US20090064529A1

US20090064529A1 - Intake-exhaust type hair styling dryer

Info

Publication number: US20090064529A1
Application number: US12/159,773
Authority: US
Inventors: Byounghwan Kang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-04
Filing date: 2007-01-03
Publication date: 2009-03-12
Also published as: WO2007078139A1; KR200412372Y1

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an intake-exhaust type hair styling dryer which can perform drying and styling of hair at the same time along with other functions through intake and exhaust of air, moisture, etc. The intake-exhaust type hair styling dryer comprises a comb (32) including an intake hole (35), a bristle (33) extending through the intake hole (35), and an exhaust aperture (51) spaced apart from the bristle (33), a main body (31) detachable attached to the comb (32) and having an air outlet (48) formed therein, an air intake and blowing device disposed in the main body (31), and a filter (46) positioned below the air intake and blowing device (31).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an intake-exhaust type hair styling dryer, which can perform drying and styling of hair at the same time along with other functions through intake and exhaust of air, moisture, etc.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, hair can be damaged by various factors, for example, cosmetic factors accompanied with physical or chemical stimuli by hot air exhausted from a hairdryer, straight permanent waves, styling products, dyeing, etc., deposit of metallic materials on the hair due to environmental pollution (in this regard, Asia has 17 times greater deposition of metallic materials, compared with the European or American continents), environmental factors resulting in severe damage of essential amino acid structure and melanin pigments of the hair, psychological factors, etc.
A conventional hairdryer or comb have problems in that, when grooming wet or dried hair therewith, the conventional hairdryer or comb is likely to damage the hair, which is disadvantageous in terms of health, particularly, the health of hair.
Furthermore, the conventional hairdryer is used in such a way that the hairdryer is operated with one hand while the comb is used with the other hand for styling the hair. In this way, since the hairdryer requires both hands for drying and styling of the hair, it is not only inconvenient, but also takes a lot of time. Furthermore, the conventional hairdryer has a problem in that, while drying and combing the hair at the same time therewith, dandruff or dust is likely to be exposed on the hair.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a hairdryer, which enables drying and styling of hair to be performed at the same time, thereby ensuring beneficial effects to the health of hair along with various conveniences in use.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide the hairdryer, which can prevent hairdryer heat-related damage of the hair, such as damage of cuticle layers of the hair, as can occur in the conventional hairdryer, and can provide an effect of styling the hair to straight permanent waved hair when continuously using the hairdryer even for curly hair, thereby minimizing physical, environmental and psychological factors that cause damage of the hair.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide the hairdryer, which can remove dandruff, metallic materials deposited on the hair and scalp caused by air pollution and a secretion from Apocrine sweat glands causing an odor of the hair, and can relive stress on the head by massaging the scalp and hair roots via discharge of anions and vibration.
The above and other features and objects of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description in combination of the accompanying drawings.

Technical Solution

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of an intake-exhaust type hair styling dryer, comprising: a comb including an intake hole, a first bristle extending through the intake hole, and an exhaust aperture spaced apart from the first bristle; a main body detachable attached to the comb and including an air outlet formed therein; an air intake and blowing device disposed in the body; and a filter positioned below the air intake and blowing device. The comb may further comprise a second bristle having the exhaust aperture formed therein, and the first bristle may comprise a groove formed along a body of the bristle. The comb may further comprise a rear filter disposed at a rear side of the first bristle within a comb housing, and a cover positioned on a back surface of the comb to cover the rear filter in the comb housing. The hair styling dryer may further comprises a cyclone device above the air intake and blowing device, and the air intake and blowing device may comprise an intake fan, a motor positioned below the intake fan, and a blowing fan positioned below the motor. A plurality of the first bristles may be arranged in an array parallel to a plurality of the exhaust apertures arranged in an array, the arrays of the bristles and the exhaust apertures being alternatively arranged such that the first bristles are disposed around each exhaust aperture. The hair styling dryer may further comprise a vibrator connected to the first and second bristles to generate vibration of the first and second bristles, wherein anions are emitted through the exhaust aperture.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

As apparent from the above description, the hairdryer according to the invention enables rapid drying of the hair and desired hair setting without damage of the hair.
Furthermore, the hairdryer according to the invention can be used for various applications, for example, hair brossing for straight permanent waves, hair volumizing, etc.
Furthermore, the hairdryer of the invention can optionally perform intake and exhaust, thereby achieving various operations. For example, by operating the hairdryer to discharge only warmed air, it is possible to use the hairdryer of the invention as in the conventional hairdryers. In addition, the hairdryer of the invention enables removal of dandruff and dust from the hair which can be generated during combing of the hair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating main components of a hairdryer according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of a bristle of a comb shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 to 5 are views illustrating a location, operation and construction of first bristles and second bristles of the comb;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a hairdryer according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the hairdryer viewed from the right side of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a power supply; and

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a principle of a cyclone device.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like components are denoted by the same reference numerals.
FIG. 1 illustrates the construction of a hairdryer according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to the figures, the hairdryer according to the embodiment comprises a main body 31, and a comb 32 detachably coupled to the main body 31. For this purpose, the comb 32 and the main body 31 may be formed at attachment portions thereof with, for example, irregularities such that the comb 32 can be press-fitted into the main body 31.
Of course, the comb 32 may be coupled to the main body 31 via various other coupling means. In this way, since the comb 32 can be detached from the main body 31, it is possible to substitute the comb 32 with other combs that have different configurations.
According to the invention, the comb 32 comprises a plurality of bristles extending from an overall outer peripheral surface of a comb housing. The bristles may comprise a plurality of first bristles 33 having a higher height and a plurality of second bristles 36 having a lower height, which are suitably arranged on the comb. Referring to FIG. 2, each of the first bristles 33 has a tip end rounded to provide a massaging effect to the scalp of the head. The first bristle 33 is formed at one side with a groove 34 extending from the tip end to a proximal end. Each of the first bristle 33 extends through an intake hole 35, which is formed in the comb housing to surround the proximal end of each first bristle 33. With this construction, air can be sucked through the intake holes 35 by an intake device which will be described below. In addition, since the hair is guided along the grooves 34 of the first bristles 33 when combing the hair, it is advantageous in terms of drying and styling of the hair.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the plurality of second bristles 36 lower than the first bristles 33 are arranged at constant intervals while alternating with the first bristles 33. Since the second bristles 36 are lower than the first bristles 33, the second bristles 36 are not brought into direct contact with the scalp. However, each of the second bristles 36 is configured to selectively discharge anions along with cold air or warm air therefrom. Since techniques for selective blowing of the cold or warm air and techniques for discharging the anions are well known in the art, detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.
As shown in FIG. 3, each second bristle 36 has an exhaust aperture 51 formed at a tip end of the second bristle 36. The warm or cold air and anions are discharged through the exhaust aperture 51, and provide an effect of the anions while passing through the hair.
Referring to FIG. 4, the first and second first bristles 33 and 36 are arranged at constant intervals along different arrays in the longitudinal direction of the comb, respectively, such that each array of the first bristles 33 is parallel to each array of the second bristles 36, and such that each of the second bristles 36 or each of the first bristles 33 is positioned below a space between the first bristles 33 or between the second bristles 36.
With this construction, air discharged from the second bristles 36 can be uniformly supplied to the first bristles 33 surrounding each second bristle 26 so that air can be uniformly supplied through the hair 53, and efficiently taken through the intake holes 35 of the first bristles 33, as shown in FIG. 4, thereby improving an efficiency of uniform brushing.
Meanwhile, the first bristles 33 are positioned in the intake holes 35 through which dandruff, sebaceous matter, and other contaminants deposited on the head due to air pollution are sucked along with air and moisture, so that wet hair can be rapidly dried without any damage of the hair by the hairdryer of the invention. At this time, the first bristles 33 are configured to vibrate, providing an effect of massaging the scalp by the vibration of the first bristles 33. Specifically, the hairdryer of the invention is provided with a predetermined vibrator below the first bristles 33 to vibrate the first bristles 33, providing the massaging effect to the scalp.
FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a hairdryer according to another embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a detailed view of a main part of the hairdryer shown in FIG. 6.
As shown in the figures, the construction of the invention may be applied to a rounded hairbrush. In this embodiment, the comb of the hairdryer has an array of intake holes 35 formed to surround proximal ends of bristles 33, and an array of exhaust apertures 51. Although the comb of the hairdryer according to the above embodiment shown in FIG. 3 has the exhaust apertures 51 formed at the tip ends of the second bristles 36, the comb of the hairdryer according to this embodiment comprises the exhaust apertures 51 without providing the second bristles 36.
Referring to FIG. 7, the hairdryer of the invention comprises a rear filter 54 to filter air sucked through the intake holes 35, and through-holes 57 formed below the rear filter 54. Thus, air sucked through the intake holes is filtered by the rear filter 54, and is then exhausted through the through-holes 57.
This construction of the invention can be applied to other rounded hairbrushes.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the hairdryer of the invention further comprises a cyclone device 41, an intake fan 42, a motor 43, a blowing fan 44, and a filer 46 in the main body 3, which are sequentially positioned from above.
As principally shown in FIG. 9, when air is induced into the cyclone device 41 through an inlet 71, the cyclone device 41 creates a whirling flow of air through bias induction of air towards one side of the main body in a circumferential direction with or without a separate impeller. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the whirling flow of air is lowered while whirling in the cyclone device 41, and separates moisture, particles including dust, etc. from the bottom. Finally, the whirling flow is raised through the center of the cyclone device 41 while whirling in the center of the device.
This principle has been already utilized for various dust collection apparatuses, and can be applied to separation of moisture. With such a principle, the invention filters moisture, and other solid particles, such as foreign substances and dust, which have heavy weights. In other words, the cyclone device 41 of the invention serves to separate air and moisture separated from the hair. Since various kinds of cyclone device are well known in the art, and used for many applications, detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.
In addition, the figure of illustrating the cyclone device of the invention is provided only for illustration of the principal thereof. Thus, an inlet and an outlet of air can be disposed at any locations on the hairdryer of the invention. Furthermore, since various structures for creating the whirling flow of air are also well known in the art, a desired cyclone device can be configured through application of any of such structures to the hairdryer of the invention.
It should be noted that the cyclone device is not an essential component of the present invention. In other words, the hairdryer of the invention may be operated without the cyclone device.
After passing through the cyclone device, air containing moisture is induced into the filter 46 by means of the intake fan 42 and blowing fan 44. Since the intake fan 42 serves to suck air and the blowing fan 44 serves to discharge air downwardly, an air intake effect increases two times thereby.
Moisture of air is filtered by the filter 46, and air passing through the filter 46 is discharged through an outlet 48.
Although not shown in the drawings, the hairdryer may be provided at a lower end with an adapter having a plug. The plug is configured to allow insertion into the hairdryer and protrusion therefrom. With this configuration, the hairdryer can be charged by inserting the plug into an alternating power source. Alternatively, a separate adapter may be used in such a way that the adapter connects the hairdryer and the alternating power source to charge the hairdryer.
Operation of the hairdryer according to the invention will be described hereinafter.
When the hairdryer is turned on, the fans in the main body 31 start an operation. Then, while being forced to pass through a passage with a heating line embedded therein (since this structure is well known in the field of hairdryers, detailed description thereof will be omitted), air is warmed and exhausted along with anions generated in the main body to the scalp and hair of a user, thereby beneficially drying the hair roots, sebaceous glands and scalp of the user. At this time, while passing through the hair, air separates and moves moisture, sebaceous matter, and other contaminants towards the intake holes 35. The warmed air serves to allow styling of the hair to be performed easily.
Then, the fans are rotated in the counterclockwise direction. Since the motor 43 is a motor capable of rotating in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions, such a counterclockwise operation of the fans can be obtained. Then, an intake operation of the hairdryer can be achieved opposite the above operation by the bristles 33 of the comb. As a result, the dandruff, sebaceous matter, and other contaminants gathered around the intake holes 35 of the bristles 33 are moved along with air and moisture into the intake holes 35. The sucked contaminants are filtered through the rear filter 54 as shown in FIG. 7, and filtered air descends along the main body 31 to be secondarily filtered through the filter 46. The rear filter 54 shown in FIG. 7 can be optionally installed in the hairdryer of the invention.
For the structure with the rear filter installed therein, the cover 44 is attached to the comb housing to open or close the comb housing.
In this way, while the first bristles 33 and the second bristles 36 are operated, a small vibrator disposed below at lower ends of the bristles generates minute vibration of the bristles. Referring to FIG. 8, the small vibrator is operated by power supplied from a power supply 61 which also supplies the power to a motor 43, a heater 62 for heating air, and a vibrator 63.
Such vibration of the bristles provides a massaging effect to the scalp, skin pores, and sebaceous glands of the head, improving circulation of blood and developing the sebaceous glands to add luster to the hair. In addition, such vibration is supplied to the hair, effectively removing the contaminants and moisture from the hair. The small vibrator can also be selected from any of vibrators well known in the art, which can generate vibration as soon as power is applied thereto, and detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.
The alternating structure of the first bristles 33 and the second bristles 36 serves to ensure an efficient intake and exhaust of air, moisture and other contaminants through the hair, and to ensure smooth brushing of the hair.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. An intake-exhaust type hair styling dryer, comprising:

a comb including an intake hole, a first bristle extending through the intake hole, and an exhaust aperture spaced apart from the first bristle;

a main body detachable attached to the comb and including an air outlet formed therein;

an air intake and blowing device disposed in the main body; and

a filter positioned below the air intake and blowing device.

2. The dryer according to claim 1, wherein the comb further includes a second bristle having the exhaust aperture formed therein, and the first bristle has a groove formed along a body of the bristle.

3. The dryer according to claim 1, wherein the comb further includes a rear filter disposed at a rear side of the first bristle within a comb housing, and a cover positioned on a back surface of the comb to cover the rear filter, the cover having a through hole formed therein.

4. The dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

a cyclone device above the air intake and blowing device,

wherein the air intake and blowing device includes an intake fan, a motor positioned below the intake fan, and a blowing fan positioned below the motor.

5. The dryer according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the first bristles are arranged in an array parallel to a plurality of the exhaust apertures arranged in an array, the arrays of the bristles and the exhaust apertures being alternatively arranged such that the first bristles are disposed around each exhaust aperture.

6. The dryer according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

a vibrator connected to the first and second bristles to generate vibration of the first and second bristles,

wherein anions are emitted through the exhaust aperture.