NZ620286B2 - Hair dryer - Google Patents
Hair dryer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NZ620286B2 NZ620286B2 NZ620286A NZ62028612A NZ620286B2 NZ 620286 B2 NZ620286 B2 NZ 620286B2 NZ 620286 A NZ620286 A NZ 620286A NZ 62028612 A NZ62028612 A NZ 62028612A NZ 620286 B2 NZ620286 B2 NZ 620286B2
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- holes
- hair dryer
- filter
- air
- filter plate
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 32
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000005530 etching Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000875 corresponding Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000428 dust Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003670 easy-to-clean Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006011 modification reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
- A45D20/00—Hair drying devices; Accessories therefor
- A45D20/04—Hot-air producers
- A45D20/08—Hot-air producers heated electrically
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
- A45D20/00—Hair drying devices; Accessories therefor
- A45D20/04—Hot-air producers
- A45D20/08—Hot-air producers heated electrically
- A45D20/10—Hand-held drying devices, e.g. air douches
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
- A45D20/00—Hair drying devices; Accessories therefor
- A45D20/04—Hot-air producers
- A45D20/08—Hot-air producers heated electrically
- A45D20/10—Hand-held drying devices, e.g. air douches
- A45D20/12—Details thereof or accessories therefor, e.g. nozzles, stands
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
- A45D20/00—Hair drying devices; Accessories therefor
- A45D20/04—Hot-air producers
- A45D20/08—Hot-air producers heated electrically
- A45D20/10—Hand-held drying devices, e.g. air douches
- A45D20/12—Details thereof or accessories therefor, e.g. nozzles, stands
- A45D20/122—Diffusers, e.g. for variable air flow
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F26—DRYING
- F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
- F26B21/00—Arrangements or duct systems, e.g. in combination with pallet boxes, for supplying and controlling air or gases for drying solid materials or objects
- F26B21/003—Supply-air or gas filters
Abstract
hair dryer (10) has a hand-held housing comprising an air inlet (12), an air outlet (14), a motor between the air inlet (12) and the air outlet (14) to draw air in from the air inlet (12) and drive air out from the air outlet (14). A heating element (17) is located in the air flow between the air inlet (12) and the air outlet (14). The hair dryer (10) further comprises a filter on the air inlet (12). The filter comprises a metal filter plate (20) bearing a plurality of holes, wherein at least some of the holes have a maximum lateral dimension of less than 1.5mm and wherein vertical walls of the holes through a thickness of the filter plate (20) are at least partially concave. inlet (12) and the air outlet (14). The hair dryer (10) further comprises a filter on the air inlet (12). The filter comprises a metal filter plate (20) bearing a plurality of holes, wherein at least some of the holes have a maximum lateral dimension of less than 1.5mm and wherein vertical walls of the holes through a thickness of the filter plate (20) are at least partially concave.
Description
Hair Dryer
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to improved air filters for hair dryers, and to methods of
manufacture of such filters.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
A typical hand-held hair dryer comprises a hand-held housing with an air inlet, an air
outlet, and a motor in between to draw air in from the air inlet and drive air out from the
air outlet. A heating element is located in the air flow between the air inlet and the air
outlet, typically after the motor in the air flow.
In some preferred implementations of a hair dryer the motor is coupled to a mix flow
impeller, which draws air in axially and generates a high air pressure by thrusting the air
outwards, where it is confined by the housing and forced through the hair dryer air outlet.
The high pressure achieved by such a technique is useful in forcing apart the strands of
hair.
Typically a hair dryer is provided with a filter on the air inlet which, among other things,
stops hair from being accidentally drawn into the motor. Known filters are typically either
formed by plastic injection moulding or use a metal mesh. However such filters can
cause problems because over time dust and other debris builds up in the filter, reducing
the air pressure and with more severe clogging causing overheating of the element and
cyclical cutting-out the hair dryer resulting in a hot/cold air flow.
In this specification, references to prior art are not intended to acknowledge or suggest
that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the
field either in New Zealand or elsewhere.
It is desirable to improve upon the prior art filtering techniques.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or alleviate at least one of the above
noted drawbacks of related art systems or to at least provide a useful alternative to
related art systems.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a hair dryer having a
handheld housing comprising an air inlet, an air outlet, a motor between said air inlet
and said air outlet to draw air in from said air inlet and drive air out from said air outlet,
and a heating element located between said air inlet and said air outlet,
wherein said hair dryer further comprises a filter on said air inlet, wherein said filter
comprises a metal filter plate bearing a plurality of holes, wherein at least some of said
holes have a maximum lateral dimension of less than 1 .5mm and wherein walls of said
holes through a thickness of said filter plate are at least partially concave.
In embodiments a said wall of a hole comprises at least one concave section. In other
embodiments a said wall of a hole comprises a pair of sections, a first concave section
and a second substantially straight section such that the hole wall is in part concavely
curved and in part straight.
The structure of a metal filter plate according to embodiments of the invention provides
an improved air flow through the hair dryer and contributes to addressing the problems
outlined in the introduction. In some preferred embodiments at least a subset of the
holes of the filter plate comprises hexagonally close-packed holes, which provide the
greatest aperture to metal ratio. Preferably at least some of the holes have a maximum
lateral dimension of less than 1 mm; preferably the filter plate has a thickness of less
than 0.5mm, for example approximately 0.3mm (using a thinner plate facilitates smaller
holes). Preferably a majority of the holes have a maximum lateral dimension of less than
1 .5mm or less than 1 mm; in embodiments a majority of the holes are substantially
circular. In preferred embodiments the filter plate is substantially flat.
In some preferred embodiments the filter plate includes all or a subset of holes which
have a maximum lateral dimension which reduces with increasing radial distance from a
lateral centre of the filter. In particular when the motor is coupled to an impeller a velocity
profile of the air flow defines a velocity which reduces as the circumferential edge of the
air inlet is approached, and it is advantageous to match a proportion of the holes to this
velocity profile. Nonetheless in some preferred embodiments a laterally central region of
the filter has a reduced density of holes. Thus in embodiments there may be two subsets
of holes, a first subset comprising holes of generally uniform size, and a second subset
comprising holes of different sizes, more particularly sizes which reduce towards the
edge of the air inlet. In some embodiments the lateral dimension of all or a subset of the
holes reduces by a factor of at least 2.5.
In embodiments of the hair dryer the filter plate includes holes which are aligned along a
plurality of spiral arms extending from a laterally central region of the filter; these may be
the holes which reduce in lateral dimension towards the edge of the filter plate. This is
because the blades of the impeller create less noise if they laterally 'cut across' the filter
holes in a stepwise fashion or 'slicing' rather than cutting across holes which are aligned
directly along radii. This can be more easily understood if, conceptually, the filter plate is
moved so that it is adjacent the blades of the impeller, as then the blades would cut
across each hole: although in practice the filter is displaced away from the impeller
blades (often there is a finger guard in between) a similar effect arises. Thus, broadly
speaking, in embodiments the holes, or at least some of the holes, define a pattern
which has a handedness or angular sense of rotation which matches a sense of rotation
of the impeller.
In embodiments of the hair dryer the filter is mounted on a user-detachable filter mount,
and the filter itself is user-detachable from the filter mount, to facilitate interchange of
filters. This allows the user to remove the filter, easing cleaning of the filter and allow the
user to customise the hair dryer with different filters.
In some preferred embodiments the holes in the filter plate are formed by acid spray
etching which helps to achieve the desired hole wall profile.
Thus a related aspect the invention provides a method of filtering air for a hair dryer, the
hair dryer having a hand-held housing comprising an air inlet, an air outlet, and a motor
between said air inlet and said air outlet; the method comprising: forming a metal filter
plate by acid etching a plurality of holes in a metal plate such that walls of said holes are
at least partially concave, and wherein at least some of said holes have a maximum
lateral dimension of less than 1 .5mm; and using said metal filter plate to filter air drawn
into said hair dryer.
In some preferred embodiments a said wall of a hole formed by said method comprises
at least one concave section. In other embodiments a said wall of a hole formed by said
method comprises a pair of sections, a first concave section and a second substantially
straight section such that the hole wall is in part concavely curved and in part straight.
In some preferred embodiments the metal filter plate is fabricated from stainless steel.
In a further related aspect the invention provides a filter for a hair dryer wherein said filter
comprises a metal filter plate bearing a plurality of holes, and wherein said holes
comprise at least a subset of holes for which a lateral dimension the holes reduces with
increasing radial distance from a lateral centre of said filter.
In a still further aspect the invention provides a filter for a hair dryer, wherein said filter
comprises a metal filter plate bearing a plurality of holes, and wherein said holes
comprise at least a subset of holes, aligned along a plurality of spiral arms extending
from a laterally central region of said filter.
Preferably a filter as described above is incorporated into a hair dryer comprising an
impeller located between the air inlet and an air outlet of the hair dryer.
In any of the above aspects of the invention, the metal filter plate may be flat. When the
filter plate is lying flat on a horizontal surface, hole walls in the metal filter plate may be
vertical walls.
In this specification 'hair dryer' is to be interpreted as covering a similar device used for
hair styling.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other aspects of the invention will now be further described, by way of
example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:
Figure 1 shows a side view a hair dryer according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of the hair dryer of Figure 1;
Figure 3a shows an embodiment of a metal filter plate attached to the hair dryer of
Figure 1;
Figure 3b shows a cross sectional side view the metal filter plate of Figure 3a;
Figure 3c shows a zoomed in view of a portion of the metal filter plate of Figure 3a;
Figure 3d shows a zoomed in cross sectional side view of the portion of the metal filter
plate of Figure 3c;
Figures 4a-4d show variations in the walls of holes of the filter plate of Figure 2a;
Figure 5 shows a 3D view of the rear of the hair dryer of Figure 1 showing the filter of
Figure 3a and a filter mount; and
Figure 6 shows the filter plate of Figure 3a detaches from a filter mount.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows a side view of a hair dryer 10 and Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view
of hair dryer 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. The hair dyer has an air
inlet 12, an air outlet 14, a motor 16 located between the inlet 12 and outlet 14. The
motor 16 powers an impeller 18 which draws in air axially from the inlet 12 and expels air
radially from the impeller towards outlet 14. A heating element 17 is located between the
motor and outlet to heat the air before it is expelled through the outlet. Attached to the
handle 1 1 are controls 15 for turning the hair dryer on and off, controlling the rotational
speed of the motor (and thereby controlling the flow rate of expelled air) and
temperature of the expelled air.
Coupled to the rear of the hair dryer, about the air inlet 12, a metal filter plate 20 is
mounted in a filter mount 30. The metal filter plate 20 attaches to the filter mount 30, the
filter mount then attaches to the rear of the hair dryer so that the air inlet 12 is covered
by the filter plate 20. A finger guard 13 located at the air inlet ensures that a user is
prevented from inserting a finger into the body of the hair dryer with the filter mount and
plate removed.
Figure 3a shows the metal filter plate 20 that can be mounted on the air inlet of hair
dryer 10. The filter plate 20 has smooth flat surfaces with an arrangement of holes
through the filter to permit air to be drawn into the hair dryer whilst minimising dust,
debris and hair being pulled into the hair dryer. The smooth surface also means that the
filter plate is easy to clean. A portion 26 of the metal filter plate 20 is shown in more
detail in Figure 3c.
Figure 3b shows a cross sectional side view of the metal filter plate of Figure 3a. In the
embodiment of Figure 3a-3d the filter plate is made from 0.3mm stainless steel. It will be
appreciated however that other variants are possible and the composition and thickness
of the metal plate may vary.
Locating lugs 22, 24 control the positioning of the filter plate when engaged to the filter
mount 30 on the hair dryer. Corresponding receptors on the filter mount 30 ensure that
the filter plate is arranged to sit in a prescribed position within the mount. This prevents
the filter plate rotating unintentionally thereby ensuring the arrangement of holes on the
filter plate is optimised. The filter plate 20 is removable from the mount for cleaning and
optionally changing with another filter plate.
The lateral dimension of some of the holes in the filter plate decreases with increasing
radial distance from the centre of the filter plate as shown by holes 21 a, 21 b and 21 c
respectively. This provides a higher proportion of holes approaching the centre of the
filter where the velocity profile of the drawn in air can be higher. In Figure 3a for
example, the holes are arranged into a spiral formation, with holes decreasing in size
towards the outer edge of the filter plate. In the embodiment show, the laterally central
region of the filter (which in the embodiment show aligns with the axis of the motor 16
and impeller 18 in Figure 2) has minimal holes.
Referring now to Figure 3c, this shows a five times zoomed in view of a portion 26 of
filter plate 20. Figure 3c shows how some of the holes are formed as hexagonal holes
in the filter plate to permit a high density arrangement of holes. In the embodiment
shown, the lateral dimension of these hexagonal holes 25 are approximately 1 mm
(some less) and the holes are separated by a distance of approximately 0.25mm. Figure
3d shows a cross sectional side view of the metal filter plate portion of Figure 3c.
Figures 4a - 4d shows cross sectional view of the sections of the metal filter plate 20 of
Figure 3a. Figures 4a-4d show variations on the walls of the holes 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d
formed by spray acid etching a stainless steel sheet to form the filter plate. Holes 23a -
23d for example show hole walls with concave sections. The spray acid etching may
also leave a portion of walls of some holes substantially flat; others may have a section
that is flat and a section concave. Spray acid etching from both sides of the sheet, for
example, may result in a 'double concave' surface topography such as shown by hole
23b. Very small holes are achievable with such a process with the embodiment herein
shown having holes with lateral dimensions down to approximately 1 mm to ensure an
adequate air flow (although smaller holes may be present if so desired, preferably in the
vicinity or larger holes to maintain an adequate air flow).
Figure 5 shows a 3D view of the rear of the hair dryer 10 with the filter mount 30 and
filter plate 20 attached. Also shown in more detail is the finger guard 13. The filter mount
30 couples to the rear of the hair dryer via a thread (or any other conventional locking
system).
Figure 6 shows an exploded view of the filter plate 20 and filter mount 30. The filter plate
fits into the filter mount 30, guided by lugs 22, 24 being received into corresponding
locating holes on the filter plate. These prevent the filter plate rotating within the mount.
No doubt many other effective alternatives will occur to the skilled person. It will be
understood that the invention is not limited to the described embodiments and
encompasses modifications apparent to those skilled in the art lying within the spirit and
scope of the claims appended hereto.
Comprises/comprising” and “includes/including” when used in this specification is taken
to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not
preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,
components or groups thereof. Thus, unless the context clearly requires otherwise,
throughout the description and the claims, the words ‘comprise’, ‘comprising’, ‘includes’,
‘including’ and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an
exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited
to”.
Claims (17)
- CLAIMS : 1 A hair dryer having a hand-held housing comprising an air inlet, an air outlet, a motor between said air inlet and said air outlet to draw air in from said air inlet and 5 drive air out from said air outlet, and a heating element located between said air inlet and said air outlet, wherein said hair dryer further comprises a filter on said air inlet, wherein said filter comprises a metal filter plate bearing a plurality of holes, wherein at least some of said holes have a maximum lateral dimension of less than 1.5mm and wherein walls of said holes through a thickness of said filter plate are at least partially 10 concave.
- 2. A hair dryer as claimed in claim 1, wherein a said wall of a hole comprises at least one concave section. 15
- 3. A hair dryer as claimed in claim 1, wherein a said wall of a hole comprises a pair of sections, a first concave section and a second substantially straight section.
- 4. A hair dryer as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least a subset of said holes is hexagonally close-packed.
- 5. A hair dryer as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least some of said holes have a maximum lateral dimension of less than 1mm and wherein a thickness of said filter plate is less than 0.5mm. 25
- 6 A hair dryer as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said motor is coupled to an impeller, and wherein said holes comprise at least a subset of holes for which a lateral dimension reduces with increasing radial distance from the centre of said filter plate. 30
- 7. A hairdryer as claimed in claim 6 wherein said lateral dimension reduces by factor of at least 2.5.
- 8. A hair dryer as claimed in claim 6 or 7 where a laterally central region of said filter has a reduced density of said holes.
- 9. A hair dryer as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein said holes comprise at least a subset of holes aligned along a plurality of spiral arms extending from a laterally central region of said filter. 5
- 10. A hair dryer as claimed in claim 9 wherein said holes aligned along said spiral arms comprise said holes of reducing lateral dimensions.
- 11. A hair dryer as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10 wherein said heating element is located between said impeller and said air outlet, and wherein said impeller 10 is located between said air inlet and said heating element and is configured to draw in air axially from said air inlet and to expel said air radially from said impeller.
- 12. A hair dryer as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a filter mount for mounting said filter, wherein said filter mount is user-detachable from said hair 15 dryer, and wherein said filter plate is user-detachable from said filter mount.
- 13. A hair dryer as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said holes are formed by acid spray etching. 20
- 14. A hair dryer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said walls of said holes through a thickness of said filter plate are substantially at least partially concave.
- 15. A method of filtering air for a hair dryer, the hair dryer having a hand-held housing comprising an air inlet, an air outlet, and a motor between said air inlet and 25 said air outlet; the method comprising: forming a metal filter plate by acid etching a plurality of holes in a metal plate such that walls of said holes are at least partially concave, and wherein at least some of said holes have a maximum lateral dimension of less than 1.5mm; and using said metal filter plate to filter air drawn into said hair dryer.
- 16. A hair dryer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein said metal filter plate is flat.
- 17. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein said metal filter plate is flat.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB1114288.2 | 2011-08-19 | ||
GB1114288.2A GB2487996B (en) | 2011-08-19 | 2011-08-19 | Hair dryer |
PCT/GB2012/051813 WO2013027012A1 (en) | 2011-08-19 | 2012-07-27 | Hair dryer |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ620286A NZ620286A (en) | 2014-12-24 |
NZ620286B2 true NZ620286B2 (en) | 2015-03-25 |
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