US2466915A - Hair drier - Google Patents

Description

April 12, 1949. s s s 2,466,915

HAIR DRIER Filed July 12. 1946 2 Shets-Sheet 1 w iii;

ATTORNEY P 1949- s. R. SHIELDS 2,466,915

HAIR DRIER Filed July 12. 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 36 57 W 13 Z5 Z5 Z5 24 BY Jim ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAIR DRIER Stanley R. Shields, Salt Lake City, Utah Application July 12, 1916, Serial No. 683,224

3 Claims.

This invention relates to hair driers and contemplates the provision of a portable device conducive to the comfort of a person using the same.

The invention has for an object to provide a hair drier which is portable particularly in that the entire device is supported on the person of the user and thereby offering flexibility of movement to the user with attending increased comfort during the period of use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hair drier of the character indicated in which only a hair encompassing hood is supported by the head of the user and the remaining elements of the equipment are compactly arranged in a simpleunit of light weight'and designed to be slung from the shoulder of the user and thereby permitting the user freedom of movement with resultant increased comfort.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hood of light weight, readily placed in position and as readily removed and foldable compactly for space-saving storage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hair drier embodying a small and compact unit which includes a blower or fan and a heater for the air passing therethrough to the hair encompassing hood, and to provide means for slinging said unit from a shoulder of the user of the drier.

My invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hair drier embodying the present invention as supported on the person oi. a user.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged front view of the hair enclosing hood as employed in the invention.

Fig. 3 is a partial front view, partial vertical sectional view of the unit housing the fan and heating means.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view as taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The portable drier of the present invention, as

illustrated, comprises, generally, a hood i0 adapted to be supported on the head of the user, and a unit I i connected to the hood l0 and supported as shown, by an adjustable shoulder strap 12. The unit ll compactly embodies a fan or blower l3, a motor H for operating said fan or blower, and a heater I5 disposed in the path of move ment of the air passing between the fan and the hood.

The hood in is formed of an air impervious fabric having a hair encompassing portion it formed with a cuff-like part ll designed to engage about the head. The latter is provided with a draw or puckering string it so that the hood can be fastened securely in place. Normally, the hood, being made of fabric is collapsed. However, when air is directed thereinto, it becomes inflated or distended as shown. Suitable perforations l9 are formed in the hood, as shown, to provide a vent therefor permitting continued circulation of air from the fan.

The hood is formed with an elongated reduced extension 20 which is open-ended for connection to the unit I I. Said extension is made sufilciently long to permit normal movements of the head without causing a pull on the unit ll. When not in use, the hood ill can be easily stored by folding the same flat.

The unit ll comprises a housing 2| suitable in shape and size. The rear wall 22 of said housing is preferably inwardly or concavely curved so that the unit will comfortably rest against and fit the hip of the user. In this manner, said housing will retain its position when slung by the strap i2 from that shoulder of the user which is opposite to the hip supporting the housing. The strap I2 is made to be adjusted as by a buckle 23.

The fan I3 is located within the housing 2| and consists of a fan housing 24 having an air inlet opening 25 and a generally tubular air outlet 26. Opening 25 is adjacent to the front wall 21 of the housing 2i which, in turn, is provided with smaller openings 28 so that the fan can draw air through the latter openings through the opening 25 and be discharged from the outlet 26.

The fan blades 29 are mounted on a shaft 22 and operate in a torus-shaped part 3| of the fan housing 24. The fan blades 29 are simply formed with arms 32 connecting said blades to the shaft 30.

The motor 14 is generally conventional, is mounted by posts 33 on the wall 22 of the housing 2| and operates the shaft 30. The wall 22 is inwardly dished to house the motor mounting screws or bolts so that they will not impinge on the flesh oi the user.

The heater i5 is shown as comprising a heat resisting dielectric plug or core 34 disposed axially within a tube 35 extending upwardly from the Ian outlet 26 and terminating above the top of the housing 2 i, a heating element 36 wound about the core 34 and a pair of spaced support spiders 31 and 36 supporting the core therebetween. Although not shown, it will be evident that current conductors may be connected to the ends of the heating element 36 and to the motor l4 and then be brought out from the housing 2| as a suitable cable 39 for connection to a source of electric current. Suitable switches may also be provided.

It will be evident that air, impelled by the fan i3, will pass through the tube 35, will be heated by the element 36 and then pass upwardly in the extension 20 to the hood 10.

A separable, generally air-tight connection is made between the tube 35 and the end of said extension by embodying an annular coiled spring 42 in an end fitting 40 secured to the extension end and providin a coneavely curved annular groove or depression 4| in the upper end of the tube 35 to receive said spring in the manner shown. A suitable snap-on connection is thus provided between the hood l and unit ll.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A portable hair drier comprising an inflatable hair-encompassing hood, a cuii part defining the opening of said hood, means for adjusting said part to snugly engage the head whereby the hood is entirely carried by the head, an elongated tapering tubular extension that is unitary with the hood and extends downward therefrom to approximately the waist of the user of the drier, a unit embodying an air fan and an air heater and having a heated air outlet connected to the lower end of said tubular extension, said unit being arranged to rest against the rear of a hip of the user, and a strap suspending said unit from the opposite 4 shoulder, said strap being adjustable to allow slack in theextension whereby pull on the hood and on the head is obviated and whereby the wearer is aiIorded freedom of bodily movement during the hair-drying period.

2. A portable hair drier comprising an inflatable hair-encompassing hood that is adjustable to snugly engage the head whereby the same is entirely carried by the head, an elongated and flexible tubular extension that extends downward from the hood to approximately the waist of the user of the drier, a unit embodying an air (an and an air heater and having a heated air outlet, a separable air-tight connection between said outlet and the lower end of the tubular extension whereby heated air is conducted from said unit to hair within the hood. said unit being arranged to rest against the hip 01' the user, and a strap forsuspending said unit from the shoulder opposite to said hip, said tubular extension having slack therein to free the hood and the head of the user for movement relative to said unit.

3. A portable drier comprising, in combination, a head-borne inflatable hair-encompassing hood, a shoulder-borne unit adapted to rest against the hip of the user and embodying a support strap adapted to engage the shoulder opposite to said hip, said unit embodying an air fan and an air heater and having a heated-air outlet; and an elongated and flexible tubular extension of the hood separably connected to said outlet to conduct heated air to'the hood to inflate the same and to dry hair therein, said extension having slack therein to afford relative movement of the hood and unit and, therefore, freedom of movement of the body and head of the user.

STANLEY R. SHIELDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 608,928 Taylor Aug. 9, 1898 757,645 Bassett Apr. 19, 1904 961,498 Hunnewell June 14, 1910 1,506,041 Bassette et a1 Aug. 26, 1924 1,743,963 Gaire Jan. 14, 1930 1,835,337 Rose Dec. 8, 1931 2,227,262 Kleine Dec. 31, 1940 2,266,653 Miller Dec. 16, 1941

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