Patent Application
20120260516
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of hair dryers, and more particularly, to devices having a rotating member for directing a circular flow of air from a hair dryer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A number of devices are known that direct air flow from a hair dryer. These devices include nozzle attachments or outlets that spin while deflecting air at an acute angle. The attachments are enabled to spin through the use of internal vanes that are pushed by the air exiting the hair dryer. The vanes are typically connected to and spin around a central point within the attachment. The direction of the air exiting the rotating attachment is thereby constantly changed, sometimes in a circular pattern. However, the air flow exiting from the attachment remains linear by nature, and the vanes only act to change how the linear flow is directed.
The present invention has been made to address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention relates to a rotating member for directing a circular flow of air from a portable hand-held hair dryer.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a rotating air directing apparatus for a barrel of a hair dryer is provided. The apparatus includes a tubular adapter member adapted to be removably coupled to the barrel of the hair dryer. The apparatus also includes a tubular rotating member rotatably coupled to the tubular adapter member. The tubular rotating member includes a circumferential inner surface, an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a plurality of curved vanes. The apparatus further includes a nozzle member disposed adjacent to the outlet opening of the tubular rotating member and adapted to rotate with the tubular rotating member. The nozzle member includes an angled tubular member having a nozzle opening disposed at an acute angle relative to the outlet opening. The plurality of curved vanes each have a fixed edge at the circumferential inner surface that extends from the inlet opening to the outlet opening of the tubular rotating member, and an opposing free edge that defines a central open space of the tubular rotating member. Each of the plurality of curved vanes are spaced apart from each other, thereby defining a plurality of curved radial openings between adjacent curved vanes. Each of the plurality of curved radial openings adjoins the central open space to form a continuous open path.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a hair dryer assembly is provided. The assembly includes a hair dryer having a barrel, and a tubular rotating member rotatably coupled to the barrel. The tubular rotating member includes a circumferential inner surface, an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a plurality of curved vanes. The assembly further includes a nozzle member disposed adjacent to the outlet opening of the tubular rotating member and adapted to rotate with the tubular rotating member. The nozzle member includes an angled tubular member having a nozzle opening disposed at an acute angle relative to the outlet opening. The plurality of curved vanes each have a fixed edge at the circumferential inner surface that curvedly extends from the inlet opening to the outlet opening of the tubular rotating member, and an opposing free edge that defines a central open space of the tubular rotating member that remains open when rotating. Each of the plurality of curved vanes are spaced apart from each other, thereby defining a plurality of curved radial openings between adjacent curved vanes. Each of the plurality of curved radial openings adjoins the central open space to form a continuous open path.
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar components may be designated by the same or similar reference numerals although they are illustrated in different drawings. Detailed descriptions of constructions or processes known in the art may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention.
The rotating air directing apparatus is powered by the force of the air flowing from the hair dryer. The apparatus is designed and configured to create a moving, rotating pattern of heated air flow similar to that achieved when an operator manually manipulates the hair dryer relative to the hair to be dried. A rotating air directing apparatus, or a hair dryer assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention, eliminates the need for the operator to continuously manipulate the hair dryer, thereby reducing operator fatigue.
As shown, for example in
The tubular adapter member 1 may be formed from a rigid, lightweight plastic material or any other suitable material or materials. The tubular adapter member 1 may have an outer diameter in a range between approximately 30 mm and 70 mm, for example approximately 53 mm, and a length in a range between approximately 40 and 80 mm, for example approximately 61 mm. However, the tubular adapter member 1 may be any suitable size for coupling to the hair dryer 100.
A tubular rotating member 2 is rotatably coupled to the tubular adapter member 1. The tubular rotating member 2 includes a circumferential inner surface 21, an inlet opening 22 and an outlet opening 23. For example, an outer diameter of the tubular rotating member 2 may be dimensioned to fit inside the tubular adapter member 1 to provide a freely rotating fit.
The respective inner and outer surfaces of the tubular adapter member 1 and the tubular rotating member 2 may provide bearing surfaces for the rotational motion. Alternatively, one or more bearing elements may be incorporated into the apparatus to facilitate rotation of the tubular rotating member 2. The bearing elements may be any suitable type, for example, ring bearings, roller bearings or ball bearings. At least one ring bearing may be disposed on an inner surface of the tubular adapter member 1 and/or on an outer surface of the tubular rotating member 2. Moreover, a first ring bearing 61 may be disposed proximate to the outlet opening 23 of the tubular rotating member 2 on an outer surface of the tubular rotating member 2 and on an inner surface of the tubular adapter member 1. A second ring bearing 62 may be disposed proximate to the inlet opening 22 of the tubular rotating member 2 on an outer surface of the tubular rotating member 2 and on an inner surface of the tubular adapter member 1.
The tubular rotating member 2 may be formed from a rigid, lightweight plastic material or any other suitable material or materials. A length of the tubular adapter member 1 and the tubular rotating member 2 assembly may be in a range of approximately 60 to 100 mm, for example 82 mm. However, the assembly may be any suitable length for achieving its intended purpose.
A nozzle member 3 is disposed adjacent to the outlet opening 23 of the tubular rotating member 2 and is adapted to rotate with the tubular rotating member 2. The nozzle member 3 may be rigidly coupled to the tubular rotating member 2 or may be formed integrally therewith to provide a single unitary structure. The nozzle member 3 includes an angled tubular member, which can have, for example, a semi-conical or frusto-conical shape.
The nozzle member 3 also has a nozzle opening 31 disposed at an acute angle relative to the outlet opening 23 of the tubular rotating member 2. Specifically, a imaginary perpendicular line passing through a center of the nozzle opening 31 forms an angle of less than ninety degrees with an imaginary perpendicular line passing though a center of the outlet opening 23. Due to the configuration of the angled nozzle opening, when the tubular rotating member 2 and the nozzle member 3 rotate, a moving, rotating pattern of heated air flow is created which is similar to that achieved by an operator manually manipulating the hair dryer relative to the hair to be dried. The nozzle member 3 may be formed from a rigid, lightweight plastic material or any other suitable material or materials.
A plurality of curved vanes is disposed within the tubular rotating member 2. The rotating air directing apparatus may include two, three or more vanes. For example, as shown in
The curved vanes 41, 42, 43 are configured to cause the tubular rotating member 2 and the nozzle member 3 to rotate together when the air stream from the hair dryer flows past the curved vanes 41, 42, 43. The shape and arrangement of the vanes 41, 42, 43 create a vortex or whirling mass of air which imparts a rotating motion on the tubular rotating member 2 and the nozzle member 3. In particular, the plurality of curved vanes 41, 42, 43 include a corresponding plurality of fixed edges 411, 421, 431. Each fixed edge 411, 421, 431 is associated with a respective one of the curved vanes 41, 42, 43. The fixed edges 411, 421, 431 are fixed to the circumferential inner surface 21 of the tubular rotating member 2.
The plurality of curved vanes 41, 42, 43 also include a plurality of free edges 412, 422, 432. Each free edge 412, 422, 432 is associated with a respective one of the curved vanes 41, 42, 43. Free edges 412, 422, 432 are spaced apart from the circumferential inner surface 21 of tubular rotating member 2. The plurality of free edges 412, 422, 432 defines a central open space 50, as shown in
The plurality of curved vanes 41, 42, 43 also include a plurality of associated inlet side edges 413, 423, 433. Each of the inlet side edges 413, 423, 433 is associated with a respective one of the curved vanes 41, 42, 43. Each of the inlet side edges 413, 423, 433 is disposed proximate to the inlet opening 22 and extends between a respective one of the fixed edges 411, 421, 431 and a respective one of the free edges 412, 422, 432.
The plurality of curved vanes 41, 42, 43 also include a plurality of outlet side edges 414, 424, 434. Each of the outlet side edges 414, 424, 434 is associated with a respective one of the curved vanes 41, 42, 43. Each of the outlet side edges 414, 424, 434 is disposed distal to the inlet opening 22 and extends between a respective one of the fixed edges 411, 421, 431 and a respective one of the free edges 412, 422, 432.
Each of the curved vanes 41, 42, 43 is spaced apart from each adjacent curved vane to define a plurality of curved radial openings 401, 402, 403 between adjacent curved vanes. Each of the plurality of curved radial openings 401, 402, 403 adjoins the central open space 50 to form a continuous open path, as shown in
Referring now to
The speed reducing element 210 is disposed within a groove 218 of the tubular rotating member 208, and assists in reducing the speed at which the tubular rotating member 208 rotates within the adapter member 204. The speed reducing element 210 reduces a rotating speed of the tubular rotating element 208 by expanding beyond the circumference of the tubular rotating member 208 due to centrifugal force when the tubular rotating member 208 is rotating causing contact and friction between the speed reducing element 210 and an interior circumference of the tubular adapter member 204.
The tubular rotating member 208 also includes ball bearings 220 that are disposed within ball retainers 222 on an external circumference of the tubular rotating member 208. The ball bearings 220 contact an internal ledge and the internal circumferential wall of the adapter member 204 when fully assembled. These contact points allow the tubular rotating member 208 to rotate freely within the adapter member 204 while preventing the tubular rotating member 208 from being able to slip out an end of the adapter member 204 from where the nozzle member 206 extends. The tubular rotating member 208 also includes a plurality of receiving elements 224 on an end of its outer circumference near the nozzle member 206 to assist in the attachment between the nozzle member 206 and the tubular rotating member 208. An interior circumference of the nozzle member 206 may have a plurality of protruding elements that fit into the receiving elements 224 to assist in the attachment to the tubular rotating member 208.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
