, a conventional hair dryer may be used as the heating source. In this way one appliance, the hair dryer, can serve two functions and the remaining components of the iron are kept to a minimum.

The adjustable clamping means preferably is intended to enable the holder to be clamped to hair dryers of different sizes thus increasing the adaptability of the iron.

In a preferred embodiment the clamping means comprises a plurality of clamping members disposed about a hair dryer receiving space, and an actuating element for moving said clamping members inwardly to engage a hair dryer received in said space.

Preferably the actuating element comprises a fixing ring rotatably mounted on a base, the inner surface of the fixing ring having a plurality of cam surfaces for engaging the clamping members, whereby the clamping members are moved inwardly by rotation of the fixing ring.

In order to ensure that the hair dryer is securely clamped in place, means are preferably provided for retaining the fixing ring in a desired position. In a preferred embodiment this retaining means comprises a ratchet mechanism. To form such a ratchet mechanism the inner surface of the fixing ring is provided with a series of circumferential teeth and the base is provided with a toothed portion for engaging the teeth of the fixing ring. To facilitate removal of the hair dryer after use of the hair dryer/iron combination, it is preferred that the toothed portion of the base may be disengaged from the teeth of the fixing ring to disconnect the ratchet mechanism. The toothed portion may be spring-loaded into engagement with the fixing ring and disengaged therefrom by pressing a button to move the toothed portion against the springloading.

Viewed from another broad aspect the present invention provides an iron comprising a flat-iron, a holder, and a hair dryer releasably clamped to said holder.

The above described clamping means can of course be used to secure other fixtures to a hair dryer, e.g. a hot air diffuser, curling tongs or hair-styling comb.

Thus viewed from another broad aspect the present invention provides a fixture for a hair dryer, said fixture having adjustable clamping means for clamping the fixture to the dryer comprising a plurality of clamping members disposed about a hair dryer receiving space, and an actuating element for moving said clamping members inwardly to engage a hair dryer received in said space.

Preferably the actuating element comprises a rotatable fixing ring, the inner surface of the fixing ring having a plurality of cam surfaces for engaging the clamping members, whereby the clamping members are moved inwardly by rotation of the fixing ring.

In order to ensure that the hair dryer is securely clamped in place, means are preferably provided for retaining the fixing ring in a desired position. In a preferred embodiment this retaining means comprises a ratchet mechanism. To form such a ratchet mechanism the inner surface of the fixing ring is provided with a series of circumferential teeth and the fixutre is provided with a toothed portion for engaging the teeth of the fixing ring.

To facilitate removal of the hair dryer after use of the hair dryer/fixture combination, it is preferred that the toothed portion may be disengaged from the teeth of the fixing ring to disconnect the ratchet mechanism. The toothed portion may be spring-loaded into engagement with the fixing ring and disengaged therefrom by pressing a button to move the toothed portion against the spring-loading.

Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an iron according to an embodiment of the invention with the base and fixing ring separated, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the iron of Fig.

1 with the fixing ring mounted on the base, Fig. 3 is a sectional view along line III III of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a sectional view along line IV IV of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an assembled iron with a hair dryer, Fig. 6 is a plan view, partly in cross-section, of the clamping means of a hair-styling comb, Fig. 7 is a sectional view along the line V-V of Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a side view, partly in section, of an air diffuser, Fig. 9 is a cross-section of the diffuser of Fig. 8 along line VI-VI, Fig. 10 is a cross-section of the diffuser of Fig. 8 along line VII-VII.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1 an iron comprises a base 1 and a fixing ring 2. Between them the base 1 and the ring 2 define a space 3 for receiving a hair dryer 15 in a manner to be described hereinbelow.

The base 1 is generally flat and in the shape of a flat-iron, and an ironing surface in the form of metal plate 16 (Fig. 5) may be secured to the base by any conventional fastening means, e.g.

screws, clips or the like. Generally in the centre of the base there is provided an upstanding cylindrical portion 4. The upper part of the cylindrical portion 4 is provided with an external thread 5 which engages an internal thread 6 provided at the bottom of the fixing ring 2.

Three clamping memers 7 are provided equiangularly about the space 3. The clamping members 7 are connected to the cylindrical portion 4 by means of resilient leaf springs 8. The upper part of the inner surface of the fixing ring 2 is provided with three cam surfaces 9 corresponding to the clamping members 7. The fixing ring 2 is mounted on the base 1 by means of the threads 5,6 and, as is seen particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, the cam surfaces 9 engage the clamping members 7. The cam surfaces have a generally wedge-like shape and consequently upon clockwise rotation of the fixing ring the cam surfaces 9 urge the clamping members 7 inwardly to securely grip a hair dryer air outlet in the space 3.

In order to ensure that the hair dryer is held firmly during use of the iron, a ratchet mechanism is provided to prevent anti-clockwise rotation of the fixing ring 2. Between the threaded part 6 and the cam surfaces 9, the inner surface of the fixing ring 2 is provided with a circumferential series of teeth 10. The cylindrical portion 4 of the base 1 is provided with two diametrically opposed apertures in which are disposed toothed portions 11. The toothed portions 11 are biassed outwardly by springs 12 so that they engage the teeth 10 of the fixing ring when the fixing ring is mounted on the base. This is shown particularly in Fig. 4. In order to disengage the ratchet mechanism, so that a hair dryer may be removed by anti-clockwise rotation of the fixing ring, it is only necessary to move the toothed portions 11 inwardly against the force of the spring 12 by pressing the integrally formed button portions 13. In this way the toothed portions 11 are disconnected from the teeth 10 of the fixing ring, and the ring may be thus be rotated anti-clockwise to release the hair dryer.

Because of the adjustable nature of the clamping mechanism hair dryers of different sizes may be securely held. If necessary rubber pads or the like may be provided on the clamping members to increase the grip of the clamping members on the hair dryer. In this way a wide range of different types of dryers, including battery or mains operated, can be used.

The holder may be made of any suitable materials including either heat resistant plastics and/or a light metal such as aluminium. In addition, in order to prevent any undesirable build-up of hot air in the iron, the holder may be provided with an aperture 14 at the junction between the front of the cylindrical part 4 of the base and the flat part of the base.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a hair-styling comb that may be attached to a hair dryer by a similar clamping means. The clamping means comprises a number of clamping members 7' about a hair dryer receiving space 3'. The clamping members 7' are moved inwardly to engage a hair dryer by cam surfaces 9' formed on a rotatable fixing ring 2' of the comb fixture.

As before rotation of the cam surfaces in a direction to release the clamping means is normally prevented by a ratchet mechanism. A toothed portion 11' of the ratchet mechanism is spring-biased into engagement with teeth 10' on the inside of the fixing ring. To release the clamping means the ratchet mechanism may be disengaged by pressing button 13' to move the toothed portion out of engagement with the teeth of the fixing ring.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show an air diffuser that may be fixed to a hair dryer by a corresponding means. In these figures the same elements have been shown by the same reference numerals and will not therefore be described further.

It will of course be understood that many other forms of fixtures could be adapted to be fitted to a hair dryer by the same clamping means and the invention is therefore not limited to those exemplified above.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A fixture for a hair dryer, said fixture having adjustable clamping means for clamping the fixture to the dryer comprising a plurality of clamping members disposed about a hair dryer receiving space, and an actuating element for moving said clamping members inwardly to engage a hair dryer received in said space.

2. A fixture according to claim 1 wherein said actuating element comprises a rotatable fixing ring, the inner surface of said fixing ring having a plurality cam surfaces for engaging the clamping members, whereby said clamping members may be moved inwardly by rotation of said fixing ring.

3. A fixture according to claim 2 comprising means for retaining said fixing ring in a desired position to engage said hair dryer securely.

4. A fixture according to claim 3 wherein said retaining means comprises a ratchet mechanism.

5. A fixture according to claim 4 wherein the inner surface of the fixing ring is provided with a series of circumferential teeth and wherein said ratchet mechanism comprises a toothed portion for engaging the teeth of said fixing ring.

6. A fixture according to claim 5 wherein said toothed portion may be disengaged from the teeth of said fixing ring to disconnect the ratchet mechanism whereby the hair dryer may be released from the clamping means.

7. A fixture according to claim 6 wherein said toothed portion is spring-loaded into engagement with said fixing ring and is released by moving the toothed portion against the spring-loading.

8. A fixture according to claim 7 wherein said movement is effected by pressing a button portion formed integrally with the toothed portion.

9. A fixture according to any of claims 5 to 8 wherein the holder is provided with two diametrically opposed toothed portions.

10. A fixture for a hair dryer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A fixture according to any preceding claim wherein said fixture is an air diffuser.

12. A fixture according to any preceding claim wherein said fixture is a hair-styling comb.

13. A fixture according to any preceding claim wherein said fixture is an iron.

14. A flat-iron having a holder comprising adjustable clamping means for clamping a hair dryer to the iron in such a manner that said hair dryer communicates with an ironing surface of the iron for use as the heat source for the flat-iron.

15. An iron according to claim 14 wherein said clamping means comprises a plurality of clamping members disposed about a hair dryer receiving space, and an actuating element for moving said clamping members inwardly to engage a hair dryer received in said space.

16. An iron according to claim 15 wherein said actuating element comprises a fixing ring rotatably mounted on a base, the inner surface of said fixing ring having a pluralty cam surfaces for engaging the clamping members, whereby said clamping members may be moved inwardly by rotation of said fixing ring.

17. An iron according to claim 16 comprising means for retaining said fixing ring in a desired position to engage said hair dryer securely.

18. An iron according to claim 17 wherein said retaining means comprises a ratchet mechanism.

19. An iron according to claim 18 wherein the inner surface of the fixing ring is provided with a series of circumferential teeth and wherein said base is provided with a toothed portion for engaging the teeth of said fixing ring.

20. An iron according to claim 19 wherein said toothed portion may be disengaged from the teeth of said fixing ring to disconnect the ratchet mechanism whereby the hair dryer may be released from the clamping means.

21. An iron according to claim 20 wherein said toothed portion is spring-loaded into engagement with said fixing ring and is released by moving the toothed portion against the spring-loading.

22. An iron according to claim 21 wherein said movement is effected by pressing a button portion formed integrally with the toothed portion.

23. An iron according to any of claims 19 to 22 wherein the holder is provided with two diametrically opposed toothed portions.

24. An iron comprising a flat-iron, a holder, and a hair dryer releasably clamped to said holder.

25. An iron substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.