ACTIVE INGREDIENT CARRIER FOR HAIR AND HAIR DRYER HAVING THE SAME

Abstract

The exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure relates to an active ingredient carrier for hair dryer, the carrier including a carrier layer formed with fabric or porous material to contain an active wettability ingredient, and first and second protective layers, each so formed as to have a thickness thinner than that of the carrier layer, and stacked at an upper surface and a bottom surface of the carrier layer, wherein a size of a pore of the first and second protective layers is smaller than that of pore in the carrier layer, and melting temperatures of the first and second protective layers are formed higher than a hot air temperature of a hair dryer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119 (a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0145831, filed on Oct. 20, 2015, contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Disclosure

The teachings in accordance with exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of this disclosure generally relate to a hair dry, and more particularly to a hair dryer including an active ingredient carrier attachably and detachably mounted at an inner side of a nozzle unit of the hair dryer supplied with a warm air or a cool wind.

Discussion of the Related Art

Typically, a hair styling device is a device configured to form a wave to hair by compressing the hair using a heat generated by a heating device or to straighten curly hair, the features of which are mentioned in a relevant prior art, Korean Application No.:20-2003-32036. Furthermore, the Korean registered patent No.: 10-1222692 teaches a hair iron having a brush to solve the cumbersome problem of combing hair again by finding a nearby brush after using a hair styling device.

Meantime, when a hair dryer is frequently used, there is a fear of hair surface being excessively dried to damage the hair. Furthermore, when a hair dryer is used for a user having long hair like a woman, there is a cumbersomeness of providing a hair conditioning to the dried hair with a separate hair conditioner such as hair cream after the hair dryer is used.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature 1: Korea Registered Patent No.: 10-1222692 (Jan. 9, 2013)

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are to substantially solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages of prior art, and therefore, the present disclosure is to provide a hair dryer improved in structure to simultaneously supply a hair health-conducive active ingredient to hair while drying the hair.

Accordingly, in one general aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an active ingredient carrier for hair dryer, comprising:

a carrier layer formed with fabric or porous material to contain an active wettability ingredient; and

first and second protective layers, each so formed as to have a thickness thinner than that of the carrier layer, and stacked at an upper surface and a bottom surface of the carrier layer, wherein

a size of a pore of the first and second protective layers is smaller than that of pore in the carrier layer, and melting temperatures of the first and second protective layers are formed higher than a hot air temperature of a hair dryer, and the active ingredient contained in the carrier layer is evaporated by hot air discharged from the hair dryer through the first and second protective layers to move to hair side of a user in a gaseous state along with the hot air.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the active wettability ingredient may include at least one kind of aroma oil.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first and second protective layers may encompass a lateral wall of the carrier wall.

Preferably, but not necessarily, any one of the first and second protective layers may further include an attachment layer attachably and detachably mounted at an inner wall surface of a nozzle of the hair dryer.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the attachment layer may be one of hook and loop fastener of Velcro® tape.

In another general aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a hair dryer, comprising:

a hair dryer body;

a nozzle unit attachably and detachably mounted at the hair dryer body; and at least one active ingredient carrier attachably and detachably mounted at an inner side of the nozzle unit, wherein

the active ingredient carrier includes a carrier layer formed with fabric or porous material to contain an active wettability ingredient, and first and second protective layers, each so formed as to have a thickness thinner than that of the carrier layer, and stacked at an upper surface and a bottom surface of the carrier layer, wherein

a size of a pore of the first and second protective layers is smaller than that of pore in the carrier layer, and melting temperatures of the first and second protective layers are formed higher than a hot air temperature of a hair dryer, and the active ingredient contained in the carrier layer is evaporated by hot air discharged from the hair dryer through the first and second protective layers to move to hair side of a user in a gaseous state along with the hot air.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the hair dryer may further comprise a holder member attachably and detachably mounted at an inner side of the nozzle unit to attachably and detachably accommodate the active ingredient carrier.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the holder member may include an inlet/outlet-opened cylindrical holder body provided in a shape corresponding to that of an inner surface of the nozzle unit, and an accommodation groove part provided an inner surface of the holder member in a shape corresponding to that of the active ingredient carrier.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the accommodation groove part may have a shape of a concave groove.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the holder member may include a plate-shaped holder body inserted into a position adjacent to a nozzle outlet of the nozzle unit to be formed at one surface with at least one attachment surface, and a fixation unit integrally formed with the holder body to hook and couple the holder body to the nozzle unit in an attachable and detachable manner.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the holder member may be provided in a pair, each holder member arranged at a position each facing the other, and the nozzle unit may be provided at an inner surface with a reception part to receive the holder member.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the reception part may include a reception groove to be inserted by the holder member, and a hitching lug formed at a position corresponding to that of a hook unit of the reception groove.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

Teachings in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have an advantageous effect in that aroma oil contained in the active ingredient carrier or various medicinal ingredients acting as active ingredient to hair is evaporated by warm air, wind or cool air coming from a hair dryer to be phase-changed to vapor in the wind discharged through a nozzle unit and to be absorbed to a hair surface of a user. Thus, the user can supply nutrients and active ingredients to hair during hair drying or styling process free from separate spraying or coating of hair conditioner to the hair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hair dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG.2 is an exploded perspective view of a nozzle unit in a hair dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG.3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a holder member attachably and detachably mounted to a nozzle unit of hair dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS.4 and 5 are cross-sectional views illustrating an active ingredient carrier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG.6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a holder member mounted to a nozzle unit of hair dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG.7 is an enlarged view of essential part of FIG.6.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are schematic views illustrating an active ingredient carrier of a hair dryer according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are schematic views illustrating a nozzle unit of hair dryer according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. The exemplary embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure.

It will be understood that same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same components. In describing the present disclosure, detailed descriptions of constructions or processes known in the art may be omitted to avoid obscuring appreciation of the invention by a person of ordinary skill in the art with unnecessary detail regarding such known constructions and functions.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hair dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG.2 is an exploded perspective view of a nozzle unit in a hair dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG.3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a holder member attachably and detachably mounted to a nozzle unit of hair dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, FIGS.4 and 5 are cross-sectional views illustrating an active ingredient carrier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG.6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a holder member mounted to a nozzle unit of hair dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG.7 is an enlarged view of essential part of FIG.6, FIGS. 8 to 10 are schematic views illustrating an active ingredient carrier of a hair dryer according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIGS. 11 and 12 are schematic views illustrating a nozzle unit of hair dryer according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG.1, a hair dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include a hair dryer body (1) and a nozzle unit (5) attachably and detachably mounted to the hair dryer body (1). The hair dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be characterized by an active ingredient carrier (200) attachably and detachably arranged at an inner side of the nozzle unit (5) as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5.

The hair dryer body (1) is configured to form a body of a hair dryer according to prior art, and, as illustrated in the drawing, may be provided at one side of a front surface with a body outlet (2) to discharge air warmed by a heating unit (not shown) provided at an inside of the body (1). Furthermore, a switch (3) may be provided near a handle to allow a user to easily turn on and off an electric power.

Meanwhile, a body inlet (4) may be provided at one side of the body (1) to introduce air heated by the heating unit. The body inlet (4) may be provided with a predetermined filter member, which is generally provided in a grill shape to maximally prevent foreign objects from entering into the body (1). The structure of hair dryer body (1) thus configured may be variably formed as occasion demands.

That is, the structure of hair dryer body (1) may be variably formed including a “1” shape and a “1” shape as illustrated in the drawing.

The nozzle unit (5) may be attachably and detachably mounted to the body outlet (2). The nozzle unit (5) may be provided in a slot shape as illustrated in the drawing. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and therefore, the nozzle unit (5) may be formed in various shapes according to styling needs.

FIG.2 is an exploded perspective view of a nozzle unit (5) in a hair dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG.3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a holder member (100) attachably and detachably mounted to a nozzle unit of hair dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in the drawings, the holder member (100) may be attachably and detachably mounted to a coupled side of the nozzle unit (5) of hair dryer. The holder member (100) may have a diameter of a periphery corresponding to that of an inner surface of the nozzle unit (5) to allow being insertedly coupled to an inner side of a coupled area of the nozzle unit (5). An inner surface of the holder member (100) may be provided with at least one accommodation groove part (110).

The accommodation groove part (110) is provided to accommodate an active ingredient carrier (200, described later), and may be formed of a groove part with a shape to correspond to size of the active ingredient carrier (200). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the shape of accommodation groove part (110) may be provided in a slot to insertedly couple the active ingredient carrier (200). In this case, the accommodation groove part (110) may be formed at an inner surface of the holder member (100) with a window (not shown) to allow the active ingredient carrier (200) to be partially exposed.

Meantime, the active ingredient carrier (200) accommodated into the accommodation groove part (110) may be variably fixed. For example, the active ingredient carrier (200) may be temporarily fixed using a physical element such as Velcro® tape or bonding means such as double-sided tape.

Alternatively, the active ingredient carrier (200) may be slidingly and fixedly coupled to the accommodation groove part (110) after the accommodation groove part (110) is configured in a slot shape as discussed above. That is, any configuration may be applicable as long as the active ingredient carrier (200) is temporarily inserted to and fixed at the accommodation groove part (110) side.

Referring to FIG. 4, the active ingredient carrier (200) may include a carrier layer (210), and first and second protective layers (220, 230).

The carrier layer (210) may be formed with fabric or porous material to contain an active wettability ingredient. The carrier layer (210) may be formed with various materials. For example, the carrier layer (210) may be formed with non-woven fabrics or fibrous weaving materials similar to the non-woven fabrics, and with porous materials such as sponges. At this time, the carrier layer (210) may be formed to contain various properties of active ingredients conducive to hair. For example, the carrier layer (210) may be formed with hydrophilic materials capable of containing medicinal ingredients containing oil substances such as aroma oil.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the medicinal ingredients may be formed with various bio-chemical compositions and natural extracts conducive to hair health. For example, the medicinal ingredients may be used by mixing pine resin, rosemary extracts and peppermint extracts with oil ingredients such as high molecular weight dimethyl polysiloxanes, high molecular weight methylphenylpolysiloxane and silicone oil. Particularly, the silicone oil may be widely used for hair goods because of being low in surface tension, very excellent in familiarity to hair and good in gloss.

The first and second protective layers (220, 230) can encompass both sides of the carrier layer (210) to prevent active ingredients contained in the carrier layer (210) from evaporating.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first and second protective layers (220, 230) may contain lots of pores. At this time, each size of pore is smaller than that of pore in the carrier layer (210) to minimize evaporation of the active ingredients at a room temperature and a normal state, and to prevent the active ingredients contained in the carrier layer (210) from directly contacting the air as well.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first and second protective layers (220, 230) may be formed with same material, and preferably formed with fire retardant materials resistant to heat strain or flammability.

For example, melting temperatures of the first and second protective layers (220, 230) are formed higher than a hot air temperature of hair dryer, whereby the active ingredient contained in the carrier layer (210) can be evaporated by hot air discharged from the hair dryer through the pores of the first and second protective layers (220, 230) to move to hair side of a user in a gaseous state along with the hot air.

Meantime, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first and second protective layers (220, 230) may be lengthily formed at both distal ends to form a sealing part (240) and to wrap a lateral wall of the carrier layer (210). In this case, the sealing part (240) may attach and fix the first and second protective layers (220, 230) using a hot melting method, a predetermined adhesive, or a sewing method.

Furthermore, any one of the first and second protective layers (220, 230) may further include an attachment layer (not shown) attachably and detachably mounted at an inner wall surface of a nozzle of the hair dryer. The attachment layer may be one of hook (male) and loop (female) fastener of Velcro® tape. In this case, one of the hook and loop fastener of Velcro® tape may be attached to one of first and second protective layers (220, 230), and the other of the hook and loop fastener of Velcro® tape may be attached to an inner space part of the holder member (100) or to the accommodation groove part (110) side.

Alternatively, the accommodation groove part (110) may be formed with a protruder of velcro® unit using an injection molding method, and surfaces of first and second protective layers (220, 230) may be formed with soft portions of velcro® unit. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the active ingredient carrier (200) may be attached to the accommodation groove part (110) using an adhesive.

Although the present exemplary embodiment has exemplified that the active ingredient carrier (200) is inserted and fixed inside the holder member (100), the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the active ingredient carrier (200) may be directly or temporarily attached to an inner surface of the nozzle unit (5), or the Velcro® may be directly attached to an inner surface of the nozzle unit (5).

Now, operation of hair dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, an inner surface of the nozzle unit (5) at the hair dryer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be mounted with a holder member (100). An inner surface or an inner side of the holder member (100) may be attachably and detachably with the active ingredient carrier (200).

At this time, one surface of the active ingredient carrier (200) may be exposed to an inner surface side of the holder member (100) to allow the active ingredient such as aroma oil contained in the active ingredient carrier (200) to be evaporated and to form a gaseous state or particles (P) of fine droplets for discharge along with air, when warm air or cool air of the hair dryer is moved to an arrow direction as illustrated in FIG.6.

The gaseous state or particles (P) of fine droplets thus evaporated may be discharged along with the air of the hair dryer to be supplied to a hair surface of the user, where the supplied active ingredients function to improve, protect and coat the hair by being attached to the hair and supplied as nutrients.

Meantime, the holder member (100) is not an essential element, and therefore, it is possible to directly attach the active ingredient carrier (200) to an inner surface of the nozzle unit (5) using attachable/detachable means such as Velcro® tape. The efficacies are same. In this case, the Velcro® tape can be provided along with the active ingredient carrier (200) so as to be attached to an inner surface of a nozzle unit of a conventional hair dryer in the same fashion as above.

Meantime, albeit not being illustrated, it is preferable that the active ingredient carriers (200) be minimized in contact with air in order to minimize product spoilage such as oxidation and denaturation. Thus, each of the active ingredient carriers (200) may be air-tightly sealed, packed and stored, and may be disposed of after each use.

FIGS. 8 to 12 are schematic views illustrating a holder member (300) and a nozzle (5) of a hair dryer into which the holder member (300) is inserted and coupled according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 8 to 10, the holder member (300) may include a holder body (310) having at least one attachment surface (301) and a fixation unit (320). The holder member (300) may be provided approximately in a square or rectangular shape and may be formed at one lateral surface with an attachment surface (301). The attachment surface (301) may be provided with any one of hook (male) and loop (female) fastener of Velcro® tape. In this case, the active ingredient carriers (200) may be provided with complimentary member thereof. Alternatively, a slot-shaped inner space may be formed instead of the attachment surface (301) to which the active ingredient carriers (200) may be inserted and fixed.

The fixation unit (320) may be integrally formed with the holder body (310), and a hook unit (330) may be formed at a distal end of the holder body (310) so as to be attachably and detachably hooked and coupled to the nozzle unit (5). Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the fixation unit (320) may be formed in a U-shape bent fashion relative to one surface of the holder body (310).

Meantime, the holder member (300) thus described may be arranged in a pair at a position, where each holder member (300) faces the other holder member (300). To this end, an outlet of the nozzle unit (5) may be provided with a reception part, the shape of which corresponds to that of the holder member (300). At this time, the reception part may include a reception groove (410), and a hitching lug (420).

The reception groove (410) may be concavely formed adjacent to a nozzle outlet (6) formed at an inner surface of the nozzle unit (5), and provided in a shape corresponding to that of the holder member (300). At this time, the reception groove (420) may be provided in an approximately square or rectangular shape.

The hitching lug (420) may be formed at a position corresponding to that of a distal end of the hook unit (330) at an accommodation position of the holder member (300), and the holder member (300) may be attachably and detachably position-fixed by complementary coupling of the hitching lug (420) and the hook unit (330). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and any configuration may be applicable as long as the holder member (300) can be temporarily fixed to the nozzle unit (5). For example, the holder member (300) may be directly attached to an inner surface of the reception groove (410), or may be temporarily fixed using adhesive agent such as a double-sided tape.

As discussed in the foregoing, the teachings in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have an industrial applicability in that aroma oil contained in the active ingredient carrier or various medicinal ingredients acting as active ingredient to hair is evaporated by warm air or cool air coming from a hair dryer to be changed to fine droplets or particles and to vapor in the wind discharged through a nozzle unit (6) of nozzle unit (5) and to be absorbed and coated to a hair surface of a user in the course of hair drying process. Thus, the user can supply nutrients and active ingredients to hair during hair drying or styling process free from separate spraying or coating of hair conditioner to the hair.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described and explained in the above discussion, the above-mentioned description according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Thus, it is intended that embodiments of the present disclosure may cover the modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An active ingredient carrier for hair dryer, comprising:

a carrier layer formed with fabric or porous material to contain an active wettability ingredient; and

first and second protective layers, each so formed as to have a thickness thinner than that of the carrier layer, and stacked at an upper surface and a bottom surface of the carrier layer,

wherein a size of a pore of the first and second protective layers is smaller than that of pore in the carrier layer, and melting temperatures of the first and second protective layers are formed higher than a hot air temperature of a hair dryer, and the active ingredient contained in the carrier layer is evaporated by hot air discharged from the hair dryer through the first and second protective layers to move to hair side of a user in a gaseous state along with the hot air.

2. The active ingredient carrier of claim 1, wherein the active wettability ingredient includes at least one kind of aroma oil.

3. The active ingredient carrier of claim 1, wherein the first and second protective layers encompass a lateral wall of the carrier wall.

4. The active ingredient carrier of claim 1, wherein any one of the first and second protective layers further includes an attachment layer attachably and detachably mounted at an inner wall surface of a nozzle of the hair dryer.

5. The active ingredient carrier of claim 4, wherein the attachment layer is one of hook and loop fastener of velcro tape.

6. A hair dryer, comprising:

a hair dryer body;

a nozzle unit attachably and detachably mounted at the hair dryer body; and

at least one active ingredient carrier attachably and detachably mounted at an inner side of the nozzle unit, wherein

the active ingredient carrier includes a carrier layer formed with fabric or porous material to contain an active wettability ingredient, and first and second protective layers, each so formed as to have a thickness thinner than that of the carrier layer, and stacked at an upper surface and a bottom surface of the carrier layer,

wherein a size of a pore of the first and second protective layers is smaller than that of pore in the carrier layer, and melting temperatures of the first and second protective layers are formed higher than a hot air temperature of a hair dryer, and the active ingredient contained in the carrier layer is evaporated by hot air discharged from the hair dryer through the first and second protective layers to move to hair side of a user in a gaseous state along with the hot air.

7. The hair dryer of claim 6, further comprising a holder member attachably and detachably mounted at an inner side of the nozzle unit to attachably and detachably accommodate the active ingredient carrier.

8. The hair dryer of claim 7, wherein the holder member includes an inlet/outlet-opened cylindrical holder body provided in a shape corresponding to that of an inner surface of the nozzle unit, and an accommodation groove part provided an inner surface of the holder member in a shape corresponding to that of the active ingredient carrier.

9. The hair dryer of claim 8, wherein the accommodation groove part has a shape of a concave groove.

10. The hair dryer of claim 7, wherein the holder member includes a plate-shaped holder body inserted into a position adjacent to a nozzle outlet of the nozzle unit to be formed at one surface with at least one attachment surface, and a fixation unit integrally formed with the holder body to hook and couple the holder body to the nozzle unit in an attachable and detachable manner.

11. The hair dryer of claim 10, wherein the holder member is provided in a pair, each holder member arranged at a position each facing the other, and the nozzle unit is provided at an inner surface with a reception part to receive the holder member.

12. The hair dryer of claim 11, wherein the reception part includes a reception groove to be inserted by the holder member, and a hitching lug formed at a position corresponding to that of a hook unit of the reception groove.