Hair Dryer Apparatus

Abstract

A hair dryer apparatus includes a housing with a surrounding sidewall having an inner surface defining an interior and an opposing outer surface, further the sidewall having an inlet and an opposing outlet. In addition, the hair dryer apparatus includes a motor driven blower disposed within the interior, the blower drives airflow from the inlet to the outlet. Additionally, the hair dryer apparatus includes a handle in the form of a clevis shape with the clevis shape having a pair of symmetrically opposed arcuate extensions that have a common origination from a handle stem extension portion that has an opposing free end portion, each arcuate extension terminates in a pivotal connection to the inlet outer surface, the pivotal connections are about a pivotal axis. Operationally, the handle stem extension in a longwise manner has a pivotal movement range from being co-axial to the airflow to being perpendicular to the airflow.

Description

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

There are no related patent applications.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a hair dryer apparatus that is hand held for the purpose of drying human hair. More particularly, the present invention of the portable hair dryer apparatus has a pivotally adjustable handle, interchangeable brush heads, and noise attenuation features.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Hair dryers that are portable and hand-held typically have two classifications, a first classification being for personal individual use and a second for professional salon use. The personal use hair dryer is usually used once daily in a person's home, wherein the design objective is primarily low cost resulting in minimal features suitable for the occasional use of the hair dryer by the individual. Thus, the personal hair dryer would have a simple fixed integral handle, no removably engagable brush attachments, lack any provision for sound attenuation, and further usually no effort is put into having an ergonomic handle that is designed to balance the center of gravity of the hair dryer for minimal hand and wrist fatigue.

Wherein, with the second classification for the professional hair dryer that would be typically used 30 or so times a day by the same stylist in a salon environment with numerous other stylists, thus using the hair dryer at a rate of about 30 times of what the personal hair dryer would be used by an individual. Thus, a number of additional factors come into play with the professional hair dryer, such as usage durability, hand and wrist stress/fatigue with holding and using the hair dryer many times per day in having issues similar to the well-known carpal-tunnel syndrome from a high number of repetitive hand and wrist motions, further the increased noise from up to 30 or so hair dryers operating simultaneously in the same environmental space can be also fatiguing as well as possibly causing hearing damage. As fan noise is primarily related to air velocity, such that higher velocity equals higher noise, which is what the personal hair dryers have to reduce costs, such that having smaller size air flow passageways reduces the housing size and cost while higher air velocity requires less heating element insulation also reducing cost, however, with the result that the hair dryer makes more noise. Thus the personal dryer outputs a high temperature flow of high velocity air that works well for what most personal users want being that the hair dryer is primarily a fast hair blow drying appliance and not primarily used for hair styling which would more encompass salon use.

Thus with the professional hair dryer, styling is more of a primary use, in desiring the removably engagable brushes, wherein slower drying of hair would also be desirable. Further, with the professional hair dryer an enhanced design could include features such as an ergonomically designed handle that through variable structure would be able to alter positional orientations as between the hair dryer outlet and the operator's hand and wrist to reduce fatigue of the hand and wrist. In addition, design could be done to attenuate the noise produced outside of the hair dryer enclosure or housing, and having removably engagable brushes for operator convenience to quickly and easily change brush types for hair styling. Naturally these enhancements to the professional hair dryer would add cost, however, it is anticipated that the professional operators or users would pay more for a value added product, being an analogy with mechanics tools, wherein the personal occasional tool user can get by with low quality low cost tools, wherein someone who makes their living using tools daily will benefit from higher quality tools and thus will pay for them.

In looking at the prior art in the hair dryer area, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,724 to Depoyian disclosed is a hair dryer that has interchangeable brush heads that are removably engagable to the dryer body, wherein the brush heads are hollow that allow the hair dryer air to flow therethrough the brush bristles, see FIGS. 1, 4, 8, and 9. In Depoyian, the hair dryer also can have a pivotable handle, see FIG. 11, that allows an electrical power wire through a slot to facilitate the handle pivotal movement in relation to the hair dryer body, see FIG. 14 with only the disclosed ability to lock the handle at only the in-line and right angle positions, see FIG. 2A. Further, in Depoyian the handle pivotal locks are structured to be V-shaped projections that are ninety degrees apart that are matched to a pair of recesses for the purpose of locking the pivotal handle in only the two positions only at the in-line and right angle, see FIGS. 11, 13, 14, and 15.

Further, in looking at the prior art in the hair dryer area, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,556 to Crowley, et al., disclosed is a hair-drying appliance having a cylindrical housing and a handle rotatably mounted at one end thereof for movement between a first position generally perpendicular to the housing and a second position in longitudinal alignment with the housing. In Crowley, a single locking lever is provided for latching the handle in either of its positions wherein the appliance has a first air outlet at one end of the cylindrical housing and a second air outlet in the side wall of the housing adjacent the first air outlet. Further, in Crowley an adaptor, which is mountable on the housing adjacent the second air outlet only when the handle is in its second aligned position, has a plate portion for blocking the first air outlet and means for supporting comb and brush attachments thereon. Crowley has a two position handle being for use as a pistol gun type handle arrangement or as an elongated straight bodied dryer only. Crowley also teaches multiple attachments for brushes and combs that the air can blow therethrough.

Continuing, in the portable hair dryer arts, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,846,047 to Wada, et al., disclosed is a foldable hair dryer consisting of a hollow nozzle assembly made up of a cylindrical portion and tangentially extending nozzle coaxially fitted into a handle assembly having a cylindrical portion and tangentially extending handle, the two assemblies being generally symmetrical. In Wada, the thickness of the nozzle, handle and their associated cylindrical portions, measured axially, is approximately the same resulting in a compact, “flat” construction, see in particular FIG. 3.

Further in Wada, within the cylindrical portion of the nozzle assembly is mounted a motor and fan assembly also of “flat” configuration in which the blades of the fan are peripherally disposed about the motor wherein the nozzle is fitted with a heating element. The nozzle and handle assemblies in Wada are coaxially pivoted for movement between an operating condition, see FIG. 2 in which the nozzle and handle are in “L” configuration and a collapsed condition in which the nozzle and handle lie compactly side by side, see FIG. 3. Also, in Wada a switch on the handle is operated by the nozzle incident to the collapsing movement to insure that the motor and heating element are both turned off in the collapsed state, again see FIGS. 2 and 3. Thus in Wada the hair dryer is only foldable for portability purposes.

Moving onward in the portable hair dryer arts, in U.S. Pat. No. 8,813,384 to Correll, Jr., et al., disclosed is a hair dryer having a handle that may both be pivoted toward the dryer housing, and rotated with respect to the dryer housing so that the dryer may easily be operated in either a handle-held or nozzle-held mode, wherein the handle has two pivotal axes of movement. The hair dryer in Correll includes a dual axis joint assembly connecting the handle to the dryer housing that allows the handle to be rotated around its longitudinal axis before or during the time it is pivoted toward the dryer housing so that the control switch remains exposed and operable by a user when the handle is pivotally folded against the dryer body in preparation for nozzle-held operation, see FIGS. 6, 7, 11A, and 11B.

The dual axis joint assembly in Correll may include an eccentric mechanism that converts pivoting movement of the handle toward and away from the housing into rotational movement of said handle so that the handle turns 90 degrees when pivotally folded against the dryer housing, see the pictorial sequence in going from FIGS. 10 to 11A to 11B to 12. Additionally, Correll has the electrical cord connection for supplying power to the blower assembly within the dryer housing is mounted on the blower assembly portion of the housing opposite the nozzle instead of on the handle so that the electrical cord does not interfere with the nozzle held operation of the dryer, see FIG. 10. The primary advantage that Correll teaches is the adjustable movement of the control switches through handle rotational movement that is convenient when assuming different hand hold positions about the handle.

Next, in the portable hair dryer appliance arts specifically relating to noise reduction, in U.S. Pat. No. 8,307,948 to Parodi disclosed is a noise silencer device for a hair dryer that comprises a container structure exhibiting a plurality of inlet openings, an outlet opening, and a conduit connecting the inlet and outlet openings to one another and further comprising a ring made of sound-absorbent material that is inserted in the conduit such as to interfere with a flow of air between the inlet openings and the outlet opening in such a way as to at least partly attenuate sound vibrations associated to the air flow. The inlet openings in Parodi are made on a lateral wall of the container structure and face the axis such as to define an air flow along a first transversal direction to the axis such as to define a flow of air along a first transversal direction to the axis, and deviating means arranged in the conduit impress an axial deviation along the axis on the air flow coming from the inlet openings. Thus Parodi utilizes sound attenuation with enclosure modifications as opposed to reducing sound at the root source, wherein the teaching is strictly related to the inlet of the hair dryer via dampening noise vibrations within the inlet housing.

Further, in the hair dryer arts, again specifically relating to noise reduction, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,903 to Nosenchuck, disclosed an axial flow hair dryer that comprises a generally circular main housing with a transitional portion that smoothly reduces the housing diameter to an outlet. Nosenchuck has a first fan stage in the main housing generates an axial air flow through the housing, wherein an outer duct has two axial extensions secured to the housing near the beginning of the transitional portion, and the housing air outlet introduces air exiting the housing into the outer duct. The housing in Nosenchuck and the outer ducts form two additional ambient air intakes extending between the axial extensions in a smooth arc toward the main housing outlet with a second fan stage that includes a second axial flow impeller in the outer duct for generating air flow through the ambient air intake.

In Nosenchuck, the second axial flow impeller includes inner and outer blades separated by an annular shroud that forms an extension of the main housing flow passage. A guide duct in Nosenchuck, being in the outer duct forms a further extension of the extended air flow passage, and the guide duct includes stator vanes at its outlet. Further, Nosenchuck has a handle depending from the main housing that holds a motor and a flex shaft that connects the motor to a drive shaft that carries both fan stages. In addition, Nosenchuck has resistance heating wires in the main housing heat the air flowing through the hair dryer. Nosenchuck increases the mass flow rate of air via a two stage axial fan, thus reducing the need for higher rotating speed fans which of course helps keep the noise down.

What is needed is a hair dryer apparatus that is specifically designed for the professional salon user market having a multiple adjusting handle, balanced center of gravity design both for minimizing hand and wrist fatigue during frequent repeated uses. In addition, to accommodate hair styling and drying with removably engagable brushes, plus noise attenuation features for facilitating a more pleasing environment wherein numerous portable hair dryers are in use simultaneously in the same environmental space, such as in a salon.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Broadly, the present invention is a hair dryer apparatus that includes a housing with a surrounding sidewall that is about a longitudinal axis, the surrounding sidewall having an inner surface portion defining a sidewall interior and the surrounding sidewall having an opposing outer surface portion, further the surrounding sidewall having an inlet portion and an opposing outlet portion with the longitudinal axis spanning therebetween. In addition, the hair dryer apparatus includes a motor driven blower disposed within the surrounding sidewall interior; the blower is operational to drive airflow from the inlet portion therethrough the sidewall interior to the outlet portion.

Further included in the hair dryer apparatus includes is a handle in the form of a clevis shape with the clevis shape having a pair of symmetrically opposed arcuate extensions that have a common origination from a handle stem extension portion. Wherein the stem extension portion has an opposing free end portion, also each of the arcuate extensions terminate in a pivotal connection to the sidewall outer surface portion of the inlet portion, wherein the pivotal connections are along a common pivotal axis. Wherein operationally, the handle stem extension portion in a longwise manner along a longwise axis has a pivotal movement range from being co-axial to the longitudinal axis to being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side elevation view of the hair dryer apparatus that includes the housing, the handle that is in the perpendicular position of the longwise axis and the longitudinal axis, the inlet and outlet portions of the surrounding sidewall, and the structure for removable engagement of the electrical power communication;

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation view of the hair dryer apparatus that includes the housing, the handle that is in-between the perpendicular and parallel positions of the longwise axis and the longitudinal axis, the inlet and outlet portions of the surrounding sidewall, and the structure for removable engagement of the electrical power communication;

FIG. 3 shows a side elevation view of the hair dryer apparatus that includes the housing, the handle that is in the parallel or co-axial position of the longwise axis and the longitudinal axis, the inlet and outlet portions of the surrounding sidewall, and the structure for removable engagement of the electrical power communication;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the hair dryer apparatus that includes the housing, the handle that is in the parallel or co-axial position of the longwise axis and the longitudinal axis, the inlet and outlet portions of the surrounding sidewall, and the structure for removable engagement of the electrical power communication;

FIG. 5 shows cross sectional cut 5-5 from FIG. 4, wherein FIG. 5 shows detail of the inlet end portion of the sidewall that includes the annular baffle, the blower, the motor, the fluid communication from the external environment to the sidewall interior that goes into the inlet chamber, then to the central portion of the blower via an airflow transition then to an outer portion of the blower wherein sound abatement occurs, and then the airflow fluid communication going to the sidewall interior;

FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the hair dryer apparatus that includes the housing, the handle that is in the parallel or co-axial position of the longwise axis and the longitudinal axis, the inlet and outlet portions of the surrounding sidewall, the annular baffle, the structure for removable engagement of the brush, and the structure for removable engagement of the electrical power communication;

FIG. 7 shows an expanded perspective view of the handle pivotal attachment to the inlet portion of the surrounding sidewall that includes the corded electrical power communication with the electrical communication rotatable couple having the electrically conductive concentric slip rings that are slidably engaged to the electrically conductive fingers to facilitate electrical power communication therethrough the pivotal connection;

FIG. 8 is an end elevation view of the outlet end of the surrounding sidewall that includes the outlet margin with the structure to accommodate removable engagement of the brush with the handle in the perpendicular position of the longwise axis and the longitudinal axis;

FIG. 9 is an end elevation view of the outlet end of the surrounding sidewall that includes the brush engaged to the structure for removable engagement on the outlet margin of the surrounding sidewall with the handle in the perpendicular position of the longwise axis and the longitudinal axis, wherein the brush bristles and their airflow in relation to the hair is shown;

FIG. 10 shows cross section cut 10-10 from FIG. 9, wherein FIG. 10 shows the outlet end portion of the surrounding sidewall that includes the brush engaged to the structure for removable engagement on the outlet margin of the surrounding sidewall that shows in particular the brush bristles, the brush interior void, the radial openings in the brush, and the airflow in relation to the bristles, radial opening, and hair is shown;

FIG. 11 shows an exploded perspective view of FIG. 10, wherein FIG. 11 shows the outlet end portion of the surrounding sidewall that includes the brush dis-engaged to the structure for removable engagement adjacent to the outlet margin of the surrounding sidewall that shows in particular the brush bristles, the hair wrapped around the brush bristles, the brush interior void, the radial openings in the brush, and the removing and engaging of the brush to the outlet margin structure; and

FIG. 12 shows an exploded perspective view of the pivotal connection of the arcuate extension of the clevis shape of the handle that is about the pivotal axis that includes the means for locking the pivotal movement that includes a plurality of recesses and mating plurality of protrusions.

REFERENCE NUMBERS IN DRAWINGS

• 50 Hair dryer apparatus
• 55 External environment
• 60 Hair
• 65 Brush
• 70 External bristles of the brush 65
• 75 Interior void of the brush 65
• 80 Plurality of radial openings of the brush 65
• 85 Housing
• 90 Surrounding sidewall of the housing 85
• 95 Longitudinal axis of the surrounding sidewall 90
• 100 Inner surface portion of the surrounding sidewall 90
• 105 Interior of the surrounding sidewall 90
• 110 Outer surface portion of the surrounding sidewall 90
• 115 Inlet portion of the surrounding sidewall 90
• 120 Outlet portion of the surrounding sidewall 90
• 125 Outlet margin of the sidewall outlet 120
• 130 Structure to accommodate a removable engagement of the brush 65
• 135 Radial mouth opening
• 140 Mouth axis of the radial mouth opening 135
• 145 Fluid communication from the external environment 55 to the sidewall interior 105
• 150 Annular baffle
• 155 Outer periphery of the annular baffle 150
• 160 Inner opening of the annular baffle 150
• 165 Inlet chamber
• 170 Fluid communication from the external environment 55 to the inlet chamber 165
• 175 Directing airflow to a central portion 200 of the blower 195
• 180 Sound abatement barrier as between the mouth 135 and the blower 195
• 185 Airflow transition from parallel to the mouth 135 axis 140 to parallel to the longitudinal axis 95 from the annular baffle 150
• 190 Motor
• 195 Blower
• 200 Central portion of the blower 195
• 205 Outer portion of the blower 195
• 210 Airflow
• 215 Handle
• 220 Clevis shape of the handle 215
• 225 Arcuate extension of the handle 215
• 230 Stem extension portion of the handle 215
• 235 Free end portion of the stem extension portion 230
• 240 Longwise axis of the stem extension portion 230
• 245 Pivotal attachment connection of the arcuate extension 225 to the outer surface portion 110
• 250 Pivotal axis of the pivotal connection 245
• 255 Pivotal movement range
• 260 Co-axial or parallel position of the longwise axis 240 to the longitudinal axis 95
• 265 Perpendicular position of the longwise axis 240 to the longitudinal axis 95
• 270 Electrical communication rotatable couple
• 275 Corded electrical power communication
• 280 Electrically conductive concentric slip rings
• 285 Electrically conductive fingers
• 290 Sliding of the fingers 285 as against the concentric slip rings 280
• 295 Structure for removable engagement of the electrical power communication 275
• 300 Means for locking the pivotal movement within the pivotal movement range 255
• 305 Plurality of selectable positions of the handle 215 about the pivotal movement range 255
• 310 Plurality of recesses
• 315 Plurality of protrusions
• 320 Fluid communication as between the sidewall interior 105 and the interior void 75
• 325 Fluid communication as between the interior void 75 to the bristles 70 of the brush 65 via the radial openings 80 to the hair 60
• 330 Wrapping a portion of a head of hair 60 about the hair brush 65 so that a portion of the hair 60 is in contact with the bristles 70
• 335 Activating the blower 195 to drive airflow 320 therethrough the portion of the hair 60 is in contact with the bristles 70
• 340 Removing the brush 65 from the outlet margin 125 structure 130 of the hair dryer apparatus 50, wherein the hair 60 wrapped about the brush 65 stays in place with the brush 65 staying on the head of hair 60
• 345 Grasping an additional unused brush 65 and engaging the unused brush 65 to the outlet margin 125 structure 130

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With initial reference to FIG. 1, shown is a side elevation view of the hair dryer apparatus 50 that includes the housing 85, the handle 215 that is in the perpendicular position 265 of the longwise axis 240 and the longitudinal axis 95, the inlet 115 and outlet 120 portions of the surrounding sidewall 90, and the structure 295 for removable engagement of the electrical power communication 275. Next, FIG. 2 shows a side elevation view of the hair dryer apparatus 50 that includes the housing 85, the handle 215 that is in-between the perpendicular 265 and parallel 260 positions of the longwise axis 240 and the longitudinal axis 95, the inlet 115 and outlet 120 portions of the surrounding sidewall 90, and the structure 295 for removable engagement of the electrical power communication 275.

Continuing, FIG. 3 shows a side elevation view of the hair dryer apparatus 50 that includes the housing 85, the handle 215 that is in the parallel or co-axial position 260 of the longwise axis 240 and the longitudinal axis 95, the inlet 115 and outlet 120 portions of the surrounding sidewall 90, and the structure 295 for removable engagement of the electrical power communication 275. Further, FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the hair dryer apparatus 50 that includes the housing 85, the handle 215 that is in the parallel or co-axial position 260 of the longwise axis 240, and the longitudinal axis 95, the inlet 115 and outlet 120 portions of the surrounding sidewall 90, and the structure 295 for removable engagement of the electrical power communication 275.

Moving onward, FIG. 5 shows cross sectional cut 5-5 from FIG. 4, wherein FIG. 5 shows detail of the inlet end portion 115 of the sidewall 90 that includes the annular baffle 150, the blower 195, the motor 190, the fluid communication 145 from the external environment 55 to the sidewall interior 105 that goes into the inlet chamber 165, then to the central portion 200 of the blower 195 via an airflow 175 transition 185 then to the outer portion 205 of the blower 195 wherein sound abatement 180 occurs, and then the airflow 210 fluid communication going to the sidewall interior 105. Continuing, FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the hair dryer apparatus 50 that includes the housing 85, the handle 215 that is in the parallel or co-axial position 260 of the longwise axis 240 and the longitudinal axis 95, the inlet 115 and outlet 120 portions of the surrounding sidewall 90, the annular baffle 150, the structure 130 for removable engagement of the brush 65, and the structure 295 for removable engagement of the electrical power communication 275.

Next, FIG. 7 shows an expanded perspective view of the handle 215 pivotal attachment 245 to the inlet portion 115 of the surrounding sidewall 90 that includes the corded electrical power communication 275 with the electrical communication rotatable couple 270 having the electrically conductive concentric slip rings 280 that are slidably engaged 290 to the electrically conductive fingers 285 to facilitate electrical power communication therethrough the pivotal connection 245. Continuing, FIG. 8 is an end elevation view of the outlet end 120 of the surrounding sidewall 90 that includes the outlet margin 125 with the structure 130 to accommodate removable engagement of the brush 65 with the handle 215 in the perpendicular position 265 of the longwise axis 240 and the longitudinal 95 axis.

Yet further, FIG. 9 is an end elevation view of the outlet end 120 of the surrounding sidewall 90 that includes the brush 65 engaged to the structure 130 for removable engagement on the outlet margin 125 of the surrounding sidewall 90 with the handle 215 in the perpendicular position 265 of the longwise axis 240 and the longitudinal axis 95, wherein the brush 65 bristles 70 and their airflow 210, 325 in relation to the hair 60 is shown. Moving ahead, FIG. 10 shows cross section cut 10-10 from FIG. 9, wherein FIG. 10 shows the outlet end portion 120 of the surrounding sidewall 90 that includes the brush 65 engaged to the structure 130 for removable engagement on the outlet margin 125 of the surrounding sidewall 90 that shows in particular the brush 65 bristles 70, the brush interior void 75, the radial openings 80 in the brush 65, and the airflow 210, 325 in relation to the bristles 70, radial opening 80, and hair 60 is shown.

Continuing, FIG. 11 shows an exploded perspective view of FIG. 10, wherein FIG. 11 shows the outlet end portion 120 of the surrounding sidewall 90 that includes the brush 65 dis-engaged to the structure 130 for removable engagement adjacent to the outlet margin 125 of the surrounding sidewall 90 that shows in particular the brush 65 bristles 70, the hair 60 wrapped 330 around the brush 65 bristles 70, the brush 65 interior void 75, the radial openings 80 in the brush 65, and the removing 340 and engaging 345 of the brush 65 to the outlet margin 125 structure 130. Next, FIG. 12 shows an exploded perspective view of the pivotal connection 245 of the arcuate extension 225 of the clevis shape 220 of the handle 215 that is about the pivotal axis 250 that includes the means 300 for locking the pivotal movement within the pivotal movement range 255 that includes a plurality of recesses 310 and mating plurality of protrusions 315.

Broadly, in looking at FIGS. 1 to 12, the present invention is a hair dryer apparatus 50 that includes the housing 85 with the surrounding sidewall 90 that is about a longitudinal axis 95, the surrounding sidewall 90 having an inner surface portion 100 defining the sidewall interior 105 and the surrounding sidewall 90 having an opposing outer surface portion 110, further the surrounding sidewall 90 having an inlet portion 115 and an opposing outlet portion 120 with the longitudinal axis 95 spanning therebetween, as best shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, and FIGS. 10 and 11.

Optionally, for the housing 85, the inlet portion 115 can further have a radial mouth opening 135 from the outer surface portion 110 therethrough to the inner surface portion 100 allowing fluid communication 145 from an external environment 55 to the sidewall interior 105, the mouth opening 135 is about a mouth axis 140 that is positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 95, to operationally have the airflow 210 at the inlet portion 115 directed away from the handle 215 and the user grasping the handle 215 that are typically directly behind or in-line with the longitudinal axis 95, see FIG. 5 in particular and FIGS. 1 to 4.

In addition, the hair dryer apparatus 50 includes the motor 190 driven blower 195 disposed within the surrounding sidewall 90 interior 105, the blower 195 being operational to drive airflow 210 from the inlet portion 115 therethrough the sidewall interior 105 to the outlet portion 120, see in particular FIG. 5, plus also FIGS. 9 and 10.

As an optional enhancement to the inlet portion 115 in conjunction with the radial mouth opening 135 and mouth axis 140 as previously described, an annular baffle 150 can be added that is positioned about the longitudinal axis 95 and disposed within the sidewall interior 105 adjacent to the opening 135, see in particular FIG. 5. The annular baffle 150 is sized and configured to transition the airflow 145, 170, 210 that is parallel to the mouth axis 140 to be parallel to the longitudinal axis 95 prior to feeding the airflow 145, 175, 185 210 to the blower 195, again see FIG. 5 in particular. Wherein operationally, this allows the mouth 135 to be positioned away from the user and adds a sound abatement barrier 180 as between the mouth 135 and the blower 195, again see FIG. 5 in particular. Additionally, on the optional annular baffle 150, the annular baffle 150 can have an outer periphery 155 that is affixed to the sidewall 90 inner surface portion 100 thus creating an inlet chamber 165 that is in fluid communication 170 with the external environment 55 and the mouth 135; again see FIG. 5 in particular. The annular baffle 150 can also have an inner opening 160 from the inlet chamber 165 to direct the airflow 145, 175, 185, 210 to a central portion 200 of the blower 195 to minimize a suction noise of the blower 195 via covering an outer portion 205 of the blower 195 that has a higher operational tip speed and more noise thus helping in the sound abatement 180, again see FIG. 5 in particular.

Further included in the hair dryer apparatus 50 is a handle 215 in the form of the clevis shape 220 with the clevis shape 220 having the pair of symmetrically opposed arcuate extensions 225 that have a common origination from the handle stem extension portion 230, see FIGS. 1 to 4, plus FIGS. 6 to 9. Wherein, the stem extension portion 230 has an opposing free end portion 235, also each of the arcuate extensions 225 terminate in a pivotal connection 245 to the sidewall outer surface portion 110 of the inlet portion 115, wherein the pivotal connections 245 are along a common pivotal axis 250, see in particular FIGS. 1 to 4, plus FIGS. 6 to 9, and FIG. 12. Wherein operationally, the handle 215 stem extension portion 230 in a longwise manner along a longwise axis 240 has a pivotal movement range 255 from being co-axial 260 to the longitudinal axis 95 to being substantially perpendicular 265 to the longitudinal axis 95, as best shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

Alternatively, the hair dryer apparatus 50 can further comprise an electrical communication rotatable couple 270 that is disposed at the pivotal connection 245 that facilitates the corded electrical power communication 275 for the motor 190 to exit from the free end portion 235 of the stem extension 230, see in particular FIG. 7, plus FIGS. 1 to 4, and FIGS. 8 and 9. Further, for the electrical communication rotatable couple 20 is preferably constructed of the plurality of electrically conductive concentric slip rings 280 that are positioned about the pivotal axis 250, wherein the slip rings 280 are one on one slidably 290 in contact with the plurality of corresponding electrically conductive fingers 285, again see in particular FIG. 7. Wherein operationally, the fingers 285 slide 290 as against the slip rings 280 on a one on one electrically communicative arrangement wherein the adjacent fingers 285 and the adjacent rings 280 are insulated from one another, thus the sliding 290 engagement being in accordance with the pivotal movement 255 to allow electrical communication across the pivotal connection 245 during the pivotal movement 255 and when the handle 215 is static in relation to the housing 85, again see FIG. 7 and FIGS. 1 to 4.

Optionally, as an enhancement for the hair dryer apparatus 50 the pivotal connection 245 can preferably further comprises the means 300 for locking the pivotal movement 255 of the handle 215 to the housing 85 in a plurality of selectable positions 305 within the pivotal movement range 255, see FIG. 12, plus FIGS. 1 to 4. Further on the means 300 for locking the pivotal movement 255 is preferably constructed of a plurality of recesses 310 disposed upon one of the surrounding sidewall 90 outer surface portion 110 or the arcuate extension 225 terminations, wherein the plurality of recesses 310 removably engage a matching plurality of protrusions 315 disposed upon one of the arcuate extension 225 terminations or the surrounding sidewall 90 outer surface portion 110, see in particular FIG. 12, plus FIGS. 1 to 4, and FIGS. 6 and 7.

As an additional option for the hair dryer apparatus 50 the sidewall outlet portion 120 can terminate in the outlet margin 125 wherein the outlet margin 125 further can have structure 130 to accommodate a removable engagement of the brush 65 to the outlet margin 125, wherein the brush 65 has external bristles 70 and an interior void 75 that is in fluid communication 145, 210, 320 with the sidewall 90 interior 105, the brush 65 has the plurality of radial openings 80 in relation to the longitudinal axis 95 that allow fluid communication 210, 320, 325 from the void 75 to the bristles 70, see FIGS. 8 to 11. Further, alternatively for the brush 65 removable engagement structure 130 is also preferably of a hex design to help prevent rotation of the brush 65 about the longitudinal axis 95 relative to the housing 85, see in particular FIG. 10, for the operational purpose of holding the hair 60 about the bristles 70 which grasping the handle 215, see FIGS. 9 and 10. Wherein operationally, the airflow 210, 320, 325 from the blower 195 can exit therethrough the openings 80 to have the airflow 325 at the bristles 70, again see FIGS. 8 to 11.

Another option for the hair dryer apparatus 50 can further comprise a removably engagable structure 295 for the electrical power communication 275, wherein the removably engagable structure 295 is disposed within the stem 230 free end portion 235 to operationally allow for the corded electrical power communication 275 to be removably engagable to the stem 230 extension portion free end portion 235 in the external environment 55, as best shown in FIG. 1, however, also shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, and FIGS. 6 to 9. The removably engagable structure 295 is preferably a twist lock type with a button release, being a NEUTRIK Part Number NAC3FCB and NAC3MPB-1.

METHOD OF USE

In looking at FIGS. 8 to 11 in particular, a method of use is disclosed for the hair dryer apparatus 50 that includes a first step of providing the hair dryer apparatus 50 as previously described, further a second step of wrapping 330 a portion of the head of hair 60 about the hair brush 65 such that the portion of the hair 60 is in contact with the bristles 70, see FIGS. 9, 10, and 11. Next, a third step of activating 335 the blower 195 to drive the airflow 320, 325 therethrough the portion of the hair 60 that is wrapped about the hair brush 65 being in contact with the bristles 70 for a selected time period, see FIGS. 9 and 10. Continuing, a fourth step of removing 340 the brush 65 from the outlet margin 125 structure 130 of the hair dryer apparatus 50 leaving the brush 65 in place with the portion of hair 60 wrapped about the brush 65 keeping the brush 65 in use upon the head of hair 60, see FIG. 11 in particular. As an optional additional step for the method of using the hair dryer apparatus 50 can further include an added step of grasping 345 an additional unused brush 65 and engaging 345 the unused brush 65 (meaning no hair 60 is wrapped about the brush 65) to the outlet margin 125 structure 130 of the hair dryer apparatus 50, see FIG. 11, then repeating the second, third, and fourth steps. This method of use allows for each of the plurality of brushes 65 to remain in place upon the head of hair 60 for the hair 60 curl to set after each of the plurality of brushes 65 has had the airflow 320, 325 to dry and start to set the hair curl while engaged to outlet margin 125 structure 130 of the hair dryer apparatus 50 while activated 335.

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, the present invention of a hair dryer apparatus has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though; that the present invention is defined by the following claim construed in light of the prior art so modifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained therein.

Claims

1. A hair dryer apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing including a surrounding sidewall being about a longitudinal axis, said surrounding sidewall having an inner surface portion defining a sidewall interior and said surrounding sidewall having an opposing outer surface portion, said surrounding sidewall having an inlet portion and an opposing outlet portion with said longitudinal axis spanning therebetween;

(b) a motor driven blower disposed within said surrounding sidewall interior, said blower is operational to drive airflow from said inlet portion therethrough said sidewall interior to said outlet portion; and

(c) a handle in the form of a clevis shape with said clevis shape having a pair of symmetrically opposed arcuate extensions that have a common origination from a handle stem extension portion, wherein said stem extension portion has an opposing free end portion, wherein each of said arcuate extensions terminate in a pivotal connection to said sidewall outer surface portion of said inlet portion, wherein said pivotal connections are along a common pivotal axis, wherein operationally said handle stem extension portion in a longwise manner along a longwise axis has a pivotal movement range from being co-axial to said longitudinal axis to being substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

2. A hair dryer apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an electrical communication rotatable couple that is disposed at said pivotal connection that facilitates a corded electrical power communication for said motor to exit from said free end portion of said stem extension.

3. A hair dryer apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said electrical communication rotatable couple is constructed of a plurality of electrically conductive concentric slip rings that are about said pivotal axis, said slip rings are one on one slidably in contact with a plurality of corresponding electrically conductive fingers, wherein operationally said fingers slide as against said slip rings being in accordance with said pivotal movement to allow electrical communication across said pivotal connection during said pivotal movement and when said handle is static in relation to said housing.

4. A hair dryer apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said pivotal connection further comprises a means for locking said pivotal movement of said handle to said housing in a plurality of selectable positions within said pivotal movement range.

5. A hair dryer apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for locking said pivotal movement is constructed of a plurality of recesses disposed upon one of said surrounding sidewall outer surface portion or said arcuate extension terminations, wherein said plurality of recesses removably engage a matching plurality of protrusions disposed upon one of said arcuate extension terminations or said surrounding sidewall outer surface portion.

6. A hair dryer apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said sidewall outlet portion terminates in an outlet margin wherein said outlet margin has structure to accommodate a removable engagement of a brush to said outlet margin, said brush having external bristles and having an interior void that is in fluid communication with said sidewall interior, said brush has a plurality of radial openings in relation to said longitudinal axis that allow fluid communication from said void to said bristles, wherein operationally said airflow from said blower can exit therethrough said openings to have said airflow at said bristles.

7. A hair dryer apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a removably engagable structure for said electrical power communication, wherein said removably engagable structure is disposed within said stem free end portion to operationally allow for said corded electrical power communication to be removably engagable to said stem extension portion in an external environment.

8. A hair dryer apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing including a surrounding sidewall being about a longitudinal axis, said surrounding sidewall having an inner surface portion defining a sidewall interior and said surrounding sidewall having an opposing outer surface portion, said surrounding sidewall having an inlet portion and an opposing outlet portion with said longitudinal axis spanning therebetween, said inlet portion having a radial mouth opening from said outer surface portion therethrough to said inner surface portion allowing fluid communication from an external environment to said sidewall interior, said mouth opening is about a mouth axis that is positioned substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;

(b) a motor driven blower disposed within said surrounding sidewall interior, said blower is operational to drive airflow from said inlet portion therethrough said sidewall interior to said outlet portion; and

(c) an annular baffle that is positioned about said longitudinal axis and disposed within said sidewall interior adjacent to said opening, said annular baffle is sized and configured to transition said airflow that is parallel to said mouth axis to be parallel to said longitudinal axis prior to feeding said airflow to said blower, wherein operationally this allows said mouth to be positioned away from a user and adds a sound abatement barrier as between said mouth and said blower.

9. A hair dryer apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said annular baffle has an outer periphery that is affixed to said sidewall inner surface portion thus creating an inlet chamber that is in fluid communication with the external environment and said mouth, said annular baffle having an inner opening from said inlet chamber to direct said airflow to a central portion of said blower to minimize a suction noise of said blower via covering an outer portion of said blower that has a higher tip speed and more noise.

10. A hair dryer apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a handle in the form of a clevis shape with said clevis shape having a pair of symmetrically opposed arcuate extensions that have a common origination from a handle stem extension portion, wherein said stem extension portion has an opposing free end portion, wherein each of said arcuate extensions terminate in a pivotal connection to said sidewall outer surface portion of said inlet portion, wherein said pivotal connections are along a common pivotal axis, wherein operationally said handle stem extension portion in a longwise manner along a longwise axis has a pivotal movement range from being co-axial to said longitudinal axis to being substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

11. A hair dryer apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising an electrical communication rotatable couple that is disposed at said pivotal connection that facilitates a corded electrical power communication for said motor to exit from said free end portion of said stem extension.

12. A hair dryer apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said electrical communication rotatable couple is constructed of a plurality of electrically conductive concentric slip rings that are about said pivotal axis, said slip rings are one on one slidably in contact with a plurality of corresponding electrically conductive fingers, wherein operationally said fingers slide as against said slip rings being in accordance with said pivotal movement to allow electrical communication across said pivotal connection during said pivotal movement and when said handle is static in relation to said housing.

13. A hair dryer apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said pivotal connection further comprises a means for locking said pivotal movement of said handle to said housing in a plurality of selectable positions within said pivotal movement range.

14. A hair dryer apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said means for locking said pivotal movement is constructed of a plurality of recesses disposed upon one of said surrounding sidewall outer surface portion or said arcuate extension terminations, wherein said plurality of recesses removably engage a matching plurality of protrusions disposed upon one of said arcuate extension terminations or said surrounding sidewall outer surface portion.

15. A hair dryer apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said sidewall outlet portion terminates in an outlet margin wherein said outlet margin has structure to accommodate a removable engagement of a brush to said outlet margin, said brush having external bristles and having an interior void that is in fluid communication with said sidewall interior, said brush has a plurality of radial openings in relation to said longitudinal axis that allow fluid communication from said void to said bristles, wherein operationally said airflow from said blower can exit therethrough said openings to have said airflow at said bristles.

16. A hair dryer apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising a removably engagable structure for said electrical power communication, wherein said removably engagable structure is disposed within said stem free end portion to operationally allow for said corded electrical power communication to be removably engagable to said stem extension portion in the external environment.

17. A method of using a hair dryer apparatus comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a hair dryer apparatus that includes a housing with a surrounding sidewall being about a longitudinal axis, said surrounding sidewall having an inner surface portion defining a sidewall interior and said surrounding sidewall having an opposing outer surface portion, said surrounding sidewall having an inlet portion and an opposing outlet portion with said longitudinal axis spanning therebetween, said hair dryer apparatus further includes a motor driven blower disposed within said surrounding sidewall interior, said blower in operational to drive airflow from said inlet portion therethrough said sidewall interior to said outlet portion, also included is said hair dryer apparatus is a handle in the form of a clevis shape with said clevis shape having a pair of symmetrically opposed arcuate extensions that have a common origination from a handle stem extension portion, wherein said stem extension portion has an opposing free end portion, wherein each of said arcuate extensions terminate in a pivotal connection to said sidewall outer surface portion of said inlet portion, wherein said pivotal connections are along a common pivotal axis, wherein operationally said handle stem extension portion in a longwise manner along a longwise axis has a pivotal movement range from being co-axial to said longitudinal axis to being substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, further included on the hair dryer apparatus wherein said outlet portion terminates in an outlet margin wherein said outlet margin has structure to accommodate a removable engagement of a plurality of brushes each having external bristles and having an interior void that is in fluid communication with said sidewall interior, each said brush has a plurality of radial openings in relation to said longitudinal axis that allow fluid communication from said void to said bristles, wherein operationally said airflow from said blower can exit therethrough said openings to have said airflow at said bristles;

(b) wrapping a portion of a head of hair about said hair brush such that the portion of hair is in contact with said bristles;

(c) activating said blower to drive said airflow therethrough the portion of hair that is wrapped about said hair brush for a selected time period;

(d) removing said brush from said outlet margin of said hair dryer leaving said brush in place with the portion of hair wrapped about said brush keeping said brush in use upon the head of hair;

18. A method of using a hair dryer apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising steps of grasping an additional unused brush and engaging said unused brush to said outlet margin of said hair dryer then repeating said steps (b), (c), and (d).