Patent Grant
8020827
The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to a method and apparatus for drying hair. More particularly, the subject matter relates to a suspendable holder for a blow dryer device.
Each day millions of people use blow dryers in order to dry their hair more quickly after showering, bathing, or swimming. Blow dryer devices are designed to blow hot air from a barrel of the device into the hair of a user of the device. Depending on the length and thickness of hair and the power of the blow dryer device, a person may blow dry their hair for thirty minutes or more. A user is typically required to hold the blow dryer device with one arm above their head for an extended period in order to direct the air from the blow dryer into their hair. This requirement is a particular problem when a person is unable to move their arm or arms above their head due to weakness, an injury or a disability. Furthermore, holding a blow dryer for any period may be inconvenient, as one or both hands are required to be occupied during the entire blow drying process.
Thus, a suspendable blow dryer holder apparatus and method of use thereof would be well received in the art.
According to one aspect of the invention, a suspendable blow dryer holder comprises: a lower frame having a first opening located within the bounds of the lower frame, the first opening dimensioned to accept and secure a barrel of a first blow dryer such that the barrel is pointed at a floor when the suspendable blow dryer holder is suspended; an upper component having a connection mechanism, the connection mechanism configured to connect the suspendable blow dryer holder to a suspending mechanism; and a plurality of elongated connecting elements attached to the upper component and extending to a perimeter of the lower frame, the plurality of elongated connecting elements each attached to the perimeter of the lower frame at a connection location, the plurality of elongated connecting elements each having a sufficient length for the first blow dryer to fit between the upper component and the lower frame when the suspendable blow dryer holder is suspended, the connection locations on the perimeter of the lower frame spaced apart for the first blow dryer to fit between at least two of the plurality of elongated connecting elements.
According to another aspect of the invention, a suspendable blow dryer holder apparatus comprises: a lower frame having a structural first opening within the bounds of the lower frame, the first opening configured to accept and secure a first blow dryer having a substantially circular barrel such that the barrel is pointed at a floor when the suspendable blow dryer holder is suspended, the lower frame having a structural second opening distinct from the first opening and within the bounds of the lower frame, the second opening configured to accept and secure a second blow dryer having a substantially elongated barrel such that the barrel is pointed at a floor when the suspendable blow dryer holder is suspended; an upper component having a connection mechanism, the connection mechanism configured to connect the suspendable blow dryer holder apparatus to a suspending mechanism; and an elongated connecting elements attached to the upper component and extending to the lower frame at a connection location, the elongated connecting element having a sufficient length for the first and second blow dryers to fit between the upper component and the lower frame when the suspendable blow dryer holder is suspended.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a suspendable blow dryer holder apparatus comprises: a frame comprising: a circular outer frame; a first opening frame connected to the outer frame and extending within the planar bounds of the outer frame, the first opening frame having a profile dimensioned to accept and secure a substantially circular barrel of a blow dryer such that the barrel is pointed at a floor when the suspendable blow dryer holder is suspended; and a second opening frame connected to the outer frame and extending within the planar bounds of the outer frame, the second opening frame having a profile dimensioned to accept and secure an elongated barrel of a blow dryer such that the barrel is pointed at a floor when the suspendable blow dryer holder is suspended; wherein the frame is suspendable from an adjustable suspending mechanism that is attached to a ceiling or wall such that the suspendable blow dryer may be adjustably suspended from different distances from the floor.
The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
A detailed description of the hereinafter described embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
Referring firstly to
It should be understood that the term “accept” refers herein to inserting a barrel of a blow dryer into a structurally bounded opening, such as the first opening 16, so that a substantial portion of the barrel is located below the opening while the remaining body of the blow dryer is located above. In this position, the remaining body of the blow dryer may rest on the structural bound of the opening. Likewise, the term “secure” refers herein to a blow dryer having a barrel accepted into the opening and being prevented from falling through, or otherwise moving. A “secure” blow dryer may be subject to downward or horizontal force and stay in the accepted and secured position. A user may be required to purposefully and carefully remove the barrel of the blow dryer from the opening in the same manner in which it was inserted in order to unsecure a secured blow dryer.
Shown in
Referring now to
The tubular outer frame 40 is shown to be generally circular, ringed, or annularly shaped as a perimeter around the lower frame 14. However, it should be understood that any perimeter shape may be appropriate. For example, the perimeter of the lower frame 14 may be square, triangular, octagonal, or any other polygonal shape, both equiangular and nonequiangular. Alternately, the lower frame 14 perimeter may be elliptical, oval or other rounded and non-circular shape. As previously described, the outer frame 40 may or may not be a tubular perimeter, but may instead be a more solid structural body, or take any other form that would be apparent to those skilled in the art.
The second opening 36 is shown comprising a second opening frame 42 connected to the outer frame 40 and extending into the planar bounds of the outer frame 40. The second opening frame 42 is elliptical shape or profile and extends planar with the outer frame 40. It should be understood, however, that the second opening frame 42 may not be planar with the outer frame 40 in every embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, the major axis 46 of the elliptical shaped second opening frame 42 extends through the center of the circular outer frame 40. Furthermore, the major axis 46 and the minor axis 48 and focal points of the ellipse may be particularly dimensioned in order to accommodate blow dryers having an elongated barrel design, such as the barrel 38 of the second blow dryer 34. The dimensions or profile of the second opening frame 42 may accommodate multiple, several, or every single known elongate shaped barrel 38 currently being sold to consumers. It should be understood, however, that the second opening 36 may take other forms than the embodiment shown. For example, the second opening frame 42 may not be directly connected to the outer frame 40, but may be connected instead to a spacing member (not shown). In addition, the second opening frame 42 may not extend directly into the center of the outer frame 40, but instead extend at a different angle, or even extend along the perimeter of the outer frame 40. Moreover, the second opening 36 may take other shapes than the ellipse that is depicted in the figures. For example, the second opening 36 may be a substantially rectangular shape (not shown), square shape, or other shape to accommodate and secure the elongated barrel 38 of the second blow dryer 34.
The first opening 16 of the lower frame 14 is shown to be shaped generally as an isosceles triangle with the outer frame 40 constituting the odd-length “base” of the isosceles triangle shape. The two first opening members 44 constitute the equi-length “legs” of the isosceles triangle shape and extend from the outer frame to the portion of the elliptical second opening frame 42 having the greatest curvature located in the center of the outer frame 40. It should be understood that the first opening 16 may not have an exact isosceles triangle shape, as clearly depicted in the example shown in the Figures having a curved “base.” The isosceles shape is meant solely to refer to the equi-length first opening members 44 extending from narrowly spaced connection locations at the second opening frame 42 to the widely spaced connection locations at the outer frame 40. The dimensions of the first opening 16 may accommodate multiple, several, or every single known circular cross section barrel 20 shapes currently being sold to consumers, such as the barrel of the first blow dryer 12. The entirety of the circular cross section barrel 20 may also be considered substantially cylindrical in shape. It should be understood, however, that the first opening 16 may take other forms than the embodiment shown. For example, the first opening 16 may not share a base with the outer frame 40, but may located more centrally within the bounds lower frame 14. In this embodiment a frame of the first opening 16 may be attached to a spacing member (not shown) that extends the frame of the first opening 16 within the lower frame 14. Additionally, the first opening 16 may take other shapes than the isosceles triangle that is depicted in the figures. For example, the first opening 16 may be a substantially circular, rectangular, square, or other shape to accommodate and secure the circular barrel 38 of the second blow dryer 34. Furthermore, like the second opening frame 42, the first opening members 44 may be planar with the outer frame 40. Thus, the entire structure comprising the lower frame 14 may constitute a single plane.
Dimensionally, the outer frame 40 may have a diameter between nine to fifteen inches. In one embodiment, the diameter of the outer frame 40 may be about twelve inches. Furthermore, the major axis 46 of the elliptical second frame opening 42 may be between four to ten inches. In one embodiment, the diameter of the major axis 46 of the elliptical second frame opening 42 may be about seven inches. The minor axis 48 of the elliptical second frame opening 42 may be between two to five inches. In one embodiment, the minor axis 48 of the elliptical second frame opening 42 may be about two and a half inches. However, it should be understood that the elliptical second frame opening should be dimensioned to accept and secure one or more blow dryers having an elongated barrel, such as the second blow dryer 34 and the barrel 38. Furthermore, the second frame opening 42 may not be elliptical, but may be a similarly dimensioned rectangle or any other appropriate shape. Furthermore, the distance between the connection points of the first opening members 44 at the outer frame 40 may be between three to six inches. In one embodiment this distance may be about 4.2 inches. The distance between the connection points of the first opening members 44 at the second opening frame may be from zero to two inches. In other words, the first opening members 44 may converge to a point. Alternately, a single V-shaped first opening member (not shown) may alternately be attached to the second opening frame 42 and the outer frame 40. In embodiments where the first opening 16 is not triangular in shape, an alternate shape may have similar dimensions to similarly accept and secure the barrel of a circular shaped blow drier, such as the first blow drier 12 and the barrel 20. Whatever the embodiment, it should be understood that a first area defined by the outer frame 40 may be substantially larger than a second area defined by one of the openings 16, 36.
The lower frame 14 also includes a plurality of connection locations 32 for connecting the elongated connecting elements 30. The connection locations 32 may be equispaced about the perimeter of the outer frame 40 of the lower frame 14. An equispaced configuration may help provide stability to the assembled suspendable blow dryer holder 10. However, other non-equispaced embodiments are contemplated. The connection locations may be simple tie locations and not have any structural difference with the remainder of the outer frame 40. Alternately, the lower frame 14 may be fabricated with holes or other appropriate structures to facilitate the connection of the elongated connecting elements 30. The connection locations 32 may be weld locations or melting locations in the case that the elongated connecting elements 30 and the lower frame 14 are each metallic or plastic. Alternately, screws, nails or any other appropriate connection means may be used to connect the elongated connecting elements 30 to the lower frame 14 at the connection locations 32. Moreover, the lower frame 14 includes four connection locations 32 for connecting a corresponding four elongated connecting elements 30. However, more or less connection locations may be desirable depending on the number of elongated connecting elements 30 that are utilized to connect the lower frame 14 to the upper component 24. Any number of connection locations 32 and corresponding elongated connecting elements 30 may be used. In one embodiment, a single connection location 32 is located on the perimeter of the lower frame 14. In this embodiment, the lower frame 14 and the elongated connecting elements 30 may comprise a more robust and rigid material in order to maintain structural integrity during use.
Referring now to
The upper component 24 includes the connection mechanism 26. The connection mechanism 26 may be located in the center of the top side of the upper component 24 that is distal to the lower frame 14. The connection mechanism 26 is configured to attach to the suspending mechanism 28 that may be suspended or hung from a ceiling or wall. The connection mechanism 26 may be a simple structural loop in one embodiment, as shown in the Figures. In this embodiment, an S-hook or other connector from the suspending mechanism 28 may be used to attach the connection mechanism 26 to the suspending mechanism 28. In other embodiments, the connection mechanism 26 may be another connecting device such as a fastener, a snapping connector, an adhesive, or another connector that would be apparent to those skilled in the art. In every embodiment, however, the connection mechanism 26 secures the upper component 24 to the suspending mechanism 28 so that the suspendable blow dryer holder 10 is suspended.
The connection mechanism 26 may be configured to attach with a variety of suspending mechanisms 28. While the suspending mechanism shown in
The upper component 24 also includes a plurality of connection locations 50 at which the elongated connecting elements 30 are attached. The connection locations 50 may be equispaced about the perimeter of the upper component 24. An equispaced configuration may help provide stability to the assembled suspendable blow dryer holder 10. However, other non-equispaced embodiments are contemplated. Additionally, in the case that the upper component is a simple structure ring or loop, each of the elongated connecting elements 30 may be simply tied to the structural loop. The connection locations 50 may be simple tie locations and not have any structural difference with the upper component 24 in the case that the upper component 24 is tubular or otherwise hollow in structure. Alternately, the upper component 24 may be fabricated with holes or other appropriate structure to facilitate the connection of the elongated connecting elements 30. The connection locations 50 may be weld locations or melting locations in the case that the elongated connecting elements 30 and the upper component 24 are each metallic or plastic. Alternately, screws, nails or any other appropriate connection means may be used to connect the elongated connecting elements 30 to the upper component 24 at the connection locations 50. Moreover, the upper component 24 includes four connection locations 50 for connecting a corresponding four elongated connecting elements 30. However, more or less connection locations may be desirable depending on the number of elongated connecting elements 30 that are utilized to connect the lower frame 14 to the upper component 24. Any number of connection locations 50 and corresponding elongated connecting elements 30 may be used as long as the blow dryer 12, 34 fits between at least two of the plurality of elongated connecting elements 30 when the suspendable blow dryer holder 10 is suspended.
Referring back to
Elements of the embodiments have been introduced with either the articles “a” or “an.” The articles are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “including” and “having” and their derivatives are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the elements listed. The conjunction “or” when used with a list of at least two terms is intended to mean any term or combination of terms. The terms “first” and “second” are used to distinguish elements and are not used to denote a particular order.
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20110073735 A1 | Mar 2011 | US |
