GB2263401A

GB2263401A - Air diffuser for a hair dryer

Info

Publication number: GB2263401A
Application number: GB9201520A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gavin Ross Thomson; Kenneth Henry Grange
Original assignee: Kenwood Marks Ltd
Current assignee: Kenwood Marks Ltd
Priority date: 1992-01-24
Filing date: 1992-01-24
Publication date: 1993-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 2012-01-24
Also published as: GB2263401B; GB9201520D0

Abstract

A dome-shaped diffuser 1 is snap-engageable by means of projections 8 with an inwardly extending rim of an air outlet of a hair dryer. Concentric circles of holes 5 extend through the diffuser with circles nearer to the central axis 3 of the diffuser having less holes than those nearer the periphery of the diffuser. Slots 6 extend from the periphery of the diffuser and converge towards its apex 4. Due to turbulence caused by the diffuser, the air flow from the hair dryer is mixed so as to emit through the diffuser holes of substantially uniform temperature and at a reduced speed. <IMAGE>

Description

DIFFUSER FOR A HAIR DRYER This invention relates to a diffuser for a hair dryer and more specifically, although not exclusively, to a diffuser suitable for use on a compact, light-weight hair dryer intended for travel purposes.

Diffusers are used as attachments on the air outlets of hair dryers in order to diffuse, and slightly reduce the speed of, the airflow emitted from the hair dryer. Conventional diffusers are generally hollow, mushroom-shaped members which, when attached to the hair dryer, extend radially outwardly from the hair dryer outlet to form a large outer end face which is flat or slightly concave. This end face is formed with a plurality of through-holes, through which the airflow passes in order to achieve the diffusion. However, the mushroom shape of these diffusers tends to be bulky and awkward to use and not particularly suitable for travel-type hair dryers.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a diffuser for a hair dryer, which is compact and more suitable than conventional diffusers for use with travel-type hair dryers.

Accordingly, the present invention consists in a diffuser for a hair dryer having an air outlet, the diffuser comprising a substantially hollow member at least a part of which is formed with a plurality of through-holes, and means for releasably attaching the hollow member to the air outlet such that air emitted from the outlet passes through the holes, the outer surface of said part of said member formed with said holes being domed in shape.

Preferably, substantially the whole member forms a dome. Also the periphery of the dome may be commensurate with the periphery of the air outlet when the diffuser is attached thereto. In this way, the diffuser and hair dryer assembly may together form a streamlined contour.

The means for attaching the diffuser to the air outlet are preferably formed around the periphery of the dome. They may be shaped to engage in snap-fit manner with co-operable means provided on the air outlet, and preferably around the periphery of the air outlet.

An axis of the dome, passing through the apex of the dome, is preferably coincident with the axis of the air outlet when the diffuser is attached thereto.

The through holes may be conveniently arranged in circles concentric with the axis of the dome, with the number of holes in the circle nearest to the dome periphery being greater than the number of holes in the circle nearest to the apex.

In a preferred embodiment, the holes are generally circular, except for the circle of holes nearest the dome periphery which may be in the form of slots extending generally along radial lines from the periphery of the dome converging towards the apex of the dome.

The diffuser is advantageously integrally made from moulded plastics material.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a diffuser according to one embodiment of the invention, showing in outline a hair dryer to which it can be attached; Figure 2 is an end view of the diffuser of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the diffuser 1 is in the form of a hollow dome-shaped member with a concave outer surface, having a periphery 2 and an axis 3 which passes through apex 4 of the dome. The domed member is formed with a plurality of through-holes 5,6 arranged in a substantially even distribution over its surface. As can best be seen from Figure 2, the holes are arranged in four circles of successively increasing diameters, which are concentric with the apex 4 of the dome. From the apex out to the dome periphery, the four successive circles have 3,6,18 and 18 equally spaced holes respectively. The holes 5 in the three inner circles are generally circular and the holes 6 in the outer circle are formed as slots which extend generally along radial lines from the periphery of the dome converging towards the apex 4.

An annular flange 7 extends out from the inner edge of end face 8 at the periphery 2 and is formed on its outer surface with a number of projections 9, preferably three equally-spaced projections. As can be seen in Figure 1, the diffuser 1 is attached to the air outlet of a hair dryer, shown in outline at 10, by the projections 9 engaging in snap-fit manner behind an inwardly-extending rim 11 formed around the periphery of the air outlet, such that the end face 8 abuts against the end face of the hair dryer outlet.

The diffuser is preferably dimensioned so that its periphery 2 is commensurate with the periphery of the air outlet of the hair dryer to which it is intended to be attached. In this way, the hair dryer and diffuser assembly form a streamlined contour providing a compact, aesthetically-pleasing appearance. Additionally, the domed diffuser provides a particularly simple, yet effective, shape which can be easily made from a one-piece plastics moulding, so that it is light-weight, as well as being inexpensive to manufacture. The diffuser according to the present invention is therefore particularly suited for use with small, light-weight travel-type hair dryers, but it may equally be appropriately dimensioned for use on hair dryers of any size.

Moreover, it has been found that in conventional hair dryers which have an annular heating element, the airflow from the hair dryer may tend to be emitted in approximately annular temperature bands. However, by using a diffuser in accordance with the present invention, air turbulence is created within the diffuser due to its curved shape. This turbulence mixes the airflow so as to emit an air through the diffuser holes of substantially uniform temperature and at a slightly reduced speed.

Whilst a particular embodiment has been described, it will be appreciated that modifications can be made without departure from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A diffuser for a hair dryer having an air outlet, the diffuser comprising a substantially hollow member at least a part of which is formed with a plurality of through-holes, and means for releasably attaching the hollow member to the air outlet such that air emitted from the outlet passes through the holes, the outer surface of said part of said member formed with said holes being domed in shaped.

2. A diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein substantially the whole member forms a dome.

3. A diffuser as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the periphery of the dome is commensurate with the air outlet when the diffuser is attached thereto.

4. A diffuser as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the means for releasably attaching the hollow member to the air outlet are formed around the periphery of the hollow member.

5. A diffuser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the releasable attaching means are shaped so as to snap-fit with co-operable means provided on the air outlet.

6. A diffuser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the through holes are arranged in circles concentric with the central axis of the dome, with the number of holes in the circle furthest from the central axis being greater than the number of holes in the circle nearest to the central axis.

7. A diffuser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein holes nearest the periphery of the hollow member are in the form of slots extending generally along radial lines from the periphery of the dome converging towards the apex of the dome.

8. A diffuser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of through-holes are distributed substantially evenly over the surface of the hollow member.

9. A diffuser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein it is integrally made from moulded plastics material.

10. A diffuser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A hair dryer having an air outlet and a diffuser attached to said air outlet, said diffuser comprising a substantially hollow member at least a part of which is formed with a plurality of through-holes such that air emitted from the outlet passes through the holes, the outer surface of said part of said member formed with said holes being domed in shape.