JPH05337007A - Hair dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify a structure for cooling a connector, thereby lighten the structure and reduce cost by utilizing a part of air flow produced by a blower fan to cool the connector. CONSTITUTION:In a grip 4 are provided an operating switch 11 for controlling the electrification of a motor 6 and heater 7, and a connector 13 for connecting a power cord 12 to body case 1. A first close part 16 and second close part 17 facing the rotational peripheral surface of a blower fan 5 are provided. Air flow supplied from the blower fan 5 is divided by these both close parts 16, 17, and most of the air flow is sent to a dry air flow path 18 incorporating a heater 7 to be blown out of a blowout port 9. A part of the air flow is sent to a cooling air path 19 in the grip 4. To discharge the cooling air sent to the cooling air path 19 to the outside of a case, a plurality of air ejecting ports 20 are opened in the lower end wall of the grip 4. A fan for exclusively cooling is not needed separately and thereby cost for manufacturing a hair dryer is reduced and the total weight is reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hair dryer in which a power cord is connected to a dryer body through a connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a hair dryer power cord is
Although it is integrally connected to the dryer body by soldering, recently there is a form in which a power cord is detachably connected to the dryer body via a connector (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-259208). .. In the case of a handheld hair dryer, a connector socket is often provided at the lower end of the grip.

[0003]

The hair dryer has a built-in motor for driving a fan and a heater for heating cold air, and consumes a relatively large current although it is a small electric device. In particular, the maximum value of the heater capacity of the hair dryer in recent years has reached 1200 W. In such a hair dryer to which a large current is supplied, when the power cord is connected via the connector, it is necessary to reduce the electrical contact resistance between the plug and socket of the connector. If a large current is supplied with a large contact resistance,
This is because a large amount of heat is generated between the contact terminals, and the surrounding area may be overheated, which may cause burns, fire, or electric shock. To reduce the electrical contact resistance, the contact area and contact pressure between the contact terminals may be increased. Further, the structure of the connector may be made strong so that the plug and the socket can be connected without wobbling and the state can be fixed and held even when the hair dryer is used. However, in order to satisfy the above requirements, the size of the connector becomes large, which not only increases the cost but also increases the weight. In the case of a detachable connector, a large operating force is required to attach and detach the connector due to an increase in the contact area and pressure of the contact terminal.

An object of the present invention is to forcibly cool the connector by air so that overheating of the connector and its peripheral portion can be prevented. Even if a small, lightweight and inexpensive connector is used, a large current can be carried. To obtain a hair dryer that can withstand without problems. Another object of the present invention is to cool the connector by utilizing a part of the wind generated by the blower fan, thereby simplifying the structure for cooling the connector and reducing the weight of the hair dryer accordingly. It is to realize cost reduction.

[0005]

According to the present invention, as shown in the drawings, a blower fan 5 and a heater 7 are arranged inside a main body case 1, and a power cord 12 is connected to the main body case 1 via a connector 13. In the connected hair dryer, the connector 13 is arranged in the cooling air passage 19 formed on the windward side of the heater 7 in the main body case 1. Here, "the power cord 12 is connected to the main body case 1 via the connector 13" is not limited to the form in which the power cord 12 is detachably connected via the connector 13, and the power cord 12 is connected to the connector 13 It is also used for the meaning including a form in which the device is always connected via a cable.
Further, according to the present invention, in the hair dryer in which the blower fan 5 and the heater 7 are arranged inside the main body case 1 having the air outlet 9, the power cord 12 is connected to the main body case 1 through the connector 13, The cooling fan 21 is arranged inside the case 1, and the air outlet 20 is provided at a position different from the air outlet 9, and the cooling air passage 19 is formed between the cooling fan 21 and the air outlet 20. The connector 13 is arranged inside.

[0006]

The connector 13 is forcibly cooled by the cooling air generated by the blower fan 5 or the cooling fan 21. Therefore, even if the connector 13 generates heat due to the application of a large current, this heat can be reliably removed and the temperature condition of the connector 13 and its peripheral portion can be maintained in an appropriate state.

[0007]

In the hair dryer of the present invention, the connector 13 is forcibly cooled by the cooling air generated by the blower fan 5 or the cooling fan 21, and the heat generated in the connector 13 when a large current is applied is ensured. So that it can be removed. Therefore, even in the dryer in which the power cord 12 is connected using the small, lightweight and inexpensive connector 13, it is possible to prevent the connector 13 and its peripheral portion from falling into an overheated state, and there is no problem in energizing a large current. I can bear it. According to such a hair dryer, the connector 13
This is advantageous in that it is possible to prevent burns, ignition, or electric shock due to overheating of the peripheral portion and its peripheral portion, and to reduce the cost required for the connector 13 and the space occupied by the connector 13 in the main body case 1.

According to the embodiment in which the connector 13 is cooled by a part of the air flow generated by the blower fan 5, it is not necessary to provide the cooling fan 21 only for cooling the connector, so that the structure for cooling the connector 13 is required. Can be simplified,
The hair dryer can be lightened accordingly, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[0009]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows Embodiment 1 of the hair dryer according to the present invention. The body case 1 of the hair dryer is formed by integrally forming a fan case 2, a blower tube 3 and a grip 4. Inside the fan case 2, a blower fan 5 and a motor 6 for rotating the blower fan 5 are arranged. Heater 7 inside
To place. The blower fan 5 is formed as a multi-blade fan, sucks air from the suction ports 8 opened on both side surfaces of the fan case 2, and sends the pressurized air toward the heater 7 and the blowout port 9.

Inside the grip 4, an operation switch 11 for controlling energization of the motor 6 and the heater 7, and a connector 13 for connecting the power cord 12 and the main body case 1 to each other.
Is provided. When the operation switch 11 is slid upward from the OFF position at the lower end, each operation state of cold air, weak warm air, and strong warm air can be obtained. The connector 13 is composed of a socket 14 fixed to the lower end of the grip 4 and a plug 15 fixed to the end of the power cord 12, and if necessary, the plug 1
The power cord 12 can be separated from the main body case 1 by inserting and removing 5.

When the hair dryer is continuously operated in the maximum output state, the connector 13 has insufficient current carrying capacity and may generate heat to a dangerous state. In order to avoid such a state, the connector 13 is forcibly cooled by utilizing a part of the cold air generated by the blower fan 5.

A first shut-off portion 16 and a second shut-off portion 17 are provided so as to face the peripheral surface of the blower fan 5. The air flow sent from the blower fan 5 is divided by these both dead parts 16 and 17, most of which is the dry air passage 1 containing the heater 7.
8 is blown out from the air outlet 9 and a part thereof is sent to the cooling air passage 19 in the grip 4. In order to discharge the cooling air sent to the cooling air passage 19 to the outside of the case, a plurality of air escape ports 20 are opened in the lower end wall of the grip 4.

As described above, when the cooling air is sent from the blower fan 5 into the grip 4, the connector 13 can always be forcibly cooled when the hair dryer is in operation, so that the connector 13 and its surroundings can be forcibly cooled. It is possible to eliminate the part from falling into an overheated state. The cooling air passing through the inside of the grip 4 also comes into contact with the operation switch 11 to remove the heat. Therefore, even if the operation switch 11 generates heat due to poor contact or the like, it is possible to prevent the operation switch 11 from falling into an overheated state. Since the cooling air is generated by using the blower fan 5, it is not necessary to separately provide a cooling fan, and the cost required for manufacturing the hair dryer is reduced accordingly.
The overall weight can be reduced.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 shows Embodiment 2 of the hair dryer according to the present invention. This hair dryer is basically different from the first embodiment in that an axial flow type fan is used as the blower fan 5. In this embodiment, the connector 13 is provided in the cooling air passage 19 between the suction port 8 and the blower fan 5.
And the connector 1 by the suction air flow of the blower fan 5
Cool 3. The socket 14 of the connector 13 is fixed and held by a mounting boss 23 integrated with the main body case 1. 24 is a suction grill. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same members as in the first embodiment including the following embodiments, and the description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, the mounting boss 23 is provided on the inner surface of the fan case 2 in consideration of the mounting strength of the connector 13. However, the connector 13 is provided at the central portion of the suction grill 24 or the like.
It can also be arranged at a position away from the inner surface of the fan case 2.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 3 shows a hair dryer according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. This hair dryer is shown in Figure 1.
The hair dryer is basically the same as the hair dryer, except that the cooling fan 21 is provided separately from the blower fan 5. Specifically, a centrifugal fan-type cooling fan 21 is integrally provided on one side of the blower fan 5, and the outer surface thereof is covered with a fan case 25 that is a separate piece from the main body case 1. Further, a filter 26 for removing dust is provided on the windward side of the operation switch 11 in the cooling air passage 19 to prevent hair loss or cotton dust from adhering to the connection terminals and the like provided in the grip 4. The filter 26 can be cleaned by pulling it out of the case. Reference numeral 27 is a suction port of the fan case 25, and 28 is a suction grill. Note that a cooling-dedicated fan 21 configured separately from the blower fan 5 may be arranged on the shaft of the motor 6 side by side with the blower fan 5. Suction grill 28
If the mesh size is reduced to a mesh size or a mesh sheet is attached to the mesh size, the filter effect is exerted also on the blower fan 5. Of course, the filter 26 can be attached to the suction port 27 of the fan case 25.

(Other Modified Embodiments) In the above embodiments,
Although the power cord 12 is connected by the detachable connector 13, the present invention can be applied to the one using the rotary connector 13 shown in FIG. 4 instead. In the rotary connector 13, the swivel ring 30, the connection terminal tube 31 and the connection terminal pin 32 are arranged concentrically on the plug 15 side in a vertically displaced state, and the connection terminal tube 31 and the connection terminal are connected to the socket 14 side. Corresponding to the terminal pins 32, a terminal board 33 that holds them.
34 is provided. Further, the flange portion of the swivel ring 30 is sandwiched between the flange wall 35 integral with the grip 4 and the lower end wall of the socket 14 so that the entire plug 15 is fixed by rotational displacement only.

In the rotary connector 13, the connection terminal tube 3
1 and terminal plate 33, and connection terminal pin 32 and terminal plate 34
Since they can rotate relative to each other, heat may be generated at the contact portion. In this case as well, the cooling air is supplied in the form shown in FIG. 1 or FIG.
Can be prevented from overheating.

The connector 13 shown in FIG.
The cooling fin 37 is projected on the outer surface of the
By increasing the contact area of No. 4, the connector 13 can be cooled efficiently. A rib 38 protruding from the inner surface of the grip 4 and supporting the socket 14 also serves to cool the socket 14.

In the connector 13 of FIG. 6, the socket 14 is composed of a terminal holder 14a which is integrated with the grip 4 and a cap 14b which can be attached to and detached from the grip 4, and can clean dust adhering to the contact terminals 39 and 40. It was done like this. The terminal holder 14a is provided with a pair of springs 41 for holding the connection state of the plug 15, and one of them is used as the contact terminal 39. Cap 1
4b has a cylindrical boss 42 at the center of the inner surface, and a pin-shaped contact terminal 40 is fixed to the rear end wall of the cylindrical boss 42. The plug 15 is internally fitted and connected to the cylindrical boss 42. The cap 14b has a pair of locking claws 43, and these are engaged with the engaging grooves 44 on the inner surface of the grip so that the connected state can be maintained. In the state where the cap 14b is separated from the grip 4, even if the plug 15 is connected to the cap 14b, the plug 14 is not energized, and the spring 41 does not receive the retaining action, so that it easily comes off.

In addition to the above, the connector 13 has a cooling air passage 1
If it is between the air escape port 20 from the suction port 8.27 of 9,
It can be installed anywhere. The cooling fan 21 can be driven independently of the blower fan 5,
For example, the cooling fan 21 and a motor for the cooling fan 21 can be arranged in the grip 4. The fan structure of the cooling fan 21 can be freely selected such as an axial flow type or a multi-blade fan type. In this case, the temperature of the connector 13 can be detected, and if the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, it can be operated according to the temperature state, and temporal operation management such as stopping the main switch after a predetermined time delay is also possible. Becomes The socket 14 and the plug 15 are made of a plastic molded product, but if a substance such as alumina having excellent thermal conductivity and electrical insulation is mixed in the plastic material, heat can be released more efficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a hair dryer according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a hair dryer according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a hair dryer according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a connector showing a modified embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional plan view of a grip showing a modified example.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a connector showing a modified example,
FIG. 6 (a) shows the cap separated from the grip.
(B) shows a state in which the cap is assembled to the grip.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main body case 5 Blower fan 7 Heater 12 Power cord 13 Connector 19 Cooling air passage 20 Air vent 21 Cooling fan 26 Filter

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A hair dryer in which a blower fan 5 and a heater 7 are arranged inside a main body case 1, and a power cord 12 is connected to the main body case 1 via a connector 13, in which the heater 7 in the main body case 1 is provided. A hair dryer in which a connector 13 is arranged in a cooling air passage 19 formed on the windward side. 2. A hair dryer in which a blower fan 5 and a heater 7 are arranged inside a main body case 1 having an outlet 9, and a power cord 12 is connected to the main body case 1 via a connector 13. 1, a cooling fan 21 is arranged inside, and a wind escape port 20 is provided at a position different from the blowout port 9. The cooling wind formed between the cooling fan 21 and the wind escape port 20 A hair dryer, wherein the connector 13 is arranged in the passage 19. 3. The connector 13 comprises a detachable plug 15 and a socket 14, one of which is arranged in the body case 1 and the other of which is connected to the power cord 12.
Or the hair dryer according to 2.