Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D20/00—Hair drying devices; Accessories therefor
  • A45D20/04—Hot-air producers
  • A45D20/08—Hot-air producers heated electrically
  • A45D20/10—Hand-held drying devices, e.g. air douches
  • A45D20/12—Details thereof or accessories therefor, e.g. nozzles, stands

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an apparatus for drying and / or shaping hair, more particularly a hair dryer having a removable air inlet grille.
• Hair dryers for private or professional use generally comprise a housing provided with a handle and equipped with air circulation means between an inlet grille in the housing and an outlet port of the latter, and means heating the air blown.
• the air circulation means comprise a fan driven by an electric motor and the heating means comprise an electrical resistance arranged in the air flow.
• the air inlet grille is made generally based on a perforated sheet or cloth and lets in the air while retaining the hair, pills or other impurities present in the air sucked in order to protect the air. internal parts of the device.
• Such an inlet grille must be breathable, while being able to stop the particles of larger size than that of its air passage holes.
• the problem that often arises with these devices is that the particles or fibers sucked by the device are fixed on the outer surface of the grid or even enter its air passage holes by closing them. Thus, to ensure proper operation of the apparatus, it is necessary to carry out a regular cleaning of the grid, which implies a dismountable construction thereof.
• Hair dryers having rear grids fixed by means of clips forcibly inserted into housing lumens are known in the state of the art. This type of attachment is however neither effective nor ergonomic.
• WO 89/08414 discloses a hair dryer having a multi-part housing containing a motor fan, a heating resistor, a nozzle attached to the air outlet end, the air inlet end being protected by a removable grid.
• the grid is mounted at the end of the housing using a screw or bayonet attachment.
• This removable grid mounting solution requires that the grid be prominent and provided with gripping grooves on its periphery, while imposing a specific shape for the rear portion of the housing.
• This type of attachment requires a prior orientation of the grid before its introduction into the device, followed by a rotational movement and clamping for attachment to the housing, which is not very ergonomic for the user, while also limiting the design possibilities of the housing to forms of revolution.
• the hair dryer comprises a rear grille device removably mounted relative to the casing, the grille being carried by a frame fixed to the casing by two lateral bolts, the spring hooks of which fit into lights made in the frame of the grid.
• the disassembly of this device requires manipulation with both hands of the user to perform the steps of unlocking and removing the grid.
• this removable grid fixing solution does not have good ergonomics.
• a tubular curler comprises a metal washer disposed at its upstream end. which is attracted by a magnet fixed, him, inside a hose blowing hot air towards the hair.
• the connection of the two parts is done using a telescopic mounting and a magnet of sufficient size to avoid the risk of removal of the connection, the force of the air flow being contrary to that of the magnetic field of the connection device. This connection device is more difficult to manipulate and is more expensive.
• the object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to provide a hairdryer having an air inlet grille removably attached by implementing a quick connection system, convenient, reliable, easy to use , allowing good ergonomics, without imposing any limitation in the shapes of the housing of the apparatus.
• Another object of the invention is a hairdryer provided with a removable air inlet grille that can be mounted and disassembled very easily, while ensuring effective attachment to the housing and integrating well into the device design.
• Another object of the invention is a hair dryer having a dismountable air intake grille made economically, while allowing reliable operation of the apparatus comprising it.
• a hair dryer having a tubular housing including an air inlet end, an air outlet end, and means for heating and circulating an air flow between the end of the air.
• input and the output end the input end including an opening whose edge cooperates with the periphery of a grid mounted to dismount relative to the housing by means of a connection system, because the connection system comprises a magnetic coupling arranged substantially at the same axial level as that of the edge of the opening or being protruding relative thereto so that the periphery of the grid fits into the edge of the opening at the level of their free face vis-à-vis.
• removable grid is understood a grid which can be separated from the housing, especially for cleaning, or remaining attached to the latter for example by a hinge, or being removable.
• the apparatus comprises a magnetic coupling connection system arranged so as to allow an immediate and stable contact of the gate in the air inlet opening of the housing.
• This connection system comprises a magnetic coupling arranged sufficiently on the surface to allow the contour of the grid and the edge of the opening of the housing to come into contact when they are close together and this in an intuitive manner, virtually without prior guidance. This is suitable for fixing a thin part such as a removable grid in the air inlet mouth of a hair dryer.
• the periphery of the grid and the edge of the opening are preferably made to interlock at the connection location.
• the contact surface of the periphery of the grid and that of the edge of the opening each have a conical shape.
• Such magnetic attachment by interlocking ensures the immobilization of the gate by attraction in one direction, that of the magnetic field, the gate and the housing being shaped so that, when attracted by the magnets, the gate can not move according to the other two translation directions, perpendicular to the first.
• the grid is brought into contact with a housing provided for this purpose at the air inlet opening of the housing, it is pressed and held in position.
• the grid thus fixed can then be moved by the user with a view to its separation from the housing, for example by pulling in a direction opposite to that of attraction of the magnets or by tilting along an axis situated in the plane of the coupling.
• Such a fastening system ensures a rapid installation of the grid and a separation also fast compared to the housing of the device, thanks to the magnetic attraction existing between the two, the magnetic force being established so that it is strong enough to hold the weight of the grid, but weak enough that it can be easily detached by hand.
• the magnetic coupling comprises at least one magnet belonging to the housing and the direction of its magnetic field is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing.
• the magnetic coupling comprises at least one magnet cooperating with a magnetizable piece (one comprises a piece capable of being magnetized when it is placed in a magnetic field, for example a part made of a ferromagnetic material) or with another magnet vis-a-vis to face.
• the magnet of the coupling could be placed on the periphery of the grid, but it is preferred to install it in the housing of the apparatus in order to lighten the grid.
• the apparatus comprises means for producing an air flow oriented in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the housing. The magnetic field is thus oriented in the same direction as that of the flow of air to better press the grid on the housing and allow the use of a magnetic field of less intensity.
• the magnetic coupling is arranged on the edge or at the center of the opening of the air inlet end of the housing.
• Such an arrangement allows the installation of the magnetic coupling in areas which do not interfere with the entry of air into the housing, the center area having a size comparable to that of the fan axis and that of the edge at a distance of crown diameter equal to or greater than that of the fan wheel.
• the grid comprises a frame that aligns with the tangent to the surface of the housing at the point of assembly.
• the frame of the grid has a non-circular and / or non-coplanar contour cooperating with the walls of the opening of the housing.
• the grid engages with its periphery in the edge of the opening of the complementary contour case.
• a non-circular and / or non-coplanar contour of its free face vis-à-vis that of the edge can first guide the grid in the opening of the housing and then by sliding until it locks in place. position by magnetic coupling. It is thus possible to choose a planar contour having a non-circular shape fitting into a corresponding shape of the opening of the housing, and / or having a raised shape thus comprising at least one protuberance or a non-planar face offering a better grip. hand and a practical orientation of the grid before it is placed on the case.
• the walls of the opening of the housing have at least one projecting portion carrying a magnet or a magnetizable piece.
• the housing can then include a recessed portion provided with a magnet or a magnetizable piece vis-à-vis.
• the magnet is arranged in a cavity formed at the top of the projecting portion cooperating with a protuberance of the grid.
• the protrusion of the grid may be a protruding magnetizable piece or a protruding permanent magnet.
• the walls of the opening of the housing have two projections symmetrical with respect to a median plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the housing.
• the grid is thus autocentered by the two opposite projecting parts of the walls of the housing, which allows its rapid interlocking.
• the grid comprises two magnets cooperating with those facing the walls of the opening of the housing.
• magnets only in the receiving housing of the grid in the housing, these magnets then cooperating with a metal grid and / or with a metal frame of the latter. It is however preferred to arrange magnets on the grid, or on the frame of the grid, and also on the periphery of the housing housing, this to ensure a more robust attachment, especially in the proximity of the magnetic fields of the electric motor of the apparatus .
• two magnets facing each other define the correct position of the grid, for example grid positioned at the place, the position of the grid upside down being automatically refused by the repulsion force of the magnets, which constitutes a confirmation the proper placement of the grille in the housing.
• the grid comprises two magnets having different polarities.
• the grid and / or the housing comprise means making it easier to grip the grid.
• These means may be a protuberance on the frame of the grid possibly cooperating with a corresponding notch of the housing, a notch in the box cooperating with the frame of the grid, or a re-entrant corner of the surface of the grid, away from the magnetic lever fastener for overcoming the magnetic force of the fastener.
• the hair dryer comprises means for removing the elements of the magnetic attachment.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hairdryer equipped with a removable grid according to a first embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hair dryer of Figure 1, the grid being shown in disassembled position, adjacent to the apparatus;
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a hairdryer equipped with a removable grid according to a second embodiment of the invention, the grid being shown in disassembled position, next to the apparatus;
• FIG. 4a is a view in axial section of a hair dryer equipped with a removable grid according to a third embodiment of the invention with the grid in disassembled position and FIG. 4b is a sectional view of the dryer. Hair of Figure 4a with the grid attached to the housing. Only the elements necessary for the understanding of the invention have been represented. To facilitate the reading of the drawings, the same elements bear the same references from one figure to another.
• the hair dryer made according to the invention comprises a tubular housing 1 extended downwardly by a handle 4. Inside the housing 1 are arranged a fan actuated in rotation by an electric motor ensuring the circulation of air between an air inlet 2 located at the rear of the housing 1 and an air outlet 3 located at the opposite end and heating means of the flow of air flowing inside. of the device. A flow of hot air oriented along the longitudinal axis of the housing 1 is thus produced and directed towards the air outlet 3.
• Fittings 9 to a power supply provide power to the device. Switching on, stopping the device and choosing its operating mode is done by operating one of the switches 5,6,7 located on the handle 4 of the device. A lamp 8 testifying to the start of the device is also disposed on the handle 4. The handle 4 is extended by a hook 10 for storing the device when not in use.
• the hairdryer also has a nozzle 11 attached to the air outlet end 3 and to concentrate the flow of air blown by the apparatus.
• the nozzle 11 may be permanently attached to the air outlet end 3 of the housing 1 or it may also be removably mounted relative to the housing 1, for example by a bayonet attachment, by a forced assembly, by a assembly comprising elastic hooks cooperating with slots facing each other, in particular with a view to replacing it with another accessory making it possible to give another shape to the flow of air.
• the apparatus also comprises a grid 14 arranged at the air inlet end 2 of the casing 1 which has the role of filtering the air by retaining the impurities of larger size than that of its orifices.
• This grid 14 is removably attached relative to the housing 1 of the hair dryer.
• the hair dryer comprises a removable grid 14 whose contour is shaped to fit into the walls 17 of the opening 12 of the housing 1, the grid being fixed to the housing 1 by a magnetic coupling 15 (FIGS. 2 and 3).
• the grid 14 comprises a central portion 20 held by a frame 21.
• the central portion 20 is a sphere portion made of a perforated metal sheet provided with passage orifices (not shown in the drawings) ambient air when it is drawn in by the appliance fan.
• the fan is arranged inside the housing 1, behind a protective grid 18 permanently mounted on the housing downstream of the opening 12 in the direction of flow of the air flow.
• the central portion 20 of the grid is held by a frame 21, made for example of a plastic material, the central portion 20 of the grid having on its periphery fixing tongues (not visible in the drawings) passing through orifices on the inner periphery of the frame 21.
• the frame 21 has a corrugated shape having two symmetrical lateral concavities 22 connected by two symmetrical and coplanar upper and lower arc portions 23.
• Two permanent magnets 25 are fixed on the inner periphery of the frame 21, the magnets 25 have a cylindrical shape and are protruding in the central part of the concavities 22, being mounted at the bottom thereof.
• the magnets may for example be fixed by gluing on the inner periphery of the frame 21.
• the contour of the opening 12 has a corrugated shape complementary to that of the frame 21 of the grid 14.
• the walls 17 of the opening 12 comprise two symmetrical projections 28 connected by two arcuate walls 29, upper and lower, symmetrical and coplanar.
• Two cavities 30 of cylindrical shape are made in the center, therefore at the top, of the projecting parts 28, the cavities 30 having dimensions close to, slightly greater than those of the magnets 25 of the grid 14.
• a magnet 31 is fixed, for example by gluing at the bottom of each cavity 30.
• the housing 1 of the apparatus is made of a plastic material by an injection technique.
• a notch 33 is formed on the lower arcuate wall 29 of the opening 12 and makes it possible to grasp the lower edge of the frame 21 by hand and thus to disengage the grid 14 from the housing 1.
• the user starts the device, he carries out the drying of the hair, then he stops the device. After several successive hair drying operations, the user detaches the grid 14 by pressing with the thumb on the lower part of the grid and pushing it upwards, the latter then detaching quickly from the housing. After cleaning the grid 14, the user puts it back into the housing simply by grasping it with two fingers and orienting it slightly towards the opening 12, the attraction force of the magnets 25, respectively 31 ensuring self centering and fixing the grid, virtually at a distance, and without effort or attention from the user, the frame fitting into the walls of the opening 12 of the housing 1. The device is now ready for a new use.
• Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the invention, wherein the removable grid 14 comprises a frame 21 of generally annular shape provided with two diametrically opposed V-shaped protuberances.
• the frame 21 serves to fix a central portion 20 in a perforated sheet of the grid 14.
• the protrusions V 35 of the frame 21 are projecting towards the opening 12 of the housing, the walls 17 of this opening having an identical contour to that of the grid 14 at the location of their attachment. More particularly, the outline of the walls 17 of the opening 12 of the casing has a generally circular shape in a vertical plane, two diametrically opposite V-shaped notches being cut parallel to the longitudinal axis of the casing 1, towards the outlet of the casing.
• the frame 21 of the grid 14 comprises two magnets (not visible in the drawings) located opposite those of the opening 12 of the housing 1.
• the frame 21 does not have magnets, but is made of a material magnetizable metal.
• a protective grid 18 is provided behind the walls 17 and has the role of protecting the inner electrical or moving parts of the hair dryer.
• the protuberances V 35 comprise two flanks 36 having a relatively low inclination, the angle at the base of the flank being preferably between 7 ° and 15 °.
• the flanks 38 of the corresponding V-notches 37 have the same inclination.
• the protuberances V 35 of the grid 14 fit into the notches V 37 of the opening 12 of the housing during the establishment of the grid, the magnets 31 ensuring the maintenance of the latter on the housing .
• the frame 21 is rotated around the longitudinal axis of the housing, in one direction or the other, the flanks 36 then having a camming role which moves the magnets 31 away from the housing. housing of those of the frame 21 facilitating subsequent extraction of the grid.
• FIGs 4a and 4b illustrate a hairdryer having a removable grid according to a third embodiment of the invention.
• Inside the housing 1 there is an electric motor 41 driving an axial fan 42 having a wheel 43 mounted on an axis 44 which drives it in rotation.
• the air inlet end 2 of the housing has an opening 12 whose wall 17 has a border 16 of conical shape.
• the gate 14 has a curved shape comprising a central portion 20 held at its periphery by a frame 21.
• the inner periphery 19 of the frame 21 has a conical shape intended to fit into that of the The edge 16 of the wall 17.
• the central portion 20 of the grid 14 is made of a perforated metal sheet, such as a ferromagnetic material, for example steel.
• the hair dryer comprises a magnetic coupling 15 comprising a magnet 31 cooperating with the metal central portion 20 of the gate 14.
• the magnet 31 is arranged at the end of a central rod 46 protruding through the opening 12 while being carried by a ring 45 fixed to the housing 1 at its air inlet opening 2.
• the grid 14 detached from the housing for cleaning is quickly put back into place, holding it by its frame 21 that we approach of the wall 17 of the opening 12, the magnetic attraction exerted by the magnet 31 protruding on the central portion 20 of the grid 14 facilitating the interlocking of the frame 21 of the gate 14 in the opening 12 of the housing.
• the grid of the invention can equip any other blowing device shaping the hair, such as for example a blower brush.
• the rigid frame can then be made of a magnetizable metal material when brought into contact with the magnets of the housing or other non-magnetizable material, for example a plastic material, but in this case the frame must be provided with magnets on its periphery internal, as previously described.

Landscapes

• Cleaning And Drying Hair (AREA)
• Vehicle Interior And Exterior Ornaments, Soundproofing, And Insulation (AREA)
• Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=37734765

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (25)

Families Citing this family (5)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 2006
  • 2006-10-31 FR FR0609547A patent/FR2907642B1/fr active Active
• 2007
  • 2007-10-26 PT PT07866448T patent/PT2086367E/pt unknown
  • 2007-10-26 EP EP07866448A patent/EP2086367B1/fr active Active
  • 2007-10-26 PL PL07866448T patent/PL2086367T3/pl unknown
  • 2007-10-26 ES ES07866448T patent/ES2347895T3/es active Active
  • 2007-10-26 AT AT07866448T patent/ATE478580T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2007-10-26 DE DE602007008751T patent/DE602007008751D1/de active Active
  • 2007-10-26 WO PCT/FR2007/001775 patent/WO2008053099A2/fr active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

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