WO2014063284A1 - Handheld electrical appliance - Google Patents

Handheld electrical appliance Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014063284A1
WO2014063284A1 PCT/CN2012/083300 CN2012083300W WO2014063284A1 WO 2014063284 A1 WO2014063284 A1 WO 2014063284A1 CN 2012083300 W CN2012083300 W CN 2012083300W WO 2014063284 A1 WO2014063284 A1 WO 2014063284A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
piece
fabric
appliance according
appliance
protrusion
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CN2012/083300
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Tsz Hang Yuen
King Yuen Rosita Lai
Original Assignee
Sun Luen Electrical Manufacturing Company Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sun Luen Electrical Manufacturing Company Limited filed Critical Sun Luen Electrical Manufacturing Company Limited
Priority to PCT/CN2012/083300 priority Critical patent/WO2014063284A1/en
Publication of WO2014063284A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014063284A1/en

Links

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

  • This invention relates to a handheld electrical appliance, in particular such a handheld electrical appliance with a body.
  • the bodies are made of a plastic material. It is generally known that although most plastic materials are not heat-conductive, for such heat-generating electrical appliances as electric hair dryers and hair curlers, when they are in operation, much heat is produced, thus increasing the temperature of the bodies even if they are made of a plastic material. The temperature of the body may be increased to such a level that a user may feel hot, and may even be burned, when touching the body.
  • the plastic material with which such bodies are made of is hard and may become brittle over use (e.g. because of its being subject to heat).
  • a handheld electrical appliance with such a body is dropped, e.g. onto the floor, it may be broken such that further use of the appliance is dangerous.
  • a handheld electrical appliance including a body having an outer surface, and a piece of fabric mounted on at least part of said outer surface of said body.
  • a method of producing a handheld electrical appliance including (a) providing a body or a body part of a handheld electrical appliance, said body or said body part having an outer surface, and (b) mounting a piece of fabric on at least part of said outer surface of said body or said body part.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of an electric hair dryer, being a handheld electrical appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a top view of the appliance shown in Fig. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the appliance shown in Fig. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a front view of the appliance shown in Fig. 1;
  • FIG. 5 is a rear view of the appliance shown in Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 6 A is a perspective view of the piece of fabric of the appliance shown in Fig.
  • FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the housing of the appliance shown in Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 7 A is a front perspective view of the piece of fabric shown in Fig. 6 A mounted to the housing shown in Fig. 6B;
  • Fig. 7B is an enlarged view of the encircled part A shown in Fig. 7A;
  • FIG. 8A is a top perspective view of the housing shown in Fig. 7A;
  • Fig. 8B is an enlarged view of the encircled part B shown in Fig. 8A;
  • Fig. 9 A is a longitudinal sectional view of the housing mounted with the piece of fabric as shown in Fig. 7A;
  • Fig. 9B is an enlarged view of the encircled part C shown in Fig. 9A;
  • Fig. 10 is an exploded view of the appliance shown in Fig. 1.
  • a handheld electrical appliance in the form of an electric hair dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs. 1 to 5, and generally designated as 10.
  • the hair dryer 10 has a body 12 formed of a plastic housing 14 and a plastic handle 16.
  • a fan (not shown) for generating an air flow entering the interior of the housing 14 via an end cap 18 and exiting the housing 14 via a front cap 20.
  • the end cap 18 is engaged with a rear end 22 of the housing 14, and the front cap 16 is engaged with an opposite front end 24 of the housing 14 (see Fig. 6B).
  • a heat- generating member such as one or more resistance wires
  • a piece of elastic fabric 26 is mounted on and over part of an outer surface 28 of the housing 14 of the body 12.
  • the piece of fabric 26 is mounted on and over at least a part of the outer surface 28 of the housing 14 surrounding the heat- generating member.
  • the piece of elastic fabric 26 is shown here as being mounted to only part of the housing 14 of the body 12, it is of course possible to mount it on and over the whole housing 14 of the body 12, and/or on and over the handle 16 of the body 12.
  • the piece of elastic fabric 26 is here shown in the form of a mesh with through-holes, it is envisaged that the piece of elastic fabric 26 may not be in mesh form.
  • it may be in the form of a piece of elastic fabric with no perceivable through-holes.
  • the piece of fabric 26 may be made of one or more natural and/or synthetic materials. For example, it may be made entirely of an elastic natural material, or entirely or an elastic synthetic material, or a combination of two or more natural materials and/or synthetic materials, provided that at least one such material provides elasticity to the piece of fabric 26.
  • the synthetic material may be a synthetic polymer (such as nylon, which is a polyamide), or a synthetic copolymer (such as Spandex, which is a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer).
  • the piece of fabric 26 may be made of:
  • the piece of fabric 26 is shown in Fig. 6A in its expanded configuration, and Fig. 6B shows the housing 14.
  • the front end 24 of the housing 14 has a number of teeth 30 which extend away from the front end 24.
  • the rear end 22 of the housing 14 also has a number of teeth 32 which extend away from the rear end 22, and in a direction opposite to that in which the teeth 30 extend.
  • the piece of fabric 26 is elastic, it can be manipulated (e.g. manually) such that each of the teeth 30 of the front end 24 of the housing 14 is received through a respective through-hole of the piece of fabric 26, and each of the teeth 32 of the rear end 22 of the housing 14 is also received through a respective through-hole of the piece of fabric 26, as shown in Figs. 7A, 7B, 8A and 8B, so as to mount the piece of fabric 26 on the housing 14 of the body 12 by engaging with the front end 24 and rear end 22 of the housing 14. In particular, the piece of fabric 26 is thus wrapped around the housing 14.
  • a front cap 34 is engaged with the front end 24 of the housing 14 to conceal and cover the teeth 30, so as to prevent accidental detachment of the piece of fabric 26 from the front end 24 of the housing 14.
  • a rear cap 36 is engaged with the rear end 22 of the housing 14 to conceal and cover the teeth 32, so as to prevent accidental detachment of the piece of fabric 26 from the rear end 22 of the housing 14.
  • a handle assembly 38 containing the handle 16 is then engaged with the housing 14 to conceal part of the piece of fabric 26 wrapped around the housing 14, and to form the hair dryer 10.
  • the piece of fabric 26 of the hair dryer 10 thus provides some "softer" touch to a user holding the housing 14, and also provides further heat-insulating to a user touching the housing 14 when the hair dryer 10 is in operation.
  • the piece of fabric 26 also provides buffer against physical damage to the hair dryer 10, e.g. when the hair dryer is dropped onto the floor.
  • the above only illustrates examples whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.
  • the invention has thus far been discussed in the context of an electric hair dryer, it is envisaged that the invention may be realized as some other electric hair styling apparatus, such as electric hair curlers and diffusers.
  • the invention may be realized in other handheld electric appliances, such as handheld electric kitchen utensils (e.g. electric blenders), handheld electric tools (e.g. electric drills, electric screwdrivers), etc.
  • handheld electric kitchen utensils e.g. electric blenders
  • handheld electric tools e.g. electric drills, electric screwdrivers
  • certain features of the invention which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment.
  • various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.

Landscapes

  • Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)

Abstract

An electric hair dryer (10), being a handheld electrical appliance, is disclosed as including a body (12) having an outer surface (28), and a piece of elastic fabric (26) mounted on at least part of the outer surface (28) of the body (12).

Description

Handheld Electrical Appliance
[0001] This invention relates to a handheld electrical appliance, in particular such a handheld electrical appliance with a body. [0002] In most existing handheld electrical appliances, the bodies are made of a plastic material. It is generally known that although most plastic materials are not heat-conductive, for such heat- generating electrical appliances as electric hair dryers and hair curlers, when they are in operation, much heat is produced, thus increasing the temperature of the bodies even if they are made of a plastic material. The temperature of the body may be increased to such a level that a user may feel hot, and may even be burned, when touching the body.
[0003] In addition, it is also generally known that the plastic material with which such bodies are made of is hard and may become brittle over use (e.g. because of its being subject to heat). When a handheld electrical appliance with such a body is dropped, e.g. onto the floor, it may be broken such that further use of the appliance is dangerous.
[0004] Furthermore, some people do not like the "hard" and "cold" feel when holding a handheld electrical appliance with a plastic body. [0005] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a handheld electrical appliance and a method of producing such an appliance in which at least one of the aforesaid shortcomings is mitigated or at least to provide a useful alternative to the trade and public.
[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handheld electrical appliance including a body having an outer surface, and a piece of fabric mounted on at least part of said outer surface of said body.
[0007] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of producing a handheld electrical appliance, said method including (a) providing a body or a body part of a handheld electrical appliance, said body or said body part having an outer surface, and (b) mounting a piece of fabric on at least part of said outer surface of said body or said body part. [0008] A handheld electrical appliance and a method of producing such an appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompany drawings, in which:
[0009] Fig. 1 is a side view of an electric hair dryer, being a handheld electrical appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] Fig. 2 is a top view of the appliance shown in Fig. 1;
[0011] Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the appliance shown in Fig. 1;
[0012] Fig. 4 is a front view of the appliance shown in Fig. 1;
[0013] Fig. 5 is a rear view of the appliance shown in Fig. 1;
[0014] Fig. 6 A is a perspective view of the piece of fabric of the appliance shown in Fig.
1, with the piece of fabric in an expanded configuration;
[0015] Fig. 6B is a perspective view of the housing of the appliance shown in Fig. 1;
[0016] Fig. 7 A is a front perspective view of the piece of fabric shown in Fig. 6 A mounted to the housing shown in Fig. 6B;
[0017] Fig. 7B is an enlarged view of the encircled part A shown in Fig. 7A;
[0018] Fig. 8A is a top perspective view of the housing shown in Fig. 7A;
[0019] Fig. 8B is an enlarged view of the encircled part B shown in Fig. 8A;
[0020] Fig. 9 A is a longitudinal sectional view of the housing mounted with the piece of fabric as shown in Fig. 7A;
[0021] Fig. 9B is an enlarged view of the encircled part C shown in Fig. 9A; and
[0022] Fig. 10 is an exploded view of the appliance shown in Fig. 1.
[0023] A handheld electrical appliance in the form of an electric hair dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs. 1 to 5, and generally designated as 10. The hair dryer 10 has a body 12 formed of a plastic housing 14 and a plastic handle 16. Housed within the housing 14 is a fan (not shown) for generating an air flow entering the interior of the housing 14 via an end cap 18 and exiting the housing 14 via a front cap 20. The end cap 18 is engaged with a rear end 22 of the housing 14, and the front cap 16 is engaged with an opposite front end 24 of the housing 14 (see Fig. 6B). Also housed within the housing 14 is a heat- generating member (such as one or more resistance wires) (not shown) which heats up the air passing through the interior of the housing 14.
[0024] A piece of elastic fabric 26 is mounted on and over part of an outer surface 28 of the housing 14 of the body 12. In particular, the piece of fabric 26 is mounted on and over at least a part of the outer surface 28 of the housing 14 surrounding the heat- generating member. Although the piece of elastic fabric 26 is shown here as being mounted to only part of the housing 14 of the body 12, it is of course possible to mount it on and over the whole housing 14 of the body 12, and/or on and over the handle 16 of the body 12.
[0025] In addition, although the piece of elastic fabric 26 is here shown in the form of a mesh with through-holes, it is envisaged that the piece of elastic fabric 26 may not be in mesh form. For example, it may be in the form of a piece of elastic fabric with no perceivable through-holes.
[0026] The piece of fabric 26 may be made of one or more natural and/or synthetic materials. For example, it may be made entirely of an elastic natural material, or entirely or an elastic synthetic material, or a combination of two or more natural materials and/or synthetic materials, provided that at least one such material provides elasticity to the piece of fabric 26. The synthetic material may be a synthetic polymer (such as nylon, which is a polyamide), or a synthetic copolymer (such as Spandex, which is a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer). [0027] For example, the piece of fabric 26 may be made of:
(a) 80% by weight of nylon and 20% by weight of Spandex, or
(b) 98% by weight of indigo/black cotton and 2% by weight of Spandex, or
(c) 60% by weight of cotton, 38% by weight of nylon and 2% by weight of Spandex, or
(d) 82% by weight of nylon and 18% by weight of Spandex, or
(e) 95% by weight of polyester and 5% by weight of Spandex.
[0028] The piece of fabric 26 is shown in Fig. 6A in its expanded configuration, and Fig. 6B shows the housing 14. The front end 24 of the housing 14 has a number of teeth 30 which extend away from the front end 24. The rear end 22 of the housing 14 also has a number of teeth 32 which extend away from the rear end 22, and in a direction opposite to that in which the teeth 30 extend.
[0029] As the piece of fabric 26 is elastic, it can be manipulated (e.g. manually) such that each of the teeth 30 of the front end 24 of the housing 14 is received through a respective through-hole of the piece of fabric 26, and each of the teeth 32 of the rear end 22 of the housing 14 is also received through a respective through-hole of the piece of fabric 26, as shown in Figs. 7A, 7B, 8A and 8B, so as to mount the piece of fabric 26 on the housing 14 of the body 12 by engaging with the front end 24 and rear end 22 of the housing 14. In particular, the piece of fabric 26 is thus wrapped around the housing 14.
[0030] After the piece of fabric 26 is thus mounted on the housing 14, and as shown in Figs. 9A, 9B and 10, a front cap 34 is engaged with the front end 24 of the housing 14 to conceal and cover the teeth 30, so as to prevent accidental detachment of the piece of fabric 26 from the front end 24 of the housing 14. Similarly, a rear cap 36 is engaged with the rear end 22 of the housing 14 to conceal and cover the teeth 32, so as to prevent accidental detachment of the piece of fabric 26 from the rear end 22 of the housing 14. [0031] As shown in Fig. 10, a handle assembly 38 containing the handle 16 is then engaged with the housing 14 to conceal part of the piece of fabric 26 wrapped around the housing 14, and to form the hair dryer 10.
[0032] The piece of fabric 26 of the hair dryer 10 according to this invention thus provides some "softer" touch to a user holding the housing 14, and also provides further heat-insulating to a user touching the housing 14 when the hair dryer 10 is in operation. In addition, the piece of fabric 26 also provides buffer against physical damage to the hair dryer 10, e.g. when the hair dryer is dropped onto the floor. [0033] It should be understood that the above only illustrates examples whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, although the invention has thus far been discussed in the context of an electric hair dryer, it is envisaged that the invention may be realized as some other electric hair styling apparatus, such as electric hair curlers and diffusers. In addition, it is also envisaged that the invention may be realized in other handheld electric appliances, such as handheld electric kitchen utensils (e.g. electric blenders), handheld electric tools (e.g. electric drills, electric screwdrivers), etc. [0034] It should also be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.

Claims

1. A handheld electrical appliance including:
a body having an outer surface, and
a piece of fabric mounted on at least part of said outer surface of said body.
2. An appliance according to Claim 1 wherein said piece of fabric is elastic.
3. An appliance according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein said piece of fabric is in mesh form.
4. An appliance according to any of the preceding claims further including heat-generating means within said body, and wherein said piece of fabric is mounted on at least a part of said outer surface of a part of said body surrounding said heat- generating means. 5. An appliance according to any of the preceding claims wherein said piece of fabric is made at least partly of a synthetic material.
6. An appliance according to Claim 5 wherein said synthetic material is a synthetic polymer.
7. An appliance according to Claim 6 wherein said synthetic polymer is a polyamide.
8. An appliance according to Claim 6 wherein said polyamide is nylon. 9. An appliance according to any of the preceding claims wherein said piece of fabric is made at least partly of a synthetic copolymer.
10. An appliance according to Claim 9 wherein said synthetic copolymer is a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer.
11. An appliance according to Claim 10 wherein said polyurethane-polyurea copolymer is
Spandex.
12. An appliance according to any one of Claims 5 and 9 wherein said piece of fabric is made of nylon and Spandex.
13. An appliance according to Claim 12 wherein said piece of fabric is made of substantially 80% by weight of nylon and 20% by weight of Spandex.
14. An appliance according to any one of Claims 1 to 12 wherein said piece of fabric is made at least partly of a natural material.
15. An appliance according to Claim 14 wherein said natural material is cotton.
16. An appliance according to Claim 15 wherein said piece of fabric includes at least 50% by weight of cotton.
17. An appliance according to any of the preceding claims wherein said appliance is an electric hair styling apparatus.
18. An appliance according to Claim 17 wherein said electric hair styling apparatus is an electric hair dryer.
19. An appliance according to any of the preceding claims wherein said body includes at least a first body member including at least a first protrusion, wherein said piece of fabric includes at least a first hole, and wherein said first protrusion of said first body member is received within said first hole of said piece of fabric to mount said piece of fabric on said outer surface of said body.
20. An appliance according to Claim 19 wherein said body includes at least a second body member which is engageable with said first body member to conceal said first protrusion of said first body member.
21. An appliance according to Claim 19 or 20 wherein said first body member includes at least a second protrusion, wherein said piece of fabric includes at least a second hole, and wherein said second protrusion of said first body member is received within said second hole of said piece of fabric.
22. An appliance according to Claim 21 wherein said body includes at least a third body member which is engageable with said first body member to conceal said second protrusion of said first body member.
23. An appliance according to Claim 21 or 22 wherein said first protrusion and said second protrusion extend in substantially opposite directions.
24. A method of producing a handheld electrical appliance, said method including:
(a) providing a body or a body part of a handheld electrical appliance, said body or said body part having an outer surface, and
(b) mounting a piece of fabric on at least part of said outer surface of said body or at least part of said outer surface of said body part. 25. A method according to Claim 24 wherein said piece of fabric is elastic.
26. A method according to Claim 24 or 25 wherein said body part includes a first end and an opposite second end, and wherein, in said step (b), said piece of fabric is mounted on said outer surface of said body part by engaging with said first end and second end of said body part.
27. A method according to Claim 26 further including a step (c) of engaging a first cap member with said first end of said body part to at least partly conceal the portion(s) wherein said piece of fabric is engaged with said first end of said body part.
28. A method according to Claim 27 further including a step (d) of engaging a second cap member with said second end of said body part to at least partly conceal the portion(s) wherein said piece of fabric is engaged with said second end of said body part. 29. A method according to any one of Claims 24 to 28 wherein said body includes a handle member.
A method according to any one of Claims 24 to 29 wherein said handheld electrical appliance is an electric hair styling apparatus.
31. A method according to Claim 30 wherein said electric hair styling apparatus is an electric hair dryer.
PCT/CN2012/083300 2012-10-22 2012-10-22 Handheld electrical appliance WO2014063284A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/CN2012/083300 WO2014063284A1 (en) 2012-10-22 2012-10-22 Handheld electrical appliance

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/CN2012/083300 WO2014063284A1 (en) 2012-10-22 2012-10-22 Handheld electrical appliance

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2014063284A1 true WO2014063284A1 (en) 2014-05-01

Family

ID=50543846

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/CN2012/083300 WO2014063284A1 (en) 2012-10-22 2012-10-22 Handheld electrical appliance

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2014063284A1 (en)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070047930A1 (en) * 2005-08-24 2007-03-01 Helen Of Troy Limited Gem stone metal dryer
JP2012130442A (en) * 2010-12-20 2012-07-12 Panasonic Corp Heating and blowing apparatus

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070047930A1 (en) * 2005-08-24 2007-03-01 Helen Of Troy Limited Gem stone metal dryer
JP2012130442A (en) * 2010-12-20 2012-07-12 Panasonic Corp Heating and blowing apparatus

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