HAIR BLOW-DRYER SYSTEM WITH SCENT CHARGE

Abstract

A hair blow-dryer includes a scent charge receptacle on the side of the air tube, preferably downstream from the heating element. Openings within the scent charge receptacle extend through the air tube to let ambient air flow through the receptacle and into the air stream within the air tube. A scent charge is placed within the scent charge receptacle, providing a fragrant scent that flows into the air stream, and is blown onto a user or hair style customer. Scent charges may take various forms, including absorbent materials that absorb fragrant oils, fragrant gel packs, or solid materials infused with fragrant compositions. Another embodiment includes an extension attachment for a commercially available hair blow-dryer, including the scent charge receptacle on an outer side thereof.

Claims

1. A hair blow-dryer for imparting a fragrance to a user, said hair blow-dryer comprising: a handle portion attached to a main body member; said main body member including an electric motor to power means for blowing air; a longitudinal tube operatively connected to said main body member for directing said blowing air in one direction, said longitudinal tube including a heating means for heating said blowing air; a scent charge receptacle affixed to said longitudinally tube downstream from said heating element, wherein said scent charge receptacle includes a series of openings in a bottom portion thereof, so that ambient air may flow through said openings and into said blowing air stream that is directed out and through an effluxive end of said air tube.

2. The hair blow-dryer for imparting a fragrance to a user set forth in claim 1, further including a scent charge that is removably received into said scent receptacle, wherein said scent charge is infused with a composition having a fragrance.

3. The hair blow-dryer for imparting a fragrance to a user set forth in claim 2, wherein said scent charge receptacle includes a U-shaped lip extending outwardly from said longitudinal tube, said U-shaped lip including a channel around an inner periphery thereof, and wherein said scent charge is a generally round disk that slides into said receptacle through an open end thereof and frictionally engages said inner channel within said lip.

4. The hair blow-dryer for imparting a fragrance to a user set forth in claim 1, wherein said scent charge receptacle includes a hinged door, wherein said door includes air openings therein, and wherein said door may be opened so that a scent charge may be inserted into said receptacle, and wherein said door may then be closed to hold said scent charge within said receptacle.

5. The hair blow-dryer for imparting a fragrance to a user set forth in claim 4, further including a scent charge that is removably positioned within said scent charge receptacle when said hinged door is closed.

6. The hair blow-dryer for imparting a fragrance to a user set forth in claim 5, wherein said scent charge is in a form of a gel pack.

7. The hair blow-dryer for imparting a fragrance to a user set forth in claim 2, wherein said scent charge is formed from a material that is capable of receiving and soaking in a liquid fragrance composition.

8. The hair blow-dryer for imparting a fragrance to a user set forth in claim 2, wherein said scent charge is rechargeable by adding additional fragrance thereto in the form of a liquid fragrance composition.

9. The hair blow-dryer for imparting a fragrance to a user set forth in claim 2, wherein said scent charge is infused with a solid composition that includes a fragrant material.

10. An attachment for a hair blow-dryer, said attachment comprising a generally tubular body having a first end adapted to be attached to an effluxive end of an air tube of a hair blow-dryer; said tubular body having a second end; a scent charge receptacle attached on an outer side of said generally tubular body, said scent charge receptacle having a series of openings allowing ambient air to flow into said generally tubular body; and a scent charge removably positioned within said scent charge receptacle.

11. The attachment for a hair blow-dryer set forth in claim 10, wherein said scent charge receptacle includes a U-shaped lip having a channel disposed about an inner periphery thereof for receiving said scent charge.

12. The attachment for a hair blow-dryer set forth in claim 11, wherein said scent charge is formed into a generally round shape, and which slides into said scent charge receptacle and frictionally engages said channel disposed about said inner periphery of said U-shaped lip.

13. The attachment for a hair blow-dryer set forth in claim 13, wherein said scent charge also includes a gripping tab extending from an outer periphery thereof.

14. The attachment for a hair blow-dryer set forth in claim 10, wherein said scent charge receptacle includes a hinged door that may be either in an open position to receive said scent charge, or which may be in a closed position to retain said scent charge within said scent charge receptacle.

15. The attachment for a hair blow-dryer set forth in claim 14, wherein said hinged door includes a series of openings to allow air to pass therethrough.

16. The attachment for a hair blow-dryer set forth in claim 10, wherein said scent charge is selected from the group consisting of a gel pack, an absorbent textile material, and a composition infused with a solid scented composition.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a hair blow-dryer with a removable tube extension attachment on the end of the air tube that includes a scent charge receptacle having a scent charge positioned therein;

[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of one embodiment of a removable tube extension attachment that is adapted to fit on the effluxive end of a hair blow-dryer, wherein the attachment includes a scent charge receptacle having a series of slots to facilitate air flow, and further showing a scent charge that may be slid into the scent charge receptacle within a channel positioned on an inner periphery of the scent charge receptacle;

[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of another embodiment of a removable tube extension attachment that is adapted to fit on the effluxive end of a hair blow-dryer, wherein the attachment includes a scent charge receptacle having a series of slots to facilitate air flow and a hinged door with air slots shown in an open position, and wherein the scent charge may be placed into the scent charge receptacle;

[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the scent charge receptacle attachment shown in FIG. 3, wherein the scent charge receptacle door is in a closed position;

[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hair blow-dryer having a scent charge receptacle affixed adjacent to the effluxive end thereof;

[0027] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a scent charge receptacle, wherein the scent charge receptacle is adapted to fit over the end of a concentrator attachment;

[0028] FIG. 7 is a perspective exploded view of the embodiment of a scent charge receptacle, concentrator attachment and hair blow dryer shown in FIG. 6; and

[0029] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 8-8 of the embodiment of a scent charge receptacle, concentrator attachment, and hair blow dryer shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] The present invention includes, in a first embodiment, a hair blow-dryer 10 having a handle portion 12, a main body portion 14 having an electric motor or fan, a heating element and an air tube 16 for blowing heated air therethrough, as shown in FIG. 5. A scent charge receptacle 18 is positioned along the air tube 16, preferably downstream from the element, and includes air holes 20 or slits for receiving ambient air and forcing the ambient air through the remainder of the air tube 16 and out of the effluxive end 22 thereof. A scent charge 24 may be removably affixed or attached to the scent charge receptacle 18, so that when the scent charge 24 is placed into the receptacle 18, the force of air flowing through the tube 16 serves to suck air through the scent charge 24 and into the tube 16, carrying with it a desired or pleasant fragrance. In a preferred embodiment, the scent charge receptacle is positioned downstream from a narrowed portion of an air tube (wherein the narrowed portion is part of the hair blow dryer, or an attachment carrying the scent charge receptacle, as shown in FIGS. 1-8). This narrowed portion of an air tube creates a venturi effect, which increases the velocity of the air coming out of the tube.

[0031] In one embodiment, the receptacle 18 may be positioned on the top of the air tube 16, and includes a raised, U-shaped lip 26 having a channel 28 extending around an inner periphery thereof. Within the U-shaped lip 26 is a series of air holes 20 or slits, for allowing air to pass therethrough and into the air tube 16, thereby allowing air to pass through the receptacle 18 with the scent charge 24, and into the tube 16 for expulsion at the effluxive end 22 thereof. A generally round scent charge 24, preferably including a tab 30 extending from an outer edge thereof for insertion and removal, slides into the open end of the U-shaped lip 26, so that the edges of the scent charge 24 are disposed within the inner channel 28 within the lip 26, and are frictionally engaged therein. The scent charge 24 is infused with a fragrance, which may take the form of liquid or oil based material, or which may be infused with a solid scented composition. The scent charge 24 may be rechargeable, so that when the scent charge 24 is no longer producing a potent fragrance while the hair dryer 10 is running, liquid or oil fragrance may be applied to the scent charge 24, which tends to soak up the liquid or oil. In another embodiment, the scent charge 24 may be single use application, so that it simply needs to be replaced by a new scent charge 24 when the previously used scent charge 24 is depleted.

[0032] It is also contemplated that the size and shape of the receptacle 18 may be formed to correspond to any commercially available air freshener, which can be removably inserted into the receptacle 18 and recharged or replaced after use.

[0033] In another embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle 18 may form a closed, vented compartment, wherein a scented gel-pack may be inserted, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this embodiment, the compartment may include a hinged door 32, which snap fits closed over an opening in the receptacle 18. As in the above-referenced embodiments, the bottom or floor of the receptacle includes air holes 20 or slits, in order to allow air to pass therethrough. Further, the hinged door 32 also preferably includes openings, such as holes 20 or slits, for the same purpose. In use, the user simply opens the door 32 to the receptacle 18, inserts the fragrant gel pack or other scent charge 18, and then closes the door 32. When the scent charge 24 is depleted, it may be replaced by a new one.

[0034] In another embodiment of the present invention, the scent charge receptacle 18 is attached to a removable tube extension 34, which may be attached to the effluxive end 22 of an air tube 16 on a commercially available hair blow-dryer 10. A first end of the removable tube extension 34 is preferably round in shape, in order to receive the effluxive end 22 of the blow-dryer 10 air tube 16, while the other end of the removable tube extension 34 may be formed into any desired shape, including a round cross section, an oval cross section, a longitudinal slit, a funnel shape, or any other desired shape.

[0035] This embodiment allows a user to simply attach the removable tube extension 34 on any commercially available hair blow-dryer 10, rather than having to spend additional money on a completely new one.

[0036] In yet another embodiment, the removable tube extension 34 may be formed from a flexible material, such as silicone, so that it may fit over blow dryer air tubes of various shapes and sizes, including extensions or shapes such as a concentrator 36, where the end of the tube is formed into a longitudinal slit in order to provide a venturi effect to the air flow. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6-8, the scent charge receptacle 18 includes an elongated U-shaped lip 26 that extends transversely across the extension, wherein the short side lip portions include attachment means 38 for receiving a scent charge 24. The attachment means 38 may simply include a pair of holes, into which the ends of an elongated scent charge 24 may be positioned for use (as shown), or the attachment means may include any other suitable means for attachment of the scent charge 24 to the scent receptacle 18. The removable tube extension 34, in this embodiment, is flexible, and fits tightly over the end of the tube, or over the effluxive end of a concentrator.

[0037] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.