GB2331011A

GB2331011A - Handle structure of a hair dryer

Info

Publication number: GB2331011A
Application number: GB9723530A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pasquale Proto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-11-07
Filing date: 1997-11-07
Publication date: 1999-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 2017-11-07
Also published as: GB2331011B; GB9723530D0

Abstract

The housing of a hot air type electric hair dryer has a plane base 8 to which are attached two U-shaped handles 7. The user passes his arm through the rear handle and grips the front handle whereby the housing of the dryer in use rests on the upper parts of the hand, wrist and lower arm.

Description

HAIR DRYERS This invention relates to hair dryers.

Conventionaily hair dryers include a generally upstanding hand grip including an operating switch or button which supports a generally horizontally aiigned tubular housing in which is positioned an electrical heating element, and a fan which operates to direct air from the ambient over the element. Heated air leaves the housing through an outlet nozzle.

The element conventionally comprises one or more filaments connected to receive electricity from the mains, mains electricity also providing power for the fan.

The design of these known hair dryers has been made essentially unchanged for a significant number of years. One disadvantage with this design is that the operator's hand acts simply to hold the hand grip and point the nozzle generally in the required direction.

The present invention sets out to provide a hair dryer which is shaped essentially to provide an extension to the operator's hand thereby providing much better control over the direction at which the heated air leaves the dryer.

According to the present invention in one aspect there is provided a hair dryer having a housing in which is positioned an electrically operated heating means and a fan, the housing further comprising an inlet through which atmospheric air can enter the housing and a nozzle through which air can leave the housing after passing over or through the heating means, at least one hand grip or support secured to the generally plane underside of the housing and positioned so that the upper part of the hand and wrist of the user lies in contact with the underside of the housing, and switch means for operating the fan and the heating means.

The hand grip may be generally "U" shaped.

Two aligned generally "U" shaped grips or supports may be secured to the underside of the housing, one through which the wrist or lower arm of a user passes and the other of which defines a hand grip.

The heating means may comprise one or more electrical filaments or a porous or perforated block of ceramic or like material.

The air inlet is preferably positioned in the upper side of the housing, vanes being provided within the housing to direct air towards and through the heating means.

The switch means may be positioned on one side of the housing close to the grip or support or the foremost such grip or support if two or more such grips or supports are provided.

The rearmost grip or support may be replaced by a sleeve through which the wrist or lower arm of the user can pass.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in whicir:- Figure 1 is a side view in section of a hair dryer in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow "A" of Figure 1.

The hair dryer illustrated in the drawings comprises a housing 1 having an air inlet 2 and an outlet nozzle 3. The position of the outlet nozzle may be adjustable or the nozzle may be replaceable as required. A fan 4 operates to draw air from the atmosphere through the inlet 2 towards a heater 5 and thence to the outlet nozzle 3. Vanes 6 are provided to direct the air towards and through the heater 5.

Secured to the generally plane underside of the hair dryer are a pair of generally "U" shaped grips or supports 7. These grips are illustrated more clearly in Figure 2 and are positioned such that the upper surface of the user's hand, wrist and lower arm lie in contact with the underside 8 of the housing. The supports 7 are aligned and positioned so that the wrist and lower arm of the user passes through the rearmost support, the foremost grip being held by the hand of the user.

The hair dryer has a lead 9 for connecting the fan and heating means to mains electricity, a control switch 10 shown in broken line being positioned on the housing close to the foremost hand grip 7.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of hair dryers in accordance with the invention and that various modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A hair dryer having a housing within which is positioned an electrically operated heating means and a fan, the housing further comprising'an inlet through which atmospheric air can enter the housing and a nozzle through which air can leave the housing after passing over or through the heating means, at least one hand grip or support secured to the generally plain underside of the housing and positioned so that an upper part of a hand and wrist of the user lies in contact with the underside of the housing, and switch means for operating the fan and heating means.
2. A hair dryer as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the at least one grip is generally U-shaped.
3. A hair dryer as claimed in Claim 2 in which two U-shaped grips are secured to the underside of the housing, one for receiving the wrist or lower arm of a user and the other of which defines a hand grip.
4. A hair dryer as claimed in Claim 3 in which the grip through which the wrist or lower arm of the user passes comprises a sleeve.
5. A hair dryer as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the heating means comprises one or more electrical filaments or a porous or a perforated block of ceramic or like material.
6. A hair dryer as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the air inlet is positioned in the upper part of the housing, means being provided within the housing to direct air towards and over or through the heating means.
7. A hair dryer as claimed in any preceding claim in which the switch means is positioned on one side of the housing close to the grip or the foremost of the grips.
8. A hair dryer substantially as described herein and as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.