GB2412314A

GB2412314A - Collapsible helmet hair dryer

Info

Publication number: GB2412314A
Application number: GB0505814A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harold Roy Taylor
Original assignee: Conair Corp
Current assignee: Conair Corp
Priority date: 2004-03-22
Filing date: 2005-03-22
Publication date: 2005-09-28
Also published as: US20050204578A1; GB0505814D0; GB0506166D0; CA2501930A1

Abstract

The hair dryer comprises a base 5 having a telescopic neck 4 that supports a hard helmet 1 having a first upper portion 2 and a second lower portion 3 which preferably is pivoted in relation to the first portion at point 6, so that it can fold on itself until it substantially overlaps the first portion in order to reduce the total dimensions for storage. The neck can be pivoted at point 9 where it is supported on the base and at point 7 where it supports the helmet. In order to keep the profile of the whole assembly low, the neck folds into a space on the base that is between the fan housings 10.

Description

HARDHAT DRYER THAT FOLDS EFFICIENTLY

The present invention relates to an improved hard bonnet hairdryer that can be folded into a small package most appropriate for a merchandising shelf. s

It is known in the art to fold a hardhat hairdryer, also called a hard bonnet hairdryer, into a smaller package in order to take up less space in storage and to fit inside a smaller sales package.

0 Hardhat dryers are generally made up of: a base, which encloses the heater and fan and which supports a raised structure; a supporting neck which extends up from the base and which also serves as a tubular plenum, carrying warm pressurised air, to the inside of a domed hat; and the hat or bonnet, which serves as a manifold to distribute warm air around the head.

The folded size of these prior art hardhats have, however, been limited by the standing height of the bonnet section of the dryer. The bonnet dimensions cannot be reduced beyond a size to fit the average head. The packaging, which contains the prior art hardhats for sale, exceeds the most efficient size to fit on modem retail shelves. The preferred standing height of a display package should be approximately six inches. The size and therefore the cost of the overlarge package is significant to the success of the product in the market. There is, therefore, need for such a more effective folding design for the bonnet dryer.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved hard bonnet dryer with efficient folding.

According to the invention there is provided a hair dryer comprising: a base; 30. a heater within said base for heating air; a telescopic neck supported by said base adapted to selectively collapse into itself; a bonnet attached to said neck adapted to distribute said heated air about a user's head, said bonnet comprising a first portion and a second portion; and a fan within said base to transfer said heated air from said base to said bonnet.

Preferably, said bonnet further comprises a first hinge to enable said second portion to be rotated about a first axis to enable said second portion to substantially overlap said first portion.

Additionally said neck further comprises a second hinge at the end of said neck adjacent said bonnet to enable said bonnet to be rotated about a second axis when said first portion and said second portion overlap to enable said bonnet to lie substantially flat against said neck. Is

Furthermore said neck further comprises a third hinge at the end of said neck adjacent said base to enable said neck to be rotated about a third axis to enable said neck to lie substantially flat against said base.

Conveniently said base contains extra weight to stabilize said hair dryer.

Preferably said hair dryer is adapted to be able to be folded to a height of less than 8 inches, and more preferably said hair dryer is adapted to be able to be folded to a height of approximately 6 inches To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of the preferred embodiment of the hard- bonnet hairdryer folded open into a working position.

Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of the preferred embodiment of the hard bonnet hairdryer depiction the rotation of the lower half of the bonnet and with the telescoping neck raised up.

Fig. 3 is an illustration of the preferred embodiment of the hardhat dryer with the tubular neck folded up but not extended.

Fig. 4 is a cross section of the preferred embodiment of the hardhat dryer showing the folded neck and sections of the bonnet nesting on top the base Fig. 5 is a side view of the folded hardhat dryer Fig. 6 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the hardhat dryer showing the relative position of a pair of fans and the area left open between the fans to fit the folded neck.

Fig. 7 illustrates how the hard bonnet dryer is intended to be used, unfolded.

Referring to Fig. 1, the preferred embodiment of the present invention ( I), a folding hard-bonnet hair dryer. The dryer is shown in a partially sectioned, side view illustrating the hairdryer fully unfolded and assembled for drying hair. The dryer is intended to stand on a weighted base (5), upon a tabletop, with the assembled bonnet (2&3) hinged off the telescoping neck (4) and extending over the edge of the table in order to cover the head of a seated person, as shown in Fig. 7.

Figs. 1 through 5 illustrate the progressive folding or unfolding of the dryer.

Fig. 5 illustrates a plan view of the folded hardhat dryer (1) and shows the lower half of the bonnet (3) and the base (5). Fig. 4 illustrates a section through the folded hardhat. The lower portion of the bonnet (3) is inverted around the bearing (6) and nests the upper portion of the bonnet (2). The sectional view illustrates the inner (8) and outer (2) walls of the upper portion of the bonnet. Hinge (7) connects the inner wall of the upper portion of the bonnet to the telescoped neck (4). The neck is hinged at the lower end by hinge (9) to the base (5) and folds into a space ( I I) between the twin fan housings (10) on lower hinge (9). The space (I 1) for the nesting of the neck between the fan housings ( 10) is illustrated in a top view of the hairdryer base in Fig. 6.

Fig. 3 illustrates a partially unfolded dryer with the neck (4) and bonnet (2&3) lifted off the dryer base on the neck hinges (9&7). The neck (4) is shown telescoped down and the bonnet halves (2&3) are shown still nested together. Fig. 2 illustrates the dryer partially unfolded with the neck (4) telescoped out and the lower portion of the bonnet (3) being rotated around bearing (6). Fig. 1 shows the dryer unfolded after rotating the lower half of the bonnet (3) to mate with the upper half of the bonnet (2) and fully unfolded. s

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein disclosed and described, it is understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A hair dryer comprising: a base; a heater within said base

for heating air; a telescopic neck supported by said base adapted to selectively collapse into itself; a bonnet attached to said neck adapted to distribute said heated air about a user's head, said bonnet comprising a first portion and a second portion; and l o a fan within said base to transfer said heated air from said base to said bonnet.
2. A hair dryer according to claim 1, wherein said bonnet further comprises a first hinge to enable said second portion to be rotated about a first axis to enable said second portion to substantially overlap said first portion.
3. A hair dryer according to claim I or claim 2, wherein said neck further comprises a second hinge at the end of said neck adjacent said bonnet to enable said bonnet to be rotated about a second axis when said first portion and said second portion overlap to enable said bonnet to lie substantially flat against said neck.
4. A hair dryer according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said neck further comprises a third hinge at the end of said neck adjacent said base to enable said neck to be rotated about a third axis to enable said neck to lie substantially flat against said base.
5. A hair dryer according to any preceding claim, wherein said base contains extra weight to stabilize said hair dryer.
6. A hair dryer according to any preceding claim, wherein said hair dryer is adapted to be able to be folded to a height of less than 8 inches.
7. A hair dryer according to claim any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said hair dryer is adapted to be able to be folded to a height of approximately 6 inches.
8. A hair dryer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.