BABY HAIR DRYER

Abstract

The present invention relates to a baby hair dryer (1) comprising a blower unit (2) which is designed to generate a directed heated air outlet stream (B). The baby hair dryer (1) is characterized by: a fastening unit (4) which is designed to be fixedly fastened to an object, preferably to a piece of furniture, particularly preferably to an edge and/or upstand of the piece of furniture, preferably a changing table; and at least one connecting element (3) which connects the fastening unit (4) and the blower unit (2) to one another, the connecting element (3) being designed so that the blower unit (2) can be positioned flexibly with respect to the fastening unit (4).

Claims

1. A baby Baby-hair dryer comprising a blower unit which is designed to generate a directed heated air outlet stream, characterized by a fastening unit which is designed to be fixedly fastened to an object, preferably to a piece of furniture, particularly preferably to an edge and/or upstand of the piece of furniture, preferably a changing table, and at least one connecting element which connects the fastening unit and the blower unit to one another, wherein the connecting element is designed so that the blower unit can be positioned flexibly with respect to the fastening unit.

2. A baby hair dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting element comprises a gooseneck, preferably is a gooseneck.

3. A baby hair dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that the baby hair dryer, preferably the blower unit, is designed to continuously change the flow direction of the directed heated air outlet stream, preferably to pivot continuously back and forth.

4. A baby hair dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that the blower unit comprises at least one pivot element, preferably provided with air guide slats, which is designed to be flowed through by the directed heated air outlet stream and to be continuously pivoted back and forth.

5. A baby hair dryer according to claim 4, characterized in that the pivot element is arranged in an air outlet of the blower unit through which the directed heated air outlet stream exits from the blower unit.

6. A baby hair dryer according to claim 4, characterized in that the pivot element is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis relative to a housing of the blower unit, preferably relative to an air outlet of the blower unit, by means of at least one pivot element bearing, preferably by means of a pair of pivot element bearings.

7. A baby hair dryer according to claim 4, characterized in that the pivot element is designed to be moved continuously back and forth by means of a pivot drive, preferably by means of an electric geared motor.

8. A baby hair dryer according to claim 7, characterized in that the pivot drive is connected to the pivot element in a force-transmitting manner by means of a connecting element, preferably by means of a thrust crank.

9. A baby hair dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that the baby hair dryer, preferably the blower unit, has at least one movement function operating element which is designed to switch at least the continuous movement on and off, preferably in addition between at least two speeds of the continuous movement.

10. A baby hair dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that the blower unit has a blower wheel which is designed to be operated by means of a fan motor, the baby hair dryer, preferably the blower unit, comprises a blower operating element which is designed at least to switch the fan motor on and off, preferably in addition to switch between at least two speeds of the blower motor.

11. A baby hair dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that the blower unit has an electrical heating element which is designed to heat a cold air inlet stream, the baby hair dryer, preferably the blower unit, comprises a heating element control element which is designed to switch at least the electrical heating element on and off, preferably in addition between at least two heat outputs of the electrical heating element.

12. A baby hair dryer according to claim 11, characterized in that the electric heating element is designed to generate a maximum power which can heat the cold air inlet stream, preferably at the lowest flow rate, to a maximum of about 45? C.

13. A baby hair dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening unit has at least one fastening element, preferably at least one clamping element or a screw element, which is designed to be fixedly fastened to the object.

14. A baby hair dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening unit comprises at least one rechargeable electrical energy store which is designed to electrically supply at least one electrical heating element, a blower motor, a pivot drive and/or a control unit, the fastening unit and/or the blower unit preferably comprise a status indicator element of the state of charge of the rechargeable electrical energy store.

Description

[0044] An exemplary embodiment and further advantages of the invention are illustrated in a purely schematic manner and in detail below in connection with the following figures. In the figures:

[0045] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a baby hair dryer according to the invention from outside;

[0046] FIG. 2 shows the representation in FIG. 1 from the rear;

[0047] FIG. 3 shows the representation in FIG. 1 as a sectional view; and

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a detail view of FIG. 3.

[0049] The above figures are considered in Cartesian coordinates. A longitudinal direction X is shown, which can also be referred to as depth X or as length X. A transverse direction Y, which can also be referred to as width Y, extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. Perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y, a vertical direction Z, which can also be called height Z and which corresponds to the direction of gravity, extends. The longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y together form the horizontal X, Y, which can also be referred to as horizontal plane X, Y.

[0050] A baby hair dryer 1 according to the invention, which can also be referred to as a baby blow dryer 1, has a one-piece design and comprises as essential components: a blower unit 2, a connecting element 3 and a fastening unit 4.

[0051] The blower unit 2 has a housing 20, which essentially surrounds the components or the elements of the blower unit 2 on the outside and thus protects against external influences and against contact by a person. The housing 20 has an air inlet 22a in its longitudinal extension direction at one end through which ambient air can pass into the interior of the housing 20. In the longitudinal extension direction, the housing 20 has an air outlet 22f through which air can be discharged from the interior of the housing 20 to the environment.

[0052] An air duct 22b, through which duct the air can flow from one end of the housing 20 of the blower unit 20 to the other end, is formed in the interior of the housing 20 between the air inlet 22a and the air outlet 22f. A blower wheel 22c, which can rotate about an axis of rotation (not shown), which axis corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the air duct 22b, is arranged within the air duct 22b and facing the air intake 22a. The blower wheel 22c can be rotationally driven by means of a blower motor 22d which is arranged within the air duct 22b and facing away from the air inlet 22a and has an axis of rotation which coincides with the axis of rotation of the blower wheel 22c. As a result, ambient air can be sucked into the air duct 22b as a cold air inlet stream A or as inflowing cold air A. The blower wheel 22c can also be referred to as fan wheel 22c or ventilator wheel 22c, and the blower motor 22d as fan motor 22d or ventilator motor 22d.

[0053] An electrical heating element 22e, which can be electrically energized, is arranged within the further course of the air duct 22b. As a result, the air flowing in the air duct 22b can be heated and thus exit through the air outlet 22f as a heated air outlet stream B or as outflowing heated air B. By appropriately positioning the blower unit 22 as regards the position and orientation of the air outlet 22f, the directed heated air outlet stream B can be directed, for example, onto a baby and thus be used for drying and/or for warming the baby.

[0054] The air outlet 22f is formed by a pivot element 23, which can be pivoted relative to the housing 20 back and forth about a pivot axis U at both ends in a pivoting direction V. As a result, the direction in which the directed heated air outlet stream B exits from the blower unit 2 can be changed to a certain extent, for example by 50? or 60?. For this purpose, the pivot element 23 is pivotably connected for this purpose to the housing 20 along the pivot axis U at both ends by means of two pivot element bearings 24.

[0055] A force transmission element 25 in the form of a thrust crank 25, which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the air duct 22b up to approximately the center of the blower motor 22d, is arranged within the housing 20 below the air duct 22b. With its axis of rotation (not shown) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the air duct 22b, a pivot drive 26 in the form of an electric geared motor 26 is arranged there and connected to the thrust crank 25. The rotating movement of the electric geared motor 26 can thus be transmitted to the thrust crank 25 and converted by the thrust crank 25 into a translational movement along the longitudinal axis of the air duct 22b. By means of a rotationally movable connection of the opposite end of the thrust crank 25 to the pivot element 23 laterally to the pivot axis U thereof, its translational movement can bring about the pivoting movement of the pivot element 23 back and forth in the pivoting direction V.

[0056] As a result, the directed heated air outlet stream B can be continuously oriented pivoting back and forth about the pivot axis U and thus flow back and forth over a recumbent baby from head to foot, for example. A recumbent baby lying in place can thus be reached from head to foot by the directed heated air outlet stream B without a person needing to move or pivot the blower unit 2 for this purpose. As a result of the continuous movement, it can also be ensured that the directed heated air outlet stream B is not directed continuously onto the same place on the body surface of the baby, which could cause an unpleasantly intense heating and even a burning of the skin.

[0057] A movement function operating element 27 is arranged on the outside of the blower unit 2 as a pivot function button 27 which a person can reach from the outside through a lateral recess in the housing 20; see for example FIG. 1. A person pressing the pivot function button 27 can activate the above-described pivoting function of the blower unit 2 and can terminate it by pressing the button again. As a result, the pivoting function of the blower unit 2 can be used independently of further functions of the blower unit 2.

[0058] Furthermore, a blower operating element 28 is arranged on the outside of the blower unit 2 as a blower switch 28 and can be reached by a person from the outside through a rear recess in the housing 20; see for example FIG. 1. The blower switch 28 is designed as a 3-position rocker switch. In a middle position of the blower switch 28, the blower motor 22d is switched off so that no directed heated air outlet stream B is generated. In a first, lower rocker position of the blower switch 28, the blower motor 22d is operated at a first rotational speed and at the same time the electric heating element 22e is operated with a predetermined electrical heating power of, for example, 190 W In a second, upper rocker position of the blower switch 28, the blower motor 22d is operated at a second rotational speed, which is higher than the first rotational speed, and at the same time the electric heating element 22e is operated at the same predetermined electrical heating power of, for example, 190 W By means of the blower switch 28, the generation of the directed heated air output current B can hereby be switched on and off, and at the same time a person can select between two flow velocities or between two flow intensities of the directed heated air outlet stream B.

[0059] The connecting element 3 is designed as a gooseneck 3 or as a gooseneck holder 3. The connecting element 3 consists essentially of a cylindrical connecting-element body 30, which comprises the round wires of an inner wire (not shown) and the triangles of an outer wire (not shown) of the gooseneck 3 together with its protective sheathing (not labeled). At its end facing the blower unit 2, the connecting element body 30 has a holding element 32 on the blower unit side by means of which element the connecting element body 30 is fixedly connected to a holding element receptacle 21 of the blower unit 2. At its opposite end facing the fastening unit 4, the connecting element body 30 has a holding element 31 on the fastening element side, by means of which fastening element the connecting element body 30 is fixedly connected to a holding element receptacle 21 of the fastening unit 4; see for example FIG. 3.

[0060] The fastening unit 4 for its part has a housing 40 which essentially surrounds the components or the elements of the fastening unit 4 on the outside and thus protects against external influences and against contact by a person. The housing 40 is cuboid and has, on its outer side, a fastening element 42 in the form of a clamping element 42, by means of which the fastening unit 4 can be fastened in a clamping manner, in particular to an edge, such as a table edge or an upstand, for example of a shelf or of a changing table or a changing table surface as the object. As a result, the fastening unit 4 can be fixedly and securely fastened in a clamping manner to hold it, but in a non-destructive manner, releasably, for example, on such a piece of furniture as the object.

[0061] The connection of the blower unit 2 to the fixedly fastened fastening unit 4 by means of the connecting element 3 as a gooseneck 3 makes it possible for the person as user to flexibly position the blower unit 2 relative to the fastening unit 4 within a certain working space, i.e., to arrange it in a flexible manner at a flexibly selectable position, and to align it flexibly, so that the distance and the orientation of the air outlet 22f of the blower unit 2 relative to a baby lying, for example, on the changing table or on the changing surface and is to be dried or kept warm by the directed heated air outlet stream B of the blower unit 2, in particular automatically and continuously, can be adjusted by the person by corresponding movements of the blower unit 2 with the hands. As a result, the blower unit 2 of the baby hair dryer 1 can be used without the person needing to do anything in this regard during the operation of the baby hair dryer 1. In particular, the person does not need to hold or pivot the blower unit 2 of the baby hair dryer 1. Accordingly, the person can attend to the baby with both hands and with full attention.

[0062] Arranged within the housing 40 of the fastening unit 4 is a rechargeable electrical energy store 43 in the form of a rechargeable battery 43 which can provide sufficient electrical voltage for operating the baby hair dryer 1 or its electrical and electronic components, such as the blower motor 22d, the electrical heating element 22e, the electric geared motor 26 and a control unit (not shown) for operating or controlling the aforementioned components. On the one hand, this can enable cable-free operation of the baby hair dryer 1, thereby increasing the flexibility of use for the person. On the other hand, due to a relatively low electrical voltage level of the output voltage of the rechargeable battery 23 of, for example, 24 V, safety for the baby can be enhanced, because such low electrical voltage levels cannot endanger the baby in the event of an electrically conductive contact, for example via urine or washing water.

[0063] Charging of the rechargeable battery 43 can take place via the connection of an electrical charging device (not shown) of the baby hair dryer 1 by means of a cable (not shown), for which purpose a charging terminal 44 is provided on the outer side of the housing 40 of the fastening unit 4; see for example FIG. 1. The fastening unit 4 can therefore also be referred to as a supply unit 4. The charging process can be started or terminated by the person by means of a charging switch 45. If no electrical charging device is connected to the charging terminal 44, the operation of the baby hair dryer 1 can be started or terminated by the person operating the charging switch 45 in such a way that the electrical supply of the aforementioned electrical and electronic components of the baby hair dryer 1 is provided by the rechargeable battery 43 or interrupted.

[0064] Alternatively, the rechargeable battery 43 can be dispensed with, which can save installation space and costs for the fastening unit 4. In this case, the charging terminal 44 can be connected by means of an electrical cable and plug, for example via a socket with an electrical supply network of, for example, 220 V, so that the aforementioned electrical and electronic components of the baby hair dryer 1 can be directly electrically supplied. This direct electrical supply can then be activated with a corresponding operating switch instead of the charging switch 45. As a result, the availability of the baby hair dryer 1 can be increased, or it can be ensured at any time that an electrical supply is always provided. However, this can reduce the safety of the baby hair dryer 1, because in the case of an electrically conductive connection, for example, splashing water can cause a flow of current, for example, with the electrical heating element 22e of the blower unit 2 that can be hazardous to the health of the person and in particular of the baby.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS (PART OF THE DESCRIPTION)

[0065] A Cold air inlet stream; inflowing cold air [0066] B Directed heated air outlet stream; directed outflowing warm air [0067] U Pivot axis of the pivot element 23 [0068] V Pivot direction of the pivot element 23 [0069] X Longitudinal direction; depth; length [0070] Y Transverse direction; width [0071] Z Vertical direction; height [0072] X, Y Horizontal, horizontal plane [0073] 1 Baby hair dryer; baby blow dryer [0074] 2 Blower unit [0075] 20 Housing [0076] 21 Holding element receptacle [0077] 22a Air inlet [0078] 22b Air duct [0079] 22c Blower wheel; fan wheel; ventilator wheel [0080] 22d Blower motor; fan motor; ventilator motor [0081] 22e Electrical heating element [0082] 22f Air outlet [0083] 23 Pivot element [0084] 24 Pivot element bearings [0085] 25 Force transmission element; thrust crank [0086] 26 Pivot drive; electric geared motor [0087] 27 Movement function control element; pivot function button [0088] 28 Blower control element; blower switch [0089] 3 Connecting element; gooseneck; gooseneck holder [0090] 30 Connecting element body [0091] 31 Fastening-unit-side holding element [0092] 32 Fan-unit-side holding element [0093] 4 Fastening unit; supply unit [0094] 40 Housing [0095] 41 Holding element receptacle [0096] 42 Fastening element; clamping element [0097] 43 Rechargeable electrical energy store; rechargeable battery [0098] 44 Charging terminal [0099] 45 Charging switch