GB2232589A - Hairdryer - Google Patents

Abstract

A hairdryer with an outlet nozzle for hot air has provided within the nozzle hinged baffle means adapted for movement between a first position where the passage of air through the nozzle is substantially unimpeded to a second position where air issuing from the nozzle is concentrated at the centre of the nozzle opening.

Description

HAIRDRYER This invention relates to hairdryers.

During the normal usage of hairdryers, the primary requirement is for there to be a reasonable volume of hot air generally directed through a nozzle to enable the direction of hot air over a relatively wide area. However, in certain circumstances, there is a need to concentrate the hot air issuing from the nozzle over a smaller area such as when a particular part of a head of hair needs a greater drying effected or when the hair is being simultaneously styled whilst being dried. Thus, it is already known to provide a separate clip-on attachment which can be secured to the nozzle outlet and so shaped to concentrate the air flow issuing therefrom but which has the inherent disadvantage that being a separate attachment repeated usage can damage the manner of its attachment to the nozzle making it unusable and by being separate the attachment can be lost.

It is the objective of the present invention to provide a hairdryer with a means of concentrating the air flow issuing from the nozzle and which avoids the disadvantages mentioned above.

According to the present invention, a hairdryer comprises an outlet nozzle for hot air and there being provided within the nozzle hinged baffle means adapted for movement between a first position where the passage of air through the nozzle is substantially unimpeded to a second position where air issuing from the nozzle is concentrated at the centre of the nozzle opening.

The baffle means comprises two baffle plates each connected to a support arm and with the support arms extending to, and being pivotally located on, a support mounted generally centrally of the nozzle, there being means connected to the support arms to hold the baffle means in the said first position where they lie in proximity to the wall of the nozzle thereby not to impede the passage of air through the nozzle to the said second position where each baffle plate assumes a downwardly inclined position towards the nozzle outlet and whereby air passing through the nozzle is concentrated by the baffle plates at the nozzle outlet.Alternatively the baffle plates may have inwardly directed legs to each side pivotally connected to respective ends of a generally U-shaped connecting member, and the respective legs of the baffle plates to one side engaging pivot pins mounted in the inside wall of the nozzle to one side, and the U-shaped connecting member attached to an operating bar.

Preferably the operating bar extends to a trigger means located for example on the handle of the hair dryer, and whereby the baffle means can be operated by the user with one hand, leaving the other hand free to hold, for example, a hairbrush or a styling implement.

Thus, each leg of the baffle plates may be slotted at its innermost end, and a pivot pin provided to extend through the slots to hold the legs in overlapping relationship, with each pivot pin slidably located on a respective support formed to diametrically opposite sides of the nozzle. The connecting member can then be attached to an operating bar extending rearwardly of the nozzle, which operating bar is attached to a trigger lying partly within the handle and emerging through an appropriate slot in the handle, and there being behind the trigger a spring. Ordinarily, the spring holds the trigger and hence the operating bar in a wforwardw condition where the baffle plate legs are in line with each other with the pivot pins at the forward ends of the slots on the nozzle, and with the baffle plates held against the inner wall of the nozzle.

When the trigger is pulled back against the spring, the operating bar is drawn rearwardly of the nozzle to pull the connecting member rearwardly and cause the baffle plates to pivot about their pivotal connections to put the baffle plates in an angular disposition to concentrate the air flow towards the centre of the nozzle. Such a construction has the advantage that the user can control the angular disposition of the baffles and hence the degree of air concentration up to the maximum provided by the full depression of the trigger, simply by depressing the trigger to a lesser degree. A disconnectable locking mechanism can be associated with the trigger for use in circumstances where a concentrated air flow is required for an appreciable period of time.

Advantageously, the two baffles are formed from an appropriate metal of a sufficiently heat resistant nature such that they cannot be damaged by the heat from the concentrated air flow, and by virtue of the fact that the baffles concentrate the air flow at the centre of the nozzle outlet, there is the avoidance of any damage by heat to the wall of the nozzle thereby avoiding the need to provide any protection for the wall of the nozzle and which ordinarily is of a suitable plastics material.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a part-sectional side elevation of a hairdryer in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 corresponds to Figure 1 but shows the baffle means in their second position; Figure 3 is a sectional plan view on the line III-III of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation on the line IV IV of Figure 3; and Figures 5 and 6 are part-sectional side elevations of the trigger mechanism for the baffle means, and generally on the lines V-V and VI-VI of Figures 1 and 2 respectively.

In the drawings, a hairdryer 1 has a casing 2 and a handle 3, a trigger mechanism 4 being located in an aperture in the handle 3, the handle also housing appropriate switching mechanism not detailed for the activation of a motor and fan, and heating coils located within the casing, and again not detailed.

At the outlet end of the casing, two baffle plates 5 are provided, the inwardly extending legs of which are connected by hinges 6 to each side, the hinges extending beyond the baffle plates to locate in a respective guide slots 7 formed on the inside of the nozzle end of the casing. Also connected to the hinge 6 is a generally U-shaped connecting member 8 attached to an operating bar 9 that extends to the trigger mechanism 4. As is shown more particularly by Figure 3, pin means l are provided on the inside face of the nozzle end of the casing to engage in respective holes 11 in the legs of baffle plates to one side.

As is shown by Figure l, the baffle plates have a first position where they lie substantially parallel to the wall of the casing at its outlet end, and thereby allow passage of air through the outlet end of the casing to be distributed over the whole area of the outlet end. When the trigger 4 is depressed, and as is shown in Figure 2, the operating bar 9 and hence the connecting member 8, is drawn rearwardly of the casing to cause the baffle plates to hinge about the pins l and thereby to put the baffle plates in their second position and where air emerging from the outlet from the casing is concentrated at the centre of the outlet.

As is shown particularly by Figure 2, the trigger has spring means 12 to hold the trigger in its Figure 1 condition and until air is required to be concentrated at the centre of the outlet. When the trigger 4 is pressed to its Figure 2 position a spring loaded locking member 13 can be depressed to engage in a slot 14 formed in the adjacent side wall 15 of the trigger member and thereby to hold the baffle plates in their position to concentrate air and until concentration is no longer required. To release the trigger and hence allow the return of the baffle plates to their Figure 1 condition a further depression of the trigger releases the connection between the locking member 13 and the slot 14 in the wall 15 of the trigger and when springs 16 associated with guide legs 17 of the locking member urge the locking member to its inoperative position.

Claims (6)

1. A hairdryer comprising an outlet nozzle for hot air and there being provided within the nozzle hinged baffle means adapted for movement between a first position where the passage of air through the nozzle is substantially unimpeded to a second position where air issuing from the nozzle is concentrated at the centre of the nozzle opening.

2. A hairdryer as in Claim l, wherein the baffle means comprises two baffle plates each connected to a support arm and with the support arms extending to, and being pivotally located on, a support mounted generally centrally of the nozzle, there being means connected to the support arms to hold the baffle means in the said first position where they lie in proximity to the wall of the nozzle thereby not to impede the passage of air through the nozzle to the said second position where each baffle plate assumes a downwardly inclined position towards the nozzle outlet and whereby air passing through the nozzle is concentrated by the baffle plates at the nozzle outlet.

3. A hairdryer as in Claim l, wherein the baffle means comprises two baffle plates each having inwardly directed legs to each side pivotally connected to respective ends of a generally U-shaped connecting member, and the respective legs of the baffle plates to one side engaging pivot pins mounted in the inside wall of the nozzle to one side, and the U-shaped connecting member attached to an operating bar.

4. A hairdryer as in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein a disconnectable locking mechanism is associated with the trigger for use in circumstances where a concentrated air flow is required for an appreciable period of time.

5. A hairdryer as in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the baffles are formed from an appropriate heat resistant metal.

6. A hairdryer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.