PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A HAND HELD HAIR DRYER

Abstract

A portable hair dryer support apparatus comprising a hair dryer holding structure for holding a hair dryer and at least one vertical support element connected at a first end to the hair dryer holding structure and having at a second opposed end at least one securing portion for securing the portable hair dryer support apparatus to a door.

Claims

1. A portable hair dryer support apparatus, comprising: a hair dryer holding structure for holding a hair dryer; and at least one vertical support element connected at a first end to the hair dryer holding structure and having at a second opposed end at least one securing portion for securing the portable hair dryer support apparatus to a door.

2. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hair dryer holding structure is pivotally connected to the at least one vertical support element via a hinge.

3. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the hinge includes a suction cup.

4. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a mirror pivotally attached to the hinge.

5. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the hinge includes a locking mechanism to lock the hair dryer holding structure at specific angles.

6. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hair dryer holding structure includes a pivoting hair dryer holder.

7. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein the pivoting hair dryer holder is a ring with a pressurized rubber interior.

8. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 6, further comprising a rotating knob connected to an axis of rotation of the pivoting hair dryer holder in order to rotate the pivoting hair dryer holder to a desired angle.

9. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one vertical support element includes a length adjustment mechanism.

10. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein the a length adjustment mechanism includes a first and a second slidingly superimposed bars, the first bar having a series of holes along a portion of its length and the second bar having a protuberance configured to engage the holes in order to adjust a distance of the hair dryer holding structure from a top end of the door

11. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein the a length adjustment mechanism includes a first and a second slidingly superimposed bars, the first bar having an elongated slit along a portion of its length and the second bar having a knurled screw configured to slide within the slit and press the first and second bars against one another in order to adjust the distance of the tray from a top end of the door.

12. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one securing portion is selected from a group consisting of a clip, a hook, a catch and a grapple.

13. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a hair dryer holding structure angle adjustment mechanism.

14. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hair dryer holding structure includes at least one feature selected from a group consisting of a slit, a hole, a slat and a grass mat.

15. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hair dryer holding structure is selected from a group consisting of a tray, a rack, a holster, a flexible gooseneck tubing and a wrapped flexible metal holder.

16. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a mirror attached to a bottom portion of the hair dryer holding structure.

17. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein the mirror is pivotally attached to the bottom portion of the hair dryer holding structure via a hinge.

1. A portable hair dryer support apparatus, comprising: a hair dryer holding structure for holding a hair dryer; and at least one vertical support element connected at a first end to the hair dryer holding structure and having at a second opposed end at least one securing portion for securing the portable hair dryer support apparatus to a door.

2. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hair dryer holding structure is pivotally connected to the at least one vertical support element via a hinge.

3. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the hinge includes a suction cup.

4. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a mirror pivotally attached to the hinge.

5. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the hinge includes a locking mechanism to lock the hair dryer holding structure at specific angles.

6. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hair dryer holding structure includes a pivoting hair dryer holder.

7. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein the pivoting hair dryer holder is a ring with a pressurized rubber interior.

8. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 6, further comprising a rotating knob connected to an axis of rotation of the pivoting hair dryer holder in order to rotate the pivoting hair dryer holder to a desired angle.

9. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one vertical support element includes a length adjustment mechanism.

10. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein the a length adjustment mechanism includes a first and a second slidingly superimposed bars, the first bar having a series of holes along a portion of its length and the second bar having a protuberance configured to engage the holes in order to adjust a distance of the hair dryer holding structure from a top end of the door

11. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein the a length adjustment mechanism includes a first and a second slidingly superimposed bars, the first bar having an elongated slit along a portion of its length and the second bar having a knurled screw configured to slide within the slit and press the first and second bars against one another in order to adjust the distance of the tray from a top end of the door.

12. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one securing portion is selected from a group consisting of a clip, a hook, a catch and a grapple.

13. (canceled)

14. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hair dryer holding structure includes at least one feature selected from a group consisting of a slit, a hole, a slat and a grass mat.

15. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hair dryer holding structure is selected from a group consisting of a tray, a rack, a holster, a flexible gooseneck tubing and a wrapped flexible metal holder.

16. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a mirror attached to a bottom portion of the hair dryer holding structure.

17. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein the mirror is pivotally attached to the bottom portion of the hair dryer holding structure via a hinge.

18. A portable hair dryer support apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a hair dryer holding structure angle adjustment mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0019] Embodiments of the disclosure will be described by way of examples only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable apparatus for supporting a hand held hair dryer in a fully retracted configuration in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable apparatus for supporting a hand held hair dryer of FIG. 1 in a fully extended configuration;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the portable apparatus for supporting a hand held hair dryer of FIG. 1 in a collapsed configuration;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portable apparatus for supporting a hand held hair dryer in a fully extended configuration in accordance with an alternative illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the portable apparatus for supporting a hand held hair dryer of FIG. 4 with an optional mirror.

[0025] Similar references used in different Figures denote similar components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Generally stated, the non-limitative illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure provide a portable apparatus for supporting a hand held hair dryer. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a portable apparatus that can be hanged from a door for supporting a hand held hair dryer while the appliance is in use in order to free both of the user's hands for drying and styling of their hair. The hair dryer support apparatus can also act as a storage holder for the hair dryer itself and/or grooming articles and products such as combs, brushes, hair clips, etc., and, in an alternative embodiment, be provided with a mirror. This frees up counter space usually needed for some of the larger appliances or drawer space often taken up by some of the smaller appliances or grooming articles.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown a portable hair dryer support apparatus 10 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure. The hair dryer support apparatus 10 includes hair dryer holding structure, in this case a tray 12 operatively connected at opposite ends to a pair of vertical support elements 14 via respective hinges 16.

[0028] It is to be understood that although in the illustrative embodiment the hair dryer holding structure is in the form of a tray 12, in alternative embodiments the hair dryer holding structure may be a rack, a holster, flexible gooseneck tubing, a wrapped flexible metal holder, etc.

[0029] Each vertical support element 14 is provided at an end opposed to the hinge 16 with a securing portion 18, for example a clip, hook, catch, grapple or other securing mechanism, to secure the portable hair dryer support apparatus 10 to a door, a length adjustment mechanism 20 and a tray angle adjustment mechanism 22.

[0030] The length adjustment mechanism 20, for example two slidingly superimposed bars 14a, 14b, forming the vertical support element 14, with a first bar 14a having a series of holes 20a along a portion of its length and a second bar 14b having a button 20b or other protuberance configured to engage the holes 20a, to adjust the distance of the tray 12 from the top of the door and consequently the floor, i.e. the positioning of the tray 12 along the vertical axis. FIG. 1 shows the portable hair dryer support apparatus 10 with the length adjustment mechanism 20 in a fully retracted configuration while FIG. 2 shows the portable hair dryer support apparatus 10 with the length adjustment mechanism 20 in a fully extended configuration.

[0031] The tray angle adjustment mechanism 22, for example a string 22a, cord, strand, etc., attached at one end to the tray 12 and engaged at an opposite end to the vertical support element 14 via a button 22b or other fastener engaging, for example, holes 20a in one of the slidingly superimposed bars 14a of the vertical support element 14. By adjusting the position at which the tray angle adjustment mechanism 22 engages the vertical support element 14, i.e. which hole 22a is engaged, the angle of the tray 12 with regard to the surface of the door can be adjusted, the tray 12 pivoting around the transverse axis via hinges 16. Referring to FIG. 3, when not in use, the tray 12 can be pivoted so as to lie in the same plane as the vertical support elements 14, thus collapsing the portable hair dryer support apparatus 10 so as to minimized the apace it occupies or for easy storage or transport.

[0032] The combination of the length adjustment mechanism 20, tray angle adjustment mechanism 22 and pivoting hair dryer holder 30 provides for a 3-degree of freedom movement of the nozzle of a supported hair dryer, i.e. along the vertical axis, around the transverse axis and around the sagittal axis with respect to the door the portable hair dryer support apparatus 10 is secured to. It is to be understood that one or more of the length adjustment mechanism 20, tray angle adjustment mechanism 22 and pivoting hair dryer holder 30 may be replaced by a fixed connection, in which case the nozzle of the hair dryer may have 2, 1 or 0 degrees of freedom movement. It is to be further understood that the tray 12 may be joined to vertical support elements 14 through a hinge or a locking mechanism which enables a user to lock the tray 12 at specific angles.

[0033] The tray 12 is provided with one of more slit or hole 24 for receiving therein the handle of a brush, the diameter of the slit or hole 24 being such as to be larger than the handle but smaller than the head of the brush, one of more slat 26 for engaging an opening in the handle of a brush, a grass mat 28 for holding therein various objects such as combs, hair clips, etc., and a hair dryer holder 30 in the form of a pivoting ring with a pressurized rubber interior so as to grab and hold the hair dryer, for example by inserting the nozzle of the hair dryer into the pivoting ring. The hair dryer holder 30 is pivotally connected to the tray 12 and is provided with a rotating knob 32, optionally threaded, connected to its axis of rotation (i.e. the sagittal axis perpendicular to the plane as the door) in order to rotate the hair dryer to a desired angle in a plane parallel to the door. In an alternative embodiment the hair dryer hair dryer holder 30 may be in the form of a cone, an iris diaphragm that can be closed so as to tighten around the hair dryer nozzle and hold it in place, etc. In further alternative embodiment the rotating knob 32 may be omitted.

[0034] It is to be understood that in an alternative embodiment a different number of vertical support elements 14 may be used. For example, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown a portable hair dryer support apparatus 10′ in accordance with an alternative embodiment in which the hair dryer support apparatus 10′ is provided with a single vertical support element 14 positioned centrally with regard to the edges of the tray 12 and operatively connected to the tray 12 via hinge 16. The vertical support element 14 is provided at an end opposite the hinge 16 with a pair of spaced apart securing portions 18, for example clips, hooks, catches, grapples or other securing mechanism, to secure the portable hair dryer support apparatus 10′ to a door and a length adjustment mechanism 23. In an alternative embodiment, the pair of spaced apart securing portions 18 may be replaced by a single securing portion, which may be wider in order to provide stability.

[0035] The length adjustment mechanism 23 is composed of a pair of slidingly superimposed bars 14a, 14b, forming the vertical support element 14, with a first bar 14a having an elongated slit or channel 23a along a portion of its length and a second bar 14b having a knurled screw or thumb screw 23b configured to slide within slit 23a and press the superimposed bars 14a, 14b against one another in order to adjust the distance of the tray 12 from the top of the door and consequently the floor.

[0036] The hinge 16 is provided with a locking mechanism that enables a user to lock the tray 12 at specific angles.

[0037] The other components of the portable hair dryer support apparatus 10′, as well as their configuration, are similar to those of portable hair dryer support apparatus 10 previously described.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 5, the portable hair dryer support apparatus 10′ may optionally be provided with a pivoting mirror 34 attached beneath the hair dryer holding structure, in this case tray 12, via hinge 16 or a mirror securing mechanism which allows for the fastening or suspension of a mirror thereunder or thereto.

[0039] It is to be understood that similarly to portable hair dryer support apparatus 10′, portable hair dryer support apparatus 10 may be provided with length adjustment mechanism 23 and/or pivoting mirror 34.

[0040] In other alternative embodiments the presence or absence, as well as the number, of slit or hole 24, slat 26 and/or grass mat 28 may vary. The tray 12 may also be provided with, or have features allowing for the attachment of, other storage, fastening or holding mechanisms for personal hygiene or hair products, accessories, grooming tools or devices, etc.

[0041] In further alternative embodiments the tray 12 may be in the form of a plateau without any slit or hole 24, slat 26 or grass mat 28, or a grid, both with an opening for receiving the hair dryer, or replaced by a flexible gooseneck tubing.

[0042] In a still further alternative embodiment, the tray 12 may be connected directly to the vertical support element(s) 14, in which case the portable hair dryer support apparatus 10, 10′ may not be collapsible.

[0043] In yet another alternative embodiment, one or more hinge 16 may be equipped with a suction cup in order to provide added stability.

[0044] The portable hair dryer support apparatus 10, 10′ can be made, for example, of a plastic material allowing the selection of various colors and the printing of graphics on any flat areas.

[0045] Although the present disclosure has been described with a certain degree of particularity and by way of an illustrative embodiments and examples thereof, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure and as hereinafter claimed.