Universal hair scent diffuser

Abstract

A universal hair scent diffuser having a hollow upper body hingedly affixed to a lower body, the upper body having an open end that houses an interior lining therein made of heat resistant elastomeric material, wherein the lining is graduated at the open end to facilitate a press fit connection to a barrel end of a conventional hand hair dryer. The lower body houses a wire mesh that receives a scented disc thereon. The upper body has a wire mesh located at a lower open end. The scented sheet is placed between both wire meshes when the upper body and lower body are in a latch position. The diffuser is then fitted on the barrel end. The user may then turn on the hair dryer to the desired fan and heat levels and the sheet is vaporized providing a pleasant and refreshing aromatic scent onto the user's hair.

Claims

1. A hair diffuser comprising: a hollow upper body having an open end housing an interior elongated lining therein made of a heat resistant elastomeric material, wherein the lining is tapered along its elongated axis at the open end and is adapted to facilitate a press fit connection to a barrel end of a hand hair dryer in a use condition; the upper body having a lower end opposite the open end, and an interior annular groove about an interior surface therein for receipt of a heat resistant flexible elastomeric seal member and located above the interior groove is a wire mesh secured to and extending across an interior diameter of the upper body lower end; the annular groove having at opposed sides of the upper body lower end and depending therefrom, slots adapted to receive a corresponding L-shaped flexible tab and L-shaped hinge insert, respectively, the flexible tab and the hinge insert extending upward from opposed exterior edges of a hollow lower body, and when so aligned, the flexible tab and the hinge insert of the lower body are adapted to be received within the opposed slots of the upper body lower end such that when the flexible tab is disengaged from its slot and the hinge insert is received within its corresponding slot, the upper body and lower body are pivotally connected to one another and the hinge insert, now in its corresponding slot, providing a hinge connection between the upper body and lower body; and wherein an upper portion of the lower body has the same shape and width of the lower end of the upper body such that the two ends provide a seamless connection between the upper body and lower body when the flexible tab is received within its slot in a closed position, and the upper portion of the lower body also having an interior annular groove about an interior surface therein for receipt of a heat resistant flexible elastomeric seal member, and just below the interior groove of the lower body is a wire mesh secured to and extending across an interior diameter of the upper portion of the lower body.

2. The diffuser claim 1, wherein a scented sheet of flexible, heat resistant material, is adapted to be placed between the respective wire meshes of the upper body and the lower body in the closed position, such that when the upper body and lower body are in the closed position, and the diffuser has been attached to the barrel end of the hand held dryer in the use condition, the scented sheet is adapted to be vaporized as warm air is blown from the hand held dryer in the use condition through the diffuser that is adapted to be attached thereto.

3. The diffuser of claim 1, wherein the barrel end is circular in shape.

4. The diffuser of claim 2, wherein the barrel end is circular in shape.

5. The diffuser of claim 1 wherein the upper body and lower body are made of a rigid heat resistant elastomeric material.

6. The diffuser of claim 1, wherein a scented sheet of flexible, heat resistant material, is adapted to be placed between the respective wire meshes of the upper body and the lower body in the closed position, such that when the upper body and lower body are in the closed position a means for heating the scented sheet is provided such that warm air generated by the hand held dryer is adapted to be directed through the diffuser, engage the scented sheet, and then vaporize scented material on the sheet so that the now scented air is discharged through the lower body.

7. The diffuser of claim 1, wherein the lower body is comb shaped.

8. The diffuser of claim 1, wherein the lower body is cone shaped.

9. A hair diffuser comprising: a hollow upper body having an open end housing an interior elongated lining therein made of a heat resistant elastomeric material, wherein the lining is tapered along its elongated axis at the open end and is adapted to facilitate a press fit connection to a barrel end of a hand hair dryer in a use condition; the upper body having a lower end opposite the open end, and an interior annular groove about an interior surface therein for receipt of a heat resistant flexible elastomeric seal member and located above the interior groove is a wire mesh secured to and extending across an interior diameter of the upper body lower end; the annular groove having at opposed sides of the upper body lower end and depending therefrom, slots adapted to receive a corresponding L-shaped flexible tab and L-shaped hinge insert, respectively, the flexible tab and the hinge insert extending upward from opposed exterior edges of a hollow lower body, and when so aligned, the flexible tab and the hinge insert of the lower body are adapted to be received within the opposed slots of the upper body lower end such that when the flexible tab is disengaged from its slot and the hinge insert is received within its corresponding slot, the upper body and lower body are pivotally connected to one another and the hinge insert, now in its corresponding slot, providing a hinge connection between the upper body and lower body; the upper portion of the lower body is has the same shape and width of the lower end of the upper body such that the two ends provide a seamless connection between the upper body and lower body when the flexible tab is received within its slot in a closed position, and the upper portion of the lower body also having an interior annular groove about an interior surface therein for receipt of a heat resistant flexible elastomeric seal member, and just below the interior groove of the lower body is a wire mesh secured to and extending across an interior diameter of the upper portion of the lower body; and wherein a scented sheet of flexible, heat resistant material, is adapted to be placed between the respective wire meshes of the upper body and the lower body in the closed position, such that when the upper body and lower body are in the closed position a means for heating the scented sheet is provided such that warm air generated by the hand held dryer is adapted to be directed through the diffuser, engage the scented sheet, and then vaporize scented material on the sheet so that the now scented air is discharged through the lower body.

10. The diffuser of claim 9, wherein the barrel end is circular in shape.

11. The diffuser of claim 9, wherein the upper body and lower body are made of a rigid heat resistant elastomeric material.

12. The diffuser of claim 9, wherein the lower body is comb shaped.

13. The diffuser of claim 9, wherein the lower body is accordion shaped.

14. The diffuser of claim 9, wherein the lower body is cone shaped.

15. In combination a hair diffuser and hand held dryer, the combination comprising: a hand held dryer having a handle with a power switch and a barrel end through which a fan blows air over a heating element that is discharged through the barrel end, such that a means for heating discharged air is provided; a hollow upper body having an open end housing an interior elongated lining therein made of a heat resistant elastomeric material, wherein the lining is tapered along its elongated axis at the open end and is adapted to facilitate a press fit connection to a barrel end of the hand held hair dryer in a use condition; the upper body having a lower end opposite the open end, and an interior annular groove about an interior surface therein for receipt of a heat resistant flexible elastomeric seal member and located above the interior groove is a wire mesh secured to and extending across an interior diameter of the upper body lower end; the annular groove having at opposed sides of the upper body lower end and depending therefrom, slots adapted to receive a corresponding L-shaped flexible tab and L-shaped hinge insert, respectively, the flexible tab and the hinge insert extending upward from opposed exterior edges of a hollow lower body, and when so aligned, the flexible tab and the hinge insert of the lower body are adapted to be received within the opposed slots of the upper body lower end such that when the flexible tab is disengaged from its slot and the hinge insert is received within its corresponding slot, the upper body and lower body are pivotally connected to one another and the hinge insert, now in its corresponding slot, providing a hinge connection between the upper body and lower body; and wherein the upper portion of the lower body is has the same shape and width of the lower end of the upper body such that the two ends provide a seamless connection between the upper body and lower body when the flexible tab is received within its slot in a closed position, and the upper portion of the lower body also having an interior annular groove about an interior surface therein for receipt of a heat resistant flexible elastomeric seal member, and just below the interior groove of the lower body is a wire mesh secured to and extending across an interior diameter of the upper portion of the lower body.

16. The combination of claim 15, wherein, a scented sheet of flexible, heat resistant material, is adapted to be placed between the respective wire meshes of the upper body and the lower body in the closed position, such that when the upper body and lower body are in the closed position, and the diffuser has been attached to the barrel end of the hand held dryer in the use condition, the scented sheet is adapted to be vaporized by the means for heating discharged air while the hand held dryer is in the use condition and through the diffuser attached thereto.

17. The combination of claim 15, wherein the upper body and lower body are made of a rigid heat resistant elastomeric material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side view of the Universal hair scent diffuser preferred embodiment in a closed use position.

(2) FIG. 2 is a side view of the Universal hair scent diffuser preferred embodiment in a partially open non-use position, with a cut away showing the perforated lower body base.

(3) FIG. 3 is a side view of the Universal hair scent diffuser preferred embodiment in a partially open non-use condition.

(4) FIG. 4 is a side view of the Universal hair scent diffuser preferred embodiment in an upright extended lifted open non-use condition.

(5) FIG. 5 is a cross section of the Universal hair scent diffuser preferred embodiment in a closed use condition.

(6) FIG. 6 is an exploded cross section of the Universal hair scent diffuser preferred embodiment at the hinge connection.

(7) FIG. 7 is a side view of the Universal hair scent diffuser cone shaped embodiment in a partially open non-use position, with a cut away showing the perforated lower body base.

(8) FIG. 8 is a front view of the Universal hair scent diffuser cone shaped embodiment in a partially open non-use position.

(9) FIG. 9 is a side view of the Universal hair scent diffuser cone embodiment in a closed use position.

(10) FIG. 10 is a side view of the Universal hair scent diffuser cone embodiment in an upright extended lifted open non-use condition.

(11) FIG. 11 is a cross section of the Universal hair scent diffuser cone embodiment in a closed use condition.

(12) FIG. 12 is an exploded cross section of the Universal hair scent diffuser cone embodiment at the hinge connection.

(13) FIG. 13 is a side view of the Universal hair scent diffuser comb embodiment in an upright extended lifted open non-use condition.

(14) FIG. 14 is a plan view of the Universal hair scent diffuser comb embodiment in a partially open non-use condition.

(15) FIG. 15 is a side view of the Universal hair scent diffuser comb embodiment in a closed use position.

(16) FIG. 16 is a side view of the Universal hair scent diffuser comb embodiment in a partially open non-use position, with a cut away showing the perforated lower body base.

(17) FIG. 17 is a cross section of the Universal hair scent diffuser comb embodiment in a closed use condition.

(18) FIG. 18 is an exploded cross section of the Universal hair scent diffuser comb embodiment at the hinge connection.

(19) FIG. 19 is a side view of the Universal hair scent diffuser accordion embodiment in an open non-use position, with a cut away showing the perforated lower body base.

(20) FIG. 20 is a side view of the Universal hair scent diffuser accordion embodiment in a closed use position.

(21) FIG. 21 is a side view of the Universal hair scent diffuser accordion embodiment in an upright extended lifted open non-use condition.

(22) FIG. 22 is a side view of the Universal hair scent diffuser accordion embodiment in a partially open non-use condition.

(23) FIG. 23 is a cross section of the Universal hair scent diffuser accordion embodiment in a closed use condition.

(24) FIG. 24 is an exploded cross section of the Universal hair scent diffuser accordion embodiment at the hinge connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(25) FIGS. 1-4 are an illustration of the preferred embodiment of the Universal hair scent diffuser. FIG. 1 is a side view of the Universal hair scent diffuser in a closed use position. The diffuser comprises a hollow upper body 1 having and open end 19 housing an interior lining 4, wherein the lining 4 is graduated in structure or tapered along an elongated axis at the open end 19 to facilitate a press fit or similar type connection to a barrel end of a conventional hand hair dryer (not shown). The upper body open end 19 is cylindrical and can accommodate hand held dryer barrel ends of varying shapes and lengths. The upper body 1 has a lower end 20 opposite the open end 19. The upper body lower end 20 has an interior annular groove 8 about the interior surface therein for receipt of a heat resistant elastomeric gasket/seal 7 member such as an O-ring. Just above the interior groove 8 is a wire mesh 9 secured to and extending across the interior diameter of the upper body lower end 20. The wire mesh 9 of the upper body member can be secured to interior diameter of the upper body lower end 20 by any appropriate means such as a press fit within interior grooves of the upper body lower end 20, or snap fitted into annular ridge within the upper body lower end (not shown) so as to be removably attachable within the upper body lower end 20. FIG. 2 is a side view of the Universal hair scent diffuser in a partially open non-use position, with a cut away showing the perforated lower body base 2. FIG. 3 is a side view of the Universal hair scent diffuser in a partially open non-use condition. Depending from the annular groove 8 at opposed sides of the upper body lower end 20 are slots/recesses 13, 14 adapted to receive a corresponding L-shaped flexible tab 10 and L-shaped hinge insert 11, respectively. The flexible tab 10 and hinge insert 11 extend upward from opposed exterior edges of lower body 2. When so aligned, the flexible tab 10 and hinge insert 11 of the lower body 2 adapted to be received within the opposed slots/recesses 13, 14 of the upper body lower end 20 such that when the flexible tab 10 is disengaged from its slot 13 and the hinge insert 11 is received within its corresponding slot 14 the upper body 1 and lower body 2 are pivotally connected to one another and the hinge insert 11, now in its mating slot 14, provides a hinge connection between the upper body 1 and lower body 2. The upper portion of the lower body 21 is preferably the same shape and width of the lower end 20 of the upper body such that the two ends provide a seamless cylindrical connection between the upper body 1 and lower body 2 when the flexible tab 10 is received within its slot 13 in a latch or closed position.

(26) FIGS. 7-10 show the diffuser having a cone shaped lower body 15. Other than the shape of the lower body 15, the remaining structure is identical to the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4. Though shown with perforations in FIGS. 7 and 11, the cone shaped lower body 15 can be completely hollow and open throughout.

(27) FIGS. 13-16 show the diffuser having a comb shaped lower body 16. Other than the shape of the lower body 16, the remaining structure is identical to the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4.

(28) FIGS. 19-22 show the diffuser having an accordion shaped lower body 18. Other than the shape of the lower body 18, the remaining structure is identical to the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4. FIG. 19 shows the accordion shaped lower body 18 with a perforated base 5. There is no structural requirement, however, for a perforated base 5 in this embodiment. Lower body 18 may have structure similar to teeth 3 of as shown in FIGS. 1-4.

(29) FIGS. 5, 11, 17, and 23 all show cross sections of the Universal hair scent diffuser for the preferred embodiment, cone shaped lower body 15, comb shaped lower body 16, and accordion shaped lower body 18, respectively, in a closed use condition.

(30) FIGS. 6, 12, 18, and 24 all show an exploded cross section view of the Universal hair scent diffuser at the hinge connection. Wire meshes 9 are located on either side of scented disc/sheet 6. O-ring 7 is located within groove 8 and slots 13 and 14 receive L-shaped flexible tab 10 and hinge insert 11, respectively. When so aligned, the flexible tab 10 and hinge insert 11 of the lower body 2 are adapted to be received within the opposed slots/recesses 13, 14 of the upper body lower end 20 such that when the flexible tab 10 is disengaged from its slot and the hinge insert 11 is received within its corresponding slot, the upper body 1 and lower body 2 are pivotally connected to one another and the hinge insert 11, now in its mating slot, provides a hinge connection between the upper body 1 and lower body 2.

(31) A more detailed description of the Universal hair scent diffuser will now be described. In use, the universal hair scent diffuser is used with a conventional hand hair dryer (not shown). The hair dryer ideally has a handle with a power switch and a barrel section through which a fan blows air over a heating element that is discharged through the end of the barrel section. Fan speeds, as well as heating levels, are all adjustable to a user's desired levels. Prior to attachment to the hair dryer, a user may open up the upper body 1 and lower body 2 relative to one another such that the upper body pivots away from the lower body, and a user thereof can place the scented disc 6 on the wire mesh 9 of the lower body 2. The upper and lower body 1, 2 are then snap closed together to form a seamless cylindrical unit. The universal hair scent diffuser is then fitted over and onto the end of the barrel section such that there is a tight fit or connection. The user may then turn on the hair dryer to the desired fan and heat levels. The user may now enjoy a pleasant and refreshing aromatic scent in his or her hair as the dryer is used in a normal manner.

(32) The above embodiments of the instant invention have been presented so as to not limit the invention to only those embodiments. For example, the diffuser may be manufactured using 3d printing versus molded or extruded fabrication techniques. The diffuser may be made of rigid elastomeric material as well as by using sintering powder. It is contemplated that obvious variations, modifications, and improvements are within the skill of one familiar to relevant arts.