AUTOMATIC HAIR DRYER

Abstract

An automatic hair dryer that automatically operates when held or touched by a hand. The air volume and degree of heat also may be automatically adjusted using humidity and temperature sensors, thereby simplifying operation and control for the user. The hair dryer automatically shuts off after use, thereby promoting energy conservation and safety.

Description

This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/149,581, filed Apr. 18, 2015, by Francisco Guerra, et al., and is entitled to that filing date for priority. The specification, figures, and complete disclosure of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/149,581 are incorporated herein in their entireties by specific reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to an automatic hair dryer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hair dryers for drying and shaping hair are widely used. Home hair dryers have adopted a variety of mechanical buttons and switches used for operations. These buttons and switches can be inconvenient to use, can be improperly operated, or can be left on, thereby wasting energy and creating hazards. An example of an automatic hair dryer with humidity and temperature sensors is disclosed in application CN 103251196 (Automatic Hair Drier), which is incorporated herein by specific reference in its entirety for all purposes. The present invention comprises an improved automatic hair dryer with additional features beyond the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention comprises an automatic hair dryer that automatically operates when held or touched by a hand. The air volume and degree of heat also may be automatically adjusted, thereby simplifying operation and control for the user. The hair dryer automatically shuts off after use, thereby promoting energy conservation and safety.

In one exemplary embodiment, the hair dryer comprises a hair dryer body with a handle and a power cord to connect the hair dryer to a power supply (e.g., electrical outlet). The handle of the hair dryer comprises a sensor or induction switch to detect when a user has picked up the dryer, thereby starting automatic operations. When the sensor switch detects that the user's hand has been removed (such as by setting the hair dryer down), the hair dryer is automatically shut off. The preferred sensor switch is a hand-touch sensor switch.

In an alternative embodiment, a power and/or speed switch or trigger in a position on the body or handle to be easily manipulated by the user (using an index finger or thumb) may be provided with several positions. In the off position, the hair dryer will not operate even when the dryer is held by the user, thereby allowing the user to hold the hair dryer without having it run. There may be multiple blowing speeds (e.g., slow, medium, high) or multiple temperatures that can be selected, but the dryer will not operate unless the user is holding the handle and is contact with the sensor switch. When the user sets the dryer down, the dryer automatically shuts off.

An internal humidity sensor inside the body detects hair humidity, while a temperature sensor detects room temperature. One or more internal controllers, which may be located inside the body of the hair dryer, controls operation of the hair dryer, and based upon the humidity and temperature sensor readings, adjust the volume and temperature of the air blown by the dryer through the nozzle in the body. The controller or controllers may come with pre-determined ranges or settings (e.g., maximum temperature, maximum air speed). The hair dryer can automatically stop operation when the humidity sensor determines that the hair has reached a desired humidity level, or when the user removes his or her hand from the sensor switch.

In alternative embodiments, the humidity sensor is located in or near the nozzle of the hair dryer, so as to be in proximity of the hair being dried. The ambient temperature sensor may be located near the motor or air intake, so as to more accurately judge the amount of heat to be applied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a hair dryer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the hair dryer of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention comprises an automatic hair dryer that automatically operates when held or touched by a hand. The air volume and degree of heat also may be automatically adjusted, thereby simplifying operation and control for the user. The hair dryer automatically shuts off after use, thereby promoting energy conservation and safety.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, in one exemplary embodiment, the hair dryer of the present invention comprises a hair dryer body 1 with a handle and a power cord 2 to connect the hair dryer to a power supply (e.g., electrical outlet). The handle of the hair dryer comprises a sensor or induction switch 3 to detect when a user has picked up the dryer, thereby starting automatic operations. When the sensor switch 3 detects that the user's hand has been removed (such as by setting the hair dryer down), the hair dryer is automatically shut off. The preferred sensor switch 3 is a hand-touch sensor switch.

In an alternative embodiment, a power and/or speed switch 20 or trigger 22 in a position on the body or handle to be easily manipulated by the user (using an index finger or thumb) may be provided with several positions. In the off position, the hair dryer will not operate even when the dryer is held by the user, thereby allowing the user to hold the hair dryer without having it run. There may be multiple blowing speeds (e.g., slow, medium, high) or multiple temperatures that can be selected (such as by a temperature control, which may be a separate switch, or integrated with the power switch—e.g., Off, Low Heat, Medium Heat, and High Heat positions—or the speed switch or the trigger), but the dryer will not operate unless the user is holding the handle and is contact with the sensor switch. When the user sets the dryer down, the dryer automatically shuts off.

An internal humidity sensor 5 inside the body detects hair humidity, while a temperature sensor 6 detects room temperature. One or more internal controllers 4, which may be located inside the body of the hair dryer, controls operation of the hair dryer, and based upon the humidity and temperature sensor readings, adjust the volume and temperature of the air blown by the dryer through the nozzle in the body. The controller or controllers may come with pre-determined ranges or settings (e.g., maximum temperature, maximum air speed). The hair dryer can automatically stop operation when the humidity sensor determines that the hair has reached a desired humidity level, or when the user removes his or her hand from the sensor switch 3.

In alternative embodiments, the humidity sensor is located in or near the nozzle of the hair dryer, so as to be in proximity of the hair being dried. The ambient temperature sensor may be located near the motor or air intake, so as to more accurately judge the amount of heat to be applied.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a portable, hand-held, automatic hair dryer than can detect hair dampness/moisture and ambient temperature, and then automatically adjust air volume and temperature as needed. Operation is simple and easy, and the dryer automatically turns off after the user's hand is removed, thereby promoting energy efficiency and safety.

Thus, it should be understood that the embodiments and examples described herein have been chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited for particular uses contemplated. Even though specific embodiments of this invention have been described, they are not to be taken as exhaustive. There are several variations that will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An improved automatic hair dryer, comprising:

a hair dryer body with a handle, and with a nozzle operable to discharge air; and

a sensor located on the handle configured to detect when a user is holding the hair dryer;

wherein the hair dryer will not discharge air if the sensor on the handle does not detect a user holding the hair dryer.

2. The hair dryer of claim 1, further comprising a power switch with an on position and an off position, wherein the hair dryer will not discharge air if the sensor on the handle does not detect a user holding the hair dryer, or if the power switch is in the off position.

3. The hair dryer of claim 2, further comprising a speed switch operable to adjust the velocity of the discharged air.

4. The hair dryer of claim 2, further comprising a temperature control operable to adjust the temperature of the discharged air.

5. The hair dryer of claim 1, further comprising a humidity sensor configured to detect humidity in the area of the nozzle.

6. The hair dryer of claim 5, wherein the humidity sensor is located in or near the nozzle.

7. The hair dryer of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor configured to detect ambient temperature.

8. The hair dryer of claim 1, further comprising a humidity sensor configured to detect humidity in the area of the nozzle, and a temperature sensor configured to detect ambient temperature.

9. The hair dryer of claim 8, wherein the hair dryer will adjust the velocity, temperature, or both velocity and temperature of the discharged air based on the sensor readings from the humidity sensor, temperature sensor, or both.

10. The hair dryer of claim 8, wherein the hair dryer will cease discharging air when the humidity sensor reading is below a pre-determined threshold.

11. The hair dryer of claim 9, wherein the adjustment is controlled by a controller located in the body.