Semi-Circular Hair Diffuser

Abstract

A new hair diffuser with the treatment surface bent to curve around the head is proposed. The proposed hair diffuser allows for a faster and more efficient hair drying and curling. The bent shape also allows for more optimal application of the air flow, when the air doesn’t escape at the edges of the hair diffuser’s surface, like it does in all current models. Such escape usually results in the unwanted hair straightening. The proposed hair diffuser brings a more efficient treatment resulting in evenly curled hair.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hair-drying, and more specifically to drying hair with the intent to achieve or to preserve the curly or wavy hair.

Particularly, the present invention could be used in hair-dressing, when the goal is to achieve the curly and wavy hair.

DISCUSSION OF PRIOR ART

Hair dryers were used as early as 1888, when Alexandre-Ferdiand Godefroy patented the first contraption that used hot air to be delivered to a dome surrounding the woman’s head.

Since the first hair dryer, a multitude of hair fans were introduced aimed at drying the wet hair without using a towel. The hot or cold air is usually sent via electric motor with attached blades through a pipe towards the wet hair. The pipe could be of different shape and size usually aimed at achieving a strong airflow and precise aiming towards the treated area of the skull.

Hair diffuser is a contraption consisting of the hollow head part with the pipe attachment on one end, and holes and protrusions on the other end. The end with holes and protrusions comes in a close proximity to the treated head area.

The head part attaches to the fan blowing hot or cold air. The head part has a surface area populated with holes and protrusions. The wet hair is generally laid on top of this surface. The air floats through the holes, drying the hair, while the hair is naturally curling around protrusions as it is being dried. As a result, the curliness is achieved, while hair is drying around the protrusions.

Hair diffusers that were introduced in prior art had a flat or a dipped circular or rectangular head surface that was attached by means of a pipe to the barrel of a hair dryer. The surface could have been of different sizes in order to treat either a smaller or a larger area of the skull.

The circular or rectangular flat or dipped shape inherently causes some issues with the functionality of the diffuser. Firstly, it allows only for the treatment of some smaller areas of the skull at a time, leading to prolonged times to get the job done. Additionally, at the edges of the current diffusers, the air escapes in unwanted directions, causing some of the hair to dry in an undesired manner, losing the anticipated waviness. Specifically, as the air escapes in unwanted directions, the air can blow onto the curls or waves of the previously treated areas causing them to lose some of the curl or wave. Moreover, gravity can also affect the curls or waves of the previously treated areas also causing them to lose some of the curl or wave.

Thus, there is a clearly felt need for a diffuser that would allow for the treatment of the larger areas of the skull, while achieving the wavy hair throughout the entire area.

The disclosed invention addresses these and some other issues related to the hair diffusers currently available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved hair diffuser.

According to the present invention, the hair diffuser consists of the hollow head piece that has one surface with a plurality of holes and protrusions on the side that is used for the hair treatment. Said head piece is molded generally in a rectangular shape and is bent into semi-circle, so that the surface with holes and protrusions encircles the curvature of the human head. The side, opposite to the surface with holes and protrusions, is similarly bent into semi-circle, but having no holes or protrusions, and is suited with an inlet pipe that generally fits the opening of the barrel of the hair dryer or air fan.

Unlike the previously disclosed hair diffusers, the curvature and the shape of the current invention allows for the treatment of the entire head at once, instead of moving the diffuser from one portion of the head to another. Additionally, bending around the head prevents the air flow escaping on the edges of the hair diffuser, that would usually result in straightening of the hair in the surrounding areas. It means that entire head of hair is being treated at once, and all hair is being curled evenly.

Also, unlike the dome-shaped devises that had to be placed above the treated head, the current invention could be used from the bottom or sideway, letting the hair naturally drop and curl near and around the protrusions.

The hair diffuser could be molded from any polymer material, like plastic, that hardens in a desired shape, as well as it could be made from light metal. The surface area of the side with holes and protrusions could vary, but in general is sized to encircle the average human head.

The length of the protrusions may vary, and the longer protrusions could be applied to the longer hair.

The size of the holes for the air float also may vary, and the larger size could be used for a more aggressive treatment.

The present hair diffuser is meant to be attached to generally available hair dryers or hair fans by means of the pipe attached to the side of the diffuser opposite to the side with holes and protrusions.

The air from the fan is delivered in the hair diffuser by means of the pipe attachment, and is further evenly distributed through the holes on the surface with holes and protrusions.

The present hair diffuser is generally positioned underneath the human head with wet hair, allowing the hair to naturally fall on the surface with holes and protrusions. As the hair falls, it naturally weaves around the protrusions. The air floats through the holes, drying the hair that is circling around the protrusions, resulting in a wavy hair when the drying is complete.

Due to the bent shape of the present hair diffuser, the entire head could be treated at once, while every part of hair is getting the same air float, and no air escapes on the edges of the hair diffuser.

Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of person’s hair being treated with the presently disclosed hair diffuser, including a blow-up view of the hair encircling the protrusion next to the hole in the air diffuser;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of person’s hair being treated with the presently disclosed hair diffuser presented from a different angle;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the presently disclosed hair diffuser from the side of the surface with holes and protrusions;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the presently disclosed hair diffuser sliced in half and opened in order to fully understand the shape and functioning parts;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the presently disclosed hair diffuser from the side opposite to the side with holes and protrusions, demonstrating the inlet pipe fitting the barrel of the hair dryer or air fan.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting and understanding the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to one or more illustrative embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same.

Referring to FIG. 1, an application of the hair diffuser according to the present invention to the wet hair is depicted. The inlet pipe attachment 1 allows to attach the barrel of a hair dryer or air fan 5, blowing the air through the hair diffuser, so it is distributed evenly through holes 3, on the side opposite to the pipe attachment. As wet hair 4 is dropped on the surface of the hair diffuser, the hair lays near the protrusions or curls around protrusions, which helps suspending the hair and achieving the natural curl of the hair. The hot or cold air stream is delivered through the holes 3, drying the hair in the curled position, resulting in a wavy or curly hair after the treatment is done. A gripping finish may be applied to the surface of the diffuser that contacts the hair in order to facilitate the use of the entire surface of the diffuser, spreading the wet hair evenly on the surface, and preventing the hair from gathering at the bottom of the apparatus. Air may or may not flow through the protrusions 2. The holes 3 may be of the same dimensions but may also be of different dimensions. Said holes may also be evenly spaced or have varying spaces.

FIG. 2 depicts the hair treatment with the hair diffuser from a different angle. It is easy to see that the curved semi-circular shape of the hair diffuser allows for the treatment of the entire body of hair at once. At the same time, the curved semi-circular shape of the air diffuser allows the air float’s most optimal use, when little or no air stream escapes on the edges of the hair diffuser.

FIG. 3 provides a view from the top of the hair diffuser, according to the present invention. Holes 3 and protrusions 2 are sporadically and evenly distributed throughout the surface area on the treating side of the hair diffuser. Protrusions 2 may also contain holes or may be made of a solid material.

FIG. 4 provides the inside view of the hair diffuser that is split in half. The pipe 1 leads to the hollow inside of the hair diffuser, and to the holes 3, where hot or cold air can escape to be applied to the wet hair, that promotes the curls or waves of the hair near and around protrusions 2. The angle of curvature and the width of the opening of the hair diffuser as well as the length of protrusions 2 may be of differing sizes in order to accommodate the human head.

FIG. 5 depicts the view from the bottom of the hair diffuser, namely from the side that is equipped with the pipe 1, that fits on the opening of the barrel of the hair dryer or air fan. Through the pipe opening, the viewer can see holes 3 located on the opposite side of the hair diffuser. An insert made of silicone or other such malleable, heat-resistant material may be included in the pipe 1 in order to accommodate the different size circumferences of hair dryer barrels. Said inserts also may be used in order to facilitate the stability of the connection of the hair diffuser with the barrel of the hair dryer with a friction fit.

Figures provide preferred embodiment of the invention. However, the invention is not limited to the disclosed configuration. The size and the bending of the hair diffuser can vary depending on whether it is meant for adult or child hair treatment. Additionally, the number and size of the holes and protrusions is also variable, and could be changed for the treatment of longer or shorter hair accordingly.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the foregoing drawings and description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the sprit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims are desired to be protected.

Claims

1. A diffuser, comprising: a hollow rectangular head piece having an outer surface and an inner surface connected to the outer surface by a flange, wherein the hollow rectangular head piece is bent into semi-circle;an air inlet disposed on the outer surface of the hollow rectangular head piece and configured to receive air discharged from a hair dryer, wherein the hair dryer may be removably coupled to the air inlet;a plurality of holes distributed sporadically on the inner surface of the hollow rectangular head piece; anda plurality of protrusions distributed sporadically on the inner surface of the hollow rectangular head piece, wherein each of the plurality of protrusions extends from the inner surface toward a center of the semi-circle,wherein an interior of the hollow rectangular head piece forms a channel for air flow, wherein the channel directs air from the air inlet through said plurality of holes.

2. The diffuser of claim 1 wherein the plurality of holes has different sizes and the spacing from each other is not uniform.

3. The diffuser of claim 1 wherein the protrusions contain holes from which the air is also distributed.

4. The diffuser of claim 1 wherein the plurality of protrusions has different lengths and widths.

5. The diffuser of claim 1 wherein said holes and protrusions are evenly distributed throughout said inner surface.

6. The diffuser of claim 1 wherein the flange is extended and shaped to accommodate a better contact with a person’s head.

7. The diffuser of claim 1, further comprising: an annular insert disposed in the air inlet, wherein the annular insert is made of silicone or other such malleable, heat-resistant material.

8. The diffuser of claim 1 wherein the inner surface is covered with a gripping finish.

9. A method of drying hair, said method comprising the steps of: providing a diffuser including: a hollow rectangular head piece having an outer surface and an inner surface connected to the outer surface by a flange, wherein the head piece is bent into semi-circle;an air inlet disposed on the outer surface of the hollow rectangular head piece and configured to receive air discharged from a hair dryer, wherein the hair dryer may be removably coupled to the air inlet;a plurality of holes distributed sporadically on the inner surface of the hollow rectangular head piece; anda plurality of protrusions distributed sporadically on the inner surface of the hollow rectangular head piece, wherein each of the plurality of protrusions extends from the inner surface toward a center of the semi-circle;wherein an interior of the hollow rectangular head piece forms a channel for air flow, wherein the channel directs air from the air inlet through said plurality of holes;coupling said hair dryer with said air inlet so that air discharged from the hair drying is directed from the air inlet through the hollow rectangular head piece to said plurality of holes;bringing said inner surface with a plurality of holes and protrusions into a close proximity of a person’s wet hair;manipulating said hair dryer so the air is discharged from the hair dryer and is pushed through said inlet to flow and be released through a plurality of holes on the inner surface;manipulating the diffuser around the person’s wet hair, resulting in hair falling among the protrusions and getting dry while curling around said protrusions.