US3503138A - Hair dryer - Google Patents

Description

March 31, 1970 c, u ci s ET AL HAIR DRYER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed June 20, 1966 Marsh 31, 1970 R UCHS :1, 3,503,138

HAIR DRYER Original Filed June 20. 1966 .57 56 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 31, 1970 R. c. FUCHS ET AL 3,50 8

HAIR DRYER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed June 20, 1966 V (So Q" United States Patent Int. Cl. A45d US. C]. 34-99 15 Claims v ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable hair dryer having a base unit housing with a motor-blower unit in the housing and a dome-shaped hood defined by an outer imperforate casing and an inner perforate shell to form a drying air chamber. A tubular air conduit is pivotally connected at its lower end to an air outlet in the housing and pivotally connected at its upper end to an air inlet of the hood. This permits the hood to be moved from a hair drying position into a carrying position superimposed on the housing and without disconnecting the tubular air conduit from the housing and the hood.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 558,660 filed June 20, 1966 and now abandoned.

This invention relates to a hair dryer, and more particularly, to a portable professional styled hair dryer which is convenient to use.

By the term professional styled hair dryer is meant a portable home appliance hair dryer having a rigid material hair drying hood. In the appliance trade this term has been applied to such hair dryers because true professional hair dryers also employ rigid hair drying hoods or helmets. These professional styled hair dryers are actually intended for home use. One popular fonn thereof comprises a base unit containing a motor-blower-heater assembly and a standpipe assembly or the like supporting the helmet off the base unit in elevated position. Besides supporting the helmet off the base unit, the standpipe assembly also conducts drying air from the motorblower-heater assembly to the helmet or hood. Typically, the standpipe assembly is adjustable up or down to change the elevated position of the helmet. Also it is separable from the helmet and collapsible. After being disconnected from the helmet it is collapsible by having a knockdown construction so that it can be folded. When it is freed from the helmet and folded it can be stored in the hair dryer between the base unit and the helmet to provide a self contained hair dryer having all the necessary components for setting it up to perform a hair drying operation. The helmet typically is provided with a carrying handle, and after it is rested on top of the base unit it is latched to the base unit to provide a portable self contained hair dryer.

This form of hair dryer has proved to be a very popular home appliance. However, the device does have a major shortcoming in that it is not convenient to set up for use and knock down after use. In both situations a series of operations or movements must be followed. They require attention and/ or some degree of mechanical aptitude, and therefore, do not make the device truly simple and/or convenient to use.

It is an object of this invention to provide a hair dryer which will overcome the above discussed disadvantages of the prior art.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved professional styled hair dryer which is low cost, uncomplicated and convenient to use.

Briefly, in the invention a professional styled hair dryer construction is provided in which set up of the hair dryer is accomplished by essentially only a single operation or movement. For example, to set up the hair dryer, after unlatching the helmet from the base unit it is only necessary to lift or raise up on the helmet to place the device in readiness for use. Conversely, after one is finished with the hair dryer, to close it essentially the reverse procedure is followed.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair dryer with the helmet in closed position;

FIG. 2 is a broken away side elevation view of the hair dryer when viewed from the right hand side of FIG. 1 and with the helment in open position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged broken away top plan view of the base unit of the hair dryer;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the hair dryer when viewed from the right hand side of FIG. 1 with the stored position of the helment support pipe being shown in dashed lines;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged and further broken away side elevation view similar to that of FIG. 2 to better show some additional details of the hair dryer construction;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the hinged connection between the upper end of the helmet support tube and the bottom inside rear edge portion of the helmet when looking into this area from the right hand side of either FIGS. 2 or 5; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the section line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring now particularly to the drawings, the preferred form of the invention comprises a base unit 10, a helmet or hood 11, and a support pipe 12 for supporting the helmet 11 off unit 10. Base unit 10 comprises a housing 13 containing a motor-blower-heater unit mounted on a support plate 14. The motor is indicated by reference numeral 15, the blower by numeral 16, and the heater by numeral 17. These parts are supported off plate 14 in a manner which is well known in the hair dryer art. The motor 15 and blower 16 have a common drive shaft 18 which extends through the central portion of plate 14 in a direction perpendicular to plate 14. The motor is positioned above plate 14 and the blower 16 below plate 14. Heater 17 is also positioned below plate The base unit housing 13 actually comprises two main members 19 and 20. They are preferably constructed from a plastic molding material to make the hair dryer light weight and contribute to its low cost by facilitating the integral formation of portions thereof to be described shortly. The housing member 19 is a bottom member which is generally pan shaped. The other housing member 20 is a top or cover member for the bottom member 19.

Bottom member 19 is provided with an upstanding scroll wall 21 integrally formed on its bottom surface 22 inboard of its peripheral flange 23. Scroll wall 21 starts at its inner end just radially outward of fan 16 near the outer end of heater 17 and then curves around the base pan 19 in gradually closer relationship to the flange 23. At its outer end scroll wall 21 is outboard of heater 17 and then continues for a short distance past the heater 17 and then is turned sharply radially inward to join the scroll wall 21 at a point shortly beyond its inner end. The radially inward turned portion of scroll wall 21 is indicated by reference numeral 21'. Plate 14 is superposed on scroll wall 21. Scroll wall 21 extends for only about half the height of flange 19. The scroll wall 21 and plate 14 together define a blower chamber 24 for the fan 16, and a tangential exhaust passageway 25 in which the heater 17 is positioned. The outer end of exhaust passageway 25 is closed by the scroll wall portion 21'.

Plate 14 is provided with a central air inlet opening 26 for fan 16 opposite to its central eye portion. The common motor-blower shaft 18 extends through plate opening 26'. Plate 14 is also provided with an air outlet opening 27 adjacent its peripheral portion. This opening registers with the outer end of the exhaust passageway between heater 17 and scroll wall portion 21'.

The top or cover housing member 20 is generally pan shaped. It has an upstanding rim 28 bounded by a peripheral flange 29. Flange 29 is nested inside flange 23 of bottom member 19 just below the upper edge of flange 23. The. bottom surface 30 of pan 20 is traversed by an integrally formed channel shaped portion 31 which extends diametrically across rim 28. The left hand end of channel part 31 is provided with an integral grill 32 on its upper surface. Grill 32 is the air inlet for the motorblower-heater unit. An air filter element 33 is positioned against the underside of grill 32. The left hand inside of the channel part 31 and the underlying support plate 14 in effect define a motor chamber 34 for the motor 15. When the motor-blower is energized air enters the base unit through grill 32 and filter 33 into motor chamber 34. The air passes over motor to cool the same and then leaves motor chamber 34 through plate opening 26. The air is then moved around fan chamber 24 by fan 16 and then out through exhaust passageway and plate opening 27.

The right hand end of motor chamber 34 is closed by a wall 35. The extreme right hand end of channel part 31 is closed by a wall 36. Positioned between walls 35 and 36 is another wall 37. Walls 35-37 are integral with the cover member 20. They depend from the cover member 20 into abutting relatonship with the plate 14 and extend transversely of the channel shaped part 31. Walls 35 and 37 define a storage chamber 38 for a remote control 39 and its cord 40. The walls 36 and 37 define an air outlet passageway 41 in the cover 20 for connecting the air tube 12 with the outlet 25, 27 of the motor-blowerheater unit. The base unit 10 is provided with other storage compartments besides compartment 38. For example, two recesses 42 are provided on the top of cover 20 between the raised channel part 31 and the opposite portions of rim 28. A flexible electric extension cord 43 extends through the bottom of one of the recesses 42 for connection with the motor-blower-heater unit. The cord 43 can be folded or coiled stored in this recess. The other recess 42 can be used for storage of hair curler implements or the like.

The recess or storage chamber 38 is provided with a top opening 44. Opening 44 is contoured to closely receive and nest the control 39 in it illustrated seated position. Control 39 actually comprises a housing 45 containing a not shown switch. The switch is operated by a finger operated control knob 46 positioned on the outside of switch housing 45. Cord extends through opening 44 into chamber 38 for connection with the motor-blowerheater unit at its inner end. The control 39 is partially received in the chamber 38 when it is in seated position in the opening 44. The cord 40 is stufied into the chamber 38 for storage therein prior to seating the control 39 in stored positon. In its stored position the knob 46- is exposed for finger operation. The control can be left in this position. However, when the user has her head in the helmet 11 she is actually facing away from control 39. Therefore, she will find it more convenient to withdraw it and place it near her. The control 39 is called a remote control because it can be moved to a position away or remote from the base unit. The opening 44 is actually slightly smaller than the outer circumference of control 39 so that control 39 does not fall into the storage chamber 38. At its left hand portion, see FIG. 5, the underside of control housing has a sloped stepped portion to match the slope stepped part of the upper end of wall 35 and these portions have a depending lug 47 and notch 48 respectively to properly align the control 39 in closely seated position in the upper end of storage chamber 38.

In assembling the hair dryer the motor 15 and heater 17 are first mounted on the plate 14. Then plate 14 is positioned against cover 20 and connected thereto by means such as screws 49 passing through apertures formed in plate 14 into aligned bosses 50 on the underside or cover 20. Thereafter fan 16 is mounted on the lower end of shaft 18. Then the assembly of parts 14, 15, 16, 17, 20 is nested in the bottom pan 19 and connected thereto as by screws 51 passing through apertures in plate 14 and aligned bosses 52, 53 formed on housing members 19, 20 respectively. The plate 14 and cover 20 are readily aligned since parts 15 and 27 of the plate 14 register with parts 31 and 41 respectively of the cover 20. The cover 20 and base 19 are readily aligned by peripheral tabs such as element 54 on cover 20 which enter peripheral recesses 55 and 56 formed on base 19. The latching elements 57 on base 19 which releasably engage the latch elements 58 on the helmet 11 are mounted on the outside of the peripheral recessed portions 56 of base 19. The elements 57 are toggle type latching elements which are commonly used in luggage or the like and they hook on to the elements 58 to clamp the hood 11 closed on the base unit 10.

The helmet or hood 11 comprises two main rigid plastic molding material head receiving members 59 and 60. They are nested with respect to each other in spaced relationship to define an air distributing space or manifold 61 therebetween. The outer member is air tight whereas the inner member 59 has a plurality of air distributing apertures 62 formed throughout the surface thereof for the purpose of directing drying air into the hair of the hair dryer user. The inner member 59 has an outwardly and then upwardly directed peripheral flange 63 formed thereon which engages the bottom edge of the outer member 60 along a meeting line 64. A pair of short circumferential lips 65 are formed on the members 59 and 60 at the meeting line 64. These lips are clamped together by a circular channel shaped strap 66 to retain the main hood members 59, 60 assembled together. A circular disc or plate 67 is fixed to the top of outer hood element 60, and a carrying handle 68 or the like is pivotally connected to the top plate 67. When the hood support pipe 12 is in the collapsed positon shown in FIG. 4 and the hood is latched to the base unit the complete hair dryer can 'be carried by holding it at the handle 68.

The air conducting and helmet supporting tube or pipe assembly 12 and its novel cooperation with the base unit 10 and the helmet 11 at its opposite ends to provide the single motion set up or opening and closing operation previously mentioned at the outset of the instant patent application will now be described in detail. The support assembly 12 actually comprises two tubes or pipes 69 and 70 nested or telescoped one within the other. The inner tube is free to slide for a limited distance in opposite directions within the outer tube 70. This is for the purpose of varying the elevation of the helmet and to facilitate storage of pipe assembly 12 between the helmet and base unit and closure of the helmet on the base unit. Lowering of tube 69 into tube 70 is limited by engagement of the lower or inner end of tube 69 with a stop lug 71 formed on the inside of tube 70 near the bottom thereof. Raising of the inner tube 69 is limited by a hooked latch finger 72 formed at the bottom of tube 69 and a latch finger hook engaging notch or recess 73 formed on the inside of tube 70 near the upper end thereof. When tube 69 is raised the hooked end of finger 72 will catch in notch 73 to limit upward movement and prevent accidental withdrawal of tube 69 from within tube 70. However, tube 69 can be intentionally removed from tube 70 if so desired. This is accomplished by pressing tube 69 in a left hand direction while holding tube 70 steady to cause the hooked end on finger 72 to clear the catch notch 73. Actually the tube 70 is slightly oversize with respect to tube 69 to provide a slight circumferential space 74 therebetween. However, despite this space 74 the tubes 69 and 70 move smoothly but tightly with respect to each other. This is by virtue of a pair of spaced compressible friction ring pads 75 mounted in space 74 on either one of the tubes. The pads 75 fill the space 74 or looseness between the tubes. However, since they are compressible when tube 70 is held steady and tube 69 is pushed in a left hand direction the space 74 on the right hand side of the tubes will be enlarged sufficiently to permit the finger 72 to clear the notch 73. In normal use though, that is, in use by the housewife, the tubes 69 and 70 are retained together. They are made for intentional separation to facilitate service or repair work or replacement of the helmet in the event a new one is needed.

The tube assembly 12 is hinged at its bottom end on the right side of the cover 20 in registration with the upper open end of exhaust 41 along an annular meeting line 76. The meeting line opening 76 is actually formed on the right hand end of channel part 31 of cover 20 in alignment with opening 27 in plate 14. The meeting line 76 slopes downwardly slightly in a right hand direction. The lower end of outer tube 70 is hinged to the edge of opening 76 on the left hand, inboard, or radially inner side of the tube assembly 12 so that the tube assembly can be pivoted in a left hand direction from its elevated position to the substantially horizontal stored position shown in FIG. 4. Right hand hinged movement of the tube assembly 12 is limited by bottoming of the lower end of tube 70 on the base unit along the edge of its exhaust outlet 76. The hinge means for the lower end of the tube assembly 12 comprises a hinge element 77 fastened to the base unit and tube 70 by means such as rivets 78.

When the hair dryer is being closed the tube assembly 12 moves from its elevated position to inside the helmet 111. This is accomplishable by virtue of a hinged connection between the upper end of tube 69 and the bottom inside portion of helmet 11. The hinge means comprises a hinge element 79 connected by rivets 80 to the upper end of tube 69 and the part of helmet 59 inboard of its flange 63. This also is a permanent hinged connection. By viewing FIG. 4 it will be seen that when the hair dryer is closed the hinge 79 is positioned on the left hand side of the hair dryer. In other words, the hinge 79 is located on the side of helmet 11 positioned opposite to the side on which hinge 77 is located. The helmet has an opening 81 which registers with the opening 82 in the upper end of tube 69 when the helmet is elevated. The edges of these two openings 81, 82 engage each other along an annular meeting line 83. Bottoming of these edges along meeting line 83 limits opening movement of the helmet 11. The meeting line 83 between openings 81 and 82 is generally vertically disposed when the helmet is open. The hinge 79 is connected to the radially inner edges of openings 81 and 82. On the helmet the meeting line 83 is actually a narrow shoulder formed on a pair of webs 63 extending integrally from flange 63 inwardly to the opposite portion of inner helmet 59 and acoss the bottom of space 61. These two webs 63 define the opening 81 into the manifold space 61 of the helmet 11. See FIG. 7. The upper edge of webs 63 coincides with the meeting line 64, see FIG. 5.

When the helmet is raised to full elevated position it can pivot in a clockwise direction about the hinge 79 by virtue of its weight. However, this is prevented by a finger operated releasable latch mechanism between the tube assembly 12 and helmet 11. The latch mechanism comprises a channel shaped portion 84 integrally formed on the right side of tube 69 just below the hinge 79 adjacent the bottom edge of helmet member 59. The channel 84 has its open side facing in a left hand direction. A pair of latch elements 85 are located in this channel 84 at opposite ends thereof. A coil spring 86 is positioned between the latches 85 to bias them in an outward direction. The latches 85 and spring 86 are retained in the channel or groove 84 by a generally shallo w U-shaped retainer 87 positioned against the open side of the channel portion 84. Retainer 87 is positioned inside tube 69 adjacent its opening 82 and is fastened in position by a pair of screws 88 or the like passing through opposite lateral sides of the opening 82, and opposite ends of retainer 87. Elements 89 are washers on the screws 88 between the ends of retainer 87 and the contiguous portions of the upper end of tube 69.

The opposite ends of channel groove 84 are open so that the outer ends of latches 85 protrude therethrough. These latches protrude into notches or grooves 90 formed in the inner bottom edge portion of helmet member 59, and more particularly, in the webs 63'. When the latches 85 catch in the notches 90 the helmet is retained from falling in a clockwise direction about hinge 79. To release the latch 85, 90 it is necessary to move latches 85 out of notches 90. This is accomplished by finger gripping latches 85 and squeezing them towards each other against the bias spring 86. This is done by straddling finger grip portions 91 with the thumb and index finger and moving these portions towards each other. The finger grip portions 91 protrude through openings 92 formed in the channel portion 84 into the inside of the helmet adjacent its bottom opening so that they are readily accessible for operation. After the latches 85 are withdrawn from the latch notches 90 the helmet support structure 12 and the helmet 11 can be moved to stored position on base unit 10 with a single lowering operation or movement during which time the helmet 11 and helmet support 12 pivot towards each other about the hinge 79 and the helmet support 12 pivots towards the base unit 10 about the hinge 77. If the tube 69 has been previously raised within the tube 70 simultaneously with the movement or at the start or end thereof force is applied to the helmet 11 to urge tube 69 into tube 70 until it bottoms on the stop 71 inside tube 70 so that when the helmet 11 is finally over base unit 10 it is centered thereon. When the helmet 11 and base unit are centered with respect to each other the latch elements 57, 58 are aligned so that the helmet can be latched closed on the base unit 10. In setting up the hair dryer for a hair drying operation the latches 57 are first unhooked from the latch elements 58 and then all that is needed is to lift up on the helmet. Raising the helmet causes the helmet support 12 to pivot away from the base unit 10 about the hinge 77 until it bottoms on the base unit air outlet opening 76. Simultaneously the helmet support 12 and helmet 11 are pivoting away from each other until such time as they bottom against each other along the meeting line 83 which places the openings 81 and 82 in communication with each other. Just at the end of this single lifting movement of the helmet the outwardly spring biased latches 85 will audibly snap or click into the latch notches 90. At this point it is known that the set up operation has been completed.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention, and therefore, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a portable hair dryer, the combination of a base assembly and a rigid hair drying helmet having an opening to receive a head of hair to be dried, means for superimposing said helmet on said base assembly Whereby said hair dryer is in a carrying condition with said opening closed by said base assembly, said helmet being in a carrying position when said hair dryer is in said carrying condition, said helmet comprising an outer casing and a perforate inner shell joined around the periphery of said opening to define an air chamber therebetween, a combined support and air conduit interconnecting said base assembly and helmet for supporting .said helmet in an operative hair drying position above said base assembly and for conducting drying air from said base assembly to said air chamber in said helmet, means defining an upwardly directed air outlet adjacent the top of said base assembly, means defining an air inlet to said air chamber in said helmet at the junction of said outer casing and said perforate inner shell, first means defining a pivotal connection between said means defining said upwardly directed air outlet and one end of said combined support and air conduit, second means defining a pivotal connection between said helmet and the other end of said combined support and air conduit adjacent said air inlet, said first and second means permanently connecting said hel met to said base assembly while permitting limited guided movement of said helmet between said carrying and operative positions thereof, and third means including said pivotal connections, said air inlet, said air outlet and said combined support and air conduit for supporting said helmet in said operative position and for simultaneously completing the air connection between said base assembly and said air chamber in said helmet through said combined support and conduit upon manual moving of said helmet from said carrying position to said operative position, said third means guiding the manual movement of said helmet between said carrying position and said operative position.

2. A portable hair dryer comprising a base unit housing, a motor-blower unit in said housing, means defining an upwardly directed air outlet in said housing substantially at the level of the top of said housing, a domeshaped hood defined by an outer imperforate casing and an inner perforate shell, said casing and said shell being joined to define a drying air chamber therebetween, means defining an inlet to said chamber, a generally upright air conducting tubular means supported on said housing with the lower end of said tubular means in registration with said air outlet and the upper end of said tubular means in registration with said inlet, said tubular means supporting said hood in a hair drying position above said housing, hinge means for pivotally connecting the lower end of said tubular means to said housing, hinge means for pivotally connecting the upper end of said tubular means to said hood, said hinge means permitting said hood to be moved from said hair drying position into a carrying position with said hood superimposed on said housing and said tubular means wholly disposed within said hood in stored condition and means including said air inlet, said air outlet, said hinge means and said tubular means for supporting said hood in said hair dryng position and for simultaneously completing the air connection between said housing and said air chamber through said tubular means upon manual moving of said hood to said hair drying position.

3. In a portable hair dryer, the combination of a base assembly and a rigid hair drying helmet having an opening to receive a head of hair to be dried, means for superimposing said helmet on said base assembly whereby said hair dryer is in a carrying condition with said opening closed by said base assembly, said helmet being in a carrying position when said hair dryer is in said carrying condition, said helmet comprising an outer casing and a perforate inner shell joined around the periphery of said opening to define an air chamber therebetween, a combined support and air conduit interconnecting said base assembly and helmet for supporting said helmet in an operative hair drying position above said base assembly and for conducting drying air from said base assembly to said air chamber in said helmet, means associated with defining an upwardly directed air outlet adjacent the top of said base assembly, means defining an air inlet to said air chamber in said helmet at the junction of said outer casing and said perforate inner shell, first means defining a pivotal connection between said means defining said upwardly directed air outlet and one end of said combined support and air conduit, second means defining a pivotal connection between said helmet and the other end of said combined support and air conduit adjacent said air inlet, said first and second means permanently connecting said helmet to said base assembly while permitting limited guided movement of said helmet between said carrying and operative positions thereof, third means including said pivotal connections, said air inlet, said air outlet and said combined support and air conduit for supporting said helmet in said operative position and for simultaneously completing the air connection between said base assembly and said air chamber in said helmet through said combined support and conduit upon manual moving of said helmet from said carrying position to said operative position, said third means guiding the manual movement of said helmet between said carrying position and said operative position, and releasable means for locking said helmet against pivotal movement with respect to said tubular means when in said operative position.

4. The hair dryer of claim 3 wherein said releasable means comprises a self-locking catch adjacent said second means, and manually actuable means to release said catch.

5. The hair dryer of claim 2 wherein said inlet comprises a generally downwardly facing opening adjacent the bottom edge portion of said hood, the opposite end edge portions of said tubular means making abutting engagement with the edge portions of said outlet and inlet when said tubular means is upright, and the hinged connections being positioned along said abutting edge portions which are located along opposite sides of said tubular means.

6. The hair dryer of claim -1 wherein both said air inlet and said air outlet are concealed within said helmet and base assembly when said hair dryer is in said carrying condition.

7. The portable hair dryer of claim 2 wherein when said hood is moved to said hair drying position said tubular means is in an inclined position.

8. The hair dryer of claim 2, wherein a storage recess is formed in said housing, a control switch and a flexible electric cord connected to said switch and said motorblower unit, said cord extending from said switch into said recess for storage therein, and said switch being removably seated in said recess when said cord is stored therein, said hood when closed on said housing covering said removably seated switch.

9. In a hair dryer as in claim 5, latch means at the upper end of said tubular means for latching said hood in elevated position on said tubular means when the latter is upright, said latch means being releasable to permit hinged movement between said tubular means and said hood to close said hood on said housing.

10. In a hair dryer as in claim 9, said latch means being finger operated for release of the same, said tubular means comprising a pair of pipes telescoped one within the other, and said pipes being manually movable for a limited distance with respect to each other to vary the elevated position of said hood with respect to said housing.

11. In a hair dryer as in claim 5, said abutting edge portions at the lower end of said tubular means being disposed in a plane which is sloped downwardly in a direction away from said housing, said abutting edge portions at the upper end or" said tubular means being disposed in a generally vertical plane, and releasable latch means at the upper end of said tubular means for releasably latching said last mentioned abutting edge portions together.

12. The hair dryer of claim 2 wherein said tubular means includes portions of said hinge means mounted on opposite walls of opposite ends of said tubular means, said housing and said hood having portions of said hinge means mounted adjacent the inner edge of said outlet relative to said housing and the inner edge of said inlet relative to said hood.

13. A portable hair dryer comprising a base assembly and a rigid hair drying helmet having an opening to receive a head of hair to be dried, means for superimposing said helmet on said base assembly whereby said opening is closed by said base assembly, said helmet comprising an outer casing and a perforate inner shell defining an air chamber therebetween, means defining an air inlet to said air chamber including a rectangular aperture in said shell within said helmet, the upper edge of said rectangular aperture being spaced upwardly from said opening, means defining an air outlet in said base assembly, means including a motor fan unit in said base assembly for forcing drying air through said outlet, a collapsible combined support and air conduit interconnecting said base assembly and helmet for supporting said helmet in elevated position relative to said base assembly and for conducting drying air from said outlet in said base assembly to said inlet to said air chamber in said helmet, said combined support and air conduit having one end thereof pivotally connected to said base assembly and the other end thereof pivotally connected to said upper edge of said aperture, said combined support and air conduit having a portion receivable within and effectively closing said aperture.

14. A portable hair dryer comprising a base assembly and a rigid hair drying helmet having an opening to receive a head of hair to be dried, means for superimposing said helmet on said base assembly whereby said opening is closed by said base assembly, said helmet comprising an outer casing and a perforate inner shell defining an air chamber therebetween, means defining an air inlet to said air chamber, said air inlet being positioned substantially within said helmet and entirely in said inner shell means defining an air outlet in said base assembly, means including a motor fan unit in said base assembly for forcing drying air through said outlet, at collapsible combined support and air conduit interconnecting said base assembly and helmet for supporting said helmet in elevated position relative to said base assembly and for conducting drying air from said outlet in said base assembly to said inlet to said air chamber in said helmet, said combined support and air conduit having one end thereof pivotally connected to said base assembly and the other end of said combined support and air conduit being formed with an angularly disposed connecting portion which extends within said helmet into pivotal connection with said perforate shell, said connecting portion being substantially flush with the inner surface of said perforate shell and said pivotal connection being spaced upwardly from said opening, said combined support and air conduit and its connections with said base assembly and helmet being such that manual raising of said helmet relative to said base assembly moves said helmet to an elevated position relative to said base assembly and simultaneously completes the air connection at each end of said combined support and air conduit with said air inlet and air outlet respectively.

15. A hair dryer comprising a rigid helmet open at the bottom to receive a head of hair to be dried, a handle secured to said helmet, a base assembly housing air heating and blowing means, said base assemblybeing shaped to close the open bottom of said helmet, means for releasably securing said base assembly to said helmet whereby said hair dryer may be carried by said handle, rigid tubular means defining a combined support and air conduit, connecting means for permanently and pivotally interconnecting said helmet and said base assembly to opposite ends of said tubular means whereby movement of said helmet relative to said base assembly is guided by said connecting means, said movement being limited between a carrying position wherein said base assembly effectively closes the open bottom of said helmet and an operative hair drying position wherein said helmet is supported by said tubular means and said connecting means above said base, and releasable mean for locking said helmet against pivotal movement relative to said tubular means when said helmet is in said operative position, mere movement of said helmet from said carrying position to said operative position completing the air connections between said base assembly and said helmet and simultaneously actuating said releasable means to support and maintain said helmet in said operative position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS CARROLL B. DORITY, 111., Primary Examiner

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