JP4416587B2 - Portable hair dryer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cordless portable hair dryer, and more particularly, to a portable hair dryer that uses gas as a heat source and is excellent in design and easy to carry.

  As a heat source for the hair dryer, a hair dryer using gas combustion of liquefied petroleum gas such as butane gas filled in a cylinder instead of an electric heater has been developed and is already on the market. Hair dryers that use gas combustion do not require connection to an external power supply compared to those that use an electric heater, and are therefore cordless, so they can be used where power is not available, so the location of use is not limited. Has been widely used since.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the portable hair dryer described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG.

  The housing of the main body 102 of the hair dryer 101 has an L shape formed of a heat-resistant molded product. Inside the handle of the main body 102 are stored a gas cylinder 103 for storing fuel gas, a storage battery 128, a rotation control and charging electric circuit 129, and a control unit 112 for controlling the amount of fuel gas supplied from the gas cylinder 103. The hot air generating part of the main body 102 includes a nozzle 104 positioned at the outlet of the gas supply path from the gas cylinder 103, a blower 106 that supplies air from the rear of the nozzle 104 toward the hot air outlet 105, A premixing unit 107 that premixes air blown by the unit 106 and fuel gas to form a mixed gas, a preheating unit 108 that heats the mixed gas mixed by the premixing unit 107 to a predetermined temperature, and this preheating. An ignition unit 109 that ignites the mixed gas in the unit 108, a catalytic combustion unit 110 that catalytically combusts the mixed gas heated by the preheating unit 108, a detection unit 111 that detects a temperature change in the catalytic combustion unit 110, and the detection unit A control unit 112 that controls the opening and closing of the valve unit of the nozzle 104 according to the detection at 111 to control the amount of fuel gas supplied from the gas cylinder 103; It is provided.

Although not shown, in the portable hair dryer described in Patent Document 2, a gas cylinder is attached in parallel under the hot air generating part, not inside the handle of the L-shaped body. .
JP-A-5-137612 (paragraph [0008], FIG. 1) JP-A-5-137613 (paragraph [0008], FIG. 1)

  However, in the portable hair dryers of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, since the housing has an L-shaped outer shape fixed for piping from the gas cylinder to the nozzle, it is bulky and inconvenient to carry. There is also a risk that the bag may be damaged if it is pushed into the bag forcibly or bulky. In that operation, even if the handle is held and the other end of the hot air generating part is directed to a predetermined part of the head, the movement of the handle part is amplified at the other end of the hot air generating part, and it is quite as intended. In addition, there is a problem that handling is not easy and, therefore, usability is not good.

  In addition to the portable hair dryers of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, there is an L-shaped housing that can be folded, although not shown. However, there are problems similar to those in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 in that it is large and bulky and inconvenient to carry, and has difficulty in operation and is unusable.

  As a result of various studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, the inventors of the present application pay attention to the housing of the portable hair dryer and cross the outer case from the configuration in which it is arranged and stored in the conventional L-shaped main body. The basic shape of the longitudinal section is an approximately right-angled triangle with a slanted side having a gentle bulge, and a hot air generating chamber and a gas cylinder chamber are connected at one end in the outer case and arranged in a V shape. Thus, the present inventors have found that a portable hair dryer having a small size, no protrusion, and excellent design and operability can be provided, and the present invention has been completed.

  That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable hair dryer that is small, easy to carry, and excellent in design.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable hair dryer that is easy to operate.

The portable hair dryer according to the invention of claim 1 has an elliptical transverse cross section, and a basic shape of the longitudinal cross section has a substantially right triangular outer case having a bulge with a slanted side, and the outer case is within the outer case. The hot air generation chamber and the gas cylinder chamber are connected at one end and arranged in a V shape, and an ignition mechanism is disposed between the gas cylinder chamber and the hot air generation chamber. The ignition mechanism includes a first button and a second button. The second button does not operate unless the first button is in the return state, and the gas valve is held in the “open” state via the crank lever by the operation of the first button and the fan. , And after that, the first button is returned, and then the discharge ignition is performed by operating the second button .

A second aspect of the present invention relates to the portable hair dryer according to the first aspect, wherein the ignition mechanism further includes a slide-type knob, and the first button and the first button are provided by a protrusion at a lower portion of the slide-type knob. 2. The portable hair dryer according to claim 1, wherein two buttons are operated .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a portable hair dryer that is small and easy to carry and has excellent design can be provided. That is, since the conventional hair dryer is L-shaped, a wasteful space is formed between the handle portion and the hot air blowing portion even when folded, and the result tends to be large. However, since it is not L-shaped and the handle portion and the hot air jetting portion are integrated, there is no wasted space, and thus the overall size can be reduced. In addition, when the housing is L-shaped, it is difficult to convey the movement of the hand because the tip from which the hot air is discharged is shaken with the handle as an axis. It can hold the dryer body near the hair, and can easily convey the movement of the hand and operate easily.
Further, by disposing the ignition mechanism between the gas cylinder chamber and the hot air generation chamber, efficient space utilization can be performed, so that downsizing can be easily achieved.
Furthermore, a safe ignition operation is performed by holding the valve open state with the first button, starting the fan motor, returning the first button, and enabling the discharge ignition operation with the second button. In addition, since the ignition operation is performed by operating the two buttons, the gas can be ignited more reliably and safely.

According to the invention of claim 2 , the ignition operation can be easily performed by controlling the double type ignition button by the slide type knob.

  Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment shown below exemplifies a portable hair dryer for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and is not intended to specify the present invention as this portable hair dryer. The present invention is equally applicable to other embodiments within the scope of the claims.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of a portable hair dryer according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the portable hair dryer of FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway cross-sectional view for explaining the outline of the internal arrangement of the portable hair dryer. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the inside of the portable hair dryer with the cylinder cover removed.

  In the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer case 10 of the portable hair dryer 1 has an elliptical cross section, and the basic shape of the vertical cross section has a substantially right triangle shape with a slanted bulge. By connecting the hot air generating chamber 11 and the gas cylinder chamber 12 inside the case 10 at one end and arranging and storing them in a V-shape, a portable hair dryer that is compact, has no protrusion, and has excellent design and operability. It is something to be offered.

  The outer case 10 of the portable hair dryer 1 is made of a heat-resistant molded product, stainless steel, or the like, and has a substantially elliptical cross section as shown in FIG. The basic shape of the longitudinal section of the outer case 10 is a substantially right-angled triangle as shown in FIG. 3, but its hypotenuse 10h has a gentle bulge and is greatly deformed. It is round and has a smooth circular dome shape. Only a part of the slide knob 26 protrudes slightly on the side surface of the outer case 10, and the entire case 10 has a smooth shape. The outer case 10 is composed of a main body 10a, a cylinder cover 10b, and a rear cover 10c, and an air outlet 14 for blowing hot air is opened at the upper part of the front surface of the outer case having an elliptical outline. Also, strap attaching means 40 is provided near the rear end of the oblique side 10h, and a recess or protrusion 10f is formed on a part of the side surface of the main body 10a for easy holding. Incidentally, the portable hair dryer 1 of FIG. 1 has the air outlet 14 slightly projecting to the front as compared with the cylinder cover 10b, but the basic shape of this is also a substantially right triangle. The thing etc. which 10b inclines in the back direction are also considered.

  Inside the outer case 10, as shown in FIG. 3, a hot air generating chamber 11 is connected to a gas cylinder chamber 12 at one end so as to be V-shaped. That is, a hot air generating chamber 11 formed in a cylindrical shape is disposed on one side of the V-shape, and an air outlet 14 for blowing hot air to the outside is located at the tip of the hot air generating chamber 11, which is not shown in the drawing. However, a gas combustion chamber such as a catalyst combustion section, a heat source such as a burner, and a blower chamber 15 are provided behind the heat source, and a fan motor 15a and a fan 15b for sending wind are provided. A cylindrical gas cylinder chamber 12 is provided on the other side of the V-shape, and a gas cylinder 13 filled with a fuel gas such as propane or butane is detachably mounted in the gas cylinder chamber 12.

  A gas ignition mechanism 20 is housed between the hot air generating chamber 11 and the gas cylinder chamber 12, and an intake port 18 having a plurality of holes is provided in the rear cover 10c where two sides of the V-shape are in contact with each other. ing. The ignition mechanism 20 includes a battery mounted in the battery housing 21 and a fan rotation control electric circuit including a micro switch 22, a valve 23 for controlling the amount of fuel gas supplied from the gas cylinder 13 mounted in the gas cylinder chamber 12, and a spark. A slide knob 26 for generating a high voltage in the piezoelectric ceramic element 24 is provided on the side wall surface of the outer case, and includes a double push button as will be described later. Operates with. The piezoelectric ceramic element 24 is connected to a spark plug to form one discharge electrode. The other electrode of the discharge electrode is provided on the outer periphery of the hot air generation chamber 11 and is connected to the piezoelectric ceramic element 24 by an electric wire. In addition, in FIG. 3, illustration of the piping between the gas cylinder 13, the valve | bulb 23, and the nozzles of the hot air generation chamber 11 and the connection of an electric wire are abbreviate | omitted.

  Inside the hot air generation chamber 11, there is a nozzle located at the outlet of the relay pipe of the gas supply path from the gas cylinder 13 through the valve 23, and a blower fan 15 b that supplies air from the rear of the nozzle toward the air outlet 14. Heated by the preheating unit, a mixing unit that mixes the air to be blown and fuel gas to form a mixed gas, a preheating unit that heats the mixed gas to a predetermined temperature, an ignition unit that ignites the mixed gas in the preheating unit, A heat source, a heat radiation fin, and the like that are formed by a gas combustion chamber such as a burner that burns the mixed gas or a catalytic combustion section are provided. In the catalytic combustion section, porous cordierite or ceramics such as alumina or a metal plate is used as a carrier, and platinum or palladium is used as a catalyst.

  The valve 23 is located in the middle of the relay pipe connected to the nozzle of the hot air generation chamber 11 to which the gas from the gas cylinder 13 is supplied. The valve 23 controls the amount of fuel gas supplied from the gas cylinder 13 by controlling opening and closing of the valve. A valve shaft 23a constituting a valve opening / closing mechanism is engaged with a latching piece of a crank lever 27 provided in the peripheral portion of the valve 23. When the valve shaft 23a moves in the direction of the arrow, the valve shaft 23a is pulled out of the valve against the elastic force of the spring. At this time, the opening area of the throttle port of the control valve formed at the rear end portion of the valve 23 is increased to increase the gas supply. Moreover, the nozzle provided in the front-end | tip of a relay pipe injects the gas in which the gas in the gas cylinder 13 was vaporized to the mixing part which is not shown in figure. The preheating part is a part that heats the mixed gas to a predetermined temperature in order to promote catalytic combustion, and covers the outer periphery of the catalytic combustion part and one end of the remaining heat fin extending to the mixing part and the outlet of the heat source It consists of a breathable mesh net. The mixed and preheated gas is ignited and burned by the pressurized discharge of the piezoelectric ceramic element 24.

  The blower chamber 15 includes a fan 15b and a fan motor 15a, and sends a required amount of air to the mixing unit so as to mix gas and air at a certain ratio.

  Referring to FIG. 4 showing the inside of the portable hair dryer 1 with the cylinder cover 10b removed, the battery storage unit 21 serving as a driving power source for the fan motor 15a is connected to the cylindrical hot air generating chamber 11 in the outer case 10 and Similarly, it is provided in a space sandwiched between cylindrical gas cylinder chambers 12. When the battery storage portion 21 is provided in the gap between one side and the other side constituting the V shape, the gap between the hot air generation chamber 11 and the gas cylinder 12 is effectively used as a battery storage space, and is portable. The hair dryer can be made small. Furthermore, since the detachable lid 17 is provided on the front surface of the battery storage unit 21, it is easy to insert and remove the battery when replacing the battery. The cylinder cover 10b can be attached and detached by sliding and removing the groove 16 by pushing and pulling the lock button 10d, and fitting it into the groove 16 and pushing it while sliding. Reference numeral 10e denotes the other lock button of the cylinder cover 10b.

  Next, an ignition mechanism 20 according to another embodiment of the portable hair dryer of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the internal structure of another embodiment. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the main part of the ignition mechanism in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram of the main part of the ignition mechanism in FIG.

  The hair dryer ignition mechanism 20 is slightly different from that shown in FIG. 3 in the arrangement of components and members, but the basic configuration is the same. Therefore, the same members as those shown in FIG.

  The ignition according to the present embodiment is a double type of the first button 28 for turning the valve 23 in the “open” state and the second button 29 for igniting discharge in the “open” state. be able to.

  First, when the ignition mechanism 20 is in the normal position before ignition, that is, when both buttons are not pressed down, it is as shown in FIG.

  The shaft 30 that restricts the depression is located on the left side in the drawing. At this position, the right end of the shaft 30 is separated from the notch 29a of the second button 29, and the second button is free. At this time, since the micro switch 22 is off, the fan 15b is in a stationary state, and the gas valve 23 is in the “closed” state with the crank lever 27 in the left position in the drawing.

  Since the second button 29 cannot be pushed down by the shaft 30 being stopped unless the first button 28 is in the raised position, the piezoelectric ceramic element 24 cannot be pressurized and cannot be ignited. Even if the second button 29 is directly depressed without operating the first button 28, an ignition spark is produced, but no raw gas is emitted, so no ignition is performed. Incidentally, the first button 28 is always pushed up and held by an internally mounted spring (not shown).

  The operation at the time of ignition of the ignition mechanism will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the first button 28 is depressed, the right end of the arm 31 of the first button 28 presses the left end of the shaft 30, and the vertical movement of the arm 31 is converted into the rightward movement of the shaft 30 in FIG. Is inserted into the notch 29a below the second button. When the first button 28 is depressed, the actuator 28a simultaneously pushes the switch lever 22a of the micro switch 22 to supply power to the fan motor 15a and rotate the fan 15b. Incidentally, while the first button 28 is being pushed down, the second button 29 cannot be pushed down due to the restriction of the shaft 30.

  As the first button 28 is pushed down, the crank lever 27 rotates, and the engagement piece 27a moves the shaft 23a of the valve 23 to open the gas valve 23. The engagement piece 33b of the crank lever 27 with the hold valve 33 drives the hold valve 33 to hold the gas valve 23 in the “open” state. The first button 28 is restored, and the shaft 30 pushed by the arm 31 returns to the left side by the elasticity of the spring, and the second button 29 can be pushed down. In this state, the second button 29 is operated to press the piezoelectric ceramic element 24, and discharge ignition is performed. By the operation of the second button 29, a spark is generated in the spark plug 25, and the gas is combusted by being ignited by the mixed gas ejected into the hot air generating chamber 11. Thereafter, the hold valve 33 is maintained in the “open” state by a microcomputer (not shown) of the circuit board 32 to continuously burn the gas.

  In the other embodiments, the two buttons are operated independently to generate hot air. However, the slide knob 26 used in the first embodiment also includes the first button 28 and the second button described above. A series of actions associated with the button 29 can generate hot air without malfunctioning by sliding the slide knob 26.

  Further, in the portable hair dryer of the present invention, the oblique side 10h of the substantially right triangle of the outer case 10 is used as a palm receiving portion, and a depression or protrusion 10f that supports a finger is provided near the center of the side surface of the outer case. In this way, the outer case can be reliably grasped, and operability can be improved during use. Also, when the shape of the dryer is L-shaped as in the conventional example, it is difficult to convey the movement of the hand because the tip from which the hot air is discharged is shaken with the handle as an axis, but there is no handle, so when using it It can hold the body close to the hair, and it is easy to operate and operate with faithful hand movements in any shape, either horizontally or diagonally.

  Furthermore, in the portable hair dryer of the present invention, strap attaching means is provided in the vicinity of the air inlet at the rear end of the oblique side 10h of the outer case. That is, the hand strap ring 40 is provided near the rear part of the outer case. As shown in FIG. 5, when the strap 41 is attached, it can be held around the hand, so it is convenient to carry. When the strap is held around the hand, the hair dryer main body is not dropped. Damage to the hair dryer can be prevented.

  In the above embodiment, the hot air generating chamber 11 has been described as a cylindrical shape, but it is easy to design in other forms according to the outer shape of the outer case 10 and the arrangement of other components in the case, and can be freely deformed. it can. Further, instead of installing a cylinder in the gas cylinder chamber, a container capable of filling and storing a fuel gas such as LP gas such as propane or butane may be fixed to the outer case so that the gas can be filled.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of a portable hair dryer according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the portable hair dryer of FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway cross-sectional view for explaining the outline of the internal arrangement of the portable hair dryer of FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the inside of the portable hair dryer of FIG. 1 with the cylinder cover removed. FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the internal structure of another embodiment. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part for explaining the configuration of the main part of the ignition mechanism in FIG. FIG. 7 is an essential part enlarged perspective view for explaining the operation of the main part of the ignition mechanism of FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the portable hair dryer described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable hair dryer 10 Outer case 10f Indentation or protrusion 11 Hot air generation chamber 12 Gas cylinder chamber 13 Gas cylinder 14 Exhaust port 15 Blower chamber 15a Fan motor 15b Fan 16 Groove 17 Battery storage part lid 18 Inlet 20 Ignition mechanism 21 Battery storage part 22 Micro switch 23 Valve 23a Valve shaft 24 Piezoelectric ceramic element 25 Spark plug 26 Slide knob 27 Crank lever 28 First button 29 Second button 30 Shaft 31 Arm

Claims (2)

  The basic shape of the vertical cross section has an outer case of a substantially right triangle shape with a slanted bulge and a hot air generating chamber and a gas cylinder chamber connected at one end in the outer case. Arranged in a V-shape,
  An ignition mechanism is disposed between the gas cylinder chamber and the hot air generation chamber,
  The ignition mechanism has a first button and a second button, and the second button does not operate unless the first button is in a return state, and the first button is operated via a crank lever. And holding the gas valve in the “open” state, rotating the fan, and then returning the first button, and then igniting the discharge by operating the second button. Dryer. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the ignition mechanism further includes a slide-type knob, and the first button and the second button are operated by a protrusion on a lower portion of the slide-type knob. Hair dryer.

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