Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02636216 2008-07-03
WO 2007/077040 PCT/EP2006/012657
-1-
HAIRDRYER DEVICE
The present invention refers to a hairdryer
device.
Conventional hairdryer devices are made up of a
handle, a dispensing barrel arranged substantially
perpendicular to the handle, an electric motor,
contained in the barrel and an inlet fan functionally
connected to the motor to take in air from the outside
and dispense it, possibly after having passed through
an electrical resistance, from an outlet mouth,
arranged on the front of the barrel.
From observing the posture and movement of the
arms of hairdressers whilst using conventional
hairdryers, like the one described above, it can be
seen that when straightening hair the hairdresser is
forced to lift the arm and twist the wrist to direct
the airflow from above to below.
Such an operation becomes necessary, during
straightening of hair, to make the hair shiny, since by
directing the hot airflow from the top of the head
towards the tips of the hair the squamae of the hair
close up, which makes them shiny.
In order to be able to carry out this type of
drying, in the current state of the art, it is
necessary to add an accessory (air concentrator) on the
end of the hairdryer. This element has a series of
CA 02636216 2008-07-03
WO 2007/077040 PCT/EP2006/012657
-2-
disadvantages in terms of comfort:
= on the one hand it does not solve the ergonomic
problems, since the grip and the arm and wrist
movements remain unnatural (lifting of the arm and
twisting of the wrist) and even made more tiring
by the extension of the hairdryer that means that
the arm has to be lifted even higher;
= on the other hand, by absorbing the heat from the
air coming out from the end of the hairdryer, the
air concentrator overheats with the risk of
burning the fingers when it has to be held to
detach it, and then move on to a different
operation.
These and other factors, above all considered
over a continuous day of work lasting about eight hours
lead to needless tiring that can, over time, cause
serious and temporarily incapacitating pathologies such
as tendinitis.
Indeed, prolonged and/or repetitive flexing-
extension movements of the wrist cause an increase in
pressure inside the carpal tunnel.
Moreover, the repeated stretching of the nerves
and of the tendons that run behind the tunnel can cause
inflammation that reduces the size of the carpal tunnel
resulting in the compression of the median nerve.
In light of the above there is clearly a need to
CA 02636216 2008-07-03
WO 2007/077040 PCT/EP2006/012657
-3-
provide a hairdryer device, like the one according to
the present invention, which allows the problems of the
prior art to be solved by providing a device capable of
varying the type and direction of the airflow being
dispensed according to the type of drying and the
degree of shine that one wishes to obtain.
The purpose of the present invention is,
therefore, to avoid the aforementioned drawbacks and in
particular to make a hairdryer device that allows the
hair treatment process (straightening, smoothing,
brushing, etc.) to be carried out allowing the wrist to
remain in the most natural possible position, i.e. the
one in which the muscles are typically relaxed (which
occurs in conditions of microgravity).
Another purpose of the present invention is to
provide a hairdryer device, which eliminates the
possibility of burning the fingers due to the removal
of the air concentrator, before it has cooled down.
Another purpose of the present invention is to
provide a hairdryer device capable of being positioned
on a support base without auxiliary support elements,
thus capable of standing upright.
Finally, another purpose of the present invention
is to provide a hairdryer device that is particularly
simple and functional at a relatively low cost.
These and other purposes according to the present
CA 02636216 2008-07-03
WO 2007/077040 PCT/EP2006/012657
-4-
invention are accomplished by a hairdryer device as
outlined in claim 1.
Further characteristics of the device are the
object of the dependent claims.
The characteristics and advantages of a hairdryer
device according to the present invention shall become
clearer from the following description, given as a non-
limiting example, referring to the attached schematic
drawings, in which:
-figure 1 is a schematic side elevation view in
section of a first embodiment of the hairdryer device
according to the present invention;
-figure 2 is a schematic front view in section of
a first embodiment of the hairdryer device according to
the present invention;
-figure 2a is a schematic view from below of the
blade-shaped opening of the hairdryer device according
to the present invention; and
-figure 3 is a schematic side elevation view in
section of a second embodiment of the hairdryer device
according to the present invention;
-figure 4 is a schematic side elevation view in
section of a further embodiment of the hairdryer device
according to the present invention equipped with
special selection means of the airflow; and
- figures 5 and 5a are two front views of a
CA 02636216 2008-07-03
WO 2007/077040 PCT/EP2006/012657
-5-
further embodiment of the hairdryer device according to
the present invention equipped with special selection
means of the airflow.
With reference to the figures, a hairdryer device
is shown, wholly indicated with 10.
The device 10 comprises at least one handle 2, at
least one dispensing barrel 3 arranged substantially
perpendicular to the handle 2, an electric motor 4 and
at least one inlet fan 5,5' functionally connected to
the motor 4 to take in air from the outside and
dispense it through an outlet mouth.
In order to operate, the hairdryer device 10 has a
connection to an energy source, such as, in a known
way, a connection, not shown, to the mains.
The device 10 also has, in a per se known way, at
least one electrical resistance 8 arranged downstream
of the electric motor 4 to heat, if so desired, the
airflow to be dispensed and at least one filter 9
arranged upstream of the intake fans 5,5'.
Advantageously, according to the present invention
the device 10 also comprises at least one first outlet
mouth 12 arranged on the front of barrel 3, at least
one second air inlet mouth 13 arranged on the side of
barrel 3 to dispense an airflow, substantially
perpendicular to the first mouth 12 and selection means
14 to alternate the dispensing of the flow between the
CA 02636216 2008-07-03
WO 2007/077040 PCT/EP2006/012657
-6-
first 12 and the second outlet mouth 13 according to
the type of drying that one wishes to obtain.
The secondary outlet mouth 13 is arranged on the
side of the barrel 3 and consists of a blade-shaped
opening 11, in other words of a size substantially
larger than the rest, as shown in figure 2a.
In particular, the predominant direction is that
parallel to the axis of symmetry of the barrel 3.
The special blade-shaped configuration of the opening
11 allows the closing of the squamae of the hair during
drying to be made easier and to be carried out to a
greater degree, making the straight hair particularly
shiny.
The second outlet mouth 13 also has a projecting
portion 15 with section substantially radially
converging going away from the barrel 3, as shown in
figure 2.
The blade-shaped opening 11 is arranged on top of
the projecting portion 15.
On the inclined sides of the projecting portion 15
a plurality of holes 17 are foreseen that are also
inclined, which by Venturi effect, during the operation
of the device 10, take in cold air from the outside so
as to compact the flow being dispensed from the second
outlet mouth 13.
The cold air coming from the outside mixes,
CA 02636216 2008-07-03
WO 2007/077040 PCT/EP2006/012657
-7-
therefore, with the hot air coming from the barrel 3
compacting the flow being dispensed and, therefore,
resulting in the squamae of the hair closing to a
greater extent, which make them shinier.
To better direct the flow entering through the
holes 17, a deflecting fin 32 is foreseen, as shown in
figure 2, arranged perpendicular to the opening 11.
The alternation between the dispensing of the two
air flows occurs, as stated earlier, thanks to suitable
selection means 14 or selectors actuated by suitable
controls 16.
According to a first embodiment shown in figure 1,
the selection means 14 are represented by a curtain
element 20 that can slide in two guides 21 formed
inside the barrel 3 to close or open the first front
outlet mouth 12.
The sliding of the curtain 20 is obtained through
control means 16 represented, in this case, by a
mechanical connection member 22 and by at least one
slider 23 arranged on the handle 2 and able to be
actuated manually from the outside.
By making the slider 23 slide in one direction,
the curtain 20 slides in the guides 21 to close the
front outlet mouth 12, whereas by making the slider 23
slide in the opposite direction, the curtain 20 slides
back to open the front outlet mouth 12.
CA 02636216 2008-07-03
WO 2007/077040 PCT/EP2006/012657
-8-
Although in the present description reference is
made to two side guides 21 it is also possible to
foresee just one or more than two of them without
departing from the scope of protection of the present
invention.
According to another embodiment, the selection
means 14 are represented by a diaphragm 31 arranged at
the first outlet mouth 12.
The diaphragm 31 is hinged at an end thereof to
the barrel 3 and can rotate between a closed position
and an open position to open or close the first outlet
mouth 12.
For this purpose, the diaphragm has a shape and
size such as to completely block the first outlet mouth
12 in closed position.
According to this embodiment, the diaphragm 31 is
held in open position by suitable elastic means 33, and
in closed position by suitable locking means, not
shown, suitable for locking said diaphragm onto the
mouth 12 and counteracting said elastic means 33.
With the locking means unlocked, the diaphragm 31
rotates under the action of the elastic means to leave
the first outlet mouth 12 free to dispense the airflow
at the front.
Alternatively, the diaphragm 31 can be hinged at
two of its opposite ends to the barrel 3 so as to
CA 02636216 2008-07-03
WO 2007/077040 PCT/EP2006/012657
-9-
define a rotation axis that is substantially vertical,
in other words substantially parallel to the handle 2,
or horizontal, in other words perpendicular to the
handle 2.
The diaphragm 31 can, therefore, rotate between a
closed position, in which it is arranged perpendicular
to the airflow and blocks the first outlet mouth 12
(fig.4) and an open position (represented for example
with a broken line in fig.4), in which it is arranged
parallel to the airflow so as to allow it to be
dispensed from the mouth 12.
According to yet another embodiment, not shown,
the selection means 14 of the airflow are represented
by at least one butterfly valve consisting of two
semicircular sections hinged at the straight sides.
The two semicircular sections open and close
thanks to a mechanical connection member arranged on
the body of the hairdryer and to a manual gripping
element actuated from the outside.
According to yet another embodiment, the selection
means 14 of the air are represented by two bladed air
deflectors suitable for lying on top of one another or
coming together to open or close the outlet of the
airflow through the first mouth 12.
In particular, when the deflectors are arranged at
90 to one another air passes, whereas when the blades
CA 02636216 2008-07-03
WO 2007/077040 PCT/EP2006/012657
-10-
come together the passage of air is blocked.
According to yet another embodiment, the selection
means 14 of the air are represented by a plurality of
bladed air deflectors 44 hinged to the barrel 3 so as
to be able to rotate between a position in which they
are arranged perpendicular to the airflow, forming a
single shutter 31 that blocks the first outlet mouth 12
(fig.5) and an open position in which they are all
arranged parallel to each other and to the airflow so
as to allow the latter to be dispensed from the mouth
12 (fig.5a).
Alternatively, the reciprocity between the two
flows can also be obtained by providing a portion of
barrel 3 shaped like a rotatable sleeve.
In particular, the aforementioned sleeve, arranged
at the end of the barrel 3, can rotate to open or close
the opening 11.
In any case, once the front curtain or the
alternative selection means 14 that opens the first
outlet mouth 12 is open, it is not necessary to close
the second outlet mouth 13, arranged on the side of the
barrel 3. Indeed, the force of the airflow directed
towards the front outlet is unable to create an airflow
from the underlying second outlet mouth 13. Rather, due
to the Venturi effect, the main flow directed towards
the front air outlet or primary mouth 12 creates a cold
CA 02636216 2008-07-03
WO 2007/077040 PCT/EP2006/012657
-11-
airflow that penetrates from the outlet below 13,
determining a suitable mixing of the two airflows - the
hot one, coming from the resistance 8, and the cold
one, coming in from the mouth 13, respectively.
According to another advantageous aspect of the
present invention, the electric motor 4 is a single-
phase or three-phase electronic motor with eoectronic
control.
The particular motor 4 is of a particularly small
size that allows the device 10 to be configured with a
particularly slim tube-shaped structure. The hairdryer
device 10 according to the present invention thus
consists of a new electronic motor of reduced diameter
that can be controlled through an electronic board
capable of modulating the dispensing speed of the
airflow as desired.
In other words, with the device 10 according to
the present invention, the airflow is not dispensed at
determined speeds, but in continuous variation
according to the user's requirements.
The small size of the new electronic motor allows
it to be positioned inside a handle, allowing the
barycentre to be moved from the body of the barrel (as
in conventional hairdryers) to the area of the grip or
handle.
The movement of the barycentre, which is now
CA 02636216 2008-07-03
WO 2007/077040 PCT/EP2006/012657
-12-
substantially aligned with the axis of symmetry of the
handle, makes it possible to have a product that is
able to be rested on the base of the handle and to
remain stable, upright on a plane, making it easier to
be held more ergonomically at the moment of use.
Alternatively, it is possible to foresee a
conventional electric motor 4 that must, however, be
positioned inside the handle, allowing the barycentre
to be moved from the body of the barrel (as in
conventional hairdryers) to the area of the grip or
handle.
The hairdryer device according to the present
invention, in a variant that is not shown, foresees
that both the first outlet mouth 12, and the second
outlet mouth 13, be positioned on a sleeve able to
rotate by 360 on the barrel 3. In this way, an airflow
is obtained dispensed from the mouth 13 with variabile
inclination according to the user's requirements.
The hairdryer device, in a further variant that is
not shown, also foresees a third outlet mouth of the
air arranged in the top part of the barrel 3.
At the third outlet mouth 12 a second integrated
accessory intended for the treatment of curly hair is
foreseen. The integrated accessory is represented by a
diffuser provided with a plurality of silicon rubber-
ended points suitable for carrying out a massage and a
CA 02636216 2008-07-03
WO 2007/077040 PCT/EP2006/012657
-13-
further curling of the root of the hair. The
integration of this second accessory in the very
structure of the hairdryer device allows the risks of
burning hands and fingers whenever touching the air
nozzle and/or the diffuser before the hairdryer has
cooled down to be eliminated.
From the description that has been made the
characteristics of the device object of the present
invention are clear, just as the relative advantages
are also clear, including:
- possibility of carrying out the hair treatment
process (straightening, smoothing, brushing, etc.)
allowing the wrist to remain in the most natural
possible position, i.e. the one in which the muscles
is are typically relaxed;
-possibility of keeping the device upright on a
plane without the help of external support means;
-simplicity of construction and functionality;
-relatively low manufacturing costs.
Finally, it is clear that the device thus conceived can
undergo numerous modifications and variations, all of
which are covered by the invention. For example,
although in the present description the outlet mouths
12,13 are integral with the barrel 3 it is,
nevertheless, possible to make them on a distinct
portion able to be fixed through suitable releasable
CA 02636216 2008-07-03
WO 2007/077040 PCT/EP2006/012657
-14-
means to the barrel 3 itself so as to obtain the same
result in functional terms. Moreover, all of the
details can be replaced by technically equivalent
elements. In particular, it is possible within the the
present invention to make a hairdryer accessory, such a
hairdryer comprising at least one dispensing barrel 3
to which such an accessory can be fixed through
attachment means. Such an accessory comprises a first
outlet mouth 12, arranged on the front of said barrel
3, and at least one second outlet mouth 13, arranged on
the side of said barrel 3 to dispense an airflow,
substantially perpendicular to said first mouth 12.
Moreover, it is possible to foresee the presence of at
least one third mouth for the air arranged at the top
of such a barrel 3. Moreover, the attachment means
between the barrel and the accessory allow it to rotate
with respect to such a barrel.
In practice, the materials used, as well as the sizes,
can be whatever according to the technical
requirements.
