Compact hair dryer with replaceable styling attachments
A hair dryer has a cylindrical body with an open forward end. A turbine-like fan, a motor and a heater within the housing are powered by a power source in the housing. Several attachments may be replaceably substituted on the housing to achieve different functions, including: a retractable bristle brush through which air can flow from the cylindrical body; a comb having a hollow spine with a plurality of hollow teeth projecting from one side thereof and through which air can flow from the body; and a flexible nozzle that is bendable to direct air from the cylindrical housing in a desired direction. The nozzle has an outer end constructed to form a plurality of axially projecting fingers that can be used to separate hair as it is being dried with the dryer.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application 61/209,378, filed Mar. 6, 2009.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to hair dryers, and more particularly to a compact blower for drying hair, wherein replaceable styling attachments, including a styling brush with retractable bristles, may be quickly and easily placed on the dryer.
BACKGROUND ARTA variety of devices that blow air to dry hair are known in the prior art. Some of these devices include styling attachments that enable the user to style the hair while it is being dried. Examples of such devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat Nos. 6,775,922, 6,782,636, 6,922,909, 7,124,763 and 7,264,004. These devices tend to be bulky and inconvenient to carry. They also are relatively complex and expensive in construction and can be awkward to use.
Brushes for styling hair also are known in the art, including brushes having a round cross-section, with bristles projecting radially outwardly from the brush around its circumference. These brushes are commonly used to curl hair by winding or wrapping the hair around the brush, and in most cases applying heat and/or one or more hair treatment solutions to set the curl. While such brushes are effective for the intended purpose, the disadvantage is that they are difficult to remove from the curl without disturbing it. The only way to remove the brush is to pull it axially out of the curl, either with or without first unrolling or partially unrolling the curl. In either event, strands of hair are enmeshed in the bristles of the brush and the curl or other style imparted to the hair is damaged.
In an effort to solve this problem, brushes have been designed that have retractable bristles so that after the curl is formed the bristles can be retracted and the brush pulled axially out of the curl without disturbing the styled hair. Exemplary of such prior art brushes are those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,962,742, 4,191,200, 4,467,821 and 4,596,261. While these brushes do solve the problem of withdrawing the styling brush after the curl or other style is formed, they are relatively complex and expensive in construction, and/or are relatively difficult to operate.
There is need for a compact hair dryer that may be conveniently carried, that is simple and inexpensive in construction, easy to use, and that has easily replaceable styling attachments, including a styling brush with retractable bristles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is a compact hair dryer that may be conveniently carried, that is simple and inexpensive in construction, easy to use, and that has easily replaceable styling attachments, including a styling brush with retractable bristles.
The hair dryer of the invention has a compact cylindrical shape and may be conveniently carried in a purse or similar receptacle. Further, it may be battery operated or plugged into an outlet. It can have multiple speed and temperature settings, and preferably does not produce a maximum temperature that would be injurious or uncomfortable to the user.
The attachments include a comb that has hollow teeth through which air is circulated from the blower. Movement of the teeth through wet hair while air is circulated through the teeth and into the hair facilitates the drying process and aids in detangling the hair.
Another attachment is a flexible nozzle that can be reoriented in any direction. The nozzle has hair separating fingers on its free end
The attachments also include a styling brush with retractable bristles that enable the hair to be wound around the brush to form a curl, and when it is desired to remove the brush from the styled hair a single finger or the thumb on the hand holding the dryer with brush attachment can be used to retract the bristles so that the brush can be pulled from the styled hair without disturbing it.
The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
A dryer 10 with a retractable bristle brush attachment 11 according to a first form of the invention is shown in
In a preferred construction the dryer is very compact and convenient to carry and use, being only about 5 to 6 inches long and 1 to 1.25 inches in diameter.
The retractable bristle brush attachment 11 also comprises a cylindrical housing 30 of approximately the same size as the housing 12 of the dryer, and has a forward closed end 31 and an open rearward end 32. The end 32 is adapted to attach to the forward open end 13 of the dryer by any suitable means, such as a friction fit as shown in
An alternate attachment is shown in
A further form of attachment is shown in
Although particular embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described in detail herein, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention.
Claims
1. A hair dryer comprising:
- a cylindrical body having an open forward end and a closed rearward end with at least one air intake opening;
- a motor and heater coils within the housing;
- a power source in the housing, said power source connected with the motor and heater coils for supplying power thereto;
- a fan connected to be driven by the motor, said fan comprising turbine-like blades;
- a screen extending across the open end of the housing to prevent undesired entry of materials or objects into the housing, said screen being recessed in the open end of the housing;
- switches accessible on the exterior of the housing for controlling supply of power from the power source to the blower and heater, respectively; and
- a retractable bristle brush attachment replaceably attached to the open forward end of the housing for flow of air from the cylindrical body and through the brush.
2. A hair dryer comprising:
- a cylindrical body having an open forward end and a closed rearward end with at least one air intake opening;
- a motor and heater coils within the housing;
- a power source in the housing, said power source connected with the motor and heater coils for supplying power thereto;
- a fan connected to be driven by the motor, said fan comprising turbine-like blades;
- a screen extending across the open end of the housing to prevent undesired entry of materials or objects into the housing, said screen being recessed in the open end of the housing;
- switches accessible on the exterior of the housing for controlling supply of power from the power source to the blower and heater, respectively; and
- a comb attachment replaceably attached to the open forward end of the housing, said comb comprising a hollow back or spine with a plurality of hollow teeth projecting from one side thereof, said teeth having one or more openings extending through the sides thereof, so that when the dryer is operated air flows through the spine and outwardly through the teeth into the hair.
3. A hair dryer comprising:
- a cylindrical body having an open forward end and a closed rearward end with at least one air intake opening;
- a motor and heater coils within the housing;
- a power source in the housing, said power source connected with the motor and heater coils for supplying power thereto;
- a fan connected to be driven by the motor, said fan comprising turbine-like blades;
- a screen extending across the open end of the housing to prevent undesired entry of materials or objects into the housing, said screen being recessed in the open end of the housing;
- switches accessible on the exterior of the housing for controlling supply of power from the power source to the blower and heater, respectively; and
- a flexible nozzle attachment replaceably attached to the open forward end of the cylindrical body, said nozzle attachment being bendable to direct air from the cylindrical housing in a desired direction, said nozzle attachment having an outer end constructed to form a plurality of axially projecting fingers that can be used to separate hair as it is being dried with the dryer.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 8, 2010
Publication Date: Oct 21, 2010
Inventor: Charlotte Wynne (Topanga, CA)
Application Number: 12/659,415
International Classification: A45D 20/12 (20060101);