WO2018127778A1

WO2018127778A1 - Hair dryer nozzle

Info

Publication number: WO2018127778A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/058510
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michele MAIELLO
Original assignee: Evolution S.A.S Di Armucci Erika & C.
Priority date: 2017-01-05
Filing date: 2017-12-29
Publication date: 2018-07-12
Also published as: IT201700001052A1

Abstract

Hair dryer nozzle (11) comprising a body (13) having a front opening (15) and an inner through-channel (17), wherein the inner channel (17) allows free passage of air set in forced motion by a hair dryer (21), and wherein said inner channel (17) is in flow connection with the front opening (15) for the outlet of said air under forced motion, wherein at said front opening (15) there is provided at least one cutting element (31), the cutting edge of which lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the prevailing direction of the flow of air entering the nozzle (11) and set in forced motion by the hair dryer (21) when the nozzle (11) is connected to the hair dryer (21).

Description

HAIR DRYER NOZZLE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a hair dryer nozzle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a nozzle that can be either removably associated with a conventional hair dryer or permanently integrated into the hair dryer body.

Prior Art

Hair dryers are known devices used for hair drying both at professional level, in beauty salons or at hairdressers, and for domestic use. A prior art hair dryer is disclosed for instance in US2962576(A).

Generally, prior art hair dryers include a body mainly provided with a handle for being grasped by the user with his/her hand and a front outlet for the air put into forced movement and possibly heated by means housed within the air dryer. A nozzle can be associated with or integrated into said hair dryers at the front outlet thereof.

A prior art hair dryer nozzle is disclosed for instance in WO2014147460(Al).

Said hair dryer nozzles are also defined "flow concentrators", since their function is mainly to make the air flow exiting through the front outlet of the hair dryer converge towards a predetermined area.

As known, cutting or thinning out of hairs with a scissor or a razor is a delicate operation, which is hard to perform by a single operator while using the hair dryer. Actually, in such case, the user should use both hands, one for grasping the hair dryer and the other for operating with the scissors or the razor, and thus the user could not grasp the hair tufts in order to coordinate the cutting and drying operations.

Yet, the combined action of hair cutting and drying is an advantage as far as the execution time is concerned and results in a greater economic gain for beauty salons or hairdressers. Moreover, the availability of a suitably directed air flow during hair cutting allows attaining particular effects on the hair.

In order to solve the above problem, the solution disclosed in US4471791(A) has been proposed in the past. That document discloses a device for cutting hairs by means of a blade housed in a rectilinear cylindrical seat with circular cross-section. A hot or cold air flow generated by a hair dryer connected to said device by means of a flexible conduit longitudinally propagates through the cylinder housing the blade. The blade comes out from the cylinder through a rectilinear slit defined along a generatrix of the cylindrical seat. Inside the cylinder, the air flow coming from the hair dryer licks the blade first longitudinally and then transversely, and then escapes through the same rectilinear slit provided for the blade. The cylinder further includes a handle portion enabling manual grasping by the user.

Such a solution is complex to implement and moreover the device constructed in this manner is bulky, scarcely practical in use and awkward, and it does not allow attaining precision cuts. Moreover, that device is expensive and cannot be easily applied to existing hair dryers.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the problems mentioned above, which is devoid of the drawbacks of the prior art.

It is another object of the invention to provide a solution that can be easily implemented and used and which is reliable and easy to maintain with time.

It is a further, but not the last object of the invention to provide a hair dryer nozzle that can be industrially manufactured at limited costs.

The above and other objects are achieved by means of the hair dryer nozzle as claimed in the appended claims, which are an integral part of the present description. Description of the invention

The hair dryer nozzle according to the invention mainly comprises a body having a front opening and an inner through-channel. In a preferred embodiment, the nozzle body has a substantially cylindrical shape with circular cross-section. Yet, the nozzle body may have any geometrical shape, for instance a cubical shape, or a cuboidal shape with square or rectangular cross-section, or a substantially cylindrical shape with oval cross-section.

The body of the nozzle according to the invention can be made for instance of metal, plastics or other suitable materials, and preferably it is rigid.

In an embodiment of the invention, the nozzle body is moreover provided with a rear opening and preferably it frontally comprises a tapered portion preferably ending, moreover, with a flat portion. According to this embodiment, the flat portion advantageously defines, at the front opening, a slit having preferably a substantially rectangular shape. Moreover, the front and rear openings preferably lie on planes substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the prevailing direction of the forced air flow coming from the hair dryer, so that said air flow propagating through the inner through-channel of the nozzle does not undergo substantial changes of direction while propagating through the nozzle. According to other possible embodiments, said slit has a substantially square or trapezoidal geometrical shape.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the nozzle body has a cylindrical shape with circular cross-section and the front and rear openings lie on planes parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the cylindrical nozzle body.

Advantageously, the inner channel of the nozzle body allows the free passage of the air set in forced motion by a hair dryer, with which the nozzle is advantageously associated by means of its rear opening. In an embodiment, the nozzle is removably associated with the hair dryer. Yet, in another embodiment of the invention, the nozzle is directly integrated into the hair dryer, preferably into the housing thereof, thereby making separation of the nozzle from the hair dryer impossible.

Advantageously, the inner channel of the nozzle body is in flow connection with the rear opening and the front opening for the inlet into and the outlet from the nozzle, respectively, of said air under forced motion coming from the hair dryer.

Preferably, the hair dryer is a conventional hair dryer of the kind known to the skilled in the art, and, for this reason, it will not be described in detail. It mainly includes a structure provided with a typically rigid housing. A rear air inlet and a front air outlet are defined in the housing and are located at the opposite ends of a through-conduit provided inside the housing, which also accommodates means for setting in forced motion and heating, when required, air entering through the rear inlet and exiting through the front outlet.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the nozzle body is associated with the front outlet of the hair dryer through the rear opening provided in the nozzle body. Actually, the front outlet of the hair dryer preferably has a complementary shape to the rear opening of the nozzle. For instance, both the front outlet of the hair dryer and the rear opening of the nozzle may have a circular or oval cross section.

In an embodiment of the invention, the nozzle can therefore be fit onto the hair dryer housing at the front outlet of the hair dryer, whereby it is firmly associated with the hair dryer while this is being used. In other embodiments, it is also possible that the nozzle is connected to the hair dryer, or to any suitable source of forced and possibly heated air, through a preferably flexible connection conduit.

Still referring to this embodiment, the nozzle can be advantageous applied on and removed from the hair dryer when necessary, for instance when the hair dryer is to be used without the nozzle or with a nozzle of different type.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the nozzle is integrated into the hair dryer housing. According this alternative embodiment, the air conduit provided inside the hair dryer housing extends through the inner through-channel of the nozzle, open at the front opening of the nozzle, to allow outlet of air set in forced motion by the means provided inside the hair dryer.

Advantageously, the nozzle according to the invention has at least one cutting element at its front opening.

According to the invention, each cutting element preferably comprises a corresponding elongated element arranged with its corresponding cutting edge on a plane substantially perpendicular to the prevailing direction of the flow of air entering the nozzle and set in forced motion by the hair dryer when the nozzle is associated with the hair dryer. When the cutting element has a rectilinear cutting edge, said edge moreover preferably extends along a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, which axis in turn lies on the plane of symmetry of the hair dryer when the nozzle is associated with or integrated into the hair dryer. Still according to the invention, the cutting edge of the cutting element is preferably arranged along a direction substantially parallel to the plane of said front opening, i.e. a direction substantially perpendicular to the prevailing direction of the flow of air under forced motion exiting through said front opening of the nozzle and coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the nozzle.

Other arrangements of the cutting element will be possible, for instance, arrangements where the rectilinear cutting edge is arranged in oblique direction relative to the plane of the front opening of the nozzle. In other embodiments of the invention, said cutting element can be non rectilinear, for instance corrugated or circular or square.

Each cutting element comprises a blade and preferably a blade-holder. Preferably, both the blade and the blade holder are made of metallic material or of metal alloys. More particularly, said blade-holder preferably comprises a shell partially surrounding the blade in the rear portion thereof by means of a rear shell portion. Moreover, the shell partially covers at least one side of the cutting edge by means of a corresponding shell portion, preferably provided with front teeth.

The number and the shape of said front teeth can change depending on the embodiment of the cutting elements. For instance, the number of teeth can range from three to fifteen, and the teeth may have a squared, rounded, triangular or differently shaped front end.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the nozzle is preferably provided at said front opening with at least one seat arranged to receive, preferably in removable manner, the at least one cutting element. Preferably two said seats are provided and are arranged to receive a corresponding cutting element having, preferably but not exclusively, an elongated shape, wherein the respective cutting edges are mutually parallel. Preferably, each seat has a groove arranged to receive the rear portion of the shell of the cutting element, while leaving the cutting edge free.

With particular reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the slit has rectangular shape and has parallel edges at its parallel longer sides, said seats are formed at said parallel edges. In accordance with this embodiment, the cutting elements received in the corresponding seats define, along the parallel longer sides, the slit for air outlet from the nozzle and, consequently, the blades of the cutting elements are licked by the air under forced motion only on the mutually opposite faces directed towards the slit.

The embodiment of the nozzle according to the invention providing for the removable association between the rear opening of the nozzle and the front outlet of the hair dryer has the advantage that the nozzle can be separated from the hair dryer, for instance for allowing use of said nozzle also on different hair dryers. Another advantage is the possibility of separating the nozzle and effecting a more accurate cleaning of the same nozzle.

The embodiment of the nozzle according to the invention providing for the integration of the nozzle into the hair dryer housing has the advantage of combining both components, i.e. the nozzle and the hair dryer, into a single indivisible element, thus making use of the same hair dryer more practical and quicker.

The embodiment of the nozzle according to the invention including the at least one seat arranged to removably receive the at least one cutting element has the advantage that said cutting element can be replaced when it is dirty or worn, thus ensuring a hygienic and optimal use.

Moreover, the possibility of replacing the cutting element has the advantage of enabling use of different cutting elements depending on the requirements. Cutting elements having e.g. a different number and a different shape of the front teeth will result in different types of cut, and the replacement will be dictated by the type of cut and of effect to be obtained on the hair.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the cutting elements are integrated into the nozzle body, thereby making separation of the cutting elements from the body of the same nozzle impossible. This embodiment can be applied both to the case in which the nozzle is removably associated with the hair dryer housing and to the case in which the nozzle is integrated into the hair dryer housing,

When the hair dryer nozzle according to the invention is used in association with or is integrated into a hair dryer provided with means heating air besides setting it in forced motion, the hot hair flow, by propagating through the nozzle and licking the at least one cutting element arranged at the front opening of said nozzle, causes heating of said at least one cutting element. The temperature increase of the cutting element caused by the hot air flow has the advantage of increasing the cutting effectiveness, by determining a substantial anesthetising effect and reducing the unpleasant pull sensation for the person during hair cutting. Advantageously, the nozzle according to the invention is preferably made so that the air flow set in forced motion and also heated by the means provided in the air dryer arrives at the cutting element by following a path as short as possible, so as to maximise heating of the cutting element.

Brief Description of the Figures

Some preferred embodiments of the invention will be given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which:

- Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the hair dryer nozzle according to the invention, associated with a hair dryer;

- Fig. IB is an exploded view of Fig. 1 A;

Fig. 2A is an enlarged view of a detail of the hair dryer nozzle shown in Fig. 1 A;

Fig. 2B is an exploded view of Fig. 2 A.

Description of Some Preferred Embodiments

The hair dryer nozzle according to the invention has been denoted in the whole by reference numeral 11 in the accompanying Figures. More particularly, with reference to Figs. 1A and IB, nozzle 11 mainly comprises a body 13 having a front opening 15 and an inner through-channel 17. In the embodiment illustrated, body 13 of nozzle 11 has a substantially cylindrical shape with circular cross-section and, moreover, it is provided with a rear opening 19 and frontally comprises a tapered portion 20 ending with a flat portion 22. According to this embodiment, flat portion 22 defines, at front opening 15, a slit 24 having a substantially rectangular shape.

Inner channel 17 of body 13 of nozzle 11 allows the free passage of air set in forced motion by a hair dryer 21, with which nozzle 11 is removably associated by means of rear opening 19. Inner channel 17 is in flow connection with rear opening 19 and front opening 15 for the inlet into and the outlet from nozzle 11, respectively, of said air under forced motion coming from hair dryer 21. Hair dryer 21 is a conventional hair dryer of the kind known to the skilled in the art. It mainly includes a structure with a housing 23, a rear inlet 25 and a front outlet 27, located at the opposite ends of a through-conduit 29 provided inside the housing, which also accommodates means for setting in forced motion and possibly heating air entering through rear inlet 25 and exiting through front outlet 27. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the association with rear opening 19 of body 13 of nozzle 11 takes place at front outlet 27 of hair dryer 21. Actually, front outlet 27 has a substantially cylindrical shape with circular cross-section, complementary to rear opening 19 of nozzle 11. Nozzle 11 can thus be fit onto housing 23 at front outlet 27 and thus it is firmly associated with hair dryer 21 while this is being used.

Referring also to Figs. 2A and 2B, in the embodiment illustrated nozzle 11 advantageously includes a pair of cutting elements 31 provided at front opening 15. Advantageously, according to the invention, channel 17 is constructed so that its length is minimised, whereby the heat of the air flow propagating therethrough is exploited to the maximum for heating cutting elements 31.

Each cutting element 31 comprises a corresponding elongated element arranged with its respective cutting edge 35 along a direction substantially parallel to the plane of said front opening 15, i.e. a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the flow of air under forced motion exiting through said front opening 15 and coinciding with longitudinal axis "S" of the nozzle. Moreover, in the embodiment illustrated, said axis "S" lies on the plane of symmetry of the hair dryer 21 and substantially corresponds to the prevailing direction of the forced air flow exiting the hair dryer.

In the embodiment illustrated, each cutting element 31 comprises a blade 37 and a blade-holder 39. More particularly, said blade-holder 39 comprises a shell 41 partially surrounding blade 37 in the rear portion thereof, by means of a rear shell portion 45, and partially covers at least one side of cutting edge 35 by means of a corresponding shell portion provided with front teeth 43. Thanks to the shape illustrated, cutting edge 35 has an alternation of front teeth 43 and blade portions 37. More particularly, the embodiment illustrated has nine front teeth 43 per cutting element 31, each tooth having a frontally rounded shape.

According to this embodiment of the invention, nozzle 11 has, at front opening 15, two seats 47 each arranged to receive a corresponding cutting element 31. Said seats 47 are arranged to receive the corresponding cutting elements 31 having an elongated shape and arranged with their cutting edges 35 along substantially parallel directions. Each seat 47 comprises a groove 49 arranged to receive rear portion 45 of shell 41 of cutting element 31, while leaving cutting edge 35 free.

With particular reference to the embodiment illustrated, seats 47 are formed in parallel edges 51 of parallel longer sides 53 of slit 24 defined at front opening 15.

The hair dryer nozzle as described and illustrated can undergo several changes and modifications, included in the same inventive principle.

Claims

P4419PC00 WO 2018/127778 PCT/IB2017/058510 Patent claims

1. Hair dryer nozzle (11) comprising a body (13) having a front opening (15) and an inner through-channel (17), wherein the inner channel (17) allows free passage of air set in forced motion by a hair dryer (21), and wherein said inner channel (17) is in flow connection with the front opening (15) for the outlet of said air under forced motion, characterized in that at said front opening (15) there is provided at least one cutting element (31), the cutting edge of which lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the prevailing direction of the flow of air entering the nozzle (11) and set in forced motion by the hair dryer (21) when the nozzle (11) is associated with the hair dryer (21).

2. Nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle body (13) has a rear opening (19) arranged to enable associating the nozzle with a hair dryer (21), and wherein the inner channel (17) is in flow connection with the rear opening (19) and with the front opening (15) for the inlet into and the outlet from the nozzle (11), respectively, of said air under forced motion coming from the hair dryer (21).

3. Nozzle according to claim 2, wherein the nozzle body has a cylindrical shape with circular cross-section, and wherein the front opening (15) and the rear opening (19) lie on planes parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of symmetry ("S") of the cylindrical nozzle body (13).

4. Nozzle according to claim 3, wherein the cutting edge of the cutting element (31) extends along a rectilinear direction perpendicular to the longitudinal nozzle axis ("S").

5. Nozzle according to claim 1, wherein said cutting element (31) comprises a corresponding elongated element arranged with its respective cutting edge (35) along a rectilinear direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ("S") of the nozzle.

6. Nozzle according to any preceding claim, wherein said cutting element (31) comprises a corresponding elongated element arranged with its respective cutting edge (35) along a direction substantially parallel to the plane of said front opening (15), i.e. a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the flow of air under forced motion exiting through said front opening (15) and coinciding with the longitudinal axis ("S") of the nozzle (11).

7. Nozzle according to any preceding claim, wherein at said front opening (15) there is provided at least one seat (47) arranged to receive the at least one cutting element (31).

8. Nozzle according to claim 7, wherein two said seats (47) are provided and are P4419PC00

WO 2018/127778 PCT/IB2017/058510 arranged to receive corresponding cutting elements (31) having an elongated shape and arranged with their cutting edges (35) along substantially parallel directions.

9. Nozzle according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said cutting element (31) comprises a blade (37) and a blade-holder (39), wherein said blade-holder (39) comprises a shell (41) partially surrounding the blade (37) in the rear portion thereof, and wherein said shell (41) comprises front teeth (43) and a rear portion (45), and wherein the seat (47) comprises a groove (49) arranged to receive the rear portion (45) of the shell (41) of the cutting element (31).

10. Nozzle according to any preceding claim, wherein said body (13) of the nozzle (11) further frontally comprises a tapered portion (20) ending with a flat portion (22) defining a slit (24) having a substantially rectangular shape at the front opening (15) for air outlet.

11. Nozzle according to claim 10, wherein said slit (24) has parallel edges (51) at its parallel longer sides (53), and wherein said parallel edges (51) comprise each a corresponding one of said seats (47) for the cutting element (31).

12. Nozzle according to any preceding claim, wherein said nozzle (11) is arranged to be removably connected to the hair dryer (21) at a front outlet (27) through which the air set in forced motion and possibly heated exits.

13. Nozzle according to any preceding claim, wherein said nozzle (11) is made integral with the housing (23) of a hair dryer (21).

14. Hair dryer (21) comprising a hair dryer nozzle (11) as claimed in claims 1 to 13.

15. Hair dryer (21) according to claim 14, comprising a structure provided with a rigid housing (23) in which a rear air inlet and a front air outlet are defined, said inlet and said outlet being located at the opposite ends of a through-conduit provided inside the housing, which also accommodates means for setting in forced motion and heating, when required, air entering through the rear inlet and exiting through the front outlet, and wherein said front air outlet comprises at least one of said cutting elements (31).