IMPROVED HAIR DRIER
There is a hair drier which includes an air nozzle (1) having an air inlet (3) in communication with an air outlet (5). The nozzle is adapted for fan forced passage of air from said inlet (3) to exit said outlets. There is a motive power unit (8) remote from said nozzle (1) to power said fan forced passage of air. The motive power unit is operable from control means (12) associated with said nozzle.
This invention relates to drying apparatus. More particularly, although not exclusively it discloses an improved form of hair drier for use in commercial applications.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTIONConventional handheld hair driers typically comprise a cylindrical body or case with an air outlet at one end and an air inlet at the other. The drier incorporates an electric motor operated fan to provide an airstream through the casing together with an electric resistance heater such a nichrome wire element which disposed in the airstream adjacent the outlet. There is also a handle extending below the casing with thumb controls for fan speed and air temperature. Such devices have been known for many years and are generally reliable in terms of operation and performance. One serious disadvantage however is the weight of such prior art driers which is caused chiefly by the inclusion of the relatively heavy fan motor in the handheld case. While this may not be so noticeable during occasional short term domestic use professional hairdressers who employ handheld driers for many hours each day find them laborious and tiring to use. This can leave an employer exposed to employee claims for strain injury. Also, conventional handheld hair driers with the incorporated electric motor and fan are noisy and during use are held close to a client's ears. This causes discomfort and annoyance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantage and accordingly a hair drier apparatus is disclosed which includes an air nozzle having an air inlet in communication with an air outlet, said nozzle being adapted for fan forced passage of air from said inlet to exit said outlet wherein a motive power unit is provided remote from said nozzle to power said fan forced passage of air, said motive power unit being operable from control means associated with said nozzle.
Preferably said motive power unit is adapted for wall mounting.
Preferably the air nozzle includes a heater through which the air passes before exiting said nozzle.
Preferably said control means are associated with said nozzle.
It is further preferred that said heater is a resistance wire element located immediately upstream of said outlet.
It is further preferred that said heater is operable from said control means.
It is further preferred that said motive power unit is adapted to supply one or more air nozzles.
Currently preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached representations in which:
In the external views the interior components of the hair drier apparatus referred to are indicated by broken lines.
Referring first to
The motive power unit includes a suitably shaped housing 13 which is adapted for mounting to a wall or other convenient support structure (not shown) in a hair salon. It comprises a fan motor 14 fan blades 15, intake filter 16, electrical circuit board 11 and two air outlets 7 as mentioned earlier.
Individual controls 12 on the handle of each nozzle ensure that the hairdresser could adjust air flow and air temperature as required via the electrical cables 10 running parallel with each air conduit. As the electrical control circuitry used in the apparatus would be similar to that used in existing hair driers it will not be described in detail. The design and construction of such circuitry would be known to a person skilled in the art.
With the second, third and fourth embodiments of the invention as shown in
In the case of the second embodiment as shown in
With the third embodiment shown in
In the case of the fourth embodiment shown in
While for simplicity of illustration only one nozzle/handle assembly is shown with each embodiment in use two or more may be fitted. For example in a professional hair salon the motive power unit may be mounted to a wall between two adjacent work stations. The flexible air ducts or drive cables would then connect the unit with individual handheld nozzles—one for each hairdresser. As the weight of the heavy fan motor is not carried in these nozzles they would be more agile, lighter and less tiring to use over a working day.
It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the forms of the embodiments disclosed provides a novel and inventive improvement to hair driers. Clearly however the examples described are only the currently preferred forms of the invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. For example the number of nozzles powered by the motive power unit, the shape and configuration of said nozzles and the design of the electrical controls may all be changed following further development work by the inventors.
Other optional features of a hair drier according to the invention are as follows:
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- The heating element may be incorporated into the remote motive power unit instead of the nozzle/handle assembly in accordance with design constraints.
- The heating element may be located either upstream or downstream of the fan.
- The motive power unit and heating element may or may not be controlled by hand operated switches on the nozzle/handle assembly. The control may also be remote or fully automatic and operable for example by pressure sensors, foot activated switches etc.
- The fan may be axial flow, as shown in the embodiments or centrifugal.
- The design of the flexible drive will take into consideration speed, and torque to maximize the efficiency and minimize the size of the flexible drive, physical/mechanical restraints and rigidity etc. This would also impact on the physical dimensions of the impeller. Variations to the size and capability of the drive are also within the scope of the invention.
- The flexible drive may be of a general commercial standard or so designed to utilize modern materials to optimize its efficiency, reduce its maintenance and improve its flexibility.
- If the hair drier is to have variable flow rate of air, this may be achieved by providing a multi speed motive power unit or by having multiple fan impellers engaged as required, variable pitch impeller or variable attitudes.
- Within the design considerations of variable flexible drive through the handle to the impeller within, it should be considered that the impeller may not be in the direct line of air flow, but that the impeller may be offset from the direct line of flow, and that the air intake and air outlet are ducted in such a manner within the casing to achieve the desired air flow and within this ducting arrangement that variable air flows may be achieved through flow divisions, valves etc.
- The hair dryer may incorporate a “Cold Shot” Button.
- The heating element may be traditional electric wire wound or any other suitable means It may be positioned within the hand piece or at a remote position.
Claims
1. A hair drier apparatus which includes an air nozzle having a handle, an air inlet and an air outlet whereby said nozzle is adapted for fan forced passage of air to exit said outlet and said apparatus further including a motive power unit remote from said nozzle to power said fan forced passage of air.
2. The hair drier apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said motive power unit includes a fan and said nozzle is connected to said motive power unit by a flexible air conduit.
3. The hair drier apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein electrical control cables are incorporated into said flexible air conduit 4
4. The hair drier apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said nozzle is connected to said motive power unit by a flexible rotating drive cable which drives a fan located in said nozzle.
5. The hair drier apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein electrical control cables are incorporated into said flexible rotating drive cable.
6. The hair drier apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said flexible air conduit connects to a venturi type air multiplier within said nozzle whereby said fan forced passage of air entrains additional air from said inlet before exiting said outlet.
7. The hair drier apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said air conduit extends up through the handle and said venturi type air multiplier includes a cowling which turns said fan forced passage of air through about 90 degrees.
8. The hair drier apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said fan is operatively associated with a venturi type air multiplier within said nozzle whereby said fan forced passage of air entrains additional air from said inlet before exiting said outlet.
9. The hair drier apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said venturi type air multiplier includes a cowling and said fan is located within said cowling.
10. The hair drier assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein said cowling is movable whereby the angle thereof can be changed with respect to the direction of air flow through said outlet to vary the volume of said air flow.
11. The hair drier apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein a heating element is located upstream of said outlet.
12. The hair drier apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein a heating element is located upstream of said outlet.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 19, 2009
Publication Date: Sep 15, 2011
Inventor: Evan Carlisle Rowling (Bonnet Bay)
Application Number: 13/129,792
International Classification: A45D 20/12 (20060101);