US20090282691A1

US20090282691A1 - Adjustable portable hands free blow dryer

Info

Publication number: US20090282691A1
Application number: US12/437,942
Authority: US
Inventors: Kathleen Anicetti
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-05-16
Filing date: 2009-05-08
Publication date: 2009-11-19

Abstract

A portable hair drying device includes a housing. At least one first aperture is disposed at a first predetermined location in such housing for receiving a flow of air there through. At least one second aperture is disposed at a second predetermined location in such housing for exhausting air there through. An elongated support is operably connected at a first end thereof to such housing for supporting such housing. A securing mechanism is operably connected to a second end of such elongated support member for securing such device to a predetermined structure. An air communication mechanism is disposed in such housing for communicating air into such housing via such at least one first aperture and out of such housing via such at least one second aperture such that a user may use a flow of such air exiting such at least one second aperture to blow dry such user's hair.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/053,801 filed May 19, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to hair dryers and, more particularly, this invention relates to a portable hair dryer that can be positioned by a user such that such user is not required to hold the hair dryer while blow drying and styling his or her hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, hair dryers, as are generally well known in the prior art, are often used by individuals to blow dry and style their hair. Generally, a user holds a portable hair dryer in one hand while working with his or her hair with his or her other hand. This can prove difficult since most individuals have only one dominant hand. Furthermore, many hair dryers are heavy and cumbersome to lift and maneuver and therefore cause stress and strain on a user's hand, wrist, and arm while holding a hair dryer. Moreover, some persons suffering from arthritis, frailty, and nerve damage in the hands, etc. are unable to use traditional hand held hair dryers.
Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following: Trimmer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,749, discloses a hair dryer apparatus designed to allow for detachable and interchangeable arms and bases to hold an electric hair dryer for hands free operation.
Lee, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,940,980, discloses a hands-free hair dryer which includes a hair dryer body including heating element and fan, an elongated bendable tubing connected at one end to the hair dryer body, and a spring clamp secured to the other end of the tubing.
Lawall, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,644, discloses a hands free hair dryer having a body in which are disposed a fan and a heating element, the body being mounted on a wall or the edge of a door. A self-supporting hose has a proximal end attached to the outlet of the body and a distal end selectively disposed to direct a stream of hot air toward the head of a user.
Ammon, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,825, discloses a hands free hair dryer and holder. A structure is supports the portable hair dryer in a stationary adjustable manner.
Perez, U.S. Publication No. 2007/0062058 discloses a universal hair dryer holder which includes a base having a suction mechanism for releasably attaching the base to a generally flat surface. An adjustable arm extends from the base. The holder also includes a cradle for holding a hair dryer at an end of the arm opposite the base.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a portable hair drying device which includes a housing member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size. At least one first aperture is disposed at a first predetermined location in such housing member for receiving a flow of air there through. At least one second aperture is disposed at a second predetermined location in such housing member for exhausting air there through. An elongated support member has a first end and a second end, such first end of such elongated support member is operably connected to a first predetermined portion of such housing member for supporting such housing member. A securing means is operably connected to such second end of such elongated support member for securing such device to a predetermined structure. An air communication means is disposed in such housing member for communicating air into such housing member via such at least one first aperture and out of such housing member via such at least one second aperture such that a user may use a flow of such air exiting such at least one second aperture to blow dry such user's hair.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a hair dryer which can be used without being held in a user's hand.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hair dryer which can be secured to a predetermined portion of at least one of a vanity, a bathroom cabinet, a shelf, a drawer, and a combination thereof such that a user may position such hair dryer to blow heated air on such user's hair while such user's hands remain free.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a battery powered hair dryer which is releasably securable to a predetermined structure for enabling a user to blow dry such user's hair while such user uses both of such user's hands to at least one of brush such user's hair, comb such user's hair, style such user's hair, muss such user's hair, curl such user's hair, straighten such user's hair, and a combination thereof.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a portable hands free battery powered hair dryer which includes an elongated support, such elongated support being bendable and flexible such that a user can position such hair dryer to blow heated air in a predetermined direction.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a rechargeable hair dryer which includes an elongated support member, such elongated support member being flexible for positioning by a user.
In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention; the invention is illustrated as being clamped to a shelf and the elongated support member has been positioned to direct a flow of air exiting such housing toward a user's hair.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which an adapter is included with the invention for charging the rechargeable battery of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.
Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-5.
A portable hair drying device, generally designated 10, includes a housing member 12 manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size.
At least one first aperture 14 is disposed at a first predetermined location in such housing member 12 for receiving a flow of air there through. It is presently preferred that such at least one first aperture includes a plurality of apertures.
At least one second aperture 16 is disposed at a second predetermined location in such housing member 12 for exhausting air there through. It is presently preferred that such at least one second aperture includes a plurality of apertures.
An elongated support member 18 has a first end 22 and a second end 24, such first end 22 of such elongated support member 18 is operably connected to a first predetermined portion of such housing member 12 for supporting such housing member 12.
A securing means 28 is operably connected to such second end 24 of such elongated support member 18 for securing such device 10 to a predetermined structure. It is presently preferred that such securing means 28 is a clamp type securing means 32.
An air communication means 34 is disposed in such housing member 12 for communicating air into such housing member 12 via such at least one first aperture 14 and out of such housing member 12 via such at least one second aperture 16 such that a user 11 may use a flow of such air exiting such at least one second aperture to blow dry such user's hair 13. It is presently preferred that such air communication means 34 is a fan 36 disposed within such housing member 12 closely adjacent such at least one first aperture 14 for pulling such air into such housing member 12 through such at least one first aperture 14 and forcing such air out of such housing member 12 via such at least one second aperture 16.
It is further presently preferred that such fan 36 is operably connected to a power source 38 disposed within at least one of such housing member 12, such elongated support member 18, and a combination thereof at a predetermined location therein. It is presently preferred that such power source 38 is at least one battery 41. It is presently preferred that such at least one battery 41 is rechargeable. It further presently preferred that such device 10 includes a means 42 for recharging such at least one battery 41. Such means 42 for recharging such at least one battery is preferably an adapter 44 engageable with such at least one battery 41 and an electrical outlet (not shown) for recharging such at least one battery 41. According to another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, such power source 38 is an electrical cord 43 for communicating electricity to such fan 36, such electrical cord 43 being operably connected to such fan 36 at a first predetermined end (not shown) thereof and removably connectable to an electrical outlet (not shown) at a second predetermined end 47 thereof for receiving power there from.
Preferably, such device 10, further includes a control means 52 operably connected to such power source 38 and such fan 36 and disposed at least partially on one of on outer periphery of such housing member 12, on outer periphery of such elongated support member 18 and combination thereof at a predetermined location thereon. It is presently preferred that such control means 52 includes a plurality of predetermined settings for such user 11 to choose from such that such user 11 can at least one of control a volume of such air being drawn into and exiting from such housing member 12, control a speed at which such fan 36 will draw air into and force air out of such housing member 12, and a combination thereof.
It is presently preferred that a switch means 54 is disposed intermediate such fan 36 and such power source 38 for selectively turning such power source 38 on and off.
It is further presently preferred that such device 10 further includes a heating means 56 disposed within such housing member 12 closely adjacent such fan 36; such heating means 56 being operably connected to such power source 38, such control means 52, and a combination thereof for heating such air entering such housing member 12.
According to a presently preferred embodiment, such elongated support member 18 is preferably at least one of partially bendable, partially flexible, and a combination thereof such that such user 11 of such device 10 can bend such elongated support member 18 in a plurality of predetermined positions as desired by such user 11 to direct a flow of such air exiting such housing member 12 in a predetermined direction.
Advantageously, the device 10 will enable a user to clamp the device to a predetermined location, such as the shelf 61 illustrated in FIG. 2, bend the elongated support member into a desired position, choose a setting as desired for optimal temperature and speed of air exiting the housing member, turn on the device and thereafter use the device to at least one of blow dry hair, style hair and a combination thereof without the inconvenience and strain of physically holding the a hair dryer in his or her hand or hands.
While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A portable hair drying device comprising:

a. a housing member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size;

b. at least one first aperture disposed at a first predetermined location in said housing member for receiving a flow of air there through;

c. at least one second aperture disposed at a second predetermined location in said housing member for exhausting air therethrough;

d. an elongated support member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said elongated support member being operably connected to a first predetermined portion of said housing member for supporting said housing member;

e. a securing means operably connected to said second end of said elongated support member for securing said device to a predetermined structure; and

c. an air communication means disposed in said housing member for communicating air into said housing member via said at least one first aperture and out of said housing member via said at least one second aperture such that a user may use a flow of such air exiting said at least one second aperture to blow dry such user's hair.

2. A portable hair drying device according to claim 1 wherein said air communication means includes a fan disposed within said housing member closely adjacent said at least one first aperture for pulling such air into said housing member through said at least one first aperture and forcing such air out of said housing via said at least one second aperture.

3. A portable hair drying device according to claim 2 wherein said fan is operably connected to a power source disposed within at least one of said housing member, said elongated support member, and a combination thereof at a predetermined location therein.

4. A portable hair drying device according to claim 3 wherein said device further includes a control means operably connected to said power source and said fan and disposed at least partially on one of on outer periphery of said housing member, on outer periphery of said elongated support member and combination thereof at a predetermined location thereon.

5. A portable hair drying device according to claim 4 wherein said control means includes a plurality of predetermined settings for such user to choose from such that such user can at least one of control a volume of such air being drawn into and exiting from said housing member, control a speed at which said fan will draw air into and force air out of said housing member, and a combination thereof.

6. A portable hair drying device according to claim 5 wherein a switch means is disposed intermediate said fan and said power source for selectively turning said power source on and off.

7. A portable hair drying device according to claim 6 wherein said device further includes a heating means disposed within said housing member closely adjacent said fan, said heating means being operably connected to said power source, said control means, and a combination thereof for heating such air entering said housing member.

8. A portable hair drying device according to claim 3 wherein said power source is an electrical cord for communicating electricity to said fan, said electrical cord being operably connected to said fan at a first predetermined end thereof and removably connectable to an electrical outlet at a second predetermined end thereof for receiving power there from.

9. A portable hair drying device according to claim 3 wherein said power source is at least one battery.

10. A portable hair drying device according to claim 9 wherein said at least one battery is rechargeable.

11. A portable hair drying device according to claim 10 wherein said device further includes a means for recharging said at least one battery.

12. A portable hair drying device according to claim 11 wherein said means for recharging said at least one battery is an adapter engageable with said at least one battery and an electrical outlet for recharging said at least one battery.

13. A portable hair drying device according to claim 1 wherein said securing means is a clamp type securing means.

14. A portable hair drying device according to claim 1 wherein said elongated support member is at least one of partially bendable, partially flexible, and a combination thereof such that a user of such device can bend said elongated support member in a plurality of predetermined positions as desired by such user to direct a flow of such air exiting said housing member in a predetermined direction.