US3726022A

US3726022A - Portable wig dryer

Info

Publication number: US3726022A
Application number: US00171257A
Authority: US
Inventors: C Helwig
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-08-12
Filing date: 1971-08-12
Publication date: 1973-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 1990-04-10

Abstract

An electrically operated portable wig dryer comprising a base and an upwardly extending hemispherical dome preferably formed of wire mesh coated with plastisol. Mounted within the dome is an electric fan having its blade directed downwardly. A flange extends vertically upwardly around the entire periphery of the base. A wig is removably mounted on the dome and held in place by the resilient band of the wig and frictional engagement between the wig and the dome. In use, the fan draws air into the dome through the upper portion of the wig and then outwardly against the lower portion of the wig. Air strikes the flange and is directed upwardly and outwardly between the wig and the flange. The drying action is thus concentrated on the hard to dry lower portion of the wig. Collapsible supporting means are provided for the dryer.

Description

United States Patent 91 Helwig PORTABLE WIG DRYER [76] Inventor: Carl W. Helwig, 906 Crestview Ave., Glendale, Calif. 91202 [22] Filed:- Aug. 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 171,257

3,006,078 10/1961 Parker et a1. ..34/90 3,148,957 9/1964 Ballard ..34/99 2,094,042 9/ 1937 Lichterman ..34/106 3,265,346 8/1966 Petrick ..34/99 [4 1 Apr. 10, 1973 FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,175,940 l/1970 Great Britain ..34/103 Primary ExaminerKenneth W. Sprague Assistant Examiner.1ames C. Yeung Attorney-Robert C. Comstock ABSTRACT An electrically operated portable wig dryer comprising a base and an upwardly extending hemispherical dome preferably formed of wire mesh coated with plastisol. Mounted within the dome is an electric fan having its blade directed downwardly. A flange extends vertically upwardly around the entire periphery of the base. A wig is removably mounted on the dome and held in place by the resilient band of the wig and frictional engagement between the wig and the dome. In use, the fan draws air into the dome through the upper portion of the wig and then outwardly against the lower portion of the wig. Air strikes the flange and is directed upwardly and outwardly between the wig and the flange. The drying action is thus concentrated on the hard to dry lower portion of the wig. Collapsible supporting means are provided for the dryer.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PORTABLE WIG DRYER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a portable wig dryer.

2. Description of the Prior Art Wig dryers of various kinds are known in the prior art. They are frequently unsatisfactory because they drive air upwardly through the crown of the wig, which is quickly dried while the lower portion of the wig remains wet. This is particularly true if the lower portion of the wig is provided with a resilient band for mounting and holding the wig on the head of the wearer. This band and reinforcing material along the lower edge of the wig hold water longer and are more difficult to dry than the hair of the wig. Previously known wig dryers do not solve the problem of quickly and properly drying these lower portions of the wig as well as the hair ofthe wig itself.

Most of the previously known wig dryers also require pins, clips and other fastening means to attach and hold the wig on the dryer.

Many wig dryers in the prior art utilize heat in drying the wig, which is unsatisfactory because it dries the wig too rapidly and damages it. This is especially true of newer wigs manufactured with synthetic fibers which are easily destroyed by heat.

Most of the previously known wig dryers are bulky and awkward in size and cannot be transported or used in various environments and circumstances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a wig dryer which is an improvement over the prior art because it is portable and includes folding mounting means which permit its use in substantially any environment or circumstances.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide a wig dryer which is an improvement over the prior art because it is portable and can be carried and used substantially any place.

The wig dryer utilizes a fan which drives air downwardly away from the crown of the wig rather than upwardly through the wig. The air is driven against the lower portion of the wig, then downwardly around the lower edge of the wig and then upwardly around the outer periphery of the wig. The drying action is accordingly concentrated on the portion of the wig which is most difficult to dry. Fresh air is drawn into the dryer through the crown of the wig itself.

Another object of the invention accordingly is to provide a wig dryer in which air is driven downwardly rather than upwardly, in order to concentrate the dry ing action around the lower portion of the wig, and particularly around the band which extends along the lower edge of the wig.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wig dryer in which air is moved against the lower portion of the wig and then downwardly from the dryer beneath the lower edge of the wig and upwardly around the outside ofthe wig.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wig dryer in which the wig can be mounted and held on the dryer by means of frictional engagement between the wig and the dryer, without requiring the use of pins, clips or extraneous fastening-members of any kind. The wig is securely held during the drying operation and also during any subsequent styling of the wig after it has been dried.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a wig dryer of the type described which is simple and economical in its structure and operation.

It is also among the objects of the invention to provide a wig dryer having all of the advantages and benefits set forth above and described hereinafter in this specification.

The invention also comprises such other objects, ad vantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by the invention.

While there is shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of wig dryer in use, with the supporting members in extended position and a. portion of the wig broken away;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the same;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-- 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4- 4 of FIG. 1.

The arrows in the drawings indicate in a general way the direction of movement of the air.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment which has been selected to illustrate'the invention comprises a flat circular base 10. Extending upwardly from the base 10 is a substantially hemispherical dome 11, which is preferably composed of wire formed into a mesh. The dome 11 illustrated in the drawings is formed of intersecting wires extending in vertical and horizontal directions. The wire forming the dome 11 is preferably coated with a suitable plastic coating material such as plastisol, which provides the dome 11 with a non-slipping frictional surface which is adapted to make a gripping frictional engagement with the inner surface of a wig 12 which is removably mounted on the dome 11 for drying purposes.

Mounted adjacent the center of the base 10 is an electric motor 13, which is connected to a fan 14 mounted directly above and upon it. The fan 14 is disposed adjacent to the center of the dome 11 and its blades are directed downwardly rather than upwardly. The central portion of the base 10 beneath the motor 13 is provided with a plurality of perforations 15 for cooling the motor 13. An electric cord 16 extends from the motor 13 to a suitable source of electrical supply. The cord 16 or the dryer itself may be provided with a control switch.

Extending upwardly from the base 10 is an annular flange 17, which extends around the entire periphery of the base 10. The purpose of the flange 17 is to control the direction of movement of the air during the drying operation, as described hereinafter.

Extending vertically upwardly within the dome 11 is an enclosed housing 18 having a substantially square cross-section. The housing 18 is adapted to removably receive the upper end of an upper support member 19 when the same is in its upper supporting position. The housing 18 extends through the base and has a portion 20 disposed beneath the base 10 which carries a transversely directed pin 21.

The upper support member 19 has a channel or U- shaped configuration in cross-section. The sides of the member 19 adjacent the upper end thereof are provided with a pair of aligned elongated slots 22 which are somewhat enlarged at their upper ends. The pin 21 extends transversely through the slots 22.

The sides of the upper support member 19 adjacent the lower end thereof are also provided with a pair of aligned elongated slots 23, through which extends a transversely directed pin 24 which is carried by the upper end of a lower support member 25. The lower support member 25 is formed similarly to the upper support member 19, except that it is wider and is adapted to fit around the upper support member 19.

The sides of the lower end of the lower support member 25 are cut away, leaving only the flat base from which projects a threaded stud 26 which slidably extends through an elongated slot 32 in the shank 27 of a yoke 28. A wing nut 29 is mounted on the stud 26. A bolt 30 threadedly extends through one side of the yoke 28. Its inner end carries a circular plate 31 which extends parallel to the opposite side of the yoke 28.

In use, a wig 12 is mounted over the dome 11 so that the wig l2 completely encloses the dome 11 except for an annular portion of the dome 11 which is disposed directly above the flange 17. The wig 12 is held in place on the dome 11 by the resilient band which extends around part or all of the lower edge of the wig 12 and also by frictional engagement between the inner surface of the wig l2 and the plastisol material covering the dome 11. The resilient band and frictional engage ment combine to hold the wig l2 securely in place on the dome 11 during the drying operation and during any subsequent styling of the wig 12, without requiring the use of any pins or other extraneous fastening means.

When the fan 14 is operated, it draws air into the dome 11 through the upper portion of the wig 12. This air is driven downwardly and outwardly so that it strikes the lower edge of the wig 12 around its entire periphery. The air is also driven outwardly through the gap between the lower portion of the wig 12 and the upper edge of the flange ,17. Some of the air from the fan 14 strikes the flange 17 and is deflected upwardly, so that the air which passes out of the dome 11 flows upwardly against the outside of the lower portion of the wig 12. There is accordingly a flow of air against the inside and the outside of the lower portion of the wig 12.

The downwardly directed blade of the fan 14 and the upward deflecting ability of the flange 17 cooperate to concentrate the air movement and drying action on the lower edge portion of the wig 12, the area where the most moisture is concentrated due to water flow and thickening ofthe wig by resilient means and reinforcing means.

When the dryer is not in use, the supporting stand can be collapsed to fit directly beneath the base 10.

The upper support member 19 is moved downwardly so that it is completely withdrawn from the housing 1 8. The pin 21 extends through the upper end of the slots 22 and the upper support member 19 can be pivoted to a position in which it extends parallel to and is disposed directly beneath the base 10.

The lower support member 25 is moved downwardly so that the pin 24 extends through the lower end of the slots 23. The lower support member 25 can then be pivoted so that it underlies and extends substantially parallel to the upper support member 19.

When the dryer is to be mounted for use, the

support members

19 and 25 are moved in the opposite direction. The

support members

19 and 25 are moved from a substantially horizontal position beneath the base 10 to a substantially vertical position. The upper end of the upper support member 19 is moved upwardly so that it is disposed within the housing 18 and the pin 21 extends through the lower end of the slots 22. The upper end of the upper support member 19 engages the interior of the housing 18, which prevents any pivotal movement of the upper support member 19 with respect to the base 10 and dome 11.

The lower support member 25 is moved upwardly so that the pin 24 extends through the upper end of the slot 23. In this position, the upper end of the lower support member 25 fits around and engages the lower end of the upper support member 19, preventing any,

pivotal movement of the lower support member 25 with respect to the upper support member 19.

The yoke 28 can be pivoted on the stud 26 and held in any desired angular position with respect to the lower support member 25 by tightening the wing nut 29. The bolt 30 can be tightened to mount the dryer on any object having a portion capable of being gripped between the plate 31 and the opposite side of the yoke 28. This may be the edge of a dressing table, desk, drawer, etc.

Iclaim:

1. A wig dryer comprising a base, a perforated dome extending upwardly from said base, said dome being adapted to receive and removably hold a wig for drying, said wig substantially enclosing said dome except for the lower portion of said dome adjacent to said base, a fan mounted within said dome, the blade of said fan being arranged to draw air into said dome through the upper portion of said wig and out from said dome through the uncovered lower portion thereof beneath the bottom edge of said wig, the bottom of said base being imperforate and means disposed adjacent to the uncovered lower portion of said dome for deflecting in an upward direction air driven outwardly from said dome by said fan, said means comprising an annular flange extending substantially vertically upwardly from said base, said flange extending around substantially the entire periphery of said base, whereby the flow of air from said dome is directed primarily against both the inside and outside of the lower portion of said wig.

2. The structure described in claim 1, said dome being formed of inter-secting vertically and horizontally directed wires, the outer surface of said wires being covered with frictional material whereby a wig can be held in a stationary position on said dome by the resilient means forming part of said wig and the frictional engagement between said wig and the frictional material covering said dome.

3. The structure described in claim 1, and collapsible means for removably attaching and supporting said wig dryer on a stationary object, said collapsible means comprising a pair of pivotally mounted elongated support members adapted to be moved between a substantially vertical end-to-end supporting position and a horizontal collapsed position in which they are disposed adjacent to each other underlying said base

Claims

3. The structure described in claim 1, and collapsible means for removably attaching and supporting said wig dryer on a stationary object, said collapsible means comprising a pair of pivotally mounted elongated support members adapted to be moved between a substantially vertical end-to-end supporting position and a horizontal collapsed position in which they are disposed adjacent to each other underlying said base.