Attachment for a hair dryer and a method of blow drying hair using such an attachment

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a hairdryer attachment. The hairdryer attachment comprises an inlet section for receiving a flow of air in a first direction and an outlet section. A plurality of air channels are located within the outlet section for turning and separating the flow of air into a plurality of streams of air. The air channels are arranged such that the streams of air exit the outlet section in a plurality of different directions.

Claims

1. A hairdryer attachment, comprising: an inlet section for receiving a flow of air in a first direction; an outlet section comprising an arcuate portion, the arcuate portion comprising a radius of curvature such that it can accommodate a rounded barrel brush; and a plurality of air channels located within the outlet section for turning and separating the flow of air into a plurality of streams of air, the plurality of air channels defined by a plurality of vanes arranged around the arcuate portion, wherein the plurality of air channels are arranged around the arcuate portion in successively angularly offset directions relative to each other, such that in use the orientation of the vanes around the arcuate portion causes each of the streams of air exit substantially tangentially to the circumference of the rounded barrel brush (219) when the rounded barrel brush (219) is positioned adjacent to the outlet section (103) with the arcuate portion accommodating the rounded barrel brush.

2. The hairdryer attachment according to claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of the arcuate portion is at least 2 cm.

3. The hairdryer attachment according to claim 1, wherein adjacent air channels are of different lengths.

4. The hairdryer attachment according to claim 1, wherein the vanes are curved over at least a section of their length.

5. The hairdryer attachment according to claim 4, wherein the vanes are connected to side walls.

6. The hairdryer attachment according to claim 1, comprising at least three air channels.

7. The hairdryer attachment according to claim 1, comprising at least five air channels.

8. The hairdryer attachment according to claim 1, wherein the inlet section is a cylindrical section, for attaching to an outlet of a hairdryer.

9. The hairdryer attachment according to claim 1, wherein the inlet section further comprises a rotatable joint.

10. The hairdryer attachment according to claim 1, wherein the hairdryer attachment is manufactured from a high temperature plastic.

11. A hairdryer comprising the hairdryer attachment according to claim 1.

12. The hairdryer according to claim 11, wherein the hairdryer attachment is detachable from the hairdryer.

13. A method for blow drying hair with the hairdryer according to claim 11, the method comprising: (i) placing a section of hair around a brush; (ii) positioning the brush adjacent the outlet section of the hairdryer attachment; (iii) directing a flow of air from the hairdryer over the brush; (iv) simultaneously pulling the hairdryer and brush towards free ends of the hair, such that the flow of air is brought into contact with the length of the section of hair; (v) repeating steps (i) to (iv).

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein, during step (iii), the section of hair is held in place for 5 to 10 seconds before commencing step (iv), so as to dry the hair.

15. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions adapted to cause a 3D printer to print the hairdryer attachment according to claim 1 in an additive manufacturing process.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A illustrates a side and front view of an example hairdryer attachment as viewed from above;

(2) FIG. 1B illustrates a side and rear view of an example hairdryer attachment as viewed from above;

(3) FIG. 1C illustrates a side and front view of an example hairdryer attachment as viewed from below;

(4) FIG. 1D illustrates a side view cross section arrangement of an example hairdryer attachment;

(5) FIG. 2 illustrates a side view cross section arrangement of an example hairdryer attachment, showing the direction of airflow through the example hairdryer attachment onto a hairbrush;

(6) FIG. 3 illustrates an example arrangement of an example hairdryer attachment attached to a hairdryer;

(7) FIG. 4 illustrates an example method for using a hairdryer attachment according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to understand the hairdryer attachment, and is provided in the context of particular applications. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

(9) FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C illustrate various orientations of an example hairdryer attachment 100 according to the present invention. FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a front, and rear, view of the example hairdryer attachment 100 respectively, as viewed from above. FIG. 1C illustrates a front view of the example hairdryer attachment 100 as viewed from below.

(10) As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C the example hairdryer attachment 100 has an inlet section 101. The inlet section 101 is cylindrical, however in alternative example hairdryer attachments 100 it can be any shape suitable to accommodate the outlet of a hairdryer.

(11) Extending from the inlet section 101 is an outlet section 103. The outlet section 103 has an arcuate portion 105. The arcuate portion 105 is a curved region of the outlet section 103. As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C the arcuate portion 105 defines the region of the outlet section 103 that is distal to the inlet section 101.

(12) A number of vanes 107 are arranged around the arcuate portion 105. As can be seen from comparing FIGS. 1B and 1C, the vanes 107 extend through the outlet section 103, towards the inlet section 101.

(13) Either side of the outlet section 103, in a plane perpendicular to the direction which the vanes 107 extend through the outlet section, are two side walls 109. The vanes 107 and side walls 109 define air channels 111 of the hairdryer attachment 100 through which air can flow.

(14) The arrangement of the vanes 107 is more readily visualised in FIG. 1D, which illustrates a side view cross section of the example hairdryer attachment 100 of FIGS. 1A to 1C.

(15) The vanes 107 are arranged around the arcuate portion 105 in various orientations to one another. The orientation of the vanes 107 around the arcuate portion 105, is in successively angularly offset directions, which results in the air channels 111 having successively angularly offset directions.

(16) Due to the arrangement of the arcuate portion 105, each subsequent vane 107 arranged around the arcuate portion 105 extends further relative to the inlet section 101, to its adjacent vane 107. For instance, vane 107b extends further than vane 107a relative to the inlet section 101, and vane 107c extends further to both vanes 107a and 107b. This results in the outlet section 103 having a hooded shape, with the vanes closer to the hood extending further relative to the inlet section 101, than the vanes 107 further from the hood.

(17) Each of the vanes 107 have different curvatures to one another. For instance, from FIG. 1D it can be seen that vane 107a curves in one direction. However, vane 107c curves initially in one direction, before curving in a different direction closer to the arcuate portion 105. Having vanes 107 with various curvatures to one another, leads to the air channels 111 having various profiles.

(18) Furthermore, it can be seen that in this example hairdryer attachment 100 the vanes 107 are of different lengths to one another. For instance, vane 107a is shorter than vane 107b.

(19) It can be seen in FIG. 1D that the vanes 107 define six air channels 111. However, in other alternative example hairdryer attachments there can be fewer, or greater numbers of air channels 111. For instance, there could be three air channels 111. However, having at least five air channels 111 is preferable.

(20) Each vane 107 is supported by a support region 114 extending the length of the arcuate portion 105.

(21) Referring back to FIGS. 1A to 1C, arranged around the inlet section 101 are a series of support ribs 113. The support ribs 113 are attached between the inlet section 101 and the outlet section 103 to help support the cylindrical inlet section 101 against the outlet section 103.

(22) Two bezel retaining clips 115 are located on the inlet section 101, for attaching the inlet section 101 to a hairdryer. The clips 115 are arranged on opposite sides of the inlet section 101 to one another. The clips 115 are movable in relation to the circular cross-section of the inlet section 101, such that they can engage with the end of the hairdryer. In other alternative hairdryer attachments there could be any number of bezel retaining clips 115 arranged around the inlet section 101. Alternatively, any other attachment mechanism could be used including threaded screw fits, or push interference fits.

(23) FIG. 2 illustrates an example side view cross section arrangement of the example hairdryer attachment 200 of FIGS. 1A-1D, showing the direction of airflow through the example hairdryer attachment 200 onto a hairbrush 219.

(24) Each of the features of the example hairdryer attachment 200 in FIG. 2 are the same as the example hairdryer attachment 100 in FIG. 1D. However, in FIG. 2 a round hairbrush 219 is received within the arcuate portion 205 of the outlet section 203. The radius of curvature of the arcuate portion 205 is such that it enables the arcuate portion 205 to comfortably encompass the round hairbrush 219.

(25) In this example hairdryer attachment 200 shown in the FIG. 2 the arcuate portion has a radius of curvature of 2.5 cm. This can comfortably encompass rounded hairbrushes of various sizes. For short hair a brush with a diameter of between 1.3 cm and 3.7 cm can be used with the example hairdryer attachment 200. This may be used for more intricate styling work. For medium hair a brush with a diameter of between 2.5 cm and 5.5 cm can be used with the example hairdryer attachment 200. For long hair a brush with a diameter of between 4.3 cm and 6.8 cm can be used with the example hairdryer attachment 200.

(26) When in use, air enters into the example hairdryer attachment 200 through the inlet section 201. The air is then separated by the vanes 207 into each air channel 211, creating a series of streams of air 217.

(27) As can be seen, the air initially enters into the inlet section 201 in a first direction. The arrangement of the vanes 207 then causes the air in each air channel 211 to rotate and thereby turn in a range of different directions following the shape of the vanes 207. The streams of air 217 then pass out of the outlet section 203 via the arcuate portion 205 onto the hairbrush 219. The streams of air 217 exit the outlet section 203 in a plurality of different directions to one another. As can be seen in this example no two streams of air exit in the same direction.

(28) It can be seen that the orientation of the vanes 207 around the arcuate portion 205 causes the air to exit each of the air channels 211 approximately in a tangential direction relative to the circumference of the round hairbrush 219. Furthermore, as the air exits each subsequent air channel 211, the air may be drawn by the air from the adjacent air channel 211. For instance, air from air channel 211a exits the outlet section 203 tangentially to the hairbrush 219. Air from air channel 211b then exits tangentially to the hairbrush 219, and is drawn by the air flow from air channel 211a.

(29) The arrangement of the vanes 207 enables air to be directed around the hairbrush 219. This ensures air is directed across the surface of the hair.

(30) FIG. 3 illustrates an example arrangement of the example hairdryer attachment 300 of FIGS. 1 to 3 when attached to a hairdryer 330. As shown, the inlet section 301 of the example hairdryer attachment 300 is received by the outlet 331 of the hairdryer 330. The two bezel retaining clips 315 are attached to a rim 333 located around the circumference of the outlet 331 of the hairdryer 330. This provides a secure attachment that enables the example hairdryer attachment 300 to be detached from the hairdryer 330 when not required.

(31) When in use, a flow of air is directed through the outlet 331 of the hairdryer 330 into the inlet section 301 of the example hairdryer attachment 300. The air then flows through the example hairdryer attachment 300, as shown and described in FIG. 2.

(32) In the arrangement shown in FIG. 3 the fixing of the example hairdryer attachment 300 to the hairdryer 330, does not permit the hairdryer attachment 300 to move relative to the hairdryer 330 when attached. However, in other alternative example hairdryer attachments, the hairdryer attachment 300 may be rotatable around the outlet 331 of the hairdryer 330. For instance, this may be enabled by the bezel retaining clips 315 rotating around the rim 333 of the outlet 331 of the hairdryer 330. Alternatively, in other example hairdryer attachments 300 there may be a rotatable joint, that enables rotation of the hairdryer attachment 300 relative to the hairdryer 330.

(33) FIG. 4 illustrates an example method for using a hairdryer attachment 402 according to the present invention.

(34) Firstly, a section of hair 400 is placed around a brush 401 and positioned adjacent the outlet section of the hairdryer 403. The arcuate portion of the hairdryer attachment accommodates the brush as shown in FIG. 4. The hairdryer is then switched on and directs a flow of air over the brush. Optionally, the hairdryer can be held in this position, as shown in FIG. 4, for five to ten seconds, so as to partially dry the hair. The user then simultaneously pulls the hairdryer and brush towards the free ends of the hair 404, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 4. This ensures that the flow of air is brought into contact with the length of the section of hair. The user then repeats this method for the section of hair, until it is dry. Finally, the method is repeated for additional sections of hair, until all sections are completely dry.

(35) The method of blow drying hair according to the invention ensures that the hair has a smooth, glossy and uniform finish. This is due to the design of the hairdryer attachment according to the invention, specifically the arrangement of air channels within the outlet section which dictates the angles at which air is directed to the section of hair. In addition, due to the design of the hairdryer attachment, the method of blow drying hair according to the invention can easily be carried out by an untrained person at home to achieve a professional, salon-style finish. Furthermore, as a result of the ergonomic design of the hairdryer attachment, the method of blow drying hair reduces the need for professional hairstylists to stand in an abducted position and make repetitive and forceful movements with their arms. Ultimately, this can prevent injuries.