Hair Styling Appliance With Moisture Application
A hair appliance in which the axis of air flow through the appliance is generally in a parallel first direction through one end of the appliance and the handle and then exits the hair appliance in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The air flow through the handle is not heated. Thus, special heat resistance and/or heat shielding materials are not required in the handle. In this manner, the handle may be sized in a manner that ergonomically fits a user's hand. Further, moisture may be provided from the hair appliance. The moisture may be directed towards a user's hair by a negative pressure that results from the heated air flows proximate the moisture region. In one embodiment, the moisture generation unit may be an ultrasonic vibration unit using a piezoelectric vibrator. In one embodiment, the hair styling appliance may be a paddle dryer.
This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application No. 62/808,100 filed Feb. 20, 2019; the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe techniques disclosed herein relate to heated hair styling appliances, and more specifically, to hair styling appliances which apply moisture during use.
BACKGROUNDA wide variety of hair styling appliances may be utilized to style hair, including but not limited to, hair dryers, curling irons and flat irons. As known in the art, such hair styling appliances may be provided in a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, hair dryers typically have a handle, an air inlet, a fan, a heater over which air from the fan is passed, and a nozzle through which heated air passes to provide heated air flow to a user's hair. Typically, the nozzle is cylindrical in shape and heated air exits through one end of the nozzle in one direction. Typically, the air flows in a generally a parallel path from the air inlet, through the fan, over the heater and out the nozzle.
Some hair dryers are configured as paddle hair dryers. For paddle hair dryers, the air flow typically flows generally parallel through the hair drying from an air inlet, through the fan, and over the heater. However, typically as is known in the art, the paddle hair dryers have an air outlet which is configured in a brush like manner and through which the air flow is directed out of the paddle hair dryer in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the air flow path from the air inlet, fan and heater path. Paddle hair dryers often are configured with a brush at the air outlet that may be used to brush through the user's hair while the hair dryer is being utilized for drying. Paddle hair dryers often are inconveniently sized such that it is awkward for a user to use the dryer due to the large size of the handle.
For some hair styling appliances it is known to apply moisture to the user's hair with the hair styling appliance so as to improve the styling experience of the user. The moisture may be merely water, or in other cases, specialized hair styling products. As is known in the art, there are a wide variety of ways in which moisture applicant may be incorporated into the hair styling appliance. For example, hair styling appliances which apply a stream of liquid are known. Further, hair styling appliances which apply a vapor or mist are known. In some cases a vapor is provided by directing the liquid over a heating element. In other cases, the liquid may be atomized to provide a fine mist/vapor (heated or cool). As used herein, “vapor” may include substances in a gas phase, a fine mist of liquids, tiny particles of liquid, an aerosol that includes a liquid, atomized liquids, etc. Thus generally, “vapor” is defined broadly to include a wide range of mechanisms in which moisture may be provided to a user's hair. In some embodiments, an ultrasonic piezoelectric system is provided to atomize the liquid to generate a fine mist or vapor of moisture that may be directed towards a user's hair to improve the styling effect.
It would be desirable to provide an improved hair styling appliance.
SUMMARYThe hair styling appliance disclosed herein advantageously includes a hair appliance in which the axis of air flow through the appliance is generally in a parallel first direction through one end of the appliance and the handle and then exits the hair appliance in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. Moreover, the air flow through the handle is not heated. Thus, special heat resistance and/or heat shielding materials are not required in the handle. In this manner, the handle may be sized in a manner that ergonomically fits a user's hand. Further, moisture may be provided from the hair appliance. The moisture may be directed towards a user's hair by a negative pressure that results from the heated air flows proximate the moisture region. The moisture generation unit may be removable or have components that are removable for re-filling with moisture and/or replacement of components. In one embodiment, the moisture generation unit may be an ultrasonic vibration unit using a piezoelectric ultrasonic vibrator. Further, the features may include separation of the heated air flow path(s) from moisture containing region so as to provide improved moisture delivery to the user's hair. In one embodiment, the hair styling appliance may be a paddle dryer. In this manner a hair styling appliance is provided that, in one unit, may provide hair drying capability, straightening/brush capability, and moisture delivery capability.
According to one exemplary embodiment, a hair styling appliance is disclosed. The hair styling appliance may comprises a first end region, a second end region, the second end region being at an opposite end of the hair styling appliance opposite of the first end region, and a fan contained in the first end region. The hair styling appliance further comprises a handle region between the first end region and the second end region, the handle region sized to allow a user to hold the hair styling appliance between the first end and the second end. The hair styling appliance also includes an air conduit within the handle region, the air conduit forming a handle air flow path between the first end region and the second end region so that air from the fan flows through the handle air flow path generally in a first direction. The hair styling appliance further includes a heater in the second end region and an air outlet region, the air outlet region directing air out of the hair styling appliance in an air outlet direction, the air outlet direction being angled relative to the handle air flow path by greater than 45 degrees.
In another exemplary embodiment, a paddle dryer hair styling appliance is disclosed. The paddle dryer hair styling appliance may comprise an air inlet end a having an air inlet, an air outlet end, air outlet end being a paddle end of the paddle dryer hair appliance, and a fan contained in the air inlet end. The paddle dryer hair styling appliance further includes a handle between the air inlet end and the air outlet end, the handling generally configured in a first axial direction, the handle providing a grip region for a user to hold the hair styling appliance. The paddle dryer hair styling appliance further includes a handle air path within the handle, the handle air path forming an air flow path between the air inlet end and the air outlet end, the handle air path being in the first axial direction. The paddle dryer hair styling appliance also includes one or more air outlets, the one or more air outlets directing air out of the hair styling appliance in an air outlet direction, the air outlet direction being angled relative to the first axial direction by greater than 45 degrees. The paddle dryer hair styling appliance further comprises a heater located between the grip region of the handle and the one or more air outlets so that air flowing in the air flow path is not heated.
A more complete understanding of the present inventions and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features. It is to be noted, however, that the accompanying drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of the disclosed concepts and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the scope, for the disclosed concepts may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
While the embodiments of hair styling appliances and methods disclosed herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe hair styling appliance disclosed herein advantageously includes a hair appliance in which axis of air flow through the appliance is generally in a parallel first direction through one end of the appliance and the handle and then exits the hair appliance in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. Moreover, the air flow through the handle is not heated. Thus, special heat resistance and/or heat shielding materials are not required in the handle. In this manner, the handle may be sized in a manner that ergonomically fits a user's hand. Further, moisture may be provided from the hair appliance. The moisture may be directed towards a user's hair by a negative pressure that results from the heated air flows proximate the moisture region. The moisture generation unit may be removable or have components that are removable for re-filling with moisture and/or replacement of components. In one embodiment, the moisture generation unit may be an ultrasonic vibration unit using a piezoelectric vibrator. Further, the features may include separation of the heated air flow path(s) from moisture containing region so as to provide improved moisture delivery to the user's hair. In one embodiment, the hair styling appliance may be a paddle dryer. In this manner a hair styling appliance is provided that, in one unit, may provide hair drying capability, straightening/brush capability, and moisture delivery capability.
In general, the present disclosure provides an improved hair styling appliance.
As shown in
Located between the first end 102 and the second end 104 is a handle 120. The handle 120 may be configured in a size and shape so that a user may hold the handle 120 in the user's hand so as to support and move the hair styling appliance during the styling of the user's hair. Air may flow in the hair styling appliance generally in an air inlet flow direction 135 through the air inlet 110 of the first end 102, through the handle 120 and out the second end 104 in an air outlet flow direction as indicated by first air outlet flow 140A and second air outlet flow 140B.
The heater that is contained within the outlet housing 108 may be utilized to heat air that is provided out the air outlets. Any of a wide variety of heaters may be utilized as is known in the hair appliance art. For example, the heater may be formed of resistive wires, ceramics, tourmaline, etc. In addition, the hair styling appliance may include ion generation to assist in drying the user's hair. Thus, it will be recognized that the concepts disclosed herein are not limited to a particular heater. The heater may be used to directly apply heat and/or ions to a user's hair, to heat air and then use the heated air may to dry and stylize a user's hair or a combination of all methods.
As mentioned above, air flows from the first end 102 through the handle 120 and out the second end 104. In this manner, the handle 120 which a user uses to hold the hair styling appliance 100 also acts as an air conduit through which air flows during operation. It is noted that the air which flows through the handle 120 has not yet been heated as the heater (in the outlet housing 108) is located downstream of the handle 120. Thus, the air through the handle is not yet heated. Because of this, the handle does not require the use of special heat shielding materials and/or configurations to protect the user's hand from heat that may be provided from a heated air flow. In this manner, the generation of heat on the surfaces of the handle is avoided and the handle design may be simplified. Thus, a handle, through which air flows, may be provided between in inlet end of the appliance and outlet end of the appliance without risk of the handle overheating in a manner that is uncomfortable to the user's touch. Because extensive heat shielding and special materials are not required in the handle, the handle may be sized to more easily fit the hand size of a typical user. Thus, a paddle dryer hair appliance is provided that may easily fit a user's hand by holding the appliance in a handle region between the first end and the second end. Further, in the embodiment shown, the fan unit may be included in the first end 102 and the heater(s) may be included in the second end 104 which helps balance the size and weight of the hair styling appliance 100 in an ergonomic manner. Further, by separating the fan and the heater(s) between the two ends minimizes the maximum size of an end as the various components are split between the ends. Thus, the largest end is smaller than if all the electric components were in one end.
The hair styling appliance may also include a variety of control switches (on/off, air speed, heat level, moisture application, etc.) as is known in the art. Thus, as shown in
As shown, the air flow through the fan and handle is generally parallel to the orientation of the fan, handle and main axis of the hair styling appliance. The handle and the fan housing act as air path in this parallel direction. As will be discussed in more detail below, the air may flow out of the hair styling appliance 100 at the second end 104 in a direction (the direction of first air outlet flow 140A and second air outlet flow 14B) that is perpendicular to the general direction of the air flow through the fan housing and handle.
As is known in the art, the fan 205 may be configured in a wide range of manners, all of which may be suitable for use in a hair styling appliance. Thus, the concepts described herein are not limited to a particular fan structure. One exemplary fan which may be utilized is shown in
The second end 104 may include a moisture generation unit 410 as also shown in
As mentioned above, the hair styling appliance 100 may have the heated air outlet flow (comprised of the first air outlet flow 140A and the second air outlet flow 140B) that is separated within the hair styling appliance moisture generation unit 410. More specifically, the moisture that has been generated by the moisture generation unit 410 may be kept separate within the hair styling appliance 100 from heated air flows. In this manner, fluid vapor/mist is separated from a path of air flow having heated air. Because of this separation, the moisture may be better applied to a user's hair as it is less exposed to the heated air within the appliance prior to application of the moisture to the hair. Specifically, as shown in 1D, the heated air flows (first air outlet flow 140A and second air outlet flow 140B) will be subject to mixing outside of the housing of the hair styling appliance 100 proximate the user's hair. In this manner, moisture may more efficiently be applied to the user's hair.
Air flow from the handle air conduit 210 may be split into multiple air flow paths as the air flow enters the second end 104. One air flow path may be directed toward the first heater coil 505 and one air flow path may be directed toward the second heater coil 510. Thus, as shown in
The hair styling appliance 100 described above provides a number of advantageous features. These features include, but are not limited to a hair appliance in which the axis of air flow through the appliance is generally in a parallel first direction through one end of the appliance and the handle and then exits the hair appliance in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. Moreover, the air flow through the handle is not heated. Thus, special heat resistance and/or heat shielding materials are not required in the handle. In this manner, the handle may be sized in a manner that ergonomically fits a user's hand. Further, moisture may be provided from the hair appliance. The moisture may be directed towards a user's hair by a negative pressure that results from the heated air flows proximate the moisture region. The moisture generation unit may be removable or have components that are removable for re-filling with moisture and/or replacement of components. In one embodiment, the moisture generation unit may be an ultrasonic vibration unit using a piezoelectric vibrator. Further, the features may include separation of the heated air flow path(s) from moisture containing region so as to provide improved moisture delivery to the user's hair. In one embodiment, two heater units are provided for a left heated air flow path and a right heated air flow path. The handle of the hair appliance may also serve as a conduit for movement of air from air inlets to air outlets with the air through the handle not being heated so as to minimizing heating effects in the handle region. In this manner a hair styling appliance is provided that, in one unit, may provide hair drying capability, straightening/brush capability, and moisture delivery capability.
Further modifications and alternative embodiments of the hair styling appliances described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. It will be recognized, therefore, that the depicted and described hair styling appliances are not limited by these example arrangements. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herein shown and described are to be taken merely as embodiments. Various changes may be made in the implementations and configurations. For example, equivalent elements may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently of the use of other features, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the concepts disclosed herein.
Claims
1. A hair styling appliance, comprising:
- a first end region;
- a second end region, the second end region being at an opposite end of the hair styling appliance opposite of the first end region;
- a fan contained in the first end region;
- a handle region between the first end region and the second end region, the handle region sized to allow a user to hold the hair styling appliance between the first end and the second end;
- an air conduit within the handle region, the air conduit forming a handle air flow path between the first end region and the second end region so that air from the fan flows through the handle air flow path generally in a first direction;
- a heater in the second end region; and
- an air outlet region, the air outlet region directing air out of the hair styling appliance in an air outlet direction, the air outlet direction being angled relative to the handle air flow path by greater than 45 degrees.
2. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, further comprising a moisture generation unit.
3. The hair styling appliance of claim 2, wherein the moisture generation unit has a refillable reservoir.
4. The hair styling appliance of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the moisture generation unit is removable from the hair styling appliance.
5. The hair styling appliance of claim 2, the moisture generation unit having an ultrasonic vibrator which is capable of generating a vapor/mist.
6. The hair styling appliance of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the moisture generation unit is removable from the hair styling appliance.
7. The hair styling appliance of claim 2, moisture from the moisture generation unit formed in a moisture region, the moisture region being located in the hair styling appliance so that moisture from the moisture region exits the hair styling appliance separate from air that flows out the hair styling appliance through the air outlet region.
8. The hair styling appliance of claim 7, the hair styling appliance configured so that air that flows out the hair styling appliance through the air outlet region creates a negative pressure in the moisture region so as to direct moisture in the moisture region toward a user's hair.
9. The hair styling appliance of claim 8, wherein the moisture generation unit is configured so that moisture is injected into the moisture region in a moisture direction that is angled relative to the air outlet direction by 30 degrees or more.
10. The hair styling appliance of claim 9, wherein the moisture generation unit is configured so that moisture is injected into the moisture region in a moisture direction that is angled relative to the air outlet direction by 60 degrees or more.
11. The hair styling appliance of claim 1, wherein the fan is a two stage fan.
12. A paddle dryer hair styling appliance, comprising:
- an air inlet end a having an air inlet;
- an air outlet end, air outlet end being a paddle end of the paddle dryer hair appliance;
- a fan contained in the air inlet end;
- a handle between the air inlet end and the air outlet end, the handling generally configured in a first axial direction, the handle providing a grip region for a user to hold the hair styling appliance;
- a handle air path within the handle, the handle air path forming an air flow path between the air inlet end and the air outlet end, the handle air path being in the first axial direction;
- one or more air outlets, the one or more air outlets directing air out of the hair styling appliance in an air outlet direction, the air outlet direction being angled relative to the first axial direction by greater than 45 degrees; and
- a heater located between the grip region of the handle and the one or more air outlets so that air flowing in the air flow path is not heated.
13. The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of claim 12, further comprising a moisture generation unit.
14. The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the moisture generation unit is removable from the hair styling appliance.
15. The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of claim 13, the moisture generation unit having an ultrasonic vibrator which is capable of generating a vapor/mist.
16. The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of claim 13, moisture from the moisture generation unit formed in a moisture region, the moisture region being located in the paddle dryer hair styling appliance so that moisture from the moisture region exits the hair styling appliance separate from air that flows out the hair styling appliance through the one or more air outlets.
17. The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of claim 16, the paddle dryer hair styling appliance configured so that air that flows out the paddle dryer hair styling appliance through the one or more air outlets creates a negative pressure in the moisture region so as to direct moisture in the moisture region toward a user's hair.
18. The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of claim 16, wherein the moisture generation unit is configured so that moisture is injected into the moisture region in a moisture direction that is angled relative to the air outlet direction by 75 degrees or less.
19. The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of claim 16, wherein the moisture generation unit is configured so that moisture is injected into the moisture region in a moisture direction that is angled relative to the air outlet direction by 60 degrees or less.
20. The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of claim 16, wherein the fan is a two stage fan.
21. The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of claim 16, wherein the moisture region is located between two opposing sets air outlets.
22. The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of claim 12, wherein the fan is a two stage fan.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 14, 2020
Publication Date: Aug 20, 2020
Inventors: Jeremy Buttery (El Paso, TX), Gary Koenemann (El Paso, TX)
Application Number: 16/791,664