BATTERY-OPERATED HAIR DRYER

Abstract

A battery-operated hair dryer comprises a battery (B), and a fan (F) having rotating fan blades propelled by a motor (M) that is powered by the battery (B), and non-rotating static air flow-shaping vanes (V) between the motor (M) and a motor mount (MM), which non-rotating static airflow-shaping vanes (V) serve as cooling ribs for the battery (B) that is mounted adjacent to the fan (F). Preferably, the battery (B) is positioned adjacent to a motor mount (MM) of the motor (M) of the fan (F). Advantageously, the battery (B) is at least partly positioned in a handle of the battery-operated hair dryer, the fan (F) being positioned adjacent to the handle.

Claims

1. A battery-operated hair dryer comprising: a dryer housing; a battery; and a fan having rotating fan blades propelled by a motor that is powered by the battery, characterized in that around the motor, the fan has non-rotating static airflow-shaping vanes between the motor and a motor mount, which non-rotating static airflow-shaping vanes serve as cooling ribs for the battery that is mounted adjacent to the fan, the motor mount being between the non-rotating, static airflow-shaping vanes and the dryer housing, wherein the battery is mounted around or against the motor mount.

2. (canceled)

3. A battery-operated hair dryer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery is partly positioned in a handle of the battery-operated hair dryer, the fan being positioned adjacent to the handle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a battery-operated hair dryer according to the invention; and

[0010] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through line A-A in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0011] FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate a battery-operated hair dryer having a dryer housing DH. A main air flow AF1 flows rather straightforward from an air inlet grill AIG to an air outlet grill AOG. The air flow is caused by a fan F propelled by a motor M that is fitted in a motor mount MM. To be able to dry and/or style hair, air from the fan F is heated by a heater H. The heater H and the motor M are powered by a battery B around the fan F, motor M and motor mount MM.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the fan F has non-rotating static air-flow-shaping vanes V between the motor M and the motor mount MM. As a result of the battery B being positioned (immediately) adjacent to (e.g. mounted around or against) the motor mount MM, and thus in close contact with the fan's non-rotating static airflow-shaping vanes V, the fan's non-rotating static airflow-shaping vanes V act as cooling ribs to cool the battery B by means of the main air flow AF1.

[0013] As the speed of the main air flow AF1 is relatively high when the air is passing the relatively narrow openings in the motor mount MM, the possibilities for the battery B to be cooled at that point is optimal.

[0014] In the embodiment shown, the battery B has more volume at the bottom of the dryer housing DH than at the top of the dryer housing DH. If so, there may be an additional need for cooling the battery B at the bottom. To that end, it is possible to have a secondary air flow AF2 from the air inlet grill AIG to the air outlet grill AOG along the bottom of the dryer housing DH.

[0015] It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. There is no need for the dryer housing DH to have a rectangular cross-section; it may e.g. be round. The heater H may be in series with the motor M or parallel to the motor M. The battery B may be shaped in such a way, that its weight distribution is optimal for a hand-held hair dryer. The asymmetrical shape of the battery B shown in FIG. 2 is less favorable in the shown orientation of the dryer housing DH, but if the dryer housing DH is rotated in such a way that its left lower corner becomes the bottom (i.e. the handle of the hair dryer would be mounted to what is shown to be the left lower corner of the dryer housing DH), such a battery shape may be very favorable to get a good weight distribution. To get a good weight distribution, the battery B may be partly or entirely placed in the handle, while the fan F is positioned sufficiently adjacent to the battery B so that the fan's non-rotating static airflow-shaping vanes V can still serve to cool the battery B. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. Measures recited in mutually different dependent claims may advantageously be used in combination.