Patent Application
20240148123
The present invention relates to a baby hair dryer according to the preamble of Claim 1.
It is known to use electrical devices which can generate a warm air stream for drying damp hair. In such devices, ambient air is sucked in by means of a blower as a cold air inlet stream or as inflowing cold air, heated by means of ohmic heating losses and discharged as a directed heated air outlet stream or as a directed outflowing warm air, so that the warm air stream can be directed by a person as user, for example, onto the person's own damp hair. Because the warm air of the directed heated air outlet stream can take up a larger amount of water than can the colder ambient air, the drying of the damp hair can be increased or accelerated as a result. Such electrical devices are referred to as hair dryers, the term “blow dryer” also being used.
A hair dryer may also be used to dry a nursing child or a baby over its whole body and/or to keep it warm. For this purpose, the hair dryer is to be held with one hand and oriented by a person in order to direct the warm air stream onto the baby's body. It is usually important to ensure that the usually comparatively warm air stream is not directed continuously onto the same place on the baby's body because this could otherwise lead to excessive heating, which can cause dry and cracked places on the skin and/or skin burns. The remaining body surface of the baby could also get too cold. Both can be perceived as unpleasant by the baby, which can be manifested by a corresponding behavior such as screaming, crying, and/or flailing.
A disadvantage here is that the person requires one hand for holding or guiding the hair dryer and thus only the other hand is available to the person in order to dry, care for, hold and dress the baby, and the like. This can make these actions more difficult or increase the time required for them. This can even prevent this action when both hands are needed for supporting the head and/or for dressing the baby.
It is also known that the whirring noise of a blower of the hair dryer can have a calming effect on the baby. For this reason, it is also known for a person to operate a hair dryer when diaper changing, dressing the baby and the like without using the warm air stream. Instead, the hair dryer is only operated in order to produce the calming whirring noise and thereby to make it easier for the person to change the diaper, dress the baby and the like.
A disadvantage here is that hair dryers specifically for babies are known which must be held in the hand for the duration of operation, i.e., for the duration of generation of the warm air stream, in order to be able to operate them. For example, a pushbutton must be continuously actuated or pressed in order to operate the hair dryer, which may represent a safety function. Such a baby hair dryer must therefore also be held continuously in one hand by the adult, even when the baby hair dryer is to be used and operated only to calm the baby.
If, for example, the hair dryer can also be operated by being switched on and off by means of a toggle switch or the like, without being held in the hand, the hair dryer could be set down in the vicinity of the baby, for example on the changing table, in order to produce the whirring noise of the hair dryer and to have a calming effect on the baby.
However, it is disadvantageous here that the positioning, i.e., the position and the orientation, of the hair dryer in the set-down state, can independently change, for example, in an undesired or undetermined manner, that the warm air stream of the hair dryer can be turned to a different orientation. This change in the orientation and a change in the set-down position can also take place due to the fact that the weight and/or the mechanical tension of an electrical supply cable of the hair dryer can lead to a movement or to a rotation of the hair dryer. Accordingly, the person has to ensure that the running hair dryer is set down securely positioned in the vicinity of the baby and remains there during operation as well.
The hair dryer is to be set down close enough to the baby that the baby can perceive the calming noise clearly enough. In this case, however, it is further to be ensured by the person that the warm air stream is not directed onto the baby, and, as described above, this cannot automatically result during the course of operation because this would usually lead to excessive heating of the baby's body surface in one place, which, as described above, is perceived as unpleasant by the baby and can even dry out and/or burn the skin of the baby. This would thus, by contrast, bring about the opposite of a calming effect for the baby.
It should also be noted here that a baby can urinate in an uncontrolled manner. Accordingly, the hair dryer is to be set down at a sufficient distance from the baby in order to reliably prevent an electrically conductive connection between the hair dryer, which is usually operated directly with a supply network voltage of, for example, 220 V, and the baby via its urine. This also applies to other fluids, such as the washing water, which is provided in a bowl in the immediate vicinity of the baby for cleaning the baby in the diaper area and can, for example, run out or tip out by the baby moving or grasping said bowl and inadvertently by the person. For safety reasons, the hair dryer should thus be set down outside the changing table or at least outside the changing surface of the changing table, which restricts the possibilities for setting down the hair dryer or requires corresponding additional shelves, a chest of drawers or the like in the immediate vicinity of the changing table as a surface on which to set the hair dryer.
In any case, the use of a hair dryer for calming a baby by means of the whirring noise of the blower of the hair dryer requires a not inconsiderable effort in order to achieve the desired effect and at the same time ensure the safety of the baby.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a baby hair dryer of the type described above, so that use with babies can be improved and/or facilitated. In particular, the drying, warming and/or calming babies is to be made possible by means of a baby hair dryer that is easier for the user, saves more space, more time, more effort, and is safer and/or more effective than previously known. At least one alternative to known hair dryers is to be provided which can be used for babies as described above.
The object is achieved according to the invention by a baby hair dryer comprising the features of Claim 1. Advantageous developments are described in the dependent claims.
The present invention therefore relates to a baby hair dryer having a blower unit which is designed to generate a directed heated air outlet stream. Such hair dryers were described in the introduction. These can be used as baby hair dryers by a person, such as, in particular, an adult, as described above.
The baby hair dryer according to the invention is characterized by a fastening unit which is designed to be fixedly fastened to an object, preferably to a piece of furniture, particularly preferably to an edge and/or upstand of the piece of furniture, preferably of a changing table, and by at least one connecting element which connects the fastening unit and the blower unit to one another, the connecting element being designed so that the blower unit can be positioned flexibly with respect to the fastening unit. In other words, a baby hair dryer according to the invention can be fixedly attached to an object in order not to have to be held by the person. As a result, a hair dryer can be arranged, not only for drying or warming the baby by means of the directed heated air output stream but also for calming by the whirring noise of the blower unit, at a suitable distance and in a suitable orientation to the baby in the vicinity thereof, without having to be held for this purpose by a person.
This can relieve the person of this task and, in particular, ensure that the person can use both hands for other activities, such as, in particular, drying the baby, care tasks, such as applying lotion, brushing hair, diaper changing, dressing, supporting the head of a baby and the like. This can make these tasks easier for the person and, in particular, reduce the time required for them and/or reduce the stress caused thereby. In particular, these tasks can be carried out by the person alone without a further person having to assist the person, for example by holding the hair dryer.
This can also increase comfort and, in particular, safety for the baby, since the baby hair dryer can be operated and safely arranged in the vicinity of the baby. In particular, it is possible to avoid setting down the baby hair dryer on the same surface as the baby, such as on a changing surface, where the baby hair dryer could be unsafe, as described above, would be reachable for the baby and/or could come into contact in an electrically conductive manner, for example with urine of the baby. A possible electrically conductive contact of the baby hair dryer with the water of a water bowl, which could possibly even be resting on the changing surface, can also be reliably avoided in this way.
For this purpose, the fastening unit can be designed to be fastened to an object in such a way that the fastening unit is held securely on the object and the blower unit can be flexibly positioned or arranged by means of the connecting element relative to the fastening unit and thus flexibly also in relation to the object, i.e., in various positions and/or orientations that can be selected by the person. As a result, the blower unit can be positioned at a distance from the baby, so that the directed heated air outlet stream can reach the baby's body surface with a desired pleasant intensity and/or temperature. On the other hand, the blower unit can be positioned at a distance from the baby, so that the whirring noise of the blower unit can be perceived by the baby sufficiently clearly as well as at a pleasant volume in order to have a calming effect on the baby. In this case, the blower unit can be oriented during its positioning in such a way that the directed heated air outlet stream is not directed at the baby.
In any case, the fastening unit can, for example, be fastened to the object in a friction-locking manner by a clamping element, by a screw element or the like, whereby a secure hold can be ensured, which can be effected easily and can be undone. This can enable fastening of the fastening unit to a piece of furniture and, in particular, to an edge or to an upstand of the piece of furniture, such as, in particular, a shelf, a table, a changing table or a changing table surface. As a result, the fastening unit can be fastened quickly and easily to the object and also removed therefrom, without leaving marks. Alternatively, the fastening unit can also be fastened by a screw connection, for example to a wall, to a piece of wooden furniture or the like, which can constitute a rather long-term fastening.
The connecting element can have any mechanical kinematics which, on the one hand, reliably absorb or bear the weight of the blower unit in any positioning relative to the fastening unit and at the same time can allow a flexible change in the positioning of the blower unit relative to the fastening unit. For this purpose, the mechanical kinematics of the connecting element can preferably enable both rotational movements and longitudinal changes in order to be able to arrange the blower unit in as many different positions as possible within a preferably at least essentially hemispherical working space, and to allow as many different orientations as possible there. As a result, the blower unit can be held securely on the one hand and, on the other hand, as many different positionings as possible can be assumed, which can enable the person to use the blower unit as flexibly as possible.
This also includes that the fastening unit and the connecting element can be connected to one another and thus can be formed in one piece, but the blower unit may represent a separate component, such as a known hair dryer or a known baby hair dryer, which, for example, can be connected to the connecting element, for example, by inserting it or the like into a receptacle and can be used as described above. This can enable a conventional hair dryer or baby hair dryer to be inserted into the receptacle of the connecting element and be used as described above, so that the fastening unit and the connecting element can be understood as an adapter in order to further develop a known hair dryer or baby hair dryer to form a baby hair dryer according to the invention.
Preferably, however, the fastening unit, the connecting element and the blower unit are firmly connected to one another and thus formed in one piece, which can facilitate use, as described above. In particular, further aspects of the present invention can be implemented, or implemented more easily, more compactly and/or in a user-friendlier manner by means of a baby hair dryer with a one-piece design according to the invention, as will be described in more detail below.
According to one aspect of the invention, the connecting element has a gooseneck; preferably the connecting element is a gooseneck. A gooseneck as a holder is understood to mean a semi-rigid, flexible connecting element made of helical metal hose, and can also be referred to as a flexible arm. A gooseneck contains in the interior a wire with a round cross-section, which has a helical shape in order to form a kind of spring. A wire with a triangular cross-section is wound around the inner wire, so that the tips of the triangle of the outer wire each project into the intermediate spaces between the round wires of the inner wire. When the gooseneck is bent in one direction, the distance between the round wires of the inner wire is increased on the outer side of the curve and reduced on the inside of the curve. Accordingly, the tips of the triangles of the outer wire on the outer side of the curve engage more pronouncedly in the intermediate spaces of the round wires of the inner wire, and on the inside of the curve the tips of the triangles of the outer wire are pressed out from the intermediate spaces of the round wires of the inner wire. The curve of the gooseneck is maintained due to the friction between the inner wire and the outer wire, so that the gooseneck automatically remains in the set positioning. In this way, a gooseneck can be bent as a holder in almost any direction and remain in any position or positioning. The above-described aspects of the flexible connecting element can thus be implemented in particular simply, securely, cost-effectively, with low maintenance and/or compactly by means of a gooseneck.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the baby hair dryer, preferably the blower unit, is designed to continuously change the stream direction of the directed heated air outlet stream, preferably to pivot continuously back and forth. In other words, the baby hair dryer is able to automatically change the orientation of the directed heated air outlet stream continuously, i.e., without interruption, so that the heated air outlet stream, if applicable, is constantly changing its orientation, in some cases by a 180° change in direction. As a result, it is possible to prevent the heated air outlet stream from being directed at the same place on the body surface of the baby for such a period that excessive heating could be caused there, which could be perceived as unpleasant by the baby and could dry out and/or burn the baby's skin. Furthermore, the air stream can be prevented from constantly blowing into the face and/or the eyes of the baby. This can take place automatically, i.e., without the involvement of the person, so that this possibility can be used without the person having to interact with the device.
This previously described movement can be implemented on the part of the fastening unit by the connecting element together with the blower unit being moved accordingly by the fastening unit. This can make it possible for the corresponding mechanism and the corresponding drive for carrying out such a movement to be arranged stationary in the fastening unit and thus not to be moved accompanyingly, which can keep the weight to be moved low. This can also enable a correspondingly compact design of the blower unit.
The corresponding movement can also be implemented by the connecting element by the blower unit being moved accordingly by the connecting element. This can reduce the space within the working space of the baby hair dryer in which a movement takes place, which can reduce a risk of collision between the moving blower unit and the person, for example, as compared to a moving connecting element.
The corresponding movement can also preferably be implemented only on the part of the blower unit, for example by the blower unit being moved relative to the connecting element or by only a movement within the blower unit being able to take place, in order to change the orientation of the directed heated air outlet stream as described above. This can minimize the movements of the baby hair dryer for changing the orientation of the directed heated air outlet stream as compared to the alternative possibilities described above, which not only keeps the effort for implementing the movement low but at the same time also makes it possible to avoid a risk of collision with moving elements of the baby hair dryer.
In any case, the corresponding movement can be effected by suitable mechanical elements and by at least one, preferably electric, drive. The resulting movement can take place in particular about a pivot axis, pivoting back and forth, or also in a circular manner about an axis, combined movements also being possible.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the blower unit has at least one pivot element, preferably provided with air guide slats, which is designed so that the directed heated air outlet stream can stream through it and it can be continuously pivoted back and forth. This can represent a comparatively simple, compact and/or cost-effective option to implement the previously described movement as a pivoting movement on the part of the blower unit, so that the directed heated air outlet stream can be pivoted back and forth about a pivot axis at a certain angle. Accordingly, the blower unit can be positioned relative to the baby in such a way that the directed heated air outlet stream can be pivoted back and forth over the baby, in particular from the head to foot, in order to dry the baby as completely as possible and/or keep the baby warm. This can be implemented in a correspondingly simple manner.
The blower unit with air guide slats, which can also be referred to as lamellae or ribs, can facilitate the changing orientation of the directed heated air outlet stream during pivoting and thus increase or ensure the desired effect. In this way, this can be implemented in a comparatively simple, cost-effective and/or space-saving manner.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the pivot element is arranged in an air outlet of the blower unit through which the directed heated air outlet stream exits from the blower unit. As a result, the effect of a changing orientation of the directed heated air outlet stream by the pivot element can be achieved particularly effectively, because the directed heated air outlet stream leaves the blower unit through the air outlet and thus essentially maintains its direction at least in the following region.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the pivot element is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis relative to a housing of the blower unit, preferably relative to an air outlet of the blower unit, by means of at least one pivot element bearing, preferably by means of a pair of pivot element bearings. This can enable a simple, compact and/or durable implementation of a pivotable connection between pivot element and housing of the blower unit.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the pivot element is designed to be moved continuously back and forth by means of a pivot drive, preferably by means of an electric geared motor. In this way, corresponding drives can be provided in order to enable the previously described pivoting movement of the pivot element. In this context, using an electric geared motor in this context can, by means of the gear unit, enable a corresponding mechanical transmission ratio between the rotational speed of the electric motor and the pivot element, so that the pivoting movement can take place at an appropriate speed.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the pivot drive is connected to the pivot element in a force-transmitting manner by means of a force transmission element, preferably by means of a thrust crank. In this way, a corresponding transmission of forces between the pivot drive and the pivot element can be implemented. This can be realized in particular by means of a thrust crank, also called a thrust crank mechanism, in a comparatively simple, compact and/or reliable manner.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the baby hair dryer, preferably the blower unit, has at least one movement function operating element which is designed at least to switch the continuous movement on and off, preferably in addition to switch between at least two speeds of the continuous movement. In this way, by means of a corresponding activation of the movement function operating element, the continuous movement can be at least switched on and off by the person as a user in order to be able to use this as needed and in particular independently of any further functions of the baby hair dryer. This can be implemented in a particularly simple and intuitive manner by means of a switch or a pushbutton.
Preferably, providing at least two different speeds of the continuous movement can increase the possibilities of use for the person. Being able to select between these two different speeds additionally by means of the movement function operating element, can at the same time keep the outlay on operating elements to a minimum. For example, a rocker switch with three positions can be used for this purpose.
In any case, it may be more intuitive for the person as a user to carry out such an operation on the blower unit itself instead of on the fastening unit, so that the movement function operating element can preferably be arranged on the blower unit.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the blower unit has a blower wheel which is designed to be operated by means of a blower motor, wherein the baby hair dryer, preferably the blower unit, has a blower operating element which is designed at least to switch the blower motor on and off, preferably also to switch between at least two speeds of the blower motor. This can enable the generation of the air outlet stream. As a result, the above-described functions and aspects can in addition be transferred to the blower motor.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the blower unit has an electrical heating element which is designed to heat a cold air inlet stream, wherein the baby hair dryer, preferably the blower unit, has a heating element control element which is designed at least to switch the electrical heating element on and off, preferably also to switch between at least two heat outputs of the electrical heating element. In this way, the air inlet stream can be heated. As a result, the above-described functions and aspects can also be transferred to the electrical heating element.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the electrical heating element is designed to generate a maximum power which can heat the cold air inlet stream, preferably at the lowest flow rate, to a maximum of about 45° C. In this way, a maximum temperature of the directed heated air outlet stream can be predefined. As a result, excessive heating of the baby—which can at least be perceived by the baby to be unpleasant, or the baby can even be injured by skin burns—can be reliably prevented.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the fastening unit has at least one fastening element, preferably at least one clamping element or a screw element, which is designed to be fixedly fastened to the object. As a result, implementation of the fastening element as already described above can be effected easily and effectively.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the fastening unit has at least one rechargeable electrical energy store, which is designed to electrically supply at least one electrical heating element, a blower motor, a pivot drive and/or a control unit, wherein the fastening unit and/or the blower unit preferably have a status indicator element of the charging state of the rechargeable electrical energy store. This can enable cable-free use of the baby hair dryer according to the invention and thereby increase the flexibility of use for the person. This can also increase safety by using electrical voltages, for example from 18 V to 24 V, appropriate for the output voltage of conventional rechargeable electrical energy stores, which voltages cannot constitute safety hazards for the baby upon contact. The rechargeable electrical energy store here can be removable or interchangeable for charging, and/or the rechargeable electrical energy store can be charged by connecting a charging device to the fastening unit.
Preferably, indicating the charging state of the rechargeable electrical energy store by means of a status indicator element of the fastening unit can make it easier for the person as user to use the device and to plan the charging. For this purpose, for example, differently colored visual indicator elements can be used, for example, in the form of LEDs, for example with the colors green, yellow and red. A single visual indicator element can also be used, for example, in the form of an LED with different colors, for example with the colors green, yellow and red. In any case, a green light can indicate a fully charged state, a yellow light a partially charged state, and a red light an almost fully discharged state. Furthermore, a plurality of, preferably three, colorless or white visual indicator elements in the form of LEDs, for example, can be used and can be operated or not, depending on the state of charge. For example, three light-emitting visual indicator elements can indicate a completely charged state, two light-emitting visual indicator elements a partially charged state and one illuminated visual indicator element an almost fully discharged state.
An exemplary embodiment and further advantages of the invention are illustrated in a purely schematic manner and in detail below in connection with the following figures. In the figures:
The above figures are considered in Cartesian coordinates. A longitudinal direction X is shown, which can also be referred to as depth X or as length X. A transverse direction Y, which can also be referred to as width Y, extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. Perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y, a vertical direction Z, which can also be called height Z and which corresponds to the direction of gravity, extends. The longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y together form the horizontal X, Y, which can also be referred to as horizontal plane X, Y.
A baby hair dryer 1 according to the invention, which can also be referred to as a baby blow dryer 1, has a one-piece design and comprises as essential components: a blower unit 2, a connecting element 3 and a fastening unit 4.
The blower unit 2 has a housing 20, which essentially surrounds the components or the elements of the blower unit 2 on the outside and thus protects against external influences and against contact by a person. The housing 20 has an air inlet 22a in its longitudinal extension direction at one end through which ambient air can pass into the interior of the housing 20. In the longitudinal extension direction, the housing 20 has an air outlet 22f through which air can be discharged from the interior of the housing 20 to the environment.
An air duct 22b, through which duct the air can flow from one end of the housing 20 of the blower unit 20 to the other end, is formed in the interior of the housing 20 between the air inlet 22a and the air outlet 22f. A blower wheel 22c, which can rotate about an axis of rotation (not shown), which axis corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the air duct 22b, is arranged within the air duct 22b and facing the air intake 22a. The blower wheel 22c can be rotationally driven by means of a blower motor 22d which is arranged within the air duct 22b and facing away from the air inlet 22a and has an axis of rotation which coincides with the axis of rotation of the blower wheel 22c. As a result, ambient air can be sucked into the air duct 22b as a cold air inlet stream A or as inflowing cold air A. The blower wheel 22c can also be referred to as fan wheel 22c or ventilator wheel 22c, and the blower motor 22d as fan motor 22d or ventilator motor 22d.
An electrical heating element 22e, which can be electrically energized, is arranged within the further course of the air duct 22b. As a result, the air flowing in the air duct 22b can be heated and thus exit through the air outlet 22f as a heated air outlet stream B or as outflowing heated air B. By appropriately positioning the blower unit 22 as regards the position and orientation of the air outlet 22f, the directed heated air outlet stream B can be directed, for example, onto a baby and thus be used for drying and/or for warming the baby.
The air outlet 22f is formed by a pivot element 23, which can be pivoted relative to the housing 20 back and forth about a pivot axis U at both ends in a pivoting direction V. As a result, the direction in which the directed heated air outlet stream B exits from the blower unit 2 can be changed to a certain extent, for example by 50° or 60°. For this purpose, the pivot element 23 is pivotably connected for this purpose to the housing 20 along the pivot axis U at both ends by means of two pivot element bearings 24.
A force transmission element 25 in the form of a thrust crank 25, which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the air duct 22b up to approximately the center of the blower motor 22d, is arranged within the housing 20 below the air duct 22b. With its axis of rotation (not shown) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the air duct 22b, a pivot drive 26 in the form of an electric geared motor 26 is arranged there and connected to the thrust crank 25. The rotating movement of the electric geared motor 26 can thus be transmitted to the thrust crank 25 and converted by the thrust crank 25 into a translational movement along the longitudinal axis of the air duct 22b. By means of a rotationally movable connection of the opposite end of the thrust crank 25 to the pivot element 23 laterally to the pivot axis U thereof, its translational movement can bring about the pivoting movement of the pivot element 23 back and forth in the pivoting direction V.
As a result, the directed heated air outlet stream B can be continuously oriented pivoting back and forth about the pivot axis U and thus flow back and forth over a recumbent baby from head to foot, for example. A recumbent baby lying in place can thus be reached from head to foot by the directed heated air outlet stream B without a person needing to move or pivot the blower unit 2 for this purpose. As a result of the continuous movement, it can also be ensured that the directed heated air outlet stream B is not directed continuously onto the same place on the body surface of the baby, which could cause an unpleasantly intense heating and even a burning of the skin.
A movement function operating element 27 is arranged on the outside of the blower unit 2 as a pivot function button 27 which a person can reach from the outside through a lateral recess in the housing 20; see for example
Furthermore, a blower operating element 28 is arranged on the outside of the blower unit 2 as a blower switch 28 and can be reached by a person from the outside through a rear recess in the housing 20; see for example
The connecting element 3 is designed as a gooseneck 3 or as a gooseneck holder 3. The connecting element 3 consists essentially of a cylindrical connecting-element body 30, which comprises the round wires of an inner wire (not shown) and the triangles of an outer wire (not shown) of the gooseneck 3 together with its protective sheathing (not labeled). At its end facing the blower unit 2, the connecting element body 30 has a holding element 32 on the blower unit side by means of which element the connecting element body 30 is fixedly connected to a holding element receptacle 21 of the blower unit 2. At its opposite end facing the fastening unit 4, the connecting element body 30 has a holding element 31 on the fastening element side, by means of which fastening element the connecting element body 30 is fixedly connected to a holding element receptacle 21 of the fastening unit 4; see for example
The fastening unit 4 for its part has a housing 40 which essentially surrounds the components or the elements of the fastening unit 4 on the outside and thus protects against external influences and against contact by a person. The housing 40 is cuboid and has, on its outer side, a fastening element 42 in the form of a clamping element 42, by means of which the fastening unit 4 can be fastened in a clamping manner, in particular to an edge, such as a table edge or an upstand, for example of a shelf or of a changing table or a changing table surface as the object. As a result, the fastening unit 4 can be fixedly and securely fastened in a clamping manner to hold it, but in a non-destructive manner, releasably, for example, on such a piece of furniture as the object.
The connection of the blower unit 2 to the fixedly fastened fastening unit 4 by means of the connecting element 3 as a gooseneck 3 makes it possible for the person as user to flexibly position the blower unit 2 relative to the fastening unit 4 within a certain working space, i.e., to arrange it in a flexible manner at a flexibly selectable position, and to align it flexibly, so that the distance and the orientation of the air outlet 22f of the blower unit 2 relative to a baby lying, for example, on the changing table or on the changing surface and is to be dried or kept warm by the directed heated air outlet stream B of the blower unit 2, in particular automatically and continuously, can be adjusted by the person by corresponding movements of the blower unit 2 with the hands. As a result, the blower unit 2 of the baby hair dryer 1 can be used without the person needing to do anything in this regard during the operation of the baby hair dryer 1. In particular, the person does not need to hold or pivot the blower unit 2 of the baby hair dryer 1. Accordingly, the person can attend to the baby with both hands and with full attention.
Arranged within the housing 40 of the fastening unit 4 is a rechargeable electrical energy store 43 in the form of a rechargeable battery 43 which can provide sufficient electrical voltage for operating the baby hair dryer 1 or its electrical and electronic components, such as the blower motor 22d, the electrical heating element 22e, the electric geared motor 26 and a control unit (not shown) for operating or controlling the aforementioned components. On the one hand, this can enable cable-free operation of the baby hair dryer 1, thereby increasing the flexibility of use for the person. On the other hand, due to a relatively low electrical voltage level of the output voltage of the rechargeable battery 23 of, for example, 24 V, safety for the baby can be enhanced, because such low electrical voltage levels cannot endanger the baby in the event of an electrically conductive contact, for example via urine or washing water.
Charging of the rechargeable battery 43 can take place via the connection of an electrical charging device (not shown) of the baby hair dryer 1 by means of a cable (not shown), for which purpose a charging terminal 44 is provided on the outer side of the housing 40 of the fastening unit 4; see for example
Alternatively, the rechargeable battery 43 can be dispensed with, which can save installation space and costs for the fastening unit 4. In this case, the charging terminal 44 can be connected by means of an electrical cable and plug, for example via a socket with an electrical supply network of, for example, 220 V, so that the aforementioned electrical and electronic components of the baby hair dryer 1 can be directly electrically supplied. This direct electrical supply can then be activated with a corresponding operating switch instead of the charging switch 45. As a result, the availability of the baby hair dryer 1 can be increased, or it can be ensured at any time that an electrical supply is always provided. However, this can reduce the safety of the baby hair dryer 1, because in the case of an electrically conductive connection, for example, splashing water can cause a flow of current, for example, with the electrical heating element 22e of the blower unit 2 that can be hazardous to the health of the person and in particular of the baby.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2021 105 546.6 | Mar 2021 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/054272 | 2/21/2022 | WO |
