WO2006001657A1

WO2006001657A1 - Hair dryer with function for cleaning hair

Info

Publication number: WO2006001657A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/001975
Authority: WO
Inventors: Byung-Hoo Rho
Original assignee: Saint Coree Int. Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-06-24
Filing date: 2005-06-24
Publication date: 2006-01-05

Abstract

There is provided a hair dryer with a hair cleaning function. The hair dryer comprises a hair dryer case in which an air flow passage having an intake port and an ejection port at both sides thereof is formed; a reciprocal rotation motor provided to the hair dryer case; a blowing fan which is connected to the reciprocal rotation motor and is provided on the air flow passage; a changeover switch provided to the outside of the hair dryer case to change the rotational direction of the rotation motor; and a filtering net provided at the intake port. Therefore, it is possible to suck conveniently the hair garbage generated after the hair dryer is used according to the original purpose thereof, using a filtering net, and to discard easily the hair sucked into the dust collection part by reversing the direction of the wind using a changeover switch

Description

HAIR DRYER WITH FUNCTION FOR CLEANING HAIR Technical Field [1] The present invention relates to a hair dryer, and more particularly to a hair dryer with a hair cleaning function capable of cleaning a hair using the same hair dryer after using the hair dryer. Background Art [2] In general, the hair dryer is an electric apparatus which is used for drying a hair and forming the same. The hair dryer has a hot- wind function in which a predetermined amount of air is introduced through an air intake hole formed at the rear side of the hair dryer when a fan is operated and a hot air heated during the intake air passes an electric heater is ejected to the outside, and a cool- wind function in which the intake air introduced through the air intake hole by the operation of the fan is ejected to the outside as it is, in a state in which the electric heater is not operated. Depending on a product, the hot-wind and cool-wind functions are again divided into strong and weak modes, respectively. [3] The hair dryer is most widely used for drying a hair after having a shampoo or for changing it into a desired hair style at general homes and hair shops. However, when such a hair dryer is used, the hair always falls out and drops down, such that it needs to clean the hair after the usage thereof. [4] Conventionally, it needs to pick up the hair one by one with a hand or to clean it using a broom or a floor cloth, after drying the hair using the hair dryer. However, there is a problem in that since the hair generates a large amount of static electricity, it is not well swept into a dustpan and it is difficult to clean the hair in case of a minute hair. [5] When it is difficult to clean the hair with a hand or using the broom or the floor cloth, the hair scattered at the periphery is often cleaned using a vacuum cleaner. However, in case of using the vacuum cleaner, it is needed to take out the vacuum cleaner every time and to connect an electric cord thereof to clean the hair, which becomes a troublesome and wastes a large amount of time. Further, in case of using the vacuum cleaner to clean a small amount of hair, there is a problem in that an electric power is wasted. [6] To overcome the problems, a combination cleaner and hair dryer in which a suction tube is provided at the rear side of the hair dryer having a fan and a heater inside thereof, and a suction membrane and a filter are provided to the inside of the suction tube is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 1993-0031473 by Sang-Ki Min. However, the invention made by Sang-Ki Min has a problem in that the intake air flows through the suction membrane and the filter, such that the introduction of the intake air is not performed smoothly, and the suction tube is made with the same concept to that of the cleaner, such that it is not suitable for the combination cleaner and hair dryer in which the hair is needed to be directly removed after it is used one time. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem [7] An object of the invention is to provide a hair dryer having a construction in that the air intake is not obstructed, a hair dropped down after being dried using the hair dryer is sucked and is directly discarded into a waste basket. Technical Solution [8] The present invention provides a hair dryer comprising a hair dryer case in which an air flow passage having an intake port and an ejection port at both sides thereof is formed, a reciprocal rotation motor provided to the hair dryer case, a blowing fan which is connected to the reciprocal rotation motor and is provided on the air flow passage, a changeover switch provided to the outside of the hair dryer case to change the rotational direction of the rotation motor, and a filtering net provided at the intake port. Therefore, after the hair is dried and a dropped hair is sucked using the hair dryer, it is possible to discard directly the sucked hair into a waste basket by operating the changeover switch. [9] Here, it is preferable that an overheat prevention port is provided to penetrate through the flow passage provided between the filtering net and the fan, and an outside of the hair dryer case. Therefore, even though the filtering net is clogged by the hair, air can be introduced through the overheat prevention port, such that it is possible to prevent the motor from being overheated. [10] Further, it is preferable that the hair dryer further comprises a guide part located at the inner side of the overheat prevention port, and a sealing part for sealing a distal end of the guide port facing the fan with respect to the inner circumferential surface of the hair dryer case. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the air from being exhausted through the overheat prevention port, when the air is exhausted through the filtering net. Advantageous Effects [11] The hair dryer according to the present invention can suck conveniently the hair garbage generated after the hair dryer is used according to the original purpose thereof, using a dust collection part, that is, a connection unit and a filtering net. Further, the dust collection part is disposed over the garbage collection container like a garbage basket, and a hair sucked into the dust collection part can be discarded into a garbage basket by reversing the direction of the wind using a changeover switch. [12] Further, in case that an amount of the collected hair is much and an amount of air introduced through the filtering and air intake unit is less, air is introduced through the overheat prevention port, such that it is possible to prevent the motor from being overheated. [13] Further, when the direction of the wind is reversed, the leakage of air through the overheat prevention port is prevented by the guide member, such that it is possible to remove the hair which is hardly separated due to the static electricity or the like, by focusing the air flow toward the side of the filtering net. Brief Description of the Drawings [14] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hair dryer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [15] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hair dryer illustrating a state in which a dust collection part of Fig. 1 is separated. [16] Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a filtering and air intake unit. [17] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the hair dryer illustrating another embodiment of a fixing means. [18] Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the hair dryer illustrating still another embodiment of the fixing means. [19] Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [20] Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the hair dryer according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [21] Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a filtering and air intake unit of Fig. 7. [22] Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along a line IX-IX of Fig. 7, which illustrates an intake state. [23] Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along a line IX-IX of Fig. 7, which illustrates an exhaust state. [24] Fig. 11 is a conceptional view illustrating a structure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Mode for the Invention [25] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hair dryer according to a first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hair dryer illustrating a state in which a dust collection part of Fig. 1 is separated, and Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a filtering and air intake unit. [26] The hair dryer of the present invention is comprised of a hair dryer main body 10, and a dust collection part 20 fixed to the main body 10 by fixing means. [27] The hair dryer main body 10 comprises a hair dryer case forming the contour of the main body 10, a motor (not shown) provided to the inner side of the case, a blowing fan (not shown) connected to the motor, an electric heater (not shown) for generating a hot wind, and a changeover switch which is provided to an outer side of the case and changes the rotational direction of the motor. An air flow passage (not shown) is formed at a central portion of the hair dryer case. Both ends of the air flow passage are communicated with an intake port 11 and an ejection port, respectively. The blowing fan and the electric heater are located at the air flow passage. It is preferable that the motor is composed of a reciprocal rotation motor. The installation structures of the motor, the blowing fan, the electric heater, and the air flow passage are generally known structure, such that they are not described in detail in the present invention. A screw thread 12 is formed at outer circumferential surface of the intake port 11 of the main body 10. [28] The dust collection part 20 is comprised of a connection unit 30 connected to the side of the intake port 11 of the main body 10, and a filtering and air intake unit 40 connected to the connection unit 30. [29] The connection unit 30 is so constructed that one inner end portion of the cylindrical body is provided with a screw thread 31 to be engaged with the screw thread 12 of the main body 10. The other end portion of the connection unit 30 is provided with an insertion slit 32 which is cut out along a longitudinal direction, and a fixing and movement hole 33 is horizontally formed to be communicated with the insertion slit 32. Further, a part of inner periphery of the connection unit 30 protrudes to form a supporting jaw 34. A plurality of air intake holes 35 is formed at a side surface of the main body of the connection unit 30. Further, the air intake holes 35 are formed at the rear side of the portion in which the supporting jaw 34 is formed. The supporting jaw 34 serves as a stopper which supports the lower surface of the filtering and air intake unit 40 and prevents it from going through the connection unit any more. [30] The filtering and air intake unit 40 filters and contains a hair which is inserted and introduced into the inner side of the connection unit 30. The filtering and air intake unit 40 is made of a cylindrical vessel shape, opening is formed at a bottom surface excepting the edge thereof, a filtering net 43 is fixed to the opening, and a plurality of air intake holes 41 are formed at a side wall thereof. The side wall of the filtering and air intake unit 40 is provided with a fixing grip which is inserted into the insertion slot 32 and moved along the fixing and movement hole 33. The fixing grip 42 is formed to have a width smaller than that of the insertion slit 32. [31] The air intake hole 41 is formed to have the same shape as that of the air intake hole 35 of the connection unit 30. As the fixing grip moves along the fixing and movement hole 33, the filtering and air intake unit 40 is rotated in the inside of the connection unit 30, and the air intake holes 41 are aligned with the air intake holes 35 of the connection unit in the rotated state. [32] The fixing means is realized by the screw thread 12 formed in the main body 10 and the screw thread 31 formed at the inner circumferential surface of the connection unit 30. Namely, when the screw thread 31 of the connection unit 30 is engaged with the screw thread 12 of the main body 10, the connection unit 30 can be connected to the hair dryer main body 10. [33] Fig. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the fixing means. [34] The fixing means shown in Fig. 4 is realized by forming a groove at an outer side surface of the rear end portion of the hair dryer 10 and fixing a packing 50 thereto, and by forming a fixing groove 51 at an inner side of an end portion of the connection unit 30 to be engaged with the packing 50. When the connection unit 30 is inserted around the rear end portion of the hair dryer 10, and the packing 50 is inserted into the fixing groove 51, while the rear end portion of the hair dryer 10 is inserted into the inner side of the connection unit 30, whereby they are fixed to each other. [35] Fig. 5 illustrates still another embodiment of the fixing means. [36] The fixing means shown in Fig. 5 is realized by forming two or more grooves 60 at the rear end portion of the hair dryer 10 and by forming protrusions 61 at an end portion of the connection unit 30 to be inserted and fixed into the grooves 60. Each of the protrusions 61 is provided with a locking jaw to be inserted into and locked with the groove 60. [37] Fig. 6 illustrates a structure according to a second embodiment of the present invent. [38] The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the connection unit and the filtering and air intake unit are formed integrally to each other, and the others are identical to those of the first embodiment. [39] A connection unit 70 is provided with a fixing means at one end portion thereof to be fixed to the rear end portion of the hair dryer 10, a plurality of air intake holes 71 are formed at periphery of a side wall of the connection unit 70. A filtering and air intake unit 72 is fixed to an inner side wall of the connection unit 70. The filtering and air intake unit 72 is comprised of a fixing circular plate 73 in the shape of disk in which hole is formed at a central portion thereof and a filtering net 74 fixed to the upper surface of the fixing circular plate 73. The fixing circular plate 73 is fixed to or formed integrally with an inner side wall of the connection unit 70 and cannot be detached therefrom, unlike the above-described embodiment. Therefore, the object of the present invention can be accomplished by a construction more simple than that of the above-described embodiment. [40] The hair dryer having the dust collection part can suck conveniently the hair garbage generated after the hair dryer is used according to the original purpose thereof, using a dust collection part fixed to the rear side of the hair dryer. Further, the hair sucked into the dust collection part can be discarded into a garbage basket by reversing the direction of the wind using a changeover switch. [41] Figs. 7 to 10 illustrates a structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the hair dryer, Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a filtering and air intake unit of Fig. 7, Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along a line IX-IX of Fig. 7, illustrating an intake state, and Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along a line IX-IX of Fig. 7, illustrating an exhaust state. [42] As shown in the drawings, the hair dryer according to the third embodiment is comprised of hair dryer cases 110 and 130 in which an air flow passage 111 having an intake port 11 Ib and an ejection port 11 Ia at both end portions is formed, a reciprocal rotation motor 113 provided to the dryer cases 110 and 130, a blowing fan 115 which is connected to the reciprocal rotation motor 113 and provided at the air flow passage, a changeover switch 112 provided at the outside of the hair dryer case 110 to change the rotational direction of the rotation motor 113, a filtering and air intake unit 133 provided at the intake port 11 Ib, and an overheat prevention units 131 and 120 for preventing the motor 113 from being overheated when the filtering and air intake unit 133 is clogged by a hair or the like. [43] An hair dryer main body case 110 and a connection unit 130 connected to the intake port 111b side of the main body case 110 are commonly referred to as the hair dryer cases 110 and 130. In the embodiment of the present invention, the main body case 110 and the connection unit 130 are exemplified to be connected in a state in which they are separated from each other. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and the main body case 110 and the connection unit 130 may be integrally formed integrally. [44] The constructions of the hair dryer main body case 110, the reciprocal rotation motor 113, the changeover switch 112, and the filtering and air intake unit 133 are identical to those of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, it will be described with respect to only the connection unit 130 and the overheat prevention units 120 and 131. [45] The connection unit 130 is provided with a fixing means at one end portion thereof to be fixed to the rear end portion of the hair dryer main body case 110, a plurality of air intake holes 132 and the overheat prevention port 131 are formed at periphery of a side wall of the connection unit 130. A filtering and air intake unit 133 is fixed to an inner side wall of the connection unit 130. The filtering and air intake unit 133 is comprised of a fixing circular plate 133a in the shape of disk in which an opening is formed at a central portion thereof and a filtering net 133b fixed to the upper surface of the fixing circular plate 133a. The fixing circular plate 133a is fixed integrally with or detachably from an inner side wall of the connection unit 130. Various types of netting thread can be used as the filtering net 133b. [46] The filtering and air intake unit 133 is disposed between the air intake holes 132 and the overheat prevention port 131. Specifically, the overheat prevention port 131 is formed to penetrate through the air flow passage 111 located between the filtering and air intake unit 133 and a fan 115, and the outside of the hair dryer cases 110 and 130, especially the connection unit 130. The overheat prevention port 131 is formed in the shape of slit along the outer circumferential surface of the connection unit 130. [47] The overheat prevention units 131 and 120 is comprised of the above-described overheat prevention port 131 and a guide member 120 disposed on the inner side air flow passage of the overheat prevention port 131. [48] The guide member 120 is formed in the shape of trumpet, an expanded end portion is connected to the inner circumferential surface of the case 130 at a distal end of the overheat prevention port 131 facing the fan 115. Specifically, the guide member 120 is comprised of a guide part 122 disposed at inner side of the overheat prevention port 131 to be spaced therefrom, and a sealing part 121 for sealing the distal end of the guide part 122 facing the fan 115 to the inner circumferential surface of the hair dryer case 130. The sealing part 121 does not need to be perfectly sealed with respect to the case 130 and a partially uncontact surface may be exist. [49] A method of connecting the connection unit 130 to the filtering and air intake unit 133 and a method of connecting the connection unit 130 to the main body case 110 are described in the above-described the first and second embodiments. Therefore, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. [50] The hair dryer according to the third embodiment can suck conveniently the hair garbage generated after the hair dryer is used according to the original purpose thereof, using a dust collection part, that is, a connection unit and a filtering net. Further, the dust collection part is disposed over the garbage collection container like a garbage basket, and a hair sucked into the dust collection part can be discarded into a garbage basket by reversing the direction of the wind using a changeover switch. [51] Further, in case that an amount of the collected hair is much and an amount of air introduced through the filtering and air intake unit 133 is less, air is introduced through the overheat prevention port 131 as shown in Fig. 9, such that it is possible to prevent the motor 113 from being overheated. [52] Further, when the direction of the wind is reversed by the use of the changeover switch 112, as shown in Fig. 10, the leakage of air through the overheat prevention port 131 is prevented by the guide member 120. Specifically, it is possible to remove the hair which is hardly separated due to the static electricity or the like, by focusing the air flow toward the side of the filtering and air intake unit 133. [53] Fig. 11 is a conceptional view illustrating the construction according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [54] The hair dryer according to the fourth embodiment comprises a hair dryer case 110 in which the air flow passage 111 is formed, a motor 113 provided to the dryer case 110, a blowing fan 115 connected to the motor 113, a changeover switch 112 provided to the outside of the hair dryer case 110, a changeover device 140 for changing the rotational direction of the blowing fan 115 according to the operation of the changeover switch 112, and a filtering and air intake unit (not shown). [55] Here, the constructions of the dryer case 110, the blowing fan 115, the changeover switch 112, and the filtering and air intake unit (not shown) are identical to those of the third embodiment. Therefore, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the fourth embodiment, the motor 113 is not composed of the reciprocal rotation motor and includes an additional changeover device 140. Therefore, the construction of the changeover device 140 is not limited to that of Fig. 11, and another modification may be adapted thereto. [56] The changeover device 140 comprises an external gear 142 which is connected to a drive shaft 114 of the motor and have gear teeth at an outer circumferential surface thereof, an internal gear 141 which is connected to the drive shaft 114 of the motor and have gear teeth at an inner circumferential surface thereof, a fan gear 149 connected to a rotational shaft 116 of the blowing fan 115, a first transforming gear 144 contacted with the external gear 142 or the internal gear 141 as it moves, a second transforming gear 146 which is formed at the same shaft 145 as the first transforming gear 144 and is contacted with the fan gear 149, and a connection link 147 and 148 for connecting the rotational shaft 145 of the first and second transforming gear 144 and 146 to the changeover switch 112. [57] The connection link 147 and 148 is comprised of a rotational center 148 and a connection member 147 of which one end portion is connected to the rotational shaft of the transforming gears 144 and 146, and the other end portion is connected to the changeover switch 112. Further, the hair dryer further comprises a recovery spring 150 for recovering the changeover switch 112 to the original position thereof. [58] In the changeover device constructed as described above, the first transforming gear 144 is externally engaged with the external gear 142 and transmits the drive force of the motor to the blowing fan, when hair is dried or sucked. In case that the sucked hair is discarded to a garbage basket, when the changeover switch 112 is pressed, the first transforming gear 144 is engaged with teeth formed on the inner circumferential surface of the inner gear 141, and the rotational direction of the transforming gears 144 and 146 and the fan gear 419 is reversed. As a result, the rotational direction of the blowing fan 115 is also reversed, such that wind ejected toward the intake port 11 Ib is generated. Therefore, it is possible to discard the hair or the like attached to the filtering and air intake unit (not shown). [59] While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims [ 1 ] A hair dryer, comprising : a reciprocal rotation motor provided at the inside of an hair dryer main body; a connection unit fixed to the rear side of the hair dryer main body; a filtering and air intake unit which is connected to the connection unit and is formed to filter a dust and a hair; and a fixing means for fixing the connection unit to the rear side of the hair dryer main body. [2] The hair dryer according to claim 1, wherein one end portion of the connection unit is connected to the hair dryer main body, the other end portion is provided with a cut-out insertion slit, a fixing and movement hole is formed horizontally to the end of the insertion slit, a supporting jaw is formed at a part of inner periphery, and a plurality of air intake holes are formed at the periphery of a side wall; and the filtering and air intake unit is made of a cylindrical vessel shape, a plurality of air intake holes is formed at side surface of the main body thereof, a fixing grip is formed at a side wall thereof, a filtering net is fixed to the bottom surface thereof. [3] The hair dryer according to claim 1, wherein one end portion of the connection unit is connected to the hair dryer main body, a plurality of air intake holes is formed at the periphery of the side wall, and the filtering and air intake unit is fixed to the inner side wall of the connection unit, an opening is formed at a central portion thereof, and a filtering net is fixed on the top surface of edge. [4] The hair dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fixing means is realized by forming a screw thread at an outer cir¬ cumferential surface of the rear end of the main body, by forming a screw thread engaged the screw thread at an inner side of a end portion of the connection unit, and by connecting the connection unit to the hair dryer main body. [5] The hair dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fixing means is realized by fixing a packing to a groove formed at an outer side surface of the rear end portion of the hair dryer main body, by forming a fixing groove at an inner side of an end portion of the connection unit to be engaged with the packing, and by connecting the connection unit to the hair dryer main body. [6] The hair dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fixing means is realized by forming two or more grooves at the rear end portion of the hair dryer main body and by forming protrusions at an end portion of the connection unit to be inserted and fixed into the grooves, and connects the connection unit to the hair dryer main body. [7] A hair dryer, comprising: a hair dryer case in which an air flow passage having an intake port and an ejection port at both sides thereof is formed; a reciprocal rotation motor provided to the hair dryer case; a blowing fan which is connected to the reciprocal rotation motor and is provided on the air flow passage; a changeover switch provided to the outside of the hair dryer case to change the rotational direction of the rotation motor; and a filtering net provided at the intake port. [8] A hair dryer, comprising: a hair dryer case in which an air flow passage having an intake port and an ejection port at both sides thereof is formed; a motor provided to the dryer case; a blowing fan which is connected to the motor and is provided on the air flow passage; a changeover switch provided to the outside of the hair dryer case; a changeover device for changing the rotational direction of the blowing fan according to the operation of the changeover switch; and a filtering net provided to the intake port. [9] The hair dryer according to claim 8, wherein the changeover device includes: an external gear which is connected to a drive shaft of the motor and have gear teeth at an outer circumferential surface thereof; an internal gear which is connected to the drive shaft of the motor at a position adjacent to the position at which the external gear is engaged, and have gear teeth at an inner circumferential surface thereof; a fan gear connected to a rotational shaft of the blowing fan; a first transforming gear contacted with the external gear or the internal gear as it moves; a second transforming gear which is formed at the same shaft as the first transforming gear and is contacted with the fan gear; and a connection link for connecting the rotational shaft of the first and second transforming gear to the changeover switch. [10] The hair dryer according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein an overheat prevention port is provided to penetrate through the flow passage provided between the filtering net and the fan, and an outside of the hair dryer case. [11] The hair dryer according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of overheat prevention port is disposed along the outer cir¬ cumferential surface of the hair dryer case. [12] The hair dryer according to claim 10, further comprising: a guide member comprised of a guide part disposed at an inner side of the overheat prevention port on the air flow passage, and a sealing part for sealing the distal end of the guide part facing the fan to the inner circumferential surface of the hair dryer case. [13] The hair dryer according to claim 10, further comprising: a guide member which is formed in the shape of trumpet, of which an expanded end portion is connected to the inner circumferential surface of the case at a distal end of the overheat prevention port facing the fan. [14] The hair dryer according to any one of claims 7 to 10, further comprising: a connection unit which is connected to the case at the side of the intake port, and has a hollow portion, wherein the filtering net is connected to the hollow portion of the connection unit. [15] The hair dryer according to claim 14, wherein the filtering net is located at the inner side of the connection unit in a longitudinal direction at the distal end of the connection unit. [16] The hair dryer according to claim 14, wherein an overheat prevention port is provided to penetrate the connection unit between the air intake port and the filtering net. [17] The hair dryer according to claim 16, further comprising: a guide member comprised of a guide part disposed at an inner side of the overheat prevention port, and a sealing part for sealing the distal end of the guide part at the side of the air intake port to the inner circumferential surface of the connection unit. [18] The hair dryer according to claim 16, further comprising: a guide member which is formed in the shape of trumpet, of which an expanded end portion is connected to the inner circumferential surface of the connection unit at a distal end of the overheat prevention port facing the fan, wherein the cross section of the hollow portion is composed of a circle. [19] The hair dryer according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the filtering net is made of a netting thread.