HAND HELD APPLIANCE

Abstract

A hair care appliance and a dock for the appliance, the appliance including a body having an outer wall extending between front and rear ends of the body, a duct extending at least partially along the body within the outer wall, an interior passage extending about the duct for receiving a primary fluid flow, and a primary fluid outlet for emitting the primary fluid flow from the body, wherein the primary fluid outlet is defined by the duct and an inner wall of the body, wherein the primary fluid outlet is in the front end of the body, which comprises an end wall extending radially inwards of the outer wall, the end wall comprising magnetic material, wherein the dock comprises a base for attaching to a surface and magnetic material extending around the base, and wherein the appliance is configured to connect to the dock via magnetic coupling.

Claims

1. A hair care appliance and a dock for the appliance, wherein the appliance comprises a body having an outer wall extending between a front end and a rear end of the body, a duct extending at least partially along the body within the outer wall, an interior passage extending about the duct for receiving a primary fluid flow, and a primary fluid outlet for emitting the primary fluid flow from the body, wherein the primary fluid outlet is defined by the duct and an inner wall of the body, wherein the primary fluid outlet is in the front end of the body and the front end of the body comprises an end wall extending radially inwards of the outer wall and the end wall comprises at least one magnet or a ring of magnetic material, wherein the dock comprises a base for attaching to a surface and a ring of magnetic or magnetised material extending around the base, and wherein the appliance is configured to connect to the dock via magnetic coupling.

2. The hair care appliance and dock for the appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance comprises a fluid flow path extending between the rear end and the front end and within the duct.

3. The hair care appliance and dock for the appliance of claim 2, wherein the appliance comprises a handle attached to the body and the primary fluid flow path comprises a primary fluid inlet in the handle and a fan unit for drawing fluid into the primary fluid inlet wherein fluid in the fluid flow path is entrained into the duct by fluid flowing through the primary fluid flow path.

4. A dock for a hair care apparatus, the dock comprising a base for attaching to a surface and a ring of magnetic or magnetised material extending around at least a portion of the base.

5. The dock of claim 4, wherein the base is configured for attaching to a wall, a vanity unit or a wardrobe.

6. The dock of claim 4, wherein the base is configured for attaching to a surface that extends along a vertical plane.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a hairdryer.

8. A hair care assembly comprising: a hair care apparatus that comprises: a body comprising an outer wall extending between a first end and a second end of the body and an end wall that extends radially inwards of the outer wall at the first end of the body, an inner wall extending at least partially along the body within the outer wall, an interior fluid flow passage, wherein at least a portion of the interior fluid flow passage extends about the inner wall, and a fluid flow opening to the interior fluid flow passage, wherein the fluid flow opening extends about the inner wall and is at least partially defined by the inner wall, wherein the end wall comprises at least one magnet or ring of magnetic or magnetised material that extends around the fluid flow opening; and a dock for the hair care apparatus, the dock comprising: a base configured for attaching to a surface, and at least one magnet or ring of magnetic or magnetised material extending around the base, wherein the hair care apparatus and the dock are configured for docking the hair care apparatus to the dock via magnetic coupling between the at least one magnet or ring of magnetic or magnetised material of the hair care apparatus and the at least one magnet or ring of magnetic or magnetised material of the dock.

9. The hair care assembly of claim 8, wherein the dock comprises an inner wall that can engage with the inner wall of the hair care apparatus when the hair care apparatus is docked to the dock.

10. The hair care assembly of claim 8, wherein the base of the dock is configured for attaching to a wall, a vanity unit, or a wardrobe.

11. The hair care assembly of claim 8, wherein the base of the dock is configured for attaching to a surface that extends along a vertical plane.

12. The hair care assembly of claim 8, wherein the hair care apparatus is a hair care appliance.

13. The hair care assembly of claim 12, wherein the hair care appliance is a hair dryer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The invention will now be described by example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an appliance according to the invention;

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a cross section through the appliance of FIG. 1;

[0037] FIG. 3 shows an exploded side view of the appliance of FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0038] FIG. 4a shows a cross section through a body of an appliance according to the invention;

[0039] FIG. 4b shows an isometric cross section through a part of the body of FIG. 4a;

[0040] FIG. 5 shows an air exit according to the invention;

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a cross section through the air exit of FIG. 5;

[0042] FIG. 7 shows region B of FIG. 6 in more detail;

[0043] FIG. 8 shows a rear perspective view of the air exit of FIG. 5;

[0044] FIG. 9 shows a front perspective view of the air exit of FIG. 5;

[0045] FIG. 10 shows region C of FIG. 9 in more detail;

[0046] FIG. 11 shows a front perspective view of a duct;

[0047] FIG. 12 shows a front perspective view of a heater;

[0048] FIG. 13 shows an exploded isometric view through a head of FIG. 4;

[0049] FIG. 14a shows an exploded side view of components of a body of a further appliance;

[0050] FIG. 14b shows part of the gasket of FIG. 14a in more detail;

[0051] FIG. 15 shows a cross section through the body of the appliance of FIG. 14;

[0052] FIG. 16 shows an example of an attachment for a hairdryer;

[0053] FIG. 17 shows a rear perspective explosion of the attachment shown in FIG. 16;

[0054] FIG. 18 shows a front perspective explosion of the attachment shown in FIG. 16; and

[0055] FIG. 19 shows an isometric view of a hairdryer with the attachment of FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0056] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of a hairdryer 10 which is suitable for use with the invention. The hairdryer 10 has a handle 20 and a body 30. The handle has a first end 22 which is connected to the body 30 and a second end 24 distal from the body 30 and which includes a primary inlet 40. Power is supplied to the hairdryer 10 via a cable 50.

[0057] The body 30 has a first end 32 and a second end 34 and can be considered to have two parts. A first part 36 which extends from the first end 32 which is generally tubular and a second part 38 which extends from the second end 34 to join the first part 36. The second part 38 is cone shaped and varies in diameter along its length from the diameter of the first part 36 of the body 30 to a smaller diameter at the second end 34 of the body. In this example, the second part 38 has a constant gradient and the angle subtended from the outer wall 360 of the first part 36 of the body 30 is around 40.

[0058] Referring now to FIG. 2 in particular the handle 20 has an outer wall 200 which extends from the body 30 to a distal end 24 of the handle. At the distal end 24 of the handle an end wall 210 extends across the outer wall 200. The cable 50 enters the hairdryer through this end wall 210. The primary inlet 40 in the handle 20 includes first apertures that extend around and along 42 the outer wall 200 of the handle and second apertures that extend across 46 and through the end wall 210 of the handle 20. The cable 50 is located approximately in the middle of the end wall 210 so extends from the centre of the handle 20. The end wall 210 is orthogonal to the outer wall 200 and inner wall 220 of the handle.

[0059] It is preferred that the cable 50 extends centrally from the handle 20 as this means the hairdryer is balanced regardless of the orientation of the handle 20 in a users' hand. Also, if the user moves the position of their hand on the handle 20 there will be no tugging from the cable 50 as it does not change position with respect to the hand when the hand is moved. If the cable were offset and nearer one side of the handle then the weight distribution of the hairdryer would change with orientation which is distracting for the user.

[0060] Upstream of the primary inlet 40, a fan unit 70 is provided. The fan unit 70 includes a fan and a motor. The fan unit 70 draws fluid through the primary inlet 40 towards the body 30 through a primary fluid flow path 400 that extends from the primary inlet 40 and into the body 30 where the handle 20 and the body 30 are joined 90. The primary fluid flow path 400 continues through the body 30 towards the second end 34 of the body, around a heater 80 and to a primary fluid outlet 440 where fluid that is drawn in by the fan unit exits the primary fluid flow path 400. The primary fluid flow path 400 is non-linear and flows through the handle 20 in a first direction and through the body 30 in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction.

[0061] The body 30 includes an outer wall 360 and an inner duct 310. The primary fluid flow path 400 extends along the body from the junction 90 of the handle 20 and the body 30 between the outer wall 360 and the duct 310 towards the primary fluid outlet 440 at the second end of the body 34.

[0062] Another fluid flow path is provided within the body; this flow is not directly processed by the fan unit or the heater but is drawn into the hairdryer by the action of the fan unit producing the primary flow through the hairdryer. This fluid flow is entrained into the hairdryer by the fluid flowing through the primary fluid flow path 400.

[0063] The first end 32 of the body includes a fluid inlet 320 and the second end 34 of the body includes a fluid outlet 340. Both the fluid inlet 320 and the fluid outlet 340 are at least partially defined by the duct 310 which is an inner wall of the body 30 and extends within and along the body. A fluid flow path 300 extends within the duct from the fluid inlet 320 to the fluid outlet 340. At the first end 32 of the body 30, a side wall 350 extends between the outer wall 360 and the duct 310. This side wall 350 at least partially defines the fluid inlet 320. At the second end 34 of the body a gap is provided between the outer wall 360 and the duct, this gap defines the primary fluid outlet 440. The primary fluid outlet 440 is annular and surrounds the fluid flow path 300. The primary fluid outlet 440 may be internal so the primary fluid flow path 400 merges with the fluid flow path 300 within the body 30. Alternatively, the primary fluid outlet 440 is external and exits from the body 30 separately to the fluid from the fluid flow path 300 at the fluid outlet 340.

[0064] The outer wall 360 of the body converges towards the duct 310 and a centre line A-A of the body 30. Having an outer wall 360 that converges towards the duct 310 has the advantage that the primary flow exiting the primary fluid outlet 440 is directed towards the centre line A-A of the body 30. The fluid exiting the primary fluid outlet 440 will cause some external entrainment of fluid 490 from outside the hairdryer due to the movement of the fluid from the primary outlet 440. This effect is increased by the outer wall 360 converging towards the duct 310. Partly this is because the primary flow is focused rather than divergent and partly this is because of the slope of the outer wall 360 of the body 30 towards the second end 34 of the hairdryer.

[0065] The duct 310 is an internal wall of the hairdryer that can be accessed from outside the hairdryer. Thus, the duct 310 is an external wall of the hairdryer. The duct 310 is recessed within the body 30 so the side wall 350 that connects between the outer wall 360 and the duct 310 is angled with respect to the outer wall 360. The angle is around 115 from a line subtended by the outer wall 360 of the body 30 (FIG. 2).

[0066] A printed circuit board (PCB) 75 including the control electronics for the hairdryer is located in the body 30 near the side wall 350 and fluid inlet 320. The PCB 75 is ring shaped and extends round the duct 310 between the duct 310 and the outer wall 360. The PCB 75 is in fluid communication with the primary fluid flow path 400. The PCB 75 extends about the fluid flow path 300 and is isolated from the fluid flow path 300 by the duct 310.

[0067] The PCB 75 controls such parameters as the temperature of the heater 80 and the speed of rotation of the fan unit 70. Internal wiring (not shown) electrically connects the PCB 75 to the heater 80 and the fan unit 70 and the cable 50. Control buttons 62, 64 are provided and connected to the PCB 75 to enable a user to select from a range of temperature settings and flow rates for example.

[0068] In use, fluid is drawn into the primary fluid flow path 400 by the action of the fan unit 70, is optionally heated by the heater 80 and exits from the primary fluid outlet 440. This processed flow causes fluid to be entrained into the fluid flow path 300 at the fluid inlet 320. The fluid combines with the processed flow at the second end 34 of the body. In the example shown, the processed flow exits the primary fluid outlet 440 and the hairdryer as an annular flow which surrounds the entrained flow that exits from the hairdryer via the fluid outlet 340. Thus fluid that is processed by the fan unit and heater is augmented by the entrained flow.

[0069] FIG. 3 shows an exploded side view of a hairdryer 100 using an air exit 110 according to the invention. FIGS. 4a and 4b show a cross section through a hairdryer 100 showing the air exit 110 in situ with the heater 80 and FIGS. 5 to 9 show various views and cross sections through the air exit 110. For features that are common between Figures, the same reference numerals will be used.

[0070] The air exit 110 has been designed so that it can provide positive locking of various features within the appliance. In addition, it is preferred that the positive locking can only be achieved in one orientation so for every product manufactured it is guaranteed that connections between different features such as an electrical connection from the heater 80 to the PCB 75 will be in the same place and are repeatable.

[0071] Referring in particular to FIGS. 4a to 12, the air exit 110 has a first duct 310a and an inner wall 120 which are connected together by supporting ribs 130. The inner wall 120 channels fluid flowing in the primary fluid flow path 400 towards the primary fluid outlet 440. The inner wall 120 includes a flow directing portion 132 which channels or directs flow exiting the heater 80 towards the primary fluid outlet 440 as the diameter of the body 30 decreases towards the second end 34 of the body 30. The first duct 310a is adapted to connect with a second duct 310b to form a whole duct 310 which extends from the side wall 350 to the downstream end 34 of the body 30 where the fluid outlets 340 and 440 are located. The connection 322 is formed from two cooperating parts which form a lap joint between the first duct 310a and the second duct 310b (FIG. 4).

[0072] Referring now to FIGS. 4a, 4b, 8 and 11 in particular, the air exit 110 includes a first part 322a of the connection 322 which has an outer lip 328 of the lap joint having with three spaced apart recesses 324, 326, 328. The second duct 310b includes a second part 322b of the connection 322 which has an inner lip 330 with three spaced apart projections 332, 334, 336. A first pair of recess and projection 324,336 respectively is smaller than the other two pairs of recess and projection 326,334 and 236,332 respectively so the first duct 310a can only be inserted into the second duct 310b in one orientation.

[0073] Referring in particular to FIGS. 4a, 4b, 8 and 12, the air exit 110 has a second connection 140 to the heater 80. This second connection 140 is formed from two cooperating parts which form a lap joint between the inner wall 120 and the heater 80. The inner wall 120 includes a first part 140a of the second connection 140 which has an inner lip 122 of the lap joint having three spaced apart pips 124, 126, 128 which protruded radially outwardly from the inner lip 122. The heater 80 includes a second part 140b of the connection 140. The heater element 82 is surrounded by an outer sleeve 84 which is a ring of insulating material, such as Mica. This outer sleeve 84 extends along the length of the heater element 82 (which is for example, a coiled wire) and extends downstream of the heater element 82 towards the fluid outlets 340, 440 of the body 30. Part of the extension downstream of the heater element 82 forms a second part 140b of the second connection 140. The second part 140b of the connection 140 includes three holes 88, 92, 94 or recesses in the sleeve 84.

[0074] In the embodiment shown the three holes 88, 92, 94 are L shaped so the connection 140 is properly made by a push and twist motion. This is a preferred feature and it provides a more secure connection than simply pushing the pips 124, 126, 128 into each hole 88, 92, 94.

[0075] Each pip 124, 126, 128 and holes 88, 92, 94 are the same diameter; however they are not equally angularly spaced around the lap joint. Thus, the heater 80 can only be connected to the air exit 110 by the second connection 140 in one orientation. This means that the heater 80, air exit 110, the duct 310 and the side wall 350 are all connectable together in one predetermined orientation. This is extremely useful. In the hairdryer shown in FIG. 2, the side wall 350 includes control buttons 64 which extend from the PCB and the heater will have wires (not shown) connecting to the PCB. In the arrangement described, that the heater 80 will always be in the same orientation with respect to the PCB making assembly and electrical connection of the heater to the PCB simpler.

[0076] It is also advantageous, but not essential that the air exit 110 includes the inner lip of one of the first or second connections and the outer lip of the other connection as this constrains the heater 80, the air exit 110 and the duct 310 radially with respect to each other. The lap joints 322, 140 can be reversed i.e. the inner and outer lips can be formed on the opposite parts of each respect lap joint 322, 140 as can the location of the protrusions and recesses. Indeed each of the first and second connections can use unequal angular spacing and/or a different configuration of protrusions and recesses. The configuration includes the shape or profile and the sizes of each pair of protrusion and recess.

[0077] Referring to FIGS. 4a, 4b and 13 in particular, towards the downstream end 110a of the air exit 110 a sealing gasket 116 is provided between the inner wall 120 of the air exit 110 and the outer wall 360 of the body 30. This has a number of functions including sealing against fluid flowing along the primary fluid flow path 400 and then between the inner wall 120 and the outer wall 360 to the second end 34 of the body 30 and bypassing the primary fluid outlet 440. A second function of the gasket 116 is to retain the position of the inner wall 120 with respect to the outer wall 360 and hence retains the air exit 110 in position with respect to the outer wall 360.

[0078] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7 in particular, the inner wall 120 has two sections; a first section 136 includes the first part 140a of the second connection 140 and is generally parallel to one or more of the outer wall 360, the first duct 310a and the heater 80. A second section 138 includes the flow directing portion 132. This second section 138 has a curved profile and in the flow direction through the primary fluid flow path 400 the second section curves towards the centre line A-A of the duct and the fluid outlet 320. The flow directing portion 132 is curved and has a smooth surface which is in contact with fluid flowing through the primary fluid flow path 400.

[0079] Constraining the relative radial locations of the inner components of the body 36 of the hairdryer is useful as it allows each component to be concentric within the body 36. Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14 in particular, the body 36 extends lengthwise from a first end 32 to a second end 34 and within the body a number of different components are housed each of which extend along the length of the body. Firstly, there is the inner duct 310; this is surrounded by the heater 80 for at least a part of the length of the inner duct 310 and the heater 80 is surrounded by the outer wall 360 of the body 36. It is important that the heater 80 does not touch either of the inner duct 310 or the outer wall 360 as this will create a hot spot where heat from the heater 80 can transfer directly to an external surface of the appliance, it could also reduce the life of the heater 80. There is very little space between each of the components within the body 36, so a loss of concentricity could cause the heater to touch the inner duct 310 or the outer body 360.

[0080] The primary fluid flow path 400 that extends along the body 36 is annular and should have generally consistent inner and outer diameter along the length of the body 36 otherwise there will be uneven flow around the primary fluid flow path 400 and this would result in the heater 80 having thermal fluctuations radially around the heater 80. The outer wall 360 and the duct 310 are generally parallel along the length of the body. If the heater 80 did contact one of the inner duct 310 and outer body 360 that define the space in which the heater 80 resides there would be a thermal fluctuation along the length of the heater 80. Both of these outcomes would compromise the efficiency of the appliance and possible cause damage to some of the components.

[0081] The inner duct 310 is connected to the body 36 at the first end 32 of the body 36 via a side wall and by fixing the inner duct 310 to the air exit 110 and the heater 80 near the second end 34 of the body 36, the spacing and concentricity of these components is ensured along with the cross sectional profile of the primary fluid flow path 400.

[0082] Referring to FIGS. 4a and 4b, a first gap 112 is provided between the heater 80 and the outer wall 360 and a second gap 114 is provided between the heater 80 and the inner duct 310. The first gap 112 and the second gap 114 provide cool walls between the heater 80 and a respective externally accessible surface. Some fluid flowing through the primary fluid flow path 400 flows along these gaps 112, 114 providing a fluid insulator along the length of the heater 80 to reduce the temperature of the outer wall 360 and the inner duct 310. The fluid that flows through the second gap 114 rejoins the main primary fluid flow path (that flows directly through the heater 80) at the air exit 110. The first gap 112 continues beyond the heater 80 towards the second end 34 of the body 30 and the sealing gasket 116 that seals between the inner wall 120 of the air exit 110 and the outer wall 360 of the body 36 providing a fluid insulator between the inner wall and the outer wall 360.

[0083] At the front or second end 34 of the body 30 a plurality of magnets 150 are disposed radially spaced around the primary fluid outlet 440. These magnets 150 comprise one part of a magnetic coupling to an attachment (not shown) such as a concentrator or diffuser which includes corresponding magnets or magnetic material which are attracted to the magnets 150 to connect the attachment to the body 30 of the hairdryer 10. The outer wall 360 of the body 30 has an end wall 362 which extends radially inwards of the outer wall 360 towards the centre line A-A of the body 30. In this example, the magnets 150 are housed within the air exit 110 and abut or are adjacent the end wall 362 of the body 30. The magnets 150 are cylinders which are push or interference fit into receiving units 152 located radially spaced around a front face of the air exit 110. The inner wall 120 thus has a first inner facing surface which is a flow directing surface 132 and a second outer facing surface 134 which includes the receiving units 152 for the magnets 150.

[0084] Each receiving unit 152 includes a pair or arms 154, 156 between which a magnet 150 is pushed until the magnet 150 is flush with the front face 118 of the air exit. By having a flush surface, the air exit 110 is able to abut the end wall 362 of the body 30 maximising magnetic attraction produced by the array of magnets 150. In addition, having a flush front face 118 to the air exit 110 helps to position the air exit 110 with respect to the outer wall 360 of the body 30.

[0085] The gasket 116 is located somewhere along the inner wall 120 of the air exit 110. The exact positioning is not critical as long as the gasket 116 does not interfere with the lap joint 140 or the function of the magnets 150.

[0086] An alternative gasket 316 is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. In this embodiment, the magnets 150 are radially spaced around the fluid outlet 440 as before, however the magnets 150 are housed within the gasket 316 rather than the air exit 410. The gasket 316 comprises a plurality of receiving units 352 each one designed to receive one of the cylindrical magnets 150. Each receiving unit 352 comprises a pair of arms 354, 356 between which a magnet 150 is pushed until the magnet 150 is flush with the front face 318 of the gasket 318. Having a flush surface means the magnets 150 can abut the end wall 362 of the outer body 360 of the body 30 maximising magnetic attraction between the body and an attachment.

[0087] The gaskets 116, 316 both have a sealing surface 116a, 316a respectively which, when the gasket 116, 316 is positioned with respect to the air exit 110, 410 and the outer wall 360 of the body 30 seals against the outer wall 360 preventing fluid from the primary fluid flow path 400 exiting the appliance anywhere other than the primary fluid outlet 440.

[0088] FIGS. 16 to 19 show various views of an attachment to which a hairdryer 10 may be removably attached via the magnets 150. In this example, the attachment is a docking port 450 for the hairdryer 10 when not in use. The docking port 450 is conveniently attached to a surface 460 such as a wall, vanity unit, or wardrobe for example.

[0089] The docking unit 450 has three parts, a base 452 for attachment to a surface 460, a ring 454 of magnetic material or magnetised material and a cone 456 for engaging with the duct 310 of a hairdryer 10. The base 452 includes a screw thread 458 onto which the cone 456 is screwed when the ring 454 is in position. The ring 454 of magnetic material or magnetised material can be made from one of iron, a steel, or flakes of magnetic material moulded into a resin such as epoxy, other examples will be apparent to the skilled person.

[0090] The inner duct 310 is generally tubular and it is preferred that the wall 312 that defines first duct 310a tapers radially outwardly towards the downstream end or the fluid outlet 340 (FIG. 4). Thus, the wall 312 thins towards the outlet 340 increasing the diameter of the fluid flow path 300 slightly at the outlet 340. Fluid that flows through the fluid flow path 300 is thus angled towards the outer wall 360 and the primary fluid outlet 440.

[0091] The gasket 116, 316 seal the inner wall 110, 410 respectively against the outer wall 360. The seal need not be a perfect seal as in some circumstances it may be desirable to allow some controlled leakage through the gasket 116, 316 to provide a cooling flow of the outer wall 360 downstream of the gasket 116, 316. The gasket 116, 316 could comprise a number of radially disposed bleeds or recesses to achieve this.

[0092] The invention has been described in detail with respect to a hairdryer however, it is applicable to any appliance that draws in a fluid and directs the outflow of that fluid from the appliance.

[0093] The appliance can be used with or without a heater; the action of the outflow of fluid at high velocity has a drying effect.

[0094] The fluid that flows through the appliance is generally air, but may be a different combination of gases or gas and can include additives to improve performance of the appliance or the impact the appliance has on an object the output is directed at for example, hair and the styling of that hair.

[0095] The invention is not limited to the detailed description given above. Variations will be apparent to the person skilled in the art.