Abstract: The present invention relates to a hair straightening apparatus having two arms pivotably coupled together and a heating plate on a facing side of at least one arm. A flexible protective rim substantially surrounds the periphery of a hair contacting surface of each heating plate.

Abstract: A cleaner head that includes an agitator in the form of a brush bar, the brush bar including a sealing material extending over the circumferential and axial extent of the brush bar, the sealing material including a tufted material, and a housing defining a chamber which at least partially surrounds the brush bar, a dirty air inlet in a lower part of the chamber and a front opening that exposes the brush bar at the front of the housing, the brush bar being supported for rotation with respect to the housing and arranged in the chamber, wherein a partition is arranged within the chamber between the brush bar and an outlet of the chamber, the partition extends transversely and divides the chamber into an agitating region and a settling chamber, and the partition includes a wall that extends tangentially to the brush bar and is inclined rearwardly.

Abstract: A hand dryer comprising an elongate air-knife discharge outlet for discharging an air-knife across the width of a user's hand held flat in front of the outlet, thereby mechanically to scrape water from the hand as the hand is moved lengthwise relative to the air-knife. The elongate air-knife discharge outlet comprises a straight section for facing the palm or back of the user's hand and a curved, wrap-around end section for extending at least part way around one of the sides of the user's hands. The geometry of the air-knife discharge outlet creates a flow profile which targets the side of the hand with a relatively high-velocity jet of air effective in particular for drying the area around the thumb of a user.

Abstract: A hand held appliance, such as a hairdryer, includes a body, a fluid flow path extending through the body in an axial direction from a first fluid inlet through which a first fluid flow enters the appliance to a first fluid outlet for emitting the first fluid flow from the appliance, a primary fluid flow path extending from a second fluid inlet through which a primary fluid flow enters the appliance to a second fluid outlet, a section of the primary fluid flow path extending through the body in the axial direction and surrounding the fluid flow path, and a heater located within the section of the primary fluid flow path for heating fluid passing through the primary fluid flow path, and wherein the heater has a length extending in the axial direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wall-mountable hand dryer of the type which uses an air-knife to wipe the water from a user's hand. In accordance with the invention, the hand dryer is configured to have a maximum depth, front-to-back, of less than 150 mm when it is surface-mounted on—rather than recessed within—the wall. The dryer has a projecting part which projects outwardly either from the wall or from a rear part of the dryer, and the air-knife is directed downwardly onto the user's hand as it is passed lengthwise underneath the projecting part of the dryer. The air knife is discharged through one or more discharge apertures, and these discharge apertures are positioned towards the front of the projecting part so that they are spaced at least 75 mm from the wall or, as the case may be, the rear part of the dryer.

Abstract: A hand held appliance, such as a hairdryer, includes a body, a duct, a fluid flow path extending through the duct from a first fluid inlet of the appliance to a first fluid outlet of the appliance. A primary fluid flow path extends from a second fluid inlet through which a primary fluid flow enters the appliance to a second fluid outlet. A fan unit is located in the primary fluid flow path for drawing fluid through the second fluid inlet. A filter is located in the primary fluid flow path. Fluid is drawn through the fluid flow path by fluid emitted from the second fluid outlet. A heater is provided in the body and extends at least partially along and around the duct.

Abstract: A support for a hair care appliance, the support including a stand portion that includes an aperture that extends through the stand portion and a collar that extends around the aperture, wherein the collar is adapted to retain an appliance with respect to the aperture so that fluid exiting the appliance is in fluid communication with the aperture of stand portion. The stand portion may include a first side and a second side wherein the first side is adapted to receive and retain the appliance. The collar may at least partially define an inner periphery of the aperture. The collar may include a first ring which at least partially defines the inner periphery of the aperture. The collar may include a second ring disposed radially inwards of the first ring.

Abstract: A hairdryer including: a handle; a body comprising a duct extending within the body; a fluid flow path extending through the duct from a fluid inlet through which a fluid flow enters the hairdryer to a fluid outlet for emitting the fluid flow from a front end of the body; a primary fluid flow path extending at least partially through the body from a primary fluid inlet through which a primary fluid flow enters the hairdryer to an annular primary fluid outlet at a front end of the body; a fan unit for drawing the primary fluid flow through the primary fluid inlet; and an attachment for adjusting at least one parameter of fluid emitted from the hairdryer, the attachment being attachable to the hairdryer so that the attachment protrudes from the front end of the body, wherein the attachment is configured to inhibit the generation of the fluid flow.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wall-mountable hand dryer of the type which uses an air-knife to wipe the water from a user's hand. In accordance with the invention, the hand dryer is configured to have a maximum depth, front-to-back, of less than 150 mm when it is surface-mounted on—not recessed within—the wall. The air-knife is discharged downwardly through one or more discharge apertures on the dryer. These discharge apertures are configured so that the air-knife is discharged in front of the wall or a rear part of the dryer, and is discharged forwards towards the user at a downward angle. The downward angle of the air-knife is such that the air-knife projects to a distance of at least 75 mm in front of the wall or, as the case may be, in front of the rear part of the dryer.