ATTACHMENT FOR A HAIRCARE APPLIANCE

Abstract

Disclosed is an attachment for a hair care appliance including an air inlet end for receiving an airflow from the appliance, an air outlet end for emitting the airflow from the attachment, a wall defining and extending about an airflow path between the air inlet end and the air outlet end, a plate located in the airflow path and configured to guide the airflow towards the airflow outlet end. The plate is configured to divide the airflow path into two sections and the plate includes a plurality of through holes extending between the two sections of the airflow path.

Claims

1. An attachment for a hair care appliance comprising an air inlet end for receiving an airflow from the appliance, an air outlet end for emitting the airflow from the attachment, a wall defining and extending about an airflow path between the air inlet end and the air outlet end, a plate located in the airflow path and configured to guide the airflow towards the air outlet end, wherein the plate is configured to divide the airflow path into two sections and the plate comprises a plurality of through holes extending between the two sections of the airflow path.

2. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the plate is configured to divide the airflow path into two equal sections.

3. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of through holes are circular through holes.

4. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the through holes are arranged in a plurality of rows and said plurality of rows extend orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the attachment.

5. The attachment according to claim 4, wherein the rows of through holes are staggered.

6. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the plate comprises a non-linear edge proximate to the air outlet end.

7. The attachment according to claim 6, wherein the non-linear edge comprises a wave-shaped profile.

8. The attachment according to claim 7, wherein the wave shaped profile is curved.

9. The attachment according to claim 6, wherein the plate is substantially planar, and the non-linear edge of the plate extends substantially orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis of the attachment.

10. The attachment according to claim 6, wherein non-linear edge when viewed in a plane orthogonal to the plate, has a curved profile.

11. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the wall is disposed about the longitudinal axis of the attachment.

12. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the wall comprises an annular wall extending around the longitudinal axis of the attachment, preferably located such that the centre of the annular wall lies on the longitudinal axis of the attachment.

13. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the wall is tapered.

14. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the wall tapers inwardly towards the air outlet end.

15. The attachment according to claim 12, wherein the angle of taper of the wall varies between the inlet end and the outlet end.

16. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein, the attachment comprises an external wall surrounding said wall of the attachment.

17. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the wall and the external wall each comprises a plurality of retention members configured to retain the wall within the external wall.

18. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the attachment comprises a seat configured to accommodate an RFID tag.

19. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein the inlet end is adapted to receive part of the appliance.

20. The attachment according to claim 1, further comprising a magnet attached to the wall for securing the attachment to the appliance.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] Preferred features of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0047] FIG. 1 is a left side, front perspective view, from above, of an attachment;

[0048] FIG. 2 is a right side, rear perspective view, from above, of the attachment;

[0049] FIG. 3 is a top view of the attachment;

[0050] FIG. 4 is a side view of the attachment;

[0051] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the attachment;

[0052] FIG. 6 is a left side, front exploded view of the attachment;

[0053] FIG. 7 is a right side, rear exploded view of the attachment;

[0054] FIG. 8a is a side sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 3;

[0055] FIG. 8b is a side sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 3;

[0056] FIG. 9 is a left side, front perspective view, from above, of an example of a hair dryer to which the attachment and the alternative attachment may be connected.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0057] FIGS. 1 to 5 are external views of an attachment 10. The attachment comprises an air inlet 12 for receiving airflow from an airflow outlet end of a hair dryer and an air outlet 14 for enabling the airflow to exit the attachment. With reference also to FIGS. 6 and 7, the air inlet 12 is generally annular in shape, and is in the form of an aperture located at the air inlet end 16 of a wall 18. The wall 18 has an air outlet end 20 which is narrower than the air inlet end 16, and a tapering wall 18 extends between the air inlet end 16 and the air outlet end 20. Tapering of the wall 18 may be inwardly, outwardly or a combination thereof along an airflow path 22 defined by the wall 18. However, in this embodiment, the tapering of the wall 18 is inwardly towards the longitudinal axis C of the attachment 10 along at least a portion of the airflow path 22 from the air inlet end 16 to the air outlet end 20.

[0058] As illustrated in FIGS. 8a and 8b, the tapering wall 18 defines the airflow path 22 through which the airflow passes within the attachment 10. The tapering wall 18 is arranged to guide the airflow from the air inlet 12 to air outlet 14 of the attachment 10 along an airflow direction D, as illustrated in FIG. 4, directly towards the air outlet 14.

[0059] With reference to FIG. 7, the wall 18 comprises an annular inlet channel 24 for receiving airflow from the air inlet 12 and from which the airflow is guided along the airflow path 22 towards the air outlet end 20.

[0060] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a plate 26 is disposed along the airflow path 22 and is parallel to the longitudinal axis C of the attachment 10. The plate 26 is configured to guide the airflow towards the air outlet 14 and has generally a flat surface. Furthermore, the end of the boundary layer between the airflow passing through the airflow path 22 and the plate 26 is along the first edge 32 of the plate 26.

[0061] As presented particularly in FIGS. 1 and 8a, the plate 26 comprises a plurality of undulations in the form of peaks 28 and troughs 30 along the first edge 32 of the plate 26. The first edge 32 of the plate 26 is proximate to the airflow outlet 14 of the attachment 10. Accordingly, these undulations enable improved mixing of the airflow passing through the airflow path 22 and emitted from the air outlet 14. Compared to a straight edge, the undulations increase the length of the first edge 32 of the plate 26. This also increases the number of points at which the air streams at the opposite sides of the plate 26 can meet. As such, the number of counter-rotating vortices increase with the increased interaction between the air streams at the opposite sides of the plate 26. It will be clear to the person skilled in the art that the introduction of counter-rotating vorticity into an airflow through internal undulations allows for significant noise reduction with thrust augmentation or minimal airflow rate loss.

[0062] The peaks 28 and throughs 30 of the undulations at the first edge 32 of the plate 26 may be arranged such that the number, position and dimensions of the peaks 28 and troughs 30 may vary and the number of peaks 28 may not be equal to the number of troughs 30. In this embodiment, the peaks 28 and troughs 30 are laterally equally spaced along the first edge 32 of the plate 26. Furthermore, the peaks 28 and troughs 30 form a regular shape resembling a sine wave along the first edge 32 of the plate 26. It will be clear to the person skilled in the art that the undulations may be extend in a variety of directions. In this embodiment the teeth 28 of the undulations extend parallel to the longitudinal axis C of the attachment 10 thus minimising the disturbance on the boundary layers at the opposite sides of the plate 26.

[0063] With reference to FIGS. 1, the peaks 28 and the troughs 30 of the plate 26 may be formed as a cut out. In this embodiment and with reference to FIG. 8b, the cut-out edge along the first edge 32 is rounded thus providing a curved surface connection between the opposite sides of the plate 26.

[0064] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, the plate 26 comprises a plurality of perforations 34. It will be clear to the person skilled in the art that the type, size and arrangement of the perforations 34 may vary depending on technical requirements and manufacturing capabilities. Furthermore, the perforations 34 may comprise a plurality of blind holes. In this embodiment, the perforations 34 comprise a plurality of through holes and enable airflow communication between the opposite sides of the plate 34. Furthermore, in this embodiment the perforations 34 are through holes with a diameter of 2 mm and comprise rounded edges.

[0065] With reference to FIG. 8a, the perforations 34 may be arranged in an equally spaced array. The perforations 34 may also be aligned in both directions parallel and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis C. In this embodiment, the perforations are aligned in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis C. However, in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, the perforations 34 are offset, while maintaining the equally spaced array formation. The perforations 34 may be distributed over the entirety of the planer surface of the plate 26. In this embodiment, the perforations 34 are distributed on at least a portion of the planer surface of the plate 26. Accordingly, the plate 26 comprises a solid plate section 36, free from perforations 34.

[0066] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 8a, the perforations 34 may extend in a variety of directions. In this embodiment, the perforations extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis C of the attachment 10 and the planer surface of the plate 26.

[0067] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 8b, the plate 26 divides the airflow path into at least two sections. In this embodiment, the plate 26 divides the airflow path into two equal sections.

[0068] As airflow passes through the attachment 10, the airflow guided by the plate 26, boundary layers are formed on the opposite sides of the plate 26. The plurality of perforations 34 enable airflow between the opposite sides of the plate 26 and thus minimise the pressure difference between the opposite sides of the plate 26. Accordingly, the turbulence induced noise due to pressure difference is minimised upon the emission of the airflow from the attachment 10.

[0069] With reference to FIG. 1, the plate 26 comprises at least one holding member 38 configured to provide a holding surface. When in use, the holding member 38 is configured to stay relatively cooler compared to the rest of the plate 26. It will be clear to the person skilled in the art that the holding member 38 may be in a variety of shapes and sizes. Furthermore, the holding member 38 may extend in a variety of directions, with reference to the plate 26. In this embodiment, the plate 26 comprise a pair of holding members 38 and extend parallel to the longitudinal axis C of the attachment. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the holding members 38 are in the form of a hollow cylinder

[0070] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the attachment 10 further comprises an external wall 40 and the external wall 40 surrounds the wall 18 of the attachment 10. In normal use, the air passing through the attachment 10 increases the temperature of the wall 18. As illustrated in FIG. 8b, there is provided an air gap 42 between the wall 18 and the external wall 40 for isolation purposes and improves the end user comfort.

[0071] With reference to FIGS. 7, 8a and 8b, the wall 18 comprises at least one support member 44, located within the airflow path 22. The support member 44 further comprises at least one support rib 46 extending across the airflow path 22 within the inlet channel 24. The support member 44 is fixed to the wall 18 via the support rib 46 and provides a contact point between the wall 18 and the plate 26. In this embodiment there is a single support member 44 and located proximate to the longitudinal axis C of the attachment 10.

[0072] With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8a, the external wall 40 further comprises an RFID slot 48 located at on the outer surface of the air inlet channel 24, suitable for receiving an RFID tag 50. The purpose of the RFID tag 50 is to alert a control circuit of a hair dryer 200 regarding the type of attachment, i.e. a smoothing nozzle attachment 10 or other suitable attachments, being used. The control circuit of the hair dryer 200 may then adjust relevant settings such as air temperature and airflow rate accordingly. The RFID tag 50 further comprises an RFID tape 52 and the RFID tag 50 is seated in the RFID slot with this RFID tape 52 in between. An RFID cap 54 is provided to complete the RFID tag housing.

[0073] A variety of combinations of the features defined above may be applied to the attachment 10. The components of the attachment 10 may comprise a variety of materials including but not limited to metal, plastic, carbon fibre or any combination thereof. Each of the components of the attachment 10 is formed from a plastic material. In this embodiment the components are formed from glass filled nylon.

[0074] To assembly the attachment 10, the plate 26 is first positioned along the central axis C located within the airflow path 22 defined by the wall 18 such that the plate 26 rests on the support member 44. The support member 44 comprises an assembly aperture 56. The plate 26 further comprises a fastening screw receptacle 58 and is configured to receive a fastening screw 60. When the plate 26 is resting on the support member 44, the fastening screw receptable 58 is aligned with the longitudinal axis C and the assembly aperture 56. The fastening screw 60 goes through the assembly aperture 56 and fixes the plate 26 via the fastening screw receptacle 58.

[0075] The external wall 40 has an inner surface comprising at least one assembly guide 62 and at least one retention member 64. In this embodiment there is a plurality of assembly guides 62 equally angularly spaced about the longitudinal axis C of the attachment 10 and a plurality of retention members 64 equally angularly spaced about the longitudinal axis C of the attachment 10. The wall 18 has an outer surface comprising at least one further assembly guide 66 and at least one further retention member 68. In this embodiment there is a plurality of further assembly guides 66 equally angularly spaced about the longitudinal axis C of the attachment 10 and a plurality of retention members 68 equally angularly spaced about the longitudinal axis C of the attachment 10.

[0076] The angular position of further assembly guides 66 correspond to the angular position of the assembly guides 62 and upon assembly the wall 18 is urged to the suitable angular position when assembled with the external wall 40. Similarly, the angular position of the plurality of further retention members 68 correspond to the angular position of the plurality of retention members 64. The retention members 64 and the further retention members 68 form a mating connection for example including but not limited to snap-fit, interference fit, screw and bolt fastening, ultrasonic welding, heat welding, solvent bonding or a combination of one or plurality of different methods.

[0077] The attachment 10 further comprises a coupling means 70 located at the air inlet end 16 of the wall 18. Coupling means 70 may be configured to enable a variety of coupling methods for example including but not limited to interference fit, screwing, magnetised coupling etc. In this embodiment the coupling means 70 is a magnet and configured to enable magnetised coupling of the attachment 10 to a hair dryer 200, more specifically to an airflow outlet end 202 of the hair dryer 200.

[0078] Whilst particular examples and embodiments have been described, it should be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.