WO2018093428A1 - Split nozzle hair dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

A hand held hair dryer is provided herein with a split nozzle having a first nozzle arm and a second nozzle arm arranged opposing the first nozzle arm, such that a slot region is formed between the first nozzle arm and the second nozzle arm. The first nozzle arm and the second nozzle arm each include a plurality of air vents, which are configured to direct air flow within the slot region simultaneously from multiple opposing directions. In some embodiments, the hair dryer is further provided with a moveable component, which is selectively configurable to direct the air flow within the slot region simultaneously from multiple opposing directions, or to redirect the air flow in a primarily forward direction out a front end of the split nozzle.

Description

Split Nozzle Hair Dryer

Cross-Reference to Related Application

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 15/389,695, filed December 23, 2016, and entitled "Split Nozzle Hair Dryer". This application also claims priority to Provisional Patent Application No. 62/424,626 filed November 21, 2016; the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field of the Invention

[0002] The techniques disclosed herein relate to hair styling appliances, and in exemplary embodiments relate to hand held hair dryer appliances.

Background

[0003] As known in the art, hand held hair dryers may be provided in a variety of shapes and sizes. Typically, however, such hair dryers have a handle, a fan and heater housing region, and a nozzle through which heated hair passes to provide heated air flow to a user' s hair. Typically, the nozzle is cylindrical in shape and heated air exits through one end of the nozzle in one direction. When applied to a user's hair, the heated air typically heats the outer surface of the user's hair first and then over time the heat penetrates to the underlying hair. Further, a user may "lift" the hair with a brush or other styling tool to aid the penetration of heated air to underlying hair.

[0004] It would be desirable to provide a hand held hair dryer, which more uniformly applies the heated air to a user's hair. It would be further desirable to provide a hand held hair dryer that may speed up the hair drying process through more uniform application of heated air. Summary

[0005] The following description of various embodiments of hair dryers and methods is not to be construed in any way as limiting the subject matter of the appended claims.

[0006] In general, a hand held hair dryer is provided herein with a slot region formed within a barrel or cylindrical nozzle to produce a split nozzle. Hair may be engaged within the slot region formed by arms of the split nozzle. Heated air may flow out of the arms and into the slot region to dry the user's hair. In this manner, hair within the slot region may be dried by heated air that is coming from multiple opposing directions, thus providing air flow from at least two sides of the user's hair. In this manner, the split nozzle enables heat to be more efficiently applied to a user's hair, thus providing quicker drying times and more uniform application of heat to the user's hair to avoid over drying and under drying the user's hair.

[0007] According to one embodiment, a hair dryer is provided herein a rear housing region and a nozzle region extending from the rear housing region. Some embodiments of the hair dryer may include a handle region for a user to grip the hair dryer, whereas other embodiments may not include a handle region. In general, the nozzle region may include a first nozzle arm, and a second nozzle arm arranged opposing the first nozzle arm, such that a slot region is formed between the first nozzle arm and the second nozzle arm. The first and second nozzle arms each include a plurality of air vents, which may be generally configured to direct air flow within the slot region simultaneously from multiple opposing directions. In some embodiments, the plurality of air vents within each nozzle arm may be configured to direct air flow in a substantially downward direction and/or a substantially backward direction.

[0008] In one exemplary embodiment, the plurality of air vents may be configured to direct air flow in the substantially downward direction at an angle less than about 60 degrees relative to a plane of the air vents. In other embodiments, the plurality of air vents may direct air flow downward at an angle less than about 45 degrees, or more preferably, less than about 20 degrees relative to the plane of the air vents. In one exemplary embodiment, the plurality of air vents may be configured to direct air flow in the substantially backward direction at an angle less than about 75 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis extending through the nozzle region. In other embodiments, the plurality of air vents may direct air flow backward at an angle less than about 60 degrees, or more preferably, less than about 55 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis extending through the nozzle region. In some embodiments, a back end of each nozzle arm may include a curvature that redirects the air flow away from the handle region of the hair dryer (if included) to protect a user's hand from the heated air.

[0009] According to another embodiment, a hair dryer is provided herein with a split nozzle having a first nozzle arm and a second nozzle arm arranged opposing the first nozzle arm, such that a slot region is formed between the first nozzle arm and the second nozzle arm. Like the previous embodiment, the first and second nozzle arms may each include a plurality of air vents, which are configured to direct air flow within the slot region simultaneously from multiple opposing directions. Unlike the previous embodiment, the hair dryer described in this embodiment may further include a moveable component, which is selectively configurable to direct the air flow within the slot region simultaneously from multiple opposing directions, or to redirect the air flow in a primarily forward direction out a front end of the split nozzle.

[0010] In a first embodiment, the moveable component may include a moveable sleeve, which is coupled to the nozzle region of the hair dryer and selectively configurable to open the slot region for directing air flow within the slot region simultaneously from multiple opposing directions, and close the slot region for redirecting air flow in a primarily forward direction out a front end of the split nozzle. In some embodiments, the moveable sleeve may include cooling air passages configured such that unheated air from a rear housing region of the hair dryer is redirected to cool an outer surface of the moveable sleeve.

[0011] In one example of the first embodiment, the moveable sleeve may be attached to the hair dryer in a removable manner, which allows the moveable sleeve to slide onto the first and second nozzle arms to close the slot region, and slide off the first and second nozzle arms to open the slot region. In such an example, the moveable sleeve may be a substantially cylinder shaped sleeve, which is configured to surround the first and second nozzle arms and close the slot region when attached to the hair dryer.

[0012] In another example of the first embodiment, the moveable sleeve may be attached to the hair dryer in a moveable manner, which allows rotation of the moveable sleeve around the first and second nozzle arms to open and close the slot region. The moveable sleeve may be rotated by a user's hand, or alternatively, the hair dryer may include a motor to control rotation of the moveable sleeve upon actuation by a user. In this embodiment, the moveable sleeve may include a sleeve body having two sleeve arms, and a sleeve cuff coupled to the sleeve body. The sleeve arms may generally be sized to align with openings in the slot region created between the first and second nozzle arms, and the sleeve cuff may be configured to rotatably engage with a main body of the split nozzle to provide rotational movement of the moveable sleeve around the first and second nozzle arms.

[0013] In some embodiments, the moveable sleeve may further include a pair of sleeve bypass air inlet ports, which are formed within the sleeve body and generally aligned with the sleeve arms of the moveable sleeve, and a pair of sleeve caps coupled to, or formed integral with, an outer surface of the sleeve arms so as to extend over and encompass the sleeve bypass air inlet ports. In such embodiments, the sleeve bypass air inlet ports, the sleeve arms and the sleeve caps may combine to form cooling air passages through which unheated air from a rear housing region of the hair dryer may be redirected to cool an outer surface of the moveable sleeve when the moveable sleeve is selectively configured to close the slot region. A pair of housing bypass air exit ports may be provided on a main body of the split nozzle and may be positioned, so as to align with the pair of sleeve bypass air inlet ports when the moveable sleeve is selectively configured to close the slot region.

[0014] In another embodiment, the moveable component includes a moveable door provided inside each of the first and second nozzle arms. In such an embodiment, the plurality of air vents include slot facing air vents which are configured to direct air flow within the slot region simultaneously from multiple opposing directions, and front facing air vents which are configured to direct air flow in a forward direction out a front end of the split nozzle. The moveable doors may be selectively configurable to a first position that directs the air flow out of the slot facing air vents, while closing an air passage to the front facing air vents, and to a second position that directs the air flow out of the front facing vents, while closing an air passage to the slot facing air vents.

[0015] According to another embodiment, a method is provided herein for operating a hair dryer comprising a split nozzle, as described above. In general, the method may include configuring a moveable component in a first position to direct the air flow within the slot region simultaneously from multiple opposing directions, and reconfiguring the moveable component in a second position to redirect the air flow in a primarily forward direction out a front end of the split nozzle. In one embodiment, configuring the moveable component may include rotating the moveable component to the first position to open the slot region, and reconfiguring the moveable component may include rotating the moveable component to the second position to close the slot region. In another embodiment, configuring the moveable component may include sliding the moveable component off the first and second nozzle arms to open the slot region, and reconfiguring the moveable component may include sliding the moveable component onto the first and second nozzle arms to close the slot region. In yet another embodiment, configuring the moveable component may include moving the moveable component to the first position to direct the air flow out of the slot facing air vents, while closing an air passage to the front facing air vents, and reconfiguring the moveable component may include moving the moveable component to the second position to direct the air flow out of the front facing vents, while closing an air passage to the slot facing air vents.

Drawings

[0016] Other objects and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] Figure 1A is a perspective side view illustrating one embodiment of a hand held hair dryer having a split nozzle;

[0018] Figure IB is a perspective top view of the hand held hair dryer shown in Figure 1A;

[0019] Figure 1C is a perspective bottom view of the hand held hair dryer shown in Figure 1 A;

[0020] Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view through an upper portion of a hand held dryer having a split nozzle, similar to Figures 1A-1C, and also having a moveable sleeve;

[0021] Figure 2B is a front view illustrating one embodiment of a held hair dryer having a split nozzle and a moveable sleeve;

[0022] Figure 2C is a side view of the hand held hair dryer shown in Figure 2B;

[0023] Figure 3A is a front perspective view of the hand held hair dryer shown in Figures 2B and 2C when the hand held hair dryer is used in a split nozzle mode of operation;

[0024] Figure 3B is a bottom perspective view of the hand held hair dryer shown in Figure 3A;

[0025] Figure 3C is a front perspective view of the hand held hair dryer shown in Figures 2B and 2C when the hand held hair dryer is used in a more traditional mode of operation;

[0026] Figure 3D is a bottom perspective view of the hand held hair dryer shown in Figure 3C;

[0027] Figure 4A is a side perspective view of the moveable sleeve detached from the hand held hair dryer;

[0028] Figure 4B is a rear perspective view of the moveable sleeve shown in Figure 4A; [0029] Figure 4C is an exploded view of the moveable sleeve shown in Figure 4A;

[0030] Figure 4D is a cross-sectional view of the moveable sleeve shown in Figure 4A;

[0031] Figure 5A is a top perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a held hair dryer having a split nozzle and a pair of moveable doors, which are arranged in a first position for utilizing the hand held hair dryer in a split nozzle mode of operation;

[0032] Figure 5B is a top perspective view of the hand held hair dryer shown in Figure 5A, where the moveable doors are arranged in a second position for utilizing the hand held hair dryer in a more traditional mode of operation;

[0033] Figure 6A is a side view illustrating another embodiment of a hand held hair dryer having a split nozzle, but no handle; and

[0034] Figure 6B is a bottom view of the hand held hair dryer shown in Figure 6A.

[0035] While the embodiments of hair dryers and methods disclosed herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Detailed Description

[0036] As shown in the figures, a hand held hair dryer is provided with a split nozzle. As shown, the split nozzle may form a barrel or cylindrical nozzle with a split region within it. Hair may be engaged within a slot region formed by arms of the split nozzle. Heated air may flow out of the arms and into the slot region. In this manner, hair within the slot region may be dried by heated air that is coming from multiple opposing directions, thus providing air flow from at least two sides of the hair. In this manner, heat is more efficiently applied to the hair providing quicker drying times and more uniform application of heat, thus lessening the likelihood of overheating some portions of the hair, while under heating other portions of the hair.

[0037] In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figures 1A-1C, hair dryer 100 includes a handle region 110, a rear housing region 120 coupled to one end of the handle region, and a nozzle region 130 extending from the rear housing region. The handle region 110 may include a handle 112 for a user to grip the hair dryer, and buttons or other controls 114 for features such as on/off, heat temperature, air speed, etc., all as would be known in the art. In other embodiments, handle region 110 may be omitted (as shown, for example, in Figures 6A and 6B) and the user may grip the rear housing region 120 and/or the nozzle region 130 of the hair dryer. The rear housing region 120 may include an air inlet 125 for drawing ambient air into the rear housing region 120. Within the rear housing region 120, a fan 150 (shown in Figure 2A) and heating element 160 (shown in Figure 2A) may be contained, again as would be known in the art.

[0038] As shown in Figures 1A-1C, nozzle region 130 is formed in a split nozzle configuration, which provides a slot region 135 between a first nozzle arm 140 and a second nozzle arm 145 arranged opposing the first nozzle arm. The nozzle arms each contain a plurality of air vents 155. In operation, air may be provided via fan 150 from the rear housing region 120 through each of the nozzle arms 140 and 145 and out of the air vents 155. In this manner, hair that is provided within slot region 135 receives the application of air from multiple directions simultaneously: air exiting the air vents 155 of nozzle arm 140 and air exiting the air vents 155 of nozzle arm 145. The air exiting the air vents 155 may be heated and/or cooled air, as would be known in the art. By supplying heated air simultaneously from multiple opposing directions, heat is more efficiently applied to the hair in the split nozzle hair dryer described herein as compared to traditional hand held hair dryers without a split nozzle. [0039] As shown in Figures 1A-1C, hair dryer 100 is configured to be used with a moveable sleeve 200 as described in more detail below and as shown, for example, in Figures 2A-2C and 3A-3D (hair dryer 100 with moveable sleeve 200) and in Figures 4A-4C (moveable sleeve 200 alone). For illustrative purposes, the moveable sleeve 200 is not shown in Figures 1A-1C. It will be recognized that the use of a moveable sleeve is optional, as the split nozzle hair dryer concepts described herein may be utilized with hair dryers that do not utilize a moveable sleeve, or with hair dryers that do use a moveable sleeve.

[0040] Figure 2A provides a cross section of hair dryer 100 illustrating the air vents 155 of one nozzle arm 140. It will be recognized that the air vents 155 of nozzle arm 145 may be similarly configured. As shown in Figure 2A, fan 150 draws ambient air from housing air inlet 125 and directs at least a portion 152 of the air flow across heating element 160 as is known in the art. After the portion 152 of the air is (optionally) heated by heating element 160, the heated air travels though nozzle arm 140 and exits the nozzle arm 140 through air vents 155.

[0041] In one embodiment, the portion 152 of the air flow may exit the air vents 155 within nozzle arms 140 and 145 in a roughly perpendicular direction relative to the nozzle arms, such as approximately 90 degrees from a plane of each nozzle arm. However, in another embodiment, the air flow exiting the air vents 155 of the nozzle arms may be directed in a manner other than 90 degrees. In particular, directional air flow may be provided to aid in holding a user's hair within the slot region 135 during use of the hair dryer 100. Thus, in one embodiment, air may exit the air vents 155 of the nozzle arms 140, 145 in a substantially downward direction. Such a downward direction may aid in holding the user's hair within slot region 135 and minimize the blowing of the hair up and out of the slot region. In another embodiment, air may exit the air vents 155 of the nozzle arms 140, 145 in a substantially backward direction (toward the rear housing 120). Such a backward direction may aid in holding the user's hair within the slot region 135 and minimize the blowing of the hair out of the open end of the slot region. In another embodiment, air may exit the air vents 155 in both a downward and a backward direction. Thus, as illustrated by air flow arrows 175 in Figure 2A, the air flow out of the air vents 155 may be in a substantially downward and backward direction, in one embodiment.

[0042] Figure 2B (front view of hair dryer 100) and Figure 2C (side view of hair dryer 100) illustrate exemplary angles at which air flow may exit the air vents 155 of nozzle arms 140, 145 when hair dryer 100 is utilized in the split nozzle configuration. In some embodiments, the air flow from air vents 155 may be directed in a substantially downward direction 172 at an angle (a), which is less than about 60 degrees, and more preferably less than about 45 degrees, relative to a plane 170 of the air vents 155 as shown in Figure 2B. In one embodiment, the air flow from air vents 155 may be directed in a substantially downward direction 172 at an angle (a) of approximately less than about 20 degrees relative to the plane 170 of the air vents 155, as shown in Figure 2B. In some embodiments, the air flow may be directed in a substantially backward direction 174 (toward the rear housing 120) at an angle (β), which is less than about 75 degrees, and more preferably less than about 60 degrees, relative to a longitudinal axis 176 extending through nozzle region 130. In one embodiment, the air flow may be directed in a substantially downward direction 172 at approximately 15 degrees and in a substantially backward direction 174 at approximately 55 degrees.

[0043] As noted above, Figure 2A illustrates a configuration of the air vents, which provides both a downward and backward directional air flow as indicated by air flow arrows 175. As shown in the combination of Figures 2A-2C, the air vents 155 are configured to direct the air flow in both a downward direction 172 and a backward direction 174 to provide exemplary air flow direction 175. In the embodiment shown in Figures 2B-2C, air flow from air vents 155 is directed in a downward angle (a) of approximately 15 degrees and backward angle (β) of approximately 55 degrees. Thus, air flows out of the air vents 155 at both a downward angle (a) and backward angle (β), as indicated by arrows 172, 174, to provide air flow direction 175. By configuring the air vents 155 as shown in Figures 2A-2C, the direction of the air flow assists in retaining the user's hair within the slot region 135, even when the hair dryer fan 150 is on. It will be recognized, however, that the split nozzle hair dryer concepts disclosed herein may be used with no downward and backward air flow angle, only a downward air flow angle (a), only a backward air flow angle (β), or any other combination of air flow angles.

[0044] As air flow is directed downward and backward, as shown in Figures 2A-2C, heated air from air vents 155 may tend to move toward a user' s hand when a user is holding the hair dryer 100. Thus, back end 180 of the nozzle arms 140, 145 may be formed to shield the air flow from being directed towards a user's hand. As shown in Figure 1C and Figure 2A, for example, the back end 180 of each nozzle arm 140, 145 may have a curvature that redirects the air flow away from the handle region 110, and thus, away from the user's hand when gripping the handle 112 of the hair dryer 100. Such air flow redirection is shown by the air flow arrow 182 in Figure 2A. In this manner, a user may hold the handle 112 of hair dryer 100 without the user's hand being uncomfortably heated.

[0045] According to another embodiment, a split nozzle hand held hair dryer is provided that may be selectively configurable to direct air flow within the slot region 135 simultaneously from multiple opposing directions, or to redirect the air flow in a primarily forward direction out a front end of the split nozzle in a manner more similar to traditional hand held hair dryers. In such an embodiment, a user may selectively configure the same hair dryer to a first configuration, which enables the split nozzle hair drying techniques described above, or to a second configuration which enables more traditional hair drying techniques.

[0046] A variety of techniques may be utilized to provide such user selectable configuration. One technique is through the use of a movable sleeve which in effect may close the slot region 135 of the split nozzle hair dryer 100, such that the hair dryer is configured similar to a traditional hair dryer in which the nozzle is a cylindrical nozzle which provides air flow out the far end of the nozzle. Another technique for reconfiguring the hair dryer includes the use of additional front facing air vents and mechanisms to selectively direct air flow out of the inward (slot facing) air vents 155, or alternatively, out the front facing air vents.

[0047] Figures 3A-3D show the use of a moveable sleeve 200, which may be coupled to the nozzle region 130 of the split nozzle hair dryer 100 and used to selectively open and close the slot region 135. To aid in the understanding of the moveable sleeve, Figures 4A-4B show the moveable sleeve 200 detached from the hair dryer 100, Figure 4C shows an exploded view of the moveable sleeve 200 and Figure 4D shows a cross-sectional view of the moveable sleeve 200.

[0048] Figures 3A and 3B show the moveable sleeve 200 rotated to open slot region 135, thereby utilizing hair dryer 100 in a split nozzle configuration mode for split nozzle drying of hair that is placed within the slot region 135. In the split nozzle configuration mode, moveable sleeve 200 leaves the slot region 135 open to allow air flow out of the air vents 155, as described above for the split nozzle hair dryer 100 that does not contain a moveable sleeve (Figures 1A- 1C). Thus, in this mode, multidirectional air flow dries the hair as described above.

[0049] As shown in Figures 3C-3D, moveable sleeve 200 may be rotated around nozzle arms 140, 145 in a manner such that the sleeve closes the slot region 135 to provide a more traditional hair dryer configuration mode. In this mode, air exiting the air vents 155 of nozzle arms 140, 145 is redirected out of the front end 137 of the nozzle 130 because the slot region 135 is now closed by the moveable sleeve 200. In this position, the nozzle is more similar to traditional hair dryer nozzles in that air flow from the air vents 155 is directed out the front end 137 of the nozzle 130. Thus, the hand held hair dryer may be selectively used in either a traditional hair dryer mode (Figures 3C-3D) or in the split nozzle mode (Figures 3A-3B).

[0050] In some embodiments, moveable sleeve 200 may be configured such that every 90 degree rotation of the sleeve will alternately change the hair dryer 100 from a traditional configuration mode to a split nozzle configuration mode. In some embodiments, moveable sleeve 200 and hair dryer 100 may each be configured with detents (not shown), which generally function to hold the moveable sleeve 200 in place at each 90 degree location until additional rotational force is applied to change the configuration. In some embodiments, moveable sleeve 200 may be configured to be moved by hand by the user, or alternatively, the moveable sleeve 200 may be motor controlled to rotate upon actuation by the user.

[0051] As mentioned above, Figures 4A-4D show the moveable sleeve 200 detached from the hair dryer 100 to aid in the understanding of the moveable sleeve. As shown in Figures 4A-4D, the moveable sleeve 200 may be formed of sub-component parts that include sleeve body 205, sleeve cuff 210, and sleeve caps 215. In the illustrated embodiment, sleeve body 205 includes two sleeve arms 206, which may be generally sized to align with the openings in the slot region 135 created between nozzle arms 140, 145. Sleeve cuff 210 is configured to rotatably engage with the main body of the hair dryer 100 nozzle. Sleeve caps 215 are configured to form cooling passages 400 between the sleeve caps 215 and the sleeve arms 206, as discussed in more detail below. It is recognized, however, that moveable sleeve 200 is not strictly limited to the particular sub-components shown in Figures 4A-4D and may be alternatively configured in other embodiments.

[0052] In one embodiment, moveable sleeve 200 and hair dryer 100 may be configured such that the moveable sleeve is attached to the hair dryer in a moveable manner, which allows rotation of the moveable sleeve 200 around the nozzle arms 140, 145, but holds the sleeve in place so that it does not slide off the front end 137 of the nozzle 130. The sleeve cuff 210 shown in Figures 4A-4D provides one such means for attaching the moveable sleeve 200 to the main body of the hair dryer 100 nozzle in a moveable manner. Other attachment means may be utilized in other embodiments. [0053] In another embodiment (not shown), the moveable sleeve may be a substantially cylinder shaped sleeve, which merely slides on nozzle arms 140, 145 to enclose the slot region 135, and slides off nozzle arms 140, 145 to leave the slot region 135 open. The substantially cylinder shaped sleeve may be generally configured to surround the nozzle arms 140, 145 and enclose the slot region 135 when attached to the hair dryer 100. In some embodiments, the moveable sleeve and hair dryer may each be configured with detents (not shown), which generally function to hold the moveable sleeve in place until force is applied to detach or remove the moveable sleeve from the hair dryer. Other means for attachment and detachment may be utilized in other embodiments.

[0054] In some embodiments, it may be desirable to minimize excessive heating of the moveable sleeve 200 during hair drying operations. For example, some users may hold the nozzle region 130 during styling operations. In these situations, excessive heating of the moveable sleeve 200 may be uncomfortable, and therefore undesirable, to the user. Further, excessive heating of the moveable sleeve 200 may be undesirable if the sleeve is used in an embodiment in which a user manually rotates the sleeve during styling operations to change between split nozzle and traditional dryer modes of operation.

[0055] One method of maintaining a suitable temperature of the moveable sleeve 200 is to provide cooling air passages within the sleeve. Figures 2A and 4D illustrate one embodiment of cooling air passages 400 that may be included within moveable sleeve 200. When air is blown through the hair dryer during styling operations, a portion of the air flow may be redirected through the cooling air passages 400 in the moveable sleeve 200. Specifically, a portion of the air flow may be redirected from fan 150 to cooling air passages 400 prior to that portion of the air flow engaging with the heating element 160 of the hair dryer. Such redirection of air flow prior to the heating element is shown by air flow arrows 405 in Figure 2A. In this fashion, relatively cool air may pass through the cooling air passages 400 of the moveable sleeve 200 to reduce the heating of the moveable sleeve, thereby making it more comfortable for manual engagement of the moveable sleeve by the user.

[0056] As mentioned above, a portion of the air flow is diverted from fan 150 prior to engagement with heating element 160 for cooling the moveable sleeve 200. Figure 2A illustrates one exemplary embodiment of such air diversion. As shown by air flow arrows 405, a bypass air channel is formed within hair dryer 100, such that a portion of the air flow from fan 150 bypasses heater element 160, and instead passes through the bypass air channel to housing bypass air exit ports 408. The housing bypass air exit ports 408 may also be seen in Figures 1A-1C. As described in more detail below, housing bypass air exit ports 408 may be positioned on the main body of nozzle 130, so as to align with sleeve bypass air inlet ports 410 when the moveable sleeve 200 is rotated to the closed nozzle (traditional dryer mode configuration).

[0057] According to one embodiment, moveable sleeve 200 may include a pair of sleeve bypass air inlet ports 410, which are formed within the sleeve body 205 and generally aligned with the sleeve arms 206 of the moveable sleeve 200. Sleeve caps 215 may be coupled to, or formed integral with, an outer surface of sleeve arms 206 so as to extend over and encompass sleeve bypass air inlet ports 410. In this manner, the combination of sleeve bypass air inlet ports 410, sleeve arms 206 and sleeve caps 215 may be provided to form the cooling air passages 400 through which unheated air from the rear housing region 120 of the hair dryer 100 is redirected to cool an outer surface of the moveable sleeve 200.

[0058] As shown in Figure 2A, the cooling air passages 400 in each sleeve arm 206 will receive cooling air flow via the alignment of each housing bypass air exit port 408 with a corresponding sleeve bypass air inlet port 410 when the moveable sleeve 200 is moved into the closed traditional dryer mode configuration. When the housing bypass air exit ports 408 and the sleeve bypass air inlet ports 410 are aligned, air flows into the sleeve bypass air inlet port 410, through the cooling air passage 400 to a sleeve air exit port 415. An exterior view of the sleeve air exit port 415 may be seen in Figure 4A.

[0059] When the moveable sleeve 200 is in the split nozzle configuration mode, the moveable sleeve is less susceptible to heating for several reasons. For example, in this mode, the moveable sleeve is spaced further from the direct air flow and has less direct contact with the heated air flow. Further, nozzle arms 140, 145 may also buffer the moveable sleeve 200 from the heat. Thus, cooling passages need not be utilized when the moveable sleeve is placed in the spilt nozzle position.

[0060] As mentioned above, an alternative approach to reconfiguring the hair dryer between a split nozzle mode of operation and a traditional mode of operation may be achieved through the use of an embodiment that provides changeable air vents. Once such technique for reconfiguring the hair dryer between split nozzle and traditional modes of operation with such air vents is shown in Figures 5 A and 5B. [0061] Figures 5A and 5B illustrate exemplary mechanisms that may be used to selectively direct air flow out the inward (slot facing) air vents 155, or alternatively, out the front end of the hair dryer through front facing air vents 720 provided within the front end of the nozzle arms 140, 145. In one embodiment, moveable doors 700 may be provided inside each of the nozzle arms 140 and 145, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B. In these figures, moveable doors 700 are shown, along with the interior surfaces of nozzle arms 140, 145 containing air vents 155, with dashed lines to indicate features, which are interior to the hair dryer 100. It will be understood that hair dryer 100 includes additional interior features not explicitly shown in Figures 5A and 5B, and that these features are omitted from these figures, so as to focus solely on the positions of the moveable doors 700 and the corresponding operational modes of the hair dryer.

[0062] When utilizing the hair dryer in the split nozzle configuration, for example, the moveable doors 700 may be moved to or configured in a first position (Figure 5A) that allows air to flow out of the slot facing air vents 155, while closing the air passage to the front facing vents 720. As shown in Figure 5A, air flow (shown by arrows 710) is blocked by the forward end 705 of the moveable doors 700 and projected out of the air vents 155 of nozzle arms 140 and 145 when the doors are configured in the first position. This first position thus enables split nozzle operation of the hair dryer 100, which provides multidirectional air flow to hair placed within the slot region 135.

[0063] When utilizing the hair dryer 100 in the more traditional hair drying configuration, the moveable doors 700 are moved or configured into a second position, which allows air to flow out of the front facing vents 720, while closing the air passage to the slot facing air vents 155. This second position of the moveable doors 700 may be seen in Figure 5B. As shown in Figure 5B, the moveable doors 700 are moved or configured to allow the air flow 710 to travel out the front facing air vents 720 as indicated by air flow arrows 730. In this second position, the moveable doors 700 block air flow from passing through the slot facing air vents 155, and heated air is instead directed in a primarily forward direction out the front facing air vents 720 to operate the hair dryer in a mode more similar to a traditional hair dryer mode of operation.

[0064] The techniques described herein provide a split nozzle hand held hair dryer and method of operation. The split nozzle hair dryer provides more uniform and efficient heating of hair that is placed in a slot region of the split nozzle. Further, when used with the split nozzle directional air flow techniques described herein, the downward nature of the air flow may also provide some beneficial hair straightening aspects to the user's styling experience. Although embodiments of the split nozzle hand held hair dryers described above are illustrated in Figures 1-5 as including a handle region 110 having a handle 112 with which a user may grip the hair dryer and control buttons 114, which may be manipulated to control operation of the hair dryer, the handle region is not strictly necessary to the operation of the hand held hair dryer in any mode of operation, and thus, may be expressly omitted from the hand held hair dryer in some embodiments.

[0065] Figures 6A and 6B illustrate one exemplary embodiment of a hand held hair dryer 100 having a split nozzle, but no handle. As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, hair dryer 100 includes rear housing region 120 and nozzle region 130 extending from the rear housing region. Since handle region 110 is omitted from the embodiment shown in Figures 6A and 6B, a user may grip either the rear housing region 120 and/or the nozzle region 130 when operating the hand held hair dryer. One or more control buttons 114 for controlling the operation of the hand held hair dryer may be arranged on the bottom side of the hand held hair dryer, as shown in Figure 6B, or elsewhere along the rear housing region 120.

[0066] Like the previous embodiments, the nozzle region 130 of the hair dryer 100 shown in Figures 6 A and 6B includes a split nozzle having a first nozzle arm 140 and a second nozzle arm 145, which is arranged opposing the first nozzle arm, such that a slot region 135 is formed there between. Although not illustrated clearly in Figures 6A and 6B, nozzle arms 140, 145 each preferably include a plurality of air vents, which are configured to direct air flow within slot region 135 simultaneously from multiple opposing directions, as discussed above and illustrated for example in Figures 2A-2C and/or in Figures 5A-5B. In some embodiments, the hair dryer 100 shown in Figures 6A-6B may include or be operated with a moveable component (such as a moveable sleeve or a pair of movable doors, as described above in previous embodiments) for changing a direction of the air flow from slot region 135 to a primarily forward direction out a front end of the split nozzle 130, or vice versa.

[0067] Further modifications and alternative embodiments of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. It will be recognized, therefore, that the hand held hair dryer and method of operating such is not limited by the example arrangements shown and described herein. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herein shown and described are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Various changes may be made in the implementations and architectures. For example, equivalent elements may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently of the use of other features, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention.

Claims

What is Claimed:

1. A hair dryer, comprising: a rear housing region; a nozzle region extending from the rear housing region, wherein the nozzle region comprises: a first nozzle arm; and a second nozzle arm arranged opposing the first nozzle arm, such that a slot region is formed between the first nozzle arm and the second nozzle arm; wherein the first nozzle arm and the second nozzle arm each comprise a

plurality of air vents configured to direct air flow within the slot region simultaneously from multiple opposing directions; and a moveable sleeve coupled to an exterior surface of the nozzle region and selectively configurable to open and close the slot region.

2. The hair dryer as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of air vents within each nozzle arm are configured to direct the air flow in a substantially downward direction and/or a substantially backward direction.

3. The hair dryer as recited in claim 2, wherein the plurality of air vents within each nozzle arm are configured to direct the air flow in the substantially downward direction at an angle less than about 60 degrees relative to a plane of the air vents.

4. The hair dryer as recited in claim 2, wherein the plurality of air vents within each nozzle arm are configured to direct the air flow in the substantially downward direction at an angle less than about 20 degrees relative to a plane of the air vents.

5. The hair dryer as recited in claim 2, wherein the plurality of air vents within each nozzle arm are configured to direct the air flow in the substantially backward direction at an angle less than about 75 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis extending through the nozzle region.

6. The hair dryer as recited in claim 2, wherein the plurality of air vents within each nozzle arm are configured to direct the air flow in the substantially backward direction at an angle less than about 60 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis extending through the nozzle region.

7. The hair dryer as recited in claim 2, further comprising a handle region for a user to grip the hair dryer.

8. The hair dryer as recited in claim 7, wherein a back end of each nozzle arm comprises a curvature that redirects the air flow away from the handle region of the hair dryer.

9. The hair dryer as recited in claim 1, wherein the moveable sleeve is selectively configurable to: open the slot region for directing the air flow within the slot region simultaneously from multiple opposing directions; and close the slot region for redirecting the air flow in a primarily forward direction out a front end of the split nozzle.

10. The hair dryer as recited in claim 1, wherein the moveable sleeve further comprises cooling air passages configured such that unheated air from a rear housing region of the hair dryer is redirected to cool an outer surface of the moveable sleeve.

11. The hair dryer as recited in claim 1, wherein the moveable sleeve is attached to the hair dryer in a moveable manner, which allows rotation of the moveable sleeve around the first and second nozzle arms to open and close the slot region.

12. The hair dryer as recited in claim 11, wherein the moveable sleeve is configured to be rotated by a user's hand.

13. The hair dryer as recited in claim 11, further comprising a motor configured to control rotation of the moveable sleeve upon actuation by a user.

14. The hair dryer as recited in claim 1, wherein the moveable sleeve comprises: a sleeve body including two sleeve arms, which are sized to align with openings in the slot region created between the first and second nozzle arms; and a sleeve cuff coupled to the sleeve body and configured to rotatably engage with a main body of the split nozzle to provide rotational movement of the moveable sleeve around the first and second nozzle arms.

15. The hair dryer as recited in claim 14, wherein the moveable sleeve further comprises: a pair of sleeve bypass air inlet ports, which are formed within the sleeve body and generally aligned with the sleeve arms of the moveable sleeve; and a pair of sleeve caps coupled to, or formed integral with, an outer surface of the sleeve arms so as to extend over and encompass the sleeve bypass air inlet ports; wherein the sleeve bypass air inlet ports, the sleeve arms and the sleeve caps combine to form cooling air passages configured such that unheated air from a rear housing region of the hair dryer is redirected to cool an outer surface of the moveable sleeve when the moveable sleeve is selectively configured to close the slot region.

16. The hair dryer as recited in claim 15, further comprising a pair of housing bypass air exit ports, which are provided on a main body of the split nozzle and positioned to align with the pair of sleeve bypass air inlet ports when the moveable sleeve is selectively configured to close the slot region.

17. The hair dryer as recited in claim 1, wherein the moveable sleeve is coupled to the hair dryer in a removable manner, which allows the moveable sleeve to slide onto the first and second nozzle arms to close the slot region, and slide off the first and second nozzle arms to open the slot region.

18. The hair dryer as recited in claim 17, wherein the moveable sleeve is a substantially cylinder shaped sleeve, which is configured to surround the first and second nozzle arms and close the slot region when attached to the hair dryer.

19. A method for operating a hair dryer comprising a split nozzle having a first nozzle arm and a second nozzle arm arranged opposing the first nozzle arm, such that a slot region is formed between the first nozzle arm and the second nozzle arm, wherein the first nozzle arm and the second nozzle arm each comprise a plurality of air vents configured to direct air flow within the slot region simultaneously from multiple opposing directions, wherein the method comprises: configuring a moveable sleeve, which is coupled at one end to an exterior surface of the split nozzle, in a first position to direct the air flow within the slot region simultaneously from multiple opposing directions; and reconfiguring the moveable sleeve in a second position so that the moveable sleeve encloses the slot region and redirects the air flow in a primarily forward direction out a front end of the split nozzle.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the configuring the moveable sleeve comprises rotating the moveable sleeve to the first position to open the slot region, and the reconfiguring the moveable sleeve comprises rotating the moveable sleeve to the second position to enclose the slot region.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the configuring the moveable sleeve comprises sliding the moveable sleeve off the split nozzle to open the slot region, and the reconfiguring the moveable sleeve comprises sliding the moveable sleeve onto the split nozzle to enclose the slot region.