For Hair On Head Patents (Class 34/96)
  • Patent number: 7178261
    Abstract: An air pulse attachment for a handheld dryer includes a shell defining a passage within the shell. The passage in the shell communicates the dryer with an outlet. A pulse valve is pivotably disposed in the passage and has a pivot axis. At least one deflection member is associated with the outlet of the shell and is rotatable with respect to the pivot axis. The at least one deflection member is configured for deflecting the air from the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Wahl Clipper Corporation
    Inventors: James McCambridge, Luther D. Langley
  • Patent number: 7140121
    Abstract: A garment drying cabinet and a garment dryer utilizing the garment drying cabinet. The garment drying cabinet includes a housing through which at least one heater mounting opening and at least one exhaust hole are disposed. At least one heater mount is attached to the housing proximate to each mounting opening and is dimensioned to attach a heater to the housing such that the air directed from the heater is delivered into the interior of the housing. A cabinet door is movably attached to the housing. The garment dryer combines the drying cabinet with at least one heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Inventors: Anthony Casella, Lawrence Butz, Robert Cox, Theodore E Tinsler
  • Patent number: 7124763
    Abstract: A styling and curling hairbrush 1 having an elongated tubular body 6 with an interior hollow volume along the longitudinal extent to forming air channel 7. A hot air stream 17 enters the open end of body 6. Body 6 has air exit openings 9 connecting the air channel 7 with the outer shell surface of the tubular body 6. Several bristle rows B1–B3 are distributed circumferentially on the tubular body. An air stream divider 3 is in front of the bristle rows B1–B3. A hot air stream 17 is divided by the air stream divider into an air stream 18 flowing into the air channel 7 and one flowing along the outer shell surface of the tubular body 6. The bristle rows B1–B3 of the brush 1 are spaced apart from one another. Each bristle row B1–B3 is next to an air guidance element L1–L3 closed in the radial direction and forming at least one flow channel 12, 16 and is open toward at least an adjacent bristle row B1, B2, B3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: WIK Far East, LTD
    Inventor: Klaus Hafemann
  • Patent number: 7096598
    Abstract: A hair styling brush with reverse airflow. The preferred styling brush has a contoured, bristled body for holding locks of hair in a curved or curled position. The body is perforated, and a blower in the brush draws air in through the perforations across the damp hair. This styling brush preferably is used with a conventional blow dryer or curling iron. When using a blow dryer, warm air from the blow dryer is directed at the lock of hair on the styling brush, while the blower in the styling brush pulls the warm air through the hair. Alternately, after a lock of hair has been styled on a curling iron, the lock then can be cooled rapidly using the styling brush. The styling brush is designed to direct the exhaust air toward the handle. In this way, the user can tell from the temperature of the exhaust when the hair is dry. More specifically, once the hair on the brush is dry, the exhaust air will begin to feel warmer as the evaporation process is no longer cooling it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Natural Volume Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Tommy Leon Myatt
  • Patent number: 7093376
    Abstract: A hair drying and shaping system is provided and has a vacuum channel connected to a vacuum source for containing hair disposed therein for treatment; a hot air channel connected to a hot air source and having communication with the vacuum channel for measurable delivery of heated air into the vacuum channel; and a control interface for determining, setting, and activating features and parameters thereof during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Ennova Direct, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Regen
  • Patent number: 7010866
    Abstract: A voltage step-down structure for a heat-emitting element of a drier is disclosed. The structure is for a heat-emitting element of a drier having a hollow body containing a motor and a ceramic heat-emitting element and a voltage step-down device characterized in that the interior of the hollow body is mounted with the heat-emitting element and the ceramic or glass voltage step-down element coated with conductive film such that one end of the power source is connected to one end of the step-down element, and the other end is connected to the diode end of the motor such that the impedance of the conductive film provides voltage step-down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Inventor: Hsin-Yun Lin
  • Patent number: 7002442
    Abstract: A safety switch apparatus for disabling the operation of a hand-held appliance, e.g., a hair dryer, during periods of nonuse such as when the appliance is put down on a prescribed surface or placed in a non-functional position such as being held under a user's arm. In a first implementation, a sensor is coupled to control circuitry within the appliance to remove power from portions of the device, e.g., its motor and/or heater, when the appliance is proximate to an externally-provided magnetic field preferably provided from a magnetic element typically contained within a pad placeable on a work surface, within the work surface, or a wearable piece of clothing. In a second implementation, the converse occurs, i.e., a sensor is used to sense the presence of a user and to disable operation when the user is no longer present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: LJM Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Joan Golden Mandell, Lee Jay Mandell, Richard David Mandell
  • Patent number: 6996916
    Abstract: A hair drying/styling appliance includes an ion emitting circuit which directs ion onto the hair of a user, and in which the level of ion output is variable and adjustable by a user. In preferred embodiments indicators such as a series of lights on the housing indicate the level of ion output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
    Inventor: Michael Cafaro
  • Patent number: 6986212
    Abstract: A hair dryer is provided, which includes a housing having an air outlet, fan disposed in the housing, a pair of air flow channels extending toward the air outlet in the housing, a partition wall for separating the channels from each other, heater disposed in only one of the channels, and a minus-ion generator disposed in the other channel. The partition wall is formed by a tubular member, which is disposed in the housing such that one of the channels is provided by an inner space of the tubular member, and the other channel is provided by a clearance between an inner surface of the housing and an outer surface of the tubular member. Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously provide a cold air flow with minus ions and a hot air flow from the air outlet, and thereby efficiently perform hair styling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Itaru Saida, Kiyoshi Takashima, Kenji Kamada, Hiroyuki Takano, Kengo Ito, Akinobu Mizuta, Takashi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 6983550
    Abstract: A gas hot air gun includes a main body, an ignition device, a switch set and a safety switch. The main body includes a blower, a nozzle, a barrel and a handle. A heating chamber and a mixing chamber are on the inner front of the barrel. A gas can is inside the handle. One end of the nozzle is connected to the gas can. The switch set includes a power switch, with the safety switch closing power of the battery set or gas flow of the gas can under some pre-set conditions. Users press the power switch and have gas spray out from the nozzle into the heating chamber to generate heat. The blower sends hot air in the heating chamber out of the main body. A metal slice regulating the direction of air and a catalyst for avoiding flame extending out of the nozzle area are inside the heating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Inventor: Arlo Lin
  • Patent number: 6966125
    Abstract: An oscillating hair dryer nozzle assembly attaches to a hand held electric hair dryer. An oscillating nozzle is pivoted back and forth by forced air generated by an electric motorized fan within the hair dryer. A propeller receives the forced air and rotates a propeller shaft which is coupled to a gear reduction assembly. The gear reduction assembly converts the rotational motion of the propeller shaft into repetitive pivotal movement of the oscillating nozzle. The oscillating nozzle automatically redirects the air flow in a plane. In one embodiment, the nozzle assembly is rotatably attached to the output barrel of a hair dryer body so that the oscillating nozzle can be rotated to pivot and redirect air flow in a different plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Shoot the Moon Products II, LLC
    Inventors: Paul S. Rago, David B. Small
  • Patent number: 6964116
    Abstract: A portable self-contained hair drying helmet is taught that has thermal storage, desiccants, and thin lithium ion polymer batteries to allow one to dry their hair while walking around and performing personal and household duties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Inventors: Mollie B. Kroll, Mark W. Kroll
  • Patent number: 6959501
    Abstract: A hair styling vacuum device for removing a liquid from hair wrapped around a curler. The device includes a vacuum assembly and a suction nozzle member. The vacuum assembly includes a housing which defines an interior space. The vacuum assembly includes a motor assembly positioned within the interior space, a vent portion extending trough a perimeter wall of the housing, a filter member and a reservoir member. The housing includes a spout portion in environmental communication with the reservoir member. Preferably, the filter member is positioned between the spout portion and the reservoir portion. The suction nozzle member is operationally coupleable to the spout portion. The suction nozzle is positionable around a curler to facilitate suction from the motor assembly being directed around the curler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Inventor: Patricia Melzer
  • Patent number: 6957500
    Abstract: An attachment for a handheld dryer includes a shell and a dryer barrel-receiving portion. A first passage is defined between the shell and the dryer and terminates in a shell inlet defined between the shell and the dryer barrel. The present attachment may be useful to increase volumetric flow and/or velocity of flow from a handheld dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Wahl Clipper Corporation
    Inventors: James E. McCambridge, Scott A. Melton, Luther D. Langley
  • Patent number: 6941675
    Abstract: Devices and methods of drying hair are provided. The devices and methods of the present invention employ a material or a combination of materials capable of emitting far infrared radiation and negative ions during hair drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Inventor: Fred M. Slingo
  • Patent number: 6935046
    Abstract: A durable and maneuverable hand-held or small home appliance having a swivel structure attached at the end handle of the appliance to permit the electrical cord to pivot about the handle of the appliance. Further contemplated by the present disclosure is a swivel structure that permits for an electrical cord having at least about 180 degrees of rotation about a pivot point and operable at elevated wattage levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Helen of Troy L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond Tang, Michael Cafaro
  • Patent number: 6925728
    Abstract: A grooming device having a first unit and upper hand-held unit connected to the first unit is disclosed. A vacuum unit in the first unit creates a vacuum air flow in a vacuum chamber in the hand-held unit, while a heating unit in the first unit generates a heated air flow to a heat chamber in the hand-held unit. The heat chamber and vacuum chamber are contained within a vessel in the hand-held unit. The heat chamber is separated from the vacuum chamber by a wall having regularly spaced pores. When both the vacuum unit and heating unit of the device are switched on, the vacuum flow in the vacuum chamber pulls heated air from the heat chamber through pores in the wall so that dry, heated air flows along the length of the vessel. Thus, hair placed in the vacuum chamber of the hand-held unit is exposed to the combined effect of the vacuum and flow of heated air. In a further embodiment, the wall of the vacuum chamber is heated by a heating element thereby causing the vacuum flow to be heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventors: Kathleen M. Busa, Car line Busa, Mark Andre Colbért
  • Patent number: 6922909
    Abstract: By providing a plurality of portals in a housing which forms a hair dryer attachment which is merely fixed to the exist portal of any conventional hair dryer, a hair dryer attachment is realized which is capable of substantially reducing the drying time required for drying the hair of any individual, while also being easily employed and comfortable. In the preferred embodiment, at least one raised, sloping panel is formed adjacent the inlet portal of the attachment with the panel sloping outwardly from the generally circular shaped inlet portal. In addition, a plurality of apertures or portals are formed in the panel for enabling ambient air to freely flow therethrough. In this way, the heated air flowing through the central portion of the attachment creates a low-pressure zone on the inside surface of the portals, drawing ambient air through the portals into the interior of the hair dryer attachment, thereby enabling the quantity of the air reaching the hair of the user is substantially increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Rovcal, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Andrew, Gregg A. Micinilio, Richard Neil Tobin, John Wilcox
  • Patent number: 6910281
    Abstract: A hair drier having the capability of efficiently supplying hot air and minus ions from different outlets is provided. This hair drier has a hollow housing with an air suction inlet and an air outlet. In the housing, a fan and a heater are disposed in an air-flow channel formed between the air suction inlet and the air outlet. The air sucked in the housing by the fan is heated by the heater, and then ejected from the air outlet. The housing also has an ion-flow channel formed as an independent flow channel from the air-flow channel, and an ion outlet provided at a different position from the air outlet to eject minus ions generated by the minus ion generator. The minus ion generator is disposed in the ion-flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kengo Ito
  • Patent number: 6895686
    Abstract: Hairdryer-ionizing device assembly including a box-like body for holding a suction part, a fan, a driving motor, a heater, an air flow outlet part, an electric switch assembly and an ion emitting device comprising a high voltage generator, from AC to DC, which is electrically coupled to an electrode, and being characterized in that the high voltage generator device is arranged at an intermediate region between the suction part and the air flow outlet part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventor: Roberto Sabbatini
  • Patent number: 6842581
    Abstract: Body Drier with a plurality of cylindrical housings, each housing retaining a heating coil, a fan blade, an electric fan motor, a fan bracket and a fan grill. Each cylindrical fan housing assembly is attached to the one above it by means of standard electrical connectors. The cylindrical housings each have a cut out portion to allow warm air to flow out from the fan. Each cut out portion is covered by a grill. The cylindrical housings each have a standard bayonet type attachment so that the housings can be attached one on top of the other creating a tower. The tower secured in an upright position by a base plate. A single power cord exits from the base plate so that the attached plug can be inserted into a standard wall socket. The body drier includes a standard oscillating mechanism that causes the tower to oscillate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Inventor: Neil Schafer
  • Publication number: 20040231180
    Abstract: A durable and maneuverable hand-held or small home appliance having a swivel structure attached at the end handle of the appliance to permit the electrical cord to pivot about the handle of the appliance. Further contemplated by the present disclosure is a swivel structure that permits for an electrical cord having at least about 180 degrees of rotation about a pivot point and operable at elevated wattage levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: Helen of Troy L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond Tang, Michael Cafaro
  • Publication number: 20040211082
    Abstract: Having batteries as its primary power source, the Freedom Hair Dryer uses heating coils 10, 15, and 20, or any combination thereof, to generate heat. By connecting the A/C adapter to the A/C adapter inlet 98, you can use A/C current as your secondary power source. With the aid of heat convection material 50, the heat is intensified before being passed on through a heat transfer hose 35, and into a cap 45. All of the parts are protected against heat with heat resistant material 65. The dryer has a pouch which stores the cap 45, and heat transfer hose 35, when they are not being used. This same pouch in FIG. 3, can also be used to carry personal effects when travelling beyond the house. The unit has a cigarette lighter adapter for use in a vehicle. The pouch in FIG. 3 can interchange with the fan section in FIG. 2. The fan 60, helps to accelerate the drying process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventor: Lewis R. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20040181962
    Abstract: A hair styling attachment including a main housing and at least a pair of hair treating members, the hair treating member includes at least a thermally conductive hair treating surface, the pair of hair treating members being adjacently disposed with the corresponding hair treating surfaces on the pair of adjacent hair treating members generally in compressive contact, the corresponding hair treating surfaces on the pair of adjacent hair treating members being relatively displaceable to form a gap for receiving the hair to be treated, the main housing includes an air inlet and the hair treating surface being communicable with the air inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventor: Wing Kin Chan
  • Patent number: 6792692
    Abstract: A hair dryer includes an air outlet portion, a holding portion, a start switch, an airflow rate control switch, an airflow rate indication portion, an input power control switch, and an input power indication portion. Thus, when the user presses the start switch, the hair dryer will start to perform with its previous setting in memory for the airflow rate and its power input. And when the user presses the airflow rate control switch or the input power control switch, the system enters the manual control mode, and is forced into the safety mode immediately, so that the user can adjust the input power and the airflow rate according to the preset safety values, thereby achieving the safe requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Manica-Thai Corp., Ltd
    Inventors: Noriaki Takizawa, Feng-Chih Liao
  • Publication number: 20040172847
    Abstract: A hair dryer is provided, which includes a housing having an air outlet, fan disposed in the housing, a pair of air flow channels extending toward the air outlet in the housing, a partition wall for separating the channels from each other, heater disposed in only one of the channels, and a minus-ion generator disposed in the other channel. The partition wall is formed by a tubular member, which is disposed in the housing such that one of the channels is provided by an inner space of the tubular member, and the other channel is provided by a clearance between an inner surface of the housing and an outer surface of the tubular member. Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously provide a cold air flow with minus ions and a hot air flow from the air outlet, and thereby efficiently perform hair styling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Itaru Saida, Kiyoshi Takashima, Kenji Kamada, Hiroyuki Takano, Kengo Ito, Akinobu Mizuta, Takashi Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20040168337
    Abstract: A hands-free dryer moves over a wide range of angles in order to dry the surface of a person's hair or body. The position of the dryer is controlled by a preprogrammed or programmable control unit freeing a user to use their hands to complete other activities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Caitlyn Curtin
  • Patent number: 6784775
    Abstract: A safety switch apparatus for disabling the operation of a hand-held appliance, e.g., a hair dryer, during periods of nonuse such as when the appliance is put down on a prescribed surface or placed in a non-functional position such as being held under a user's arm. In a first implementation, a sensor is coupled to control circuitry within the appliance to remove power from portions of the device, e.g., its motor and/or heater, when the appliance is proximate to an externally-provided magnetic field preferably provided from a magnetic element typically contained within a pad placeable on a work surface, within the work surface, or a wearable piece of clothing. In a second implementation, the converse occurs, i.e., a sensor is used to sense the presence of a user and to disable operation when the user is no longer present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: LJM Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Joan Golden Mandell, Lee Jay Mandell, Richard David Mandell
  • Patent number: 6782636
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a hot air generator having hand fastening means; projecting therefrom there is a rigid tube with a lower outlet, tilted so as to face the hair, and a rotatably mounted flexible hose, attached in the same manner at its other end and having a handgrip provided with an internal tube; the distal end of said internal tube can be alternately attached either to a brush intended for brushing purposes, having aeration holes in its body, or to a flat surface ironing accessory, said accessory being complemented by a similar and opposed accessory connected to the rigid tube, so that any of the two operations may be conducted with only one hand; the first operation by directing the air flow from the rigid tube towards the hair external layers while carrying out the styling and drying operations of the hair internal layers by means of the cylindrical brush, and the second operation, by contacting the flat area of the rigid tube ironing accessory, heated by the latter, with the external layer
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Beatriz Monica Feldman
  • Publication number: 20040159002
    Abstract: A hairdryer having a body with a handle portion and a head portion is provided. The handle portion has an ergonomically shape and a control interface. The head portion has an inlet end defining an air inlet and an outlet end defining an air outlet. The head portion also has a blower for drawing air into the inlet, to direct the fluid air through the head portion, and force the fluid air out the outlet. The head portion also has one or more primary heaters for heating the fluid air as it passes through the head portion and one or more secondary heaters for selectively providing radiant energy to the fluid air as it exits the head portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Applicant: CONAIR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vito James Carlucci, Duane Charles Hein
  • Patent number: 6775922
    Abstract: A hair dryer attachment system provides a dryer and a plurality of attachments. A fastening mechanism is provided so that multiple attachments are each securable to the generally circular or ovate dryer barrel using the same fastening technology. Each of the attachments forms part of the barrel, and when used with the preferred present shortened barrel, a so-called “standard-length” drier is provided which provides the additional benefits of the respective attachments, without being overly long so as to be cumbersome during use. Each attachment features an apron which is supported by the barrel and, with engagement formations on the barrel and complementary formations on the apron, the attachment is releasably secured to the barrel. Aeration barrel and finger/comb attachments are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Wahl Clipper Corporation
    Inventors: Luther D. Langley, James E. McCambridge
  • Patent number: 6766590
    Abstract: A hand held drying device has a body with a front air outlet. A heater, motor and fan are contained in the body. A shroud covers at least a portion of the body, with at least one passage defined between the shroud and the body for communicating air to the fan from at least one air inlet. The shroud reduces the level of noise generated when operating the drying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Wahl Clipper Corporation
    Inventors: Nicolo Altamore, James E. McCambridge
  • Patent number: 6763606
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying ionized particles is disclosed. The apparatus includes an ionized particle emitter for emitting ionized particles against an object; and an electric potential maintainer for maintaining electric potential of the object at a predetermined level such that the ionized particles emitted against the object by the ionized particle emitter are continuously attracted to the object while the electric potential is maintained. A method for applying ionized particles is also disclosed. The method includes emitting ionized particles against an object, and maintaining electric potential of the object at a predetermined level such that the ionized particles are continuously attracted to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Itaru Saida
  • Publication number: 20040128853
    Abstract: A moisturizing hairdressing apparatus, which has a main unit for generating steam to moisturize one's hair and a handpiece movably attached to the main unit. In this moisturizing hairdressing apparatus, the handpiece is provided with a steam injecting unit and a negative ion injecting unit. The steam injecting unit injects the steam supplied by the main unit, and the negative ion injecting unit injects negative ions. In this apparatus, injection of either steam or negative ions or simultaneous injection of both can be selected, and injection and suspension of injection can be locally controlled by a trigger switch or a selecting switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Ura, Makoto Hayashida
  • Patent number: 6751886
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a duct having a fluid outlet for fluid propelled through the duct and a container positions a substance for diffusion into the fluid through an opening. A movable valve selectively places the opening in fluid communication with the fluid in the duct and seals the opening to prevent introduction of the substance into the fluid. In a particularly advantageous embodiment the apparatus is a blow dryer in which a heating element disposed in the duct heats air flowing therethrough. The substance can be a fragrance or a conditioner introduced into the air stream. According to other aspects of the invention, the container is interchangeable with containers containing other substances, such as different fragrances, and is completely sealed when the blow dryer is not in use. In another embodiment, a container attached to the duct ejects the substance in a spray external of the duct proximate to the duct outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Vivrant, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Timothy Chang, Sherwood Forlee, Eugene Hans Kung, Kaijen Hsiao, Flavio Poehlmann-Martins
  • Patent number: 6750747
    Abstract: A safety switch apparatus for disabling operation of a hand-carried appliance, e.g., a hair dryer, during periods of nonuse such as when the appliance is put down on a prescribed surface or placed in a non-functional position such as being held under a user's arm. In preferred embodiments, a sensor, e.g., a hall effect sensor, a magnetoresistive sensor, a reed switch, or the like, is coupled to control circuitry within the appliance to remove power from portions of the device, e.g., its motor and/or heater, when the appliance is proximate to an externally-provided magnetic field preferably provided from a magnetic element typically contained within a pad placeable on a work surface, within the work surface, or a wearable piece of clothing. In a further feature of a preferred embodiment, power is restored when the apparatus is removed from the magnetic field. However after a sustained detection period, operation ceases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: LJM Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Joan Golden Mandell, Lee Jay Mandell
  • Patent number: 6749672
    Abstract: A scenting device for use with airflow conduits. The scenting device has a porous first member enclosed at a periphery thereof by a frame. A mounting means is used to removably yet securely attach the scenting device to an air filter or ventilation cover in existing heating, ventilating, air conditioning systems in addition to use with hair dryers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Inventor: Cathy A. Lynn
  • Publication number: 20040103553
    Abstract: A portable self-contained hair drying helmet is taught that has thermal storage, desiccants, and thin lithium ion polymer batteries to allow one to dry their hair while walking around and performing personal and household duties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Mollie Beth Kroll, Mark W. Kroll
  • Patent number: 6739071
    Abstract: A hand-held hair dryer including a handle, a body connected to the handle portion, a barrel connected to the body portion and having an inner member defining a first air passageway, an outer member slidably coupled to the inner member and defining a second air passageway that is substantially parallel to the first air passageway, a shutter coupled to the inner member and movable in response to sliding of the outer member with respect to the inner member to selectively direct air through the first air passageway and the second air passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Andis Company
    Inventors: Matthew L. Andis, Thomas C. Maddocks, Albert Wan
  • Publication number: 20040093756
    Abstract: There is provided a filter for use with a hair air-styling device and a method for maintaining and/or replacing such a filter. The filter has a frame for detachably retaining a flexible screening fabric so as to form an air permeable wall. The filter is telescopically connected to the hair air-styling device so as to provide a user selective access to the filter, thereby enabling the user to quickly visually ascertain the condition of the filter, and, if needed, to easily clean and/or remove and replace the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: CONAIR CIP, INC.
    Inventors: Vito James Carlucci, Henri Christophe Frederic Joseph Smal
  • Publication number: 20040088878
    Abstract: A hair dryer attachment system provides a dryer and a plurality of attachments. A fastening mechanism is provided so that multiple attachments are each securable to the generally circular or ovate dryer barrel using the same fastening technology. Each of the attachments forms part of the barrel, and when used with the preferred present shortened barrel, a so-called “standard-length” drier is provided which provides the additional benefits of the respective attachments, without being overly long so as to be cumbersome during use. Each attachment features an apron which is supported by the barrel and, with engagement formations on the barrel and complementary formations on the apron, the attachment is releasably secured to the barrel. Aeration barrel and finger/comb attachments are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: Wahl Clipper Corporation
    Inventors: Luther D. Langley, James E. McCambridge
  • Patent number: 6732450
    Abstract: An electrothermal rack of a hair dryer includes a main body including a plurality of support wings each having a mediate portion formed with a positioning section formed with a plurality of inner insertion recesses. Each of the support wings has an outer side formed with a protruding plate formed with a plurality of outer insertion recesses. Each of the support wings is formed with a slideway between the positioning section and the protruding plate. Thus, the electrothermal body forms a multi-loop inner layer and a multi-loop outer layer around the support wings to increase the heating area of the electrothermal rack, thereby enhancing the heating efficiency of the hair dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Inventor: Shu-Lien Chen
  • Patent number: 6732449
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a blower dryer appliance typically used for drying and styling hair. When electrically activated, these appliances virtually always route electrical power to the fan or blower motor prior to or simultaneously with the heating element(s). Semiconducting switching devices used for regulating, controlling and/or switching electrical power generate waste heat that must be dissipated. Typically, heat is conducted and/or channeled away from the semiconducting switching device through a heat sink which is thermodynamic-mechanically coupled to the device. The greater the coverage area of the heat sink, the more waste heat can be dissipated depending on the ability of the heat sink to make contact with cooler, ambient air. This adds costs to the dryer/blower for engineering the heat sink, cost of the sink itself, and necessary design changes in the dryer/blower for accommodating the sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Inventor: Walter Evanyk
  • Publication number: 20040083620
    Abstract: An attachment for a handheld dryer includes a shell and a dryer barrel-receiving portion. A first passage is defined between the shell and the dryer and terminates in a shell inlet defined between the shell and the dryer barrel. The present attachment may be useful to increase volumetric flow and/or velocity of flow from a handheld dryer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Wahl Clipper Corporation
    Inventors: James E. McCambridge, Scott A. Melton, Luther D. Langley
  • Publication number: 20040078992
    Abstract: A gas combustion type hair drier 1 includes a gas tank 29, for storing combustion gas, a combustor 11 for combusting combustion gas supplied from the gas tank 29, a blower 17 exchanging heat resulting from the combustor 11, a dry battery 31 serving as a power supply to rotate a motor 19 of the blower 17, an igniter device for igniting the combustion gas, an ejector 7 for allowing outside air to be drawn due to negative pressure created by a flow speed of the combustion gas to be supplied to the combustor 11, and a casing 3 that receives the combustor 11, the blower 17 and the ejector 7, with the combustor 11 having a plurality of combustion chambers 85 comprised of non-circular outer peripheral walls around a periphery of a gas combustor section 73.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventor: Akinobu Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 6725562
    Abstract: The hair dryer includes a housing body that includes an air intake opening and an air outlet opening. The air outlet opening includes a non-ionized air outlet opening and an ionized air outlet opening. A fan is disposed within the housing body for introducing air into the housing body through the air intake opening and directing the air to the air outlet opening. An ionized air passage mechanism is formed within the housing body and is connected to the ionized air outlet opening. An air ionizing device is disposed within the ionized air passage mechanism for generating ionized air. Under this configuration, ionized air generated by the air ionizing device is discharged from the ionized air outlet opening and non-ionized air is discharged through the non-ionized air outlet opening such that both ionized air and non-ionized air are blown together from the air outlet openings of the hairdryer against hair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakagawa, Takahiro Kumode
  • Patent number: 6724984
    Abstract: A hair treatment promoting apparatus in which a reflector provided with a heater for radiating infrared rays is rotated by a motor so that the infrared rays are radiated to the top, back and both sides of a head of a subject. The heater and reflecting plate form a heating device rotated by the motor and a disk is provided which rotates with the motor. The disk is provided with a slit for a home position and slits for stopping arranged on both sides thereof, and energization of the motor is interrupted when the slit for the home position is detected within a prescribed time elapsed from when the slit for stopping is detected in the direction of rotating the heating device, thereby stopping the heating device at the home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Takara Belmont Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Kakuya, Keiji Ito, Hironori Mitsui, Koji Yamane, Tomofumi Horio, Masakazu Katsumata
  • Patent number: 6718651
    Abstract: The invention relates to a portable, cordless, hair dryer/blower that has an elongated hollow body portion with a mass center line and including therein a blower motor and a heating element and having a posterior end and an anterior end. A handle portion has a longitudinal axis extending substantially transversally from and along the mass center line of the elongated body portion. The handle portion includes switch controls for operating the heating element and the blower motor. A power source has a flat base and a mass center line that, when the power source is attached to the handle portion lies substantially along the longitudinal axis of the handle and the mass center line of the elongated body portion to provide power to the manual controls and to provide a flat base structure for enabling the hair dryer/blower to stand alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventors: Louis Perez, Walter Evanyk
  • Patent number: 6715215
    Abstract: There is disclosed an electric hair dryer (10) including a body (12) with a rear end (16) allowing entry of air into the body (12), a front end (18) allowing exit of the air from the body (12), two cover plates (20) secured with the body (12), in which the cover plates (20) are movable between a first position in which at least part of the rear end (16) is blocked by the cover plates (20) and a second position in which the rear end (16) is unobstructed by the cover plates (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Luen Electrical Mfg. Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki Cheong Yeung
  • Patent number: 6691429
    Abstract: There is provided a stand for use with a hand held hair dryer. The stand selectively cooperates with a handle of the hand held hair dryer to form a tripod and enable a user to operate the hand held hair dryer in a hands-free manner. The stand can telescopically cooperate with the hand held hair dryer in such a manner to allow the hand held hair dryer to be selectively, tilted, angled and/or positioned when rested on or supported against a surface. The stand provides a user with greater flexibility in use and enhances the effectiveness/efficiency of the hand held hair dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Conair Corporation
    Inventors: Vito James Carlucci, Jong Sik Lim, Henri Christophe Frederic Joseph Smal