Patent Application
20050091867
The invention relates generally to hand-held hair dryers and arrangements for hanging the hand-held hair dryers in holders mounted on supporting surfaces.
Hand-held hair dryer and holder assemblies are generally known. Examples of hand-held hair dryer and holder assemblies are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,907 and Re. 36,995. Hand-held hair dryer and holder assemblies include a hand-held hair dryer and a housing or holder mounted on a wall or other supporting surface. The holder provides a location for storing the hand-held hair dryer when the hand-held hair dryer is not in operation. An electrical cord typically extends from the housing to the hand-held hair dryer to supply electrical current to the hand-held hair dryer.
Prior art hand-held hair dryer and holder assemblies include different lengths of cord extending from the hand-held hair dryer. Depending on the length of the cord, the cord can hang from the stored hand-held hair dryer and create a nuisance. The invention provides a cord hanging member on the housing which provides a convenient location to hang the cord when the hand-held hair dryer is not in operation so the amount of unsupported hanging cord is limited. The cord hanging member can be removably or integrally connected to the holder.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a hang-up hair dryer assembly that includes a hand-held hair dryer, a housing, an electrical cord, and a cord hanger. The housing is adapted for mounting to a supporting surface to provide a location for storing the hand-held hair dryer when the hand-held hair dryer is not in operation. The electrical cord extends from the hand-held hair dryer and electrically connects the hand-held hair dryer to a power supply. The cord hanger connects to the housing and supports a portion of the cord when the hand-held hair dryer is not in operation.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a hand-held hair dryer and holder assembly that includes a hand-held hair dryer, a holder, an electrical cord, and a cord hanging member. The holder is adapted for mounting to a supporting surface. The holder provides a location for storing the hand-held hair dryer when the hand-held hair dryer is not in operation. The electrical cord extends between the holder and the hand-held hair dryer. The cord includes a first portion connected to the holder, a second portion connected to the hand-held hair dryer, and a third portion extending between the first portion and the second portion. The cord hanging member connects to the holder and is adapted to support the third portion of the cord when the hand-held hair dryer is not in operation.
In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a method of storing a hand-held hair dryer when the hand-held hair dryer is not in use. The method includes providing a hand-held hair dryer and a housing sized to releasably receive at least a portion of the hand-held hair dryer to provide a location for storing the hand-held hair dryer when the hand-held hair dryer is not in operation. The method also includes connecting a cord hanger to the housing and mounting the housing to a supporting surface. The hand-held hair dryer is electrically connected to a power supply using an electrical cord extending from the hand-held hair dryer. A user releasably secures the hand-held hair dryer on the housing and releasably supports a portion of the electrical cord on the cord hanger when the hand-held dryer is not in operation to limit an amount of unsupported cord hanging from the hand-held hair dryer.
Further objects of the present invention together with the organization and manner of operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like elements have like numerals throughout the drawings.
The present invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show an embodiment of the present invention. However, it should be noted that the invention as disclosed in the accompanying drawings is illustrated by way of example only. The various elements and combinations of elements described below and illustrated in the drawings can be arranged and organized differently to result in embodiments which are still within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” and “coupled” are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. Additionally, unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “forward,” “rearward,” “outward,” “inward,” “sideward,” “downward,” and “upward” and variations thereof as used herein are not meant to indicate a particular direction, but rather a relative direction with respect to the context of the discussion.
The hand-held hair dryer 14 includes a handle portion 26 and a barrel or blower portion 30 interconnected with the handle portion 26. With reference to
As illustrated in
A cord hanging member or cord hanger 42 is connected to the top portion of the holder 18 to support the third portion 38c of the cord 38 when the hair dryer 14 is stored on the holder 18. The illustrated cord hanging member 42 includes a base portion 42a and a knob portion 42b connected to the base portion 42a. As illustrated in
The cord hanging member 42 is further illustrated in
The illustrated holder 18 and cord hanging member 42 are each fabricated or molded from a plastic material as individual one-piece constructions. In other embodiments, the cord hanging member 42 may be integrally formed or connected with the holder 18. The holder 18 includes a pair of spaced through bores 18c which are adapted for passage therethrough of suitable fasteners (e.g., threaded fasteners) which connect the holder 18 to the supporting surface 22. In other embodiments, other means may be utilized to attach the holder to the supporting surface 22.
The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present invention. As such, it will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that various changes in the elements and their configuration and arrangement are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.
