CN114847612B

CN114847612B - Hair drier

Info

Publication number: CN114847612B
Application number: CN202210115867.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 阿图罗·莫甘迪
Original assignee: Tenacta Group SpA
Current assignee: Tenacta Group SpA
Priority date: 2021-02-03
Filing date: 2022-02-07
Publication date: 2024-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2042-02-07
Also published as: EP4039125A1; ES2971004T3; EP4039125B1; CN114847612A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hair dryer; more particularly, the present invention relates to a hair dryer having a recess in the rear outer body thereof. This allows the user to use the recess to grasp the hair dryer as a replacement for the conventional handle of the hair dryer, thereby providing improved ergonomics for the hair dryer. In fact, the user can decide which handle to use for safe handling and firm grip at his/her convenience, depending on the handling needs.

Description

Hair drier

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a hair dryer; more particularly, the present invention relates to a hair dryer having a recess in the rear portion thereof.

Background

Blowers have been known for some time and are generally provided with a main body in which a duct, a motor and a fan are accommodated to promote the flow of air from an air inlet to an air outlet in a duct. Such blowers are also typically provided with a heating element to heat the air within the conduit and a handle to facilitate grasping of the blower with a single hand.

The applicant of the present patent application emphasizes the fact that handles used in hair dryers known in the art are generally not suitable for self-use, i.e. the user uses the hair dryer on his own.

In fact, the use of blowers by users themselves is often also involved in creating wrinkles in the hair using brushes during the blowing phase. In this case, a typical blower handle is not always suitable for the user to hold when the right-handed user intends to fold the hair to the left, or vice versa, when the left-handed user intends to fold the hair to the right, or when the user delivers a brush behind the neck. In fact, users tend to hold various parts of the hair dryer in addition to the typical grip, and try to hold the front of the hair dryer, which is typically the hottest part of the hair dryer, and is prone to scalding.

The applicant has therefore found that it is necessary to make a hair dryer equipped with an alternative handle which allows the user to hold the hair dryer completely safely and to use it effectively in any case, even in association with the brush.

Applicants have also found that there is a need to manufacture blowers equipped with ergonomic handles.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention relates to a device for drying hair, such as the device according to claim 1.

In fact, the applicant of the present application has unexpectedly found that the above-mentioned technical problem is effectively and reliably solved by a device for drying hair comprising a body provided with an external body, an air inlet opening at the rear of the device and an air outlet opening at the front of the device, wherein said body further comprises: a duct for flowing air from the air inlet to the air outlet, at least one fan for promoting the flow of air within the duct, and at least one cover.

In the blower of the present invention, the cover (or dome) is formed of a generally spherical or hemispherical portion adapted to at least partially surround the fan and a generally cylindrical end portion facing the air intake, wherein the diameter of the end portion is smaller than the diameter of the cover of the generally spherical or hemispherical portion.

Further, a portion of the body located outside the body at the end portion of the cap is provided with a recess formed in the body, the recess having a concave shape facing outward and being arranged along substantially the entire circular portion of the body of the end portion of the cap.

The hair dryer of the present invention is characterized in that said concave surface is defined by a) a first portion facing said device front, b) a second portion facing said device rear, and c) a central portion between said first portion and said second portion, wherein the slope of said concave surface varies, wherein the diameter D1 of said first portion decreases in a direction from said device front toward said central portion, and the diameter D2 of said second portion increases from said central portion toward said device rear, such that the diameter D3 of said central portion is smaller than the diameter D1 of said first portion and the diameter D2 of said second portion.

This allows the main body of the blower to be provided with a recess on the back of the blower, the back air being typically cold or less hot, the latter being available to the user as a replacement for the conventional handles of the blower, thereby providing an ergonomically optimized blower.

In this way, the user can decide which handle to use safely at his/her convenience according to the operation needs, and hold it firmly.

According to a preferred embodiment, the diameter D1 is between 101% and 150%, preferably between 110% and 140%, with respect to the diameter D3, and the diameter D2 is between 101% and 150%, preferably between 110% and 140%, with respect to the diameter D3.

In this way, the concave surface is provided with a significant slope, which further facilitates the grip of the user, as opposed to some devices known in the art, wherein such devices do not have a recess provided with such a concave surface.

According to a preferred embodiment, the diameter D1 is between 35mm and 100mm, preferably between 45mm and 90mm, the diameter D2 is between 35mm and 100mm, preferably between 45mm and 90mm, and the diameter D3 is between 30mm and 70mm, preferably between 40mm and 60 mm.

In this way, the diameter D3 of the concave slope change region is changed within a suitable range to accommodate the general size of the user's finger, so that the user can grasp the device of the present invention with his own hand. Furthermore, the above-described range of dimensional variations of diameters D1 and D2 allows such diameters D1 and D2 to be always larger than diameter D3.

According to a preferred embodiment, the distance D in the longitudinal direction of the device between the point where the concavity facing the front of the device starts and the point where the concavity facing the rear of the device ends is between 20mm and 60mm, preferably between 25mm and 50mm.

In this way, the distance D between the start and end points of the concavity allows to obtain a depression in the vicinity of said substantially cylindrical end portion facing said air intake, so as to have sufficient space and at the same time not to be too large to facilitate the insertion of the user's hand into the depression, so as to grip the device of the invention easily.

According to a preferred embodiment, the central intermediate portion between the first and second portions where there is a change in slope of the concavity is located substantially midway between the point where the concavity begins to face the front of the device and the point where the concavity ends to face the back of the device.

In this way, the concavity is symmetrically arranged between the point where the concavity starts and the point where the concavity ends, although in other embodiments the concavity may be asymmetrically arranged.

According to a preferred embodiment, the recess is made of a different material than the rest of the body, so that it is easier to grasp.

According to a preferred embodiment, the recess is made of a transparent material or of a different colour than the body.

In this way, the user is facilitated to identify the recessed area for use as an additional handle.

According to a preferred embodiment, the recess is made of a smooth or rubber-like material.

In this way, the user is further facilitated to grasp.

According to a preferred embodiment, said recess is arranged along substantially the entire circular portion of said outer body at said end portion of said cap.

In this way, the user can grasp the device of the invention at any point of the depression obtained in the outer body.

According to a preferred embodiment, the recess consists of a groove provided with an outwardly concave surface.

In this way, the user is further facilitated by inserting several fingers into the recess.

According to a preferred embodiment, the portion of the concavity facing the rear of the device has a greater slope than the concavity facing the front of the device.

According to another alternative embodiment, the concavity facing the rear of the device has a slope less than or equal to the concavity facing the front of the device.

In this way, a more or less protruding concave surface towards the front or rear of the hair dryer of the present invention further facilitates the user's grip.

According to a preferred embodiment, the cap extremity is constituted by a protuberance of substantially spherical or hemispherical shape facing the rear of the device.

According to a preferred embodiment, the end portion (projection) and the substantially spherical or hemispherical shaped portion constituting the cap are integrally formed with each other, thereby forming an integral cap. In an alternative embodiment, the two parts are different elements connected to each other, performing the same function as a cap in a single piece.

According to a preferred embodiment, the interior of the cap is smooth.

According to an alternative embodiment, the interior of the cover is provided with a plurality of raised ribs or fins adapted to reduce noise.

According to a preferred embodiment, the hair dryer of the present invention further comprises a filter provided at the air inlet.

In this way, the filter prevents particles and dirt from entering the device of the invention through the air inlet.

According to a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the end portion of the cap is smaller than or equal to the diameter of the filter.

In this way, the particles are further prevented from entering the interior of the cap.

According to a preferred embodiment, said end portion is substantially circular and hollow inside.

According to another preferred embodiment, the interior of the end portion is provided with a plurality of channels designed to put the air intake in communication with the interior of the substantially spherical or hemispherical portion of the cover.

In this way, the air flow can be optimally directed towards the inside of the lid.

According to a preferred embodiment, each of the channels is cylindrical or hourglass-shaped (i.e., substantially cylindrical with a taper in the central portion), parallelepiped, or the like.

According to a preferred embodiment, the channels are arranged substantially parallel to each other.

So that the air flow is uniformly distributed.

According to a preferred embodiment, the fan is centrifugal, designed to suck air along a device central axis, wherein the device central axis refers to an axis parallel to the flow of sucked air.

In this way, the suction area is thus half or less of the diameter of the fan itself.

According to a preferred embodiment, the hair dryer of the present invention further comprises a motor inside it adapted to activate said fan.

According to a preferred embodiment, the hair dryer of the present invention further comprises at least one heating element adapted to heat the air in said duct.

According to a preferred embodiment, said at least one heating element consists of at least one flexible sheet of substantially conical or frustoconical shape, said flexible sheet being provided with a plurality of resistances fixed to said sheet in a uniform manner.

In this way, the heating element can occupy substantially the entire front of the device of the invention.

Drawings

Further advantages and advantages of the invention will be better highlighted by reading the following preferred but not exclusive examples, with the support of the accompanying drawings, which are illustrated by way of non-limiting example, in which:

figure 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the hair dryer of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a detailed view of the internal part of the cap visible in figure 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the rear of the device of FIG. 1, wherein the recess is visible;

fig. 4 is a detailed view of the rear of a second embodiment of the device of the invention, which differs from the first embodiment shown in fig. 1 only in that the recess is less protruding;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the inside of another cap, which differs from the cap shown in FIG. 2 only in that it has a plurality of grooves;

Figure 6 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of the hair dryer of the present invention, which differs from the first embodiment shown in figure 1 only in that it has the cover shown in figure 5 and not in figure 2.

Detailed Description

The following detailed description relates to specific embodiments of the hair dryer of the present invention.

Referring specifically to fig. 1-3, a first embodiment of a hair dryer 1 of the present invention is shown.

Referring in particular to fig. 1, there is shown a side view of a device 1 comprising a main body, an air inlet 3 at the rear P of the device 1, an air outlet 4 at the front a of the device 1 and a main body 2 external to the main body.

Also in the body are a duct 5 for letting air flow from the inlet 3 to the outlet 4, a fan 6 capable of promoting the flow of air in the duct 5, a motor 9 for activating the fan 6 and a heating element 10 adapted to heat the air in the duct 5.

The fan 6 is centrifugal, i.e. capable of sucking air along the central axis of the device 1, i.e. parallel to the axis of flow of the sucked air; the heating element 10 consists of at least one flexible sheet, generally conical or frustoconical, having a plurality of resistances uniformly fixed around the sheet, so that the heating element 10 occupies substantially the whole front a inside the device 1.

The substantially hemispherical portion 7a of the cover 7 is arranged around the fan 6 (see details of the cover 7 in fig. 2); the inner portion 14 of the substantially hemispherical portion 7a of the cover 7 is substantially smooth without any protruding portions.

The cover 7 also has a distal portion 7b, the distal portion 7b being constituted by a substantially cylindrical protrusion 7b, the protrusion 7b being separated from the substantially hemispherical portion 7a towards the air intake 3. The diameter of the end portion 7b is smaller than the diameter of the hemispherical portion 7a of the cover 7.

Furthermore, the body comprises in the rear part P a filter 12 at the air intake 3, the filter 12 preventing particles and dirt from entering the device 1 through the air intake 3. The diameter of a portion of the terminals 7b of the cover 7 is smaller than or equal to the diameter of the filter 12.

The end portion 7b in the embodiment shown in detail in fig. 2 is provided with a plurality of channels 8, the plurality of channels 8 putting the intake vent 3 in communication with the interior of the substantially hemispherical portion 7a of the cover 7 so as to optimally direct the air flow towards the interior of the cover 7. The channel 8 may be cylindrical in shape, or even hourglass (i.e., generally cylindrical with a taper in the central portion), parallelepiped, or the like. They are preferably arranged parallel to each other in order to evenly distribute the air flow.

The structure shown in fig. 1, realized by means of a centrifugal fan 6, which here means that air can be sucked in along the central axis of the device 1, while at the same time being realized by means of a protrusion 7b (of the cover 7) in the rear area P of the device 1 between the fan 6 and the air intake 3, is such that air is allowed to be sent out through the protrusion 7b, the diameter of the protrusion 7b being smaller than the diameter of the fan surrounded by the substantially hemispherical portion 7a (of the cover 7).

This particular configuration of the fan 6 and the cover 7 allows the body 2 of the blower 1 to be shaped with the end portion 7b of the cover 7 disposed in the rear portion P of the blower (see fig. 3, details of the rear portion 1 of the device), wherein the air of the rear portion is generally less hot than the air of the front portion a, since the rear portion has not yet been heated by the heating element 10. The recess 11 is constituted by a concave surface facing outwards and arranged along substantially the entire central portion of the body 2 at the end portion 7b of the cover 7.

Thus, the recess 11 obtained in the body 2 of the rear portion P of the hair dryer 1 (the air of the rear portion P is generally cold or in any case less hot) can thus be used by the user as a replacement for the conventional handle 13 of the hair dryer, providing improved ergonomics of the hair dryer 1.

In this way, the user can decide which of the recess 11 and the conventional handle 13 to use at a convenient time according to the operation needs, so that a safe and firm grip is possible.

The concave recess 11 consists of a concave surface 11a facing the front part a of the device 1, a concave surface 11b facing the rear part P of the device 1 and an intermediate central part 11c between the first and second parts 11a, 11b, wherein there is a change in slope of the concave surfaces.

The diameter D1 of the first portion 11a decreases in a direction from the front portion a of the device 1 towards the central portion 11c and the diameter D2 of the second portion 11b increases in a direction from the central portion 11c towards the rear portion P of the device 1 such that the diameter D3 of the central portion 11c is smaller than the diameter D1 of the first portion and the diameter D2 of the second portion 11 b.

For example, in the configuration shown in fig. 1-3, diameter D1 (measured in portion 11a at the point of front a of device 1 facing at concave surface 11) is equal to 76mm; diameter D2 (measured in portion 11B at the end of concave surface 11 facing rear portion B of device 1) is equal to 72mm, and diameter D3 measured at central portion 11c is equal to 58mm.

In this way, the diameter D3 of the concave slope change region is of a suitable size so that the user can hold the device 1 with his own hand.

Further, diameter D1 is about 130% of diameter D3 and diameter D2 is about 125% of diameter D3. Thus, the concave surface 11 appears to be provided with a significant slope, which further facilitates the user's grip, as opposed to some devices known in the art, which are not provided with a recess of such a concave surface at all.

Furthermore, in the structure shown in fig. 1-3, the distance D in the longitudinal direction of the device 1 between the point where the concave surface 11 facing the front portion a of the device 1 starts and the point where the concave surface 11 facing the rear portion B of the device 1 ends is equal to about 40mm.

In this way, the distance D allows a small enough space, while not being too large, to allow a user to easily hold the device 1.

The central portion 11c, where there is a change in slope of the concavity, is arranged in a substantially symmetrical manner with respect to the first portion 11a and the second portion 11b, even though the concavity may be arranged asymmetrically in other embodiments.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 4, both the beveled portion 11a and the beveled portion 11b of the concave surface have a reduced slope relative to the corresponding portions shown in fig. 1 and 3, but are still relevant. In fact, while diameter D3 is substantially the same as the diameter of FIGS. 1-3, diameter D1 and diameter D2 shown in FIG. 4 are equal to about 70mm and 65mm, respectively, or about 125% and 115% of diameter D3, respectively. Thus, an angle is formed at the change in curvature between the two concave surfaces 11a and 11b, which angle is reduced compared to that shown in fig. 1 and 3, but which also allows the user to hold the device in a safe and effective manner.

Fig. 5 shows in detail an alternative embodiment of the cap which differs from the embodiment shown in fig. 2 only in that the inner part 14 of the substantially hemispherical portion 7a of the cap 7 is provided with a plurality of grooves 15 or protruding fins, instead of being substantially smooth as in fig. 2. Each groove 15 is arranged along the circumference of the interior 14 such that the plurality of grooves 15 form a series of concentric barriers adapted to reduce noise air passing through the cover 7.

Fig. 6 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the device 1, which differs from the embodiment shown in fig. 1 only in that it has a cover as shown in fig. 5 instead of the cover as shown in fig. 2. For simplicity, fig. 6 shows only the recess 15 inside the substantially hemispherical portion 7a of the cover 7, also shown in fig. 5, without reporting all other parts of the device 1, since these other parts are identical to those in fig. 1.

Of course, many modifications and variations of the described preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art while remaining within the scope of the invention.

Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the described preferred embodiments, which are shown by way of non-limiting example only, but is defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A hair dryer (1) comprising a body provided with an outer body (2), an air inlet (3) at the rear (P) of the hair dryer (1) and an air outlet (4) at the front (a) of the hair dryer (1), wherein the body further comprises: -a duct (5) for air flowing from said air inlet (3) to said air outlet (4), -at least one fan (6) for promoting the flow of air in said duct (5), and-at least one cover (7), characterized in that,

The cover (7) is constituted by a substantially spherical or hemispherical portion (7 a) adapted to at least partially surround the fan (6) and a substantially cylindrical end portion (7 b) facing the air intake (3), wherein the diameter of the end portion (7 b) is smaller than the diameter of the substantially spherical or hemispherical portion (7 a) of the cover (7), and

The portion of the body (2) located outside the body at the end portion (7 b) of the cap (7) is provided with a recess (11) formed in the body (2), the recess having an outwardly facing concave surface and being arranged along substantially the entire circular portion of the outer body (2) of the end portion (7 b) of the cap (7),

Wherein the concave surface comprises a) a first portion (11 a) facing the front portion (a) of the blower (1), b) a second portion (11 b) facing the rear portion (P) of the blower (1), and c) a central portion (11 c) between the first portion (11 a) and the second portion (11 b), wherein the slope of the concave surface varies, wherein the diameter D1 of the first portion (11 a) decreases in a direction from the front portion (a) of the blower (1) towards the central portion (11 c), and the diameter D2 of the second portion (11 b) increases from the central portion (11 c) towards the rear portion (P) of the blower (1) such that the diameter D3 of the central portion (11 c) is smaller than the diameters D1 of the first portion (11 a) and the diameter D2 of the second portion (11 b).

2. A hair dryer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said diameter D1 is between 101% and 150% with respect to said diameter D3, and said diameter D2 is between 101% and 150% with respect to said diameter D3.

3. A hair dryer (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said diameter D1 is between 35mm and 100mm, said diameter D2 is between 35mm and 100mm, and said diameter D3 is between 30mm and 70 mm.

4. A hair dryer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance D between the point where the concavity facing the front part (a) of the hair dryer (1) starts and the point where the concavity facing the rear part (P) of the hair dryer (1) ends in the longitudinal direction of the hair dryer (1) is between 20mm and 60 mm.

5. A hair dryer (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a filter (12) arranged at the air intake (3).

6. A hair dryer (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the diameter of the end portion (7 b) of the cover (7) is smaller than or equal to the diameter of the filter (12).

7. A hair dryer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said end portion (7 b) is hollow inside and is provided with a plurality of channels (8) adapted to put said air intake (3) in communication with the inside of said substantially spherical or hemispherical portion (7 a) of said cover (7).

8. A hair dryer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fan (6) is centrifugal, designed to suck air along an axis, wherein the axis is parallel to the sucked air flow.

9. A hair dryer (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a motor (9) inside thereof, said motor (9) being adapted to activate said fan (6).

10. A hair dryer (1) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one heating element (10), the at least one heating element (10) being adapted to heat the air within the duct (5), wherein the at least one heating element (10) consists of at least one flexible sheet of substantially conical or frustoconical shape provided with a plurality of electrical resistances fixed to the sheet in a uniform manner.