US20150189967A1

US20150189967A1 - Hair dryer with non-parallel air flow

Info

Publication number: US20150189967A1
Application number: US14/149,772
Authority: US
Inventors: Carolyn M. McNeeley; John McKenzie
Original assignee: Panasonic Corp of North America
Current assignee: Panasonic Corp of North America
Priority date: 2014-01-07
Filing date: 2014-01-07
Publication date: 2015-07-09

Abstract

A hair dryer includes a body having a handle portion, a middle portion operatively connected to the handle portion and at least one air duct portion extending away from the middle portion in a direction non-parallel to the handle portion and having walls with apertures. The hair dryer also includes a blower mounted within the body to generate an air flow through the at least one air duct portion to discharge through the apertures on the walls of the at least one air duct portion in a direction non-parallel to a central axis of the at least one air duct portion.

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present disclosure relates generally to hair dryers and specifically to a hair dryer with non-parallel air flow and a hair dryer with multiples modes of operation including a mode with non-parallel air flow.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, users or consumers use the combination of a brush and a hair dryer to dry, straighten and smooth their hair. The user pulls the hair tight and keeps tension on the hair with the brush. The user then applies warm air directionally onto the tensioned hair with the hair dryer. This process requires two tools (i.e., the brush and the hair dryer) and two hands.
Conventional hair dryers discharge air from the end of a barrel in only one direction. Air is discharged from a relatively small surface area, which limits the amount of hair that may be dried at a particular moment in time slowing down the hair drying process.
To make up for the relatively small surface area and speed up the hair drying process, conventional hair dryers discharge air at relatively high speeds and temperatures. The relatively high speeds cause the hair to move away from the air in various directions even when held in place with the brush. This causes the hair to become frizzy and tangled. The relatively high temperatures may be uncomfortable for the user and may be unhealthy to the hair and the scalp. In some cases hair may be held in place against the high speed hot air by pushing the hair against the scalp with the end of the barrel of the hair dryer. This, however, focuses additional heat on the hair and the scalp which may be uncomfortable for the user and may be unhealthy to the hair and the scalp.
Accessories that attach to the hair dryer such as diffusers and concentrators have been devised to address some of these problems. These devices, however, may not completely address the above-described issues and, moreover, attaching these accessories to the hair dryer or brush adds complexity and time to the hair drying process.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure describes a hair dryer that may operate in a single mode or multiple modes.
The hair dryer may operate in a through mode that allows for hair to pass through a gap to which warm air is directed from multiple directions. This mode of operation may dry the hair faster and may result in less tangles. The through mode of operation may also allow for heat to be less focused on the scalp, which may be more comfortable and perhaps healthier for the user's hair and scalp.
The hair dryer described in the present disclosure may also include a panel mode in which the hair dryer discharges air from a panel-like surface area. The panel-like surface area is significantly larger than the surface area of a barrel of a conventional hair dryer. This may allow for relatively faster drying and may help smooth the cuticle of the hair providing a smooth look and added shine to the hair. It may also allow for preserving natural curl patterns of the hair.
The hair dryer described in the present disclosure may provide the above-described modes of operation in addition to a mode of operation that resembles conventional hair dryers. This makes for a versatile device that offers different modes of operation without the need to acquire or replace attachments such as diffusers or concentrators. The hair dryer described in the present disclosure may allow for hair drying with only one tool and potentially one hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various example systems, methods, and so on, that illustrate various example embodiments of aspects of the invention. It will be appreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. An element shown as an internal component of another element may be implemented as an external component and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be drawn to scale.

FIGS. 1A-1E illustrate various views of an exemplary hair dryer in a through mode.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate various views of the exemplary hair dryer in a panel mode.

FIG. 3A illustrates a view of the exemplary hair dryer in a traditional mode.

FIG. 3B illustrates a view of the exemplary hair dryer in the through mode.

FIG. 3C illustrates a view of the exemplary hair dryer in the panel mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Construction
FIGS. 1A-2C illustrate various views of an exemplary hair dryer 10. The hair dryer includes a handle portion 20, air duct portions 30 a and 30 b, and a middle portion 40 disposed between the handle portion 20 and the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b. The hair dryer 10 also includes nozzles 32 a and 32 b disposed at distal ends of the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b, respectively. The air duct portions 30 a and 30 b each has apertures 34, examples of which are apertures 34 a and 34 b, on at least one of their walls 36, examples of which are walls 36 a and 36 b.
The hair dryer 10 also includes a switch 50, apertures 60 and a blower (not shown). The blower may include a motor, a fan, a turbine, etc. and is mounted within the body of the hair dryer 10. The blower is operatively connected to the switch 50 such that operation of the switch 50 causes the blower to operate. Operation of the blower generates a forced flow of air that enters through the apertures 60, flows through at least a portion of the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b and is discharged through at least one of the nozzles 32 or the apertures 34 depending on the set mode of operation as described below.
In the illustrated embodiment, the hair dryer 10 includes a power cable 70 to transfer power from, for example, a power outlet to the dryer 10. In other embodiments (not shown), the dryer 10 receives power from sources other than a power cable connected to a power outlet such as, for example, a battery disposed within or outside the hair dryer 10.
Modes of Operation
The hair dryer 10 may operate in at least three different hair drying modes: a) a traditional mode, b) a through mode, and c) a panel mode, each of which is discussed in detail below. The hair dryer 10 may operate in only one or only two of the traditional mode, the through mode or the panel mode by themselves or in combination with other modes not disclosed herein.
FIG. 3A illustrates operation of the hair dryer 10 in traditional mode. In the traditional mode the forced air flow F generated by the blower discharges through the nozzles 32 a and 32 b in a direction generally parallel to central axes La and Lb of the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b, respectively.
As its name suggests, the traditional mode provides hair drying similar to that of conventional hair dryers. The hair dryer 10, however, includes the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b instead of a conventional barrel included in conventional hair dryers. The air duct portions 30 a and 30 b effectively divide the air flow output into two air flows. The void created between the two air flows may create a ripple effect on the targeted hair and may help manipulate and move the hair in a manner that helps to dry the hair faster.
FIG. 3B and 3C illustrate operation of the hair dryer 10 in through mode and panel mode, respectively. In these two modes, the forced air flow F generated by the blower does not discharge through the nozzles 32. Instead, in through mode and panel mode the forced air flow F generated by the blower discharges through the apertures 34 on the walls 36 of the air duct portions 30. The force air flow discharges in a direction non-parallel to the central axes La and Lb of the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the force air flow discharges in a direction generally perpendicular to the central axes La and Lb of the air duct portions.
In particular, FIG. 3B illustrates operation of the hair dryer 10 in through mode. In through mode the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b are positioned to form a gap G between the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b. Force air flow F discharges through the apertures 34 on the walls 36 into the gap G in a direction non-parallel to the central axes La and Lb. The force air flow F discharges through the apertures 34 a of the first air duct portion 30 a towards the second air duct portion 30 b. Similarly, the force air flow F discharges through the apertures 34 b of the second air duct portion 30 b towards the first air duct portion 30 a.
Through mode operation, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, allows hair to slide through the gap G between the separated air duct portions 30 a and 30 b. The force air flow is effectively directed inward between the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b exposing the hair to direct air in a controlled space. Through mode operation potentially dries hair faster and leaves the hair shinier and smoother (i.e., reduces frizz) than conventional hair dryers. It may also provide the ability to, in effect, begin styling while blow drying thus reducing dependency on, for example, a flat iron or similar device to straighten the hair. Moreover, in through mode operation air flow is not directed to the scalp, which may make for more comfortable and perhaps healthier hair drying. In one embodiment, force air flow is directed in a direction away from the hair or downward such the hair cuticle may be forced to lay down and smooth.
In one embodiment, the gap G is variable. The gap G may be controlled by a button or switch such that the user may widen or close the gap G. In one embodiment, the gap G is be controlled for the walls 36 of the air duct portions 32 to become very close together or touch with the hair in the gap G to effectively clamp onto the hair.
FIG. 3C illustrates operation of the hair dryer 10 in panel mode. In panel mode the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b are positioned such that force air flow F discharges through the apertures 34 on the walls 36 in a direction non-parallel to the central axes La and Lb. The force air flow F discharges through the apertures 34 a of the first air duct portion 30 a in a direction not towards the second air duct portion 30 b. Similarly, the force air flow F discharges through the apertures 34 b of the second air duct portion 30 b in a direction not towards the first air duct portion 30 a.
In one embodiment, the force air flow F discharges through the apertures 34 b of the second air duct portion 30 b in generally the same direction that the force air flow F discharges through the apertures 34 a of the first air duct portion 30 a. In one embodiment, the force air flow F discharges through the apertures 34 a and 34 b of the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b, respectively, in a direction generally parallel to a central axis Lc of the handle portion 20. In other embodiments, the force air flow F discharges through the apertures 34 a and 34 b of the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b, respectively, in a direction between 25 and 115 degrees (including 25 and 115 degrees) relative to the central axes La and Lb and between 25 and 115 degrees (including 25 and 115 degrees) relative to axes perpendicular to the central axes La and Lb.
In one embodiment, the force air flow F discharges through the apertures 34 a and 34 b of the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b such that the air flowing from the apertures 34 a of the air duct portion 30 a converge with the air flowing from the apertures 34 b of the air duct portion 30 b. In one embodiment, the force air flow F discharges through the apertures 34 a and 34 b of the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b such that the air flowing from the apertures 34 a of the air duct portion 30 a does not converge with the air flowing from the apertures 34 b of the air duct portion 30 b.
Panel mode operation provides a much larger surface area from which air flows to the hair as compared to conventional hair dryers. Thus panel mode may potentially help dry hair faster and may allow for effective hair drying using lower speeds and temperatures than conventional hair dryers. Panel mode operation may also allow for effective hair drying while preserving natural curl patterns. For example, natural curl may be preserved or enhanced if air flow in panel mode is such that the hair is allowed to lay onto the walls 36 and be dried in a coiled curled state.
In one embodiment (not shown), the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b may be rotated such that force air flow F discharges through the apertures 34 on the walls 36 in a direction non-parallel to the central axes La and Lb, but in the opposite direction as that shown in FIG. 3C. In this embodiment, force air flow F may flow essentially upwards. In this embodiment, natural curl, for example, may be preserved or enhanced if the hair is allowed to lay onto the walls 36 and be dried in a coiled curled state.
FIGS. 1A-1E illustrate additional views of the hair dryer 10 potentially in through mode. FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate additional views of the hair dryer 10 potentially in panel mode.
In the illustrated embodiment (see for example FIGS. 1A and 2A), the hair dryer 10 includes a dial 80 disposed on the middle portion 40. The dial 80 may be operatively connected to the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b. A user may rotate the dial 80 to cause the first duct portion 30 a and the second duct portion 30 b to rotate in opposite directions. By operation of the dial 80 the user may rotate the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b about an axis Ld of the middle portion 40 from the position corresponding to the through mode of operation (FIG. 1A) to the position corresponding to the panel mode of operation (FIG. 2A) as described above. Similarly, by operation of the dial 80 the user may rotate the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b from the position corresponding to the panel mode operation (FIG. 2A) to the position corresponding to the through mode operation (FIG. 1A).
As may be seen from FIGS. 1B and 1C, in through mode the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b have been rotated so that they are positioned apart from each other to form the gap G. By operation of the dial 80 the user dials the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b into this position in which they are positioned apart from each other to form the gap G.
As may be seen from FIGS. 2B and 2C, in panel mode the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b have been rotated to be very near each other. By operation of the dial 80 the user dials the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b into this position in which they are close together or touching.
In other embodiments, the air duct portions 30 a and 30 b may be dialed into the through mode position or the panel mode position by means other than a dial.
The hair dryer 10 includes an air directing mechanism (not shown) that directs the air flow from the blower through the nozzles 32 in traditional mode and from the blower through the apertures 34 in through mode and panel mode. This air directing mechanism may also block air flow to the apertures 34 in the traditional mode and may block air flow to the nozzles 32 in through mode and panel mode.
In one embodiment, the air directing mechanism includes a set of flaps (not shown) that blocks or allows air flow to the nozzles 32 or the apertures 34 depending on the set operational mode. In one embodiment, flaps close off the nozzles 32 in through mode and panel mode to direct air from the blower through the apertures 34. In this embodiment, when the flaps are opened air flows from the blower through the nozzles 32. Thus, in this embodiment, both the nozzles 32 and the apertures 34 are open in traditional mode, but the air flows naturally from the blower through the nozzles 32.
In the illustrated embodiment, the hair dryer 10 includes a switch 90 that operates the flaps and thus, at least in part, controls the mode of operation together with the dial 80 as described above. Operation of the switch 90 transitions the hair dryer from traditional mode to through mode, from through mode to traditional mode, from traditional mode to panel mode or from panel mode to traditional mode. In another embodiment, transition of operation from a first mode to another mode of operation is controlled by means other than the dial 80 and/or the switch 90.
While example devices, methods, and so on, have been illustrated by describing examples, and while the examples have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the devices, methods, and so on, described herein. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific details, and illustrative examples shown or described. Thus, this application is intended to embrace alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, the preceding description is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
To the extent that the term “includes” or “including” is employed in the detailed description or the claims, it is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as that term is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “or” is employed in the detailed description or claims (e.g., A or B) it is intended to mean “A or B or both”. When the applicants intend to indicate “only A or B but not both” then the term “only A or B but not both” will be employed. Thus, use of the term “or” herein is the inclusive, and not the exclusive use. See, Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage 624 (2d. Ed. 1995).

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A hair dryer comprising:

a body having a handle portion, air duct portions and a middle portion disposed between the handle portion and the air duct portions;

a blower mounted within the body to generate a forced air flow through at least a portion of the air duct portions;

nozzles disposed at distal ends of the air duct portions, wherein with the hair dryer set to a first hair drying mode the nozzles discharge the forced air flow in a direction generally parallel to central axes of the air duct portions; and

apertures on walls of the air duct portions, wherein with the hair dryer set to a hair drying mode other than the first hair drying mode the apertures discharge the force air flow in a direction non-parallel to the central axes of the air duct portions.

2. The hair dryer of claim 1, wherein:

the air duct portions include a first air duct portion and a second air duct portion, and

with the hair dryer set to a second hair drying mode, the air duct portions are positioned such that apertures on a wall of the first air duct portion discharge the force air flow in a direction towards the second air duct portion, and apertures on a wall of the second air duct portion discharge the force air flow in a direction towards the first air duct portion.

3. The hair dryer of claim 1, wherein:

with the hair dryer set to a third hair drying mode, the air duct portions are positioned such that apertures on a wall of the first air duct portion discharge the force air flow in a direction not towards the second air duct portion, and apertures on a wall of the second air duct portion discharge the force air flow in a direction not towards the first air duct portion.

4. The hair dryer of claim 1, wherein:

with the hair dryer set to a third hair drying mode, the air duct portions are positioned such that apertures on a wall of the first air duct portion discharge the force air flow in a direction not towards the second air duct portion, and apertures on a wall of the second air duct portion discharge the force air flow in generally the same direction as the first air duct portion.

5. The hair dryer of claim 1, wherein:

with the hair dryer set to a third hair drying mode, the air duct portions are positioned such that apertures on the walls of the air duct portions discharge the force air flow in a direction generally parallel to a central axis of the handle portion.

6. The hair dryer of claim 1, wherein:

with the hair dryer set to a second hair drying mode, the air duct portions are positioned such that apertures on a wall of the first air duct portion discharge the force air flow in a direction towards the second air duct portion, and apertures on a wall of the second air duct portion discharge the force air flow in a direction towards the first air duct portion, and

with the hair dryer set to a third hair drying mode, the air duct portions are positioned such that apertures on the walls of the first air duct portion and the second air duct portion discharge the air flow in generally the same direction.

7. The hair dryer of claim 6, comprising:

a dial disposed on the middle portion to set the hair dryer to the second mode or the third mode.

8. A hair dryer comprising:

a body having:

a handle portion,

a middle portion operatively connected to the handle portion, and

air duct portions extending away from the middle portion non-parallel to the handle portion;

a blower mounted within the body to generate an air flow through the air duct portions; and

nozzles disposed at distal ends of the air duct portions,

the hair dryer settable to at least two modes including:

a first mode in which the air flow discharges through the nozzles in a direction generally parallel to central axes of the air duct portions; and

a second mode in which the air flow discharges through apertures on walls of the air duct portions in a direction non-parallel to the central axes of the air duct portions.

9. The hair dryer of claim 8, comprising:

an air directing mechanism to direct the air flow to the nozzles in the first mode and to the apertures in the second mode.

10. The hair dryer of claim 8, comprising:

an air directing mechanism to block the air flow from the apertures in the first mode and from the nozzles in the second mode.

11. The hair dryer of claim 8, wherein

the hair dryer is settable to at least three modes including:

the second mode in which the air flow discharges through apertures on walls of the first air duct portion in a direction towards the second air duct portion and through apertures on walls of the second air duct portion in a direction towards the first air duct portion, and

a third mode in which the air duct portions are positioned such that the air flow discharges through the apertures on the walls of the first air duct portion and the second air duct portion in generally the same direction.

12. The hair dryer of claim 8, wherein

the hair dryer is settable to at least three modes including:

a third mode in which the air flow discharges through the apertures on the walls of the first air duct portion in a direction not towards the second air duct portion and through apertures on walls of the second air duct portion in a direction not towards the first air duct portion.

13. The hair dryer of claim 12, wherein

the first duct portion and the second duct portion are rotatable about an axis of the middle portion from a position corresponding to the second mode to a position corresponding to the third mode.

14. The hair dryer of claim 13, comprising:

a dial operatively connected to the air duct portions and rotatable by a user to rotate the first duct portion and the second duct portion from the position corresponding to the second mode to the position corresponding to the third mode and from the position corresponding to the third mode to the position corresponding to the second mode.

15. The hair dryer of claim 8, wherein

the hair dryer is settable to at least three modes including:

a third mode in which the air duct portions are positioned such that the air flow discharges through the apertures on the walls of the first air duct portion and the second air duct portion in a direction generally parallel to a central axis of the handle portion.

16. A hair dryer comprising:

a body having:

a handle portion,

a middle portion operatively connected to the handle portion, and

at least one air duct portion extending away from the middle portion in a

direction non-parallel to the handle portion and having walls with apertures;

a blower mounted within the body to generate an air flow through the at least one air duct portion to discharge through the apertures on the walls of the at least one air duct portion in a direction non-parallel to a central axis of the at least one air duct portion.

17. The hair dryer of claim 16, wherein

the at least one air duct portion includes a first air duct portion and a second air duct portion, and the air duct portions are positioned such that the air flow discharges through apertures on walls of the first air duct portion in a direction towards the second air duct portion and through apertures on walls of the second air duct portion in a direction towards the first air duct portion.

18. The hair dryer of claim 16, wherein

the at least one air duct portion includes a first air duct portion and a second air duct portion, and the air duct portions are positioned such that the air flow discharges through apertures on walls of the first air duct portion in a direction not towards the second air duct portion and through apertures on walls of the second air duct portion in a direction not towards the first air duct portion.

19. The hair dryer of claim 16, wherein

the at least one air duct portion includes a first air duct portion and a second air duct portion, and the air duct portions are positioned such that the air flow discharges through apertures on walls of the first air duct portion and the second air duct portion in generally the same direction.

20. The hair dryer of claim 16, wherein

the at least one air duct portion are positioned such that the air flow discharges through apertures on walls of the at least one air duct portion in a direction generally parallel to a central axis of the handle portion.