AIR ROLL FOR HAIR CARE APPLIANCE

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an air roll for a hair care appliance capable of switching a discharge direction of air to a left direction or a right direction using a single device and managing the hair at the left and right sides with one air roll.

According to an air roll for a hair care appliance of the present disclosure, a direction adjusting part opens and closes left air discharge holes or right air discharge holes with a rotation of a direction switching part to switch a discharge direction of air to a left direction or a right direction. This makes it possible to manage the left hair and the right hair with a single air roll mounted to the hair care appliance without having to alternately mount a left-side device and a right-side device to the hair care appliance as in the related art, thus improving the usability at a low cost.

Claims

1. An air roll for a hair care appliance, comprising: a main body mounted on the hair care appliance and including a plurality of pairs of left air discharge holes and right air discharge holes formed in a circumferential surface of the main body in a longitudinal direction of the main body; a plurality of first nozzle plates mounted at intervals on an outer circumference of the main body; a second nozzle plate mounted between the plurality of first nozzle plates provided outside the main body to form an air discharge passage therebetween and configured to flow air in a left direction or a right direction via the left air discharge holes or the right air discharge holes of the plurality of pairs; a direction adjusting part provided inside the main body and including air passage holes formed in a circumferential surface of the direction adjusting part to pass the air therethrough, the direction adjusting part being configured to switch an opening and closing of the left air discharge holes or the right air discharge holes using the air passage holes with a rotation of the direction adjusting part and adjust a discharge direction of the air such that the air flows in the left direction or the right direction; and a direction switching part connected to the direction adjusting part at a lateral surface of the main body and configured to rotate the direction adjusting part so as to switch the opening and closing of the left air discharge holes or the right air discharge holes, wherein each of the plurality of first nozzle plates has first fitting protrusions formed on an inner surface of each of the plurality of first nozzle plates to be fitted into a plurality of fitting grooves of the main body, and lower portions of both sides of each of the plurality of first nozzle plates are formed linearly with respect to sidewall surfaces of the left air discharge holes and the right air discharge holes so that both sides of each of the plurality of first nozzle plates are formed in a form of < in a longitudinal direction.

2. The air roll for the hair care appliance of claim 1, wherein the main body includes: the plurality of fitting grooves formed in an outer surface of the main body and into which the plurality of first nozzle plates and the second nozzle plate are fitted; a second passage groove formed in a center of a lateral surface of the main body such that a fixing member is fitted into the second passage groove and fastened to the direction switching part; and guide grooves formed above and below the second passage groove to guide the rotation of the direction adjusting part.

3. The air roll for the hair care appliance of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pairs of left air discharge holes and the right air discharge holes are formed obliquely in a cross-sectional view such that the discharge direction of the air is switched to the left direction or the right direction to discharge the air while changing a flow direction of the air.

4. (canceled)

5. The air roll for the hair care appliance of claim 1, wherein the second nozzle plate has second fitting protrusions formed on an inner surface of the second nozzle plate to be fitted into the plurality of fitting grooves of the main body, and wherein lower portions of both sides of the second nozzle plate are formed obliquely in the longitudinal direction such that the air is discharged in the left direction or the right direction while changing a flow direction of the air.

6. The air roll for the hair care appliance of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the second nozzle plate is formed below an outer surface of each of the plurality of first nozzle plates.

7. The air roll for the hair care appliance of claim 1, wherein a first side of the direction adjusting part, to which the hair care appliance is connected, is open to allow the air to flow into the first side, and a second side of the direction adjusting part has a first passage groove formed such that a fixing member is fitted into the first passage groove at a center of the second side, and wherein the direction adjusting part has a plurality of locking protrusions formed on an outer lateral surface of the direction adjusting part to adjust a rotational angle of the direction adjusting part in a left-right direction while being guided along guide grooves of the main body, the plurality of locking protrusions being fitted into the guide grooves of the main body and mounted to the direction switching part.

8. The air roll for the hair care appliance of claim 1, wherein the direction adjusting part includes air guide pieces formed on an inner wall surface thereof in the longitudinal direction to guide the air introduced into an interior of the direction adjusting part toward the air passage holes.

9. The air roll for the hair care appliance of claim 1, wherein the direction switching part includes: a fastening groove formed at a center of a first side of the direction switching part and to which a fixing member is fastened; locking grooves formed above and below the fastening groove and into which locking protrusions of the direction adjusting part are fitted; and a handle formed at a second side of the direction switching part to rotate the direction adjusting part configured to open and close the left air discharge holes or the right air discharge holes.

10. The air roll for the hair care appliance of claim 1, further comprising: a rotation stopping member provided between the main body and the direction switching part and configured to halt the direction switching part such that the direction switching part no longer rotates.

11. The air roll for the hair care appliance of claim 10, wherein the rotation stopping member includes: mounting grooves formed in upper and lower portions of the rotation stopping member and into which mounting protrusions of the direction switching part are fitted; and halt pieces formed at both sides of the rotation stopping member and configured to halt the direction switching part by being locked into locking grooves of the main body such that the direction switching part no longer rotates at a rotated position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating a state in which a direction switching part of the air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure is separated.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the direction switching part of the air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure are separated from a rotation stopping member.

[0023] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a front view of the air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a cutaway cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 5.

[0026] FIGS. 7A and 7B are front views illustrating states in which the direction switching part of the air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure is rotated, respectively.

[0027] FIG. 8 is a side view of the air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 9 is a cutaway cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 8.

[0029] FIG. 10 is a cutaway cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 8.

[0030] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a first nozzle plate of the air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a second nozzle plate of the air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure.

[0032] FIGS. 13A and 13B are cross-sectional views illustrating states in which an air discharge direction of the air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure is switched to left and right, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FOR CARRYING OUT THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

[0033] Various modifications may be made to the present disclosure and various example embodiments may be implemented. Specific example embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such specific example embodiments, and should be understood as including various modifications, equivalents and alterations which fall within the sprit and technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0034] In the drawings, the example embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to specific forms illustrated herein and may be illustrated on a large scale for the clarification. Although in the present specification, specific terms have been used, they are merely specific examples disclosed to easily explain the present disclosure and are not intended to limit meanings thereof or the scope of the present disclosure set forth in the claims.

[0035] The expression and/or used herein may be used to include at least one of constituent elements arranged side by side. Further, when one constituent element is referred to as being connected/coupled to another constituent element, the one constituent element may be directly connected or coupled to another constituent element, or may be connected or coupled to another constituent element by intervening yet another constituent element therebetween. The singular form described herein may include the plural form unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Further, the expression comprises, includes or the like are intended to include constituent elements, processes, operations and elements, but may be constructed not to exclude one or more other constituent elements, processes, operations and elements in addition to the above-described terms.

[0036] Further, the terms first, second, and the like are used to distinguish plurality of constituent elements from each other, and does not limit the order of the constituent elements or other features thereof.

[0037] In the descriptions of the example embodiments, the expression that a layer (film), region, pattern or structure is formed on (above) or below (under) a substrate, another layer (film), region, pad, or pattern should be understood as encompassing that the layer (film), region, pattern or structure may be directly formed on the substrate, another layer (film), region, pad, or pattern, or may be formed on the substrate, another layer (film), region, pad, or pattern by intervening yet another layer therebetween.

[0038] Hereinafter, example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating a state in which a direction switching part of the air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure is separated. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the direction switching part of the air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure are separated from a rotation stopping member. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a front view of the air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a cutaway cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 5. FIGS. 7A and 7B are front views illustrating states in which the direction switching part of the air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure is rotated, respectively. FIG. 8 is a side view of the air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a cutaway cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a cutaway cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 8. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a first nozzle plate of the air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a second nozzle plate of the air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure. FIGS. 13A and 13B are cross-sectional views illustrating states in which an air discharge direction of the air roll for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure is switched to left and right, respectively.

[0040] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 13B, an air roll 10 for a hair care appliance according to the present disclosure is connected to the hair care appliance (not illustrated) and may be configured such that air generated with an operation of the hair care appliance flows into the air roll 10, and when the air is discharged to air discharge passages P between first nozzle plates 200 and second nozzle plates 300, a discharge direction of the air is switched to a left direction or a right direction. Further, although not illustrated, the air roll 10 may be detachably connected to the hair care appliance in a fitting manner.

[0041] The air roll 10 may include a main body 100, the first nozzle plates 200, the second nozzle plates 300, a direction adjusting part 400, a direction switching part 500, and a rotation stopping member 600.

[0042] The main body 100 may be detachably connected to the hair care appliance, and may be formed in the form of a cylinder tube. A connection piece 110 is connected to one side of the main body 100 where the main body 100 is connected to the hair care appliance via the connection piece 110. A locking portion 111 may be formed on a circumference of the connection piece 110 such that the hair care appliance is locked to the locking portion 111 while being connected to the connection piece 110 at a certain position. In this case, am 0 ring 140 may be provided inward of the connection piece 110.

[0043] Protrusions 112 may be formed on an outer surface of the connection piece 110 such that they are connected to an end portion of an air outlet of the hair care appliance in a fitting manner.

[0044] In addition, a plurality of pairs of left air discharge holes 120 and right air discharge holes 121 may be formed in a circumferential surface of the main body 100 in a longitudinal direction of the main body 100. A plurality of fitting grooves 130 to which the first nozzle plates 200 and the second nozzle plates 300 are mounted, may be formed in the outer surface of the main body 100.

[0045] Further, a second passage groove 150 may be formed in the center of a lateral surface of the main body 100 such that a fixing member S for fixing the direction switching part 500 is fitted into and fastened to the second passage groove 150. Guide grooves 160 may be formed at upper and lower sides with reference to the second passage groove 150 to guide a rotation of the direction adjusting part 400 in a left-right direction. A plurality of locking grooves 170 may be formed in the lateral surface of the main body 100 such that the rotation stopping member 600 is temporally held with the rotation stopping member 600 rotated.

[0046] As illustrated in FIGS. 13A and 13B, in order to implement the Coanda effect by smoothly switching the air discharge direction in the left direction or the right direction with the rotation of the direction adjusting part 400, the pairs of left air discharge holes 120 and right air discharge holes 121 may be obliquely formed to discharge the air while changing a flow direction of the air. That is, when the left air discharge holes 120 or the right air discharge holes 121 are open and closed with the rotation of the direction adjusting part 400, the right air discharge holes 121 may be tilted to the left to be oriented from left to right in a cross-sectional view such that the air is discharged in the right direction, and the left air discharge holes 120 may be tilted to the right to be oriented from right to left in a cross-sectional view such that the air is discharged in the left direction.

[0047] The plurality of first nozzle plates 200 may be mounted at intervals on the outer circumference of the main body 100. First fitting protrusions 210 may be formed on an inner surface of each of the first nozzle plates 200 to be fitted into the respective fitting grooves 130 of the main body 100 such that the first nozzle plates 200 are mounted in the main body 100.

[0048] In addition, lower surfaces of both sides of each of the plurality of first nozzle plates 200 may be formed linearly with respect to wall surfaces of the left air discharge holes 120 and the right air discharge holes 121. Thus, both sides of the first nozzle plate 200, which are outlets through which the air is discharged, may be formed in the form of < in a longitudinal direction. By forming both sides of the first nozzle plate 200 in the form of < in this way, the air discharged between the first nozzle plate 200 and the second nozzle plate 300 overlapping the first nozzle plate 200 may be oriented to the left or right. This switches the flow of the air due to an aerodynamic phenomenon, which provides the effect of wrapping the hair by pulling it into the main body, that is, the Coanda effect, thus smoothly waving the hair.

[0049] Further, the first nozzle plate 200 may be mounted in the main body 100 between the pair of left and right air discharge holes 120 and 121.

[0050] Each of the plurality of second nozzle plates 300 is mounted to the main body 100 between the first nozzle plates 200 adjacent to each other. The air discharge passage P may be formed by overlapping the second nozzle plate 300 with the adjacent first nozzle plates 200 with spaces therebetween. Through the air discharge passage P, the air allows to flow in the left direction or the right direction via the left air discharge hole 120 or the right air discharge hole 121 in each pair with the rotation of the direction adjusting part 400. Second fitting protrusions 310 may be formed on an inner surface of the second nozzle plate 300 to be fitted into the respective fitting grooves 130 so that the second nozzle plate 300 may be mounted on the main body 100.

[0051] In addition, both lower portions of the second nozzle plate 300 may be formed to be inclined in the longitudinal direction to form inclined surfaces 320. This allows the air to flow in the left direction or the right direction. That is, by forming both lower portions of the second nozzle plate 300, the air passing through the left air discharge holes 120 or the right air discharge holes 121 may flow upward of the lateral surface of the first nozzle plate 200 along the inclined surfaces 320 of the second nozzle plate 300 and flow in the left direction or the right direction while exhibiting the Coanda effect.

[0052] An outer surface of the second nozzle plate 300 may be formed below an outer surface of the first nozzle plate 200. Thus, the air discharged through the air discharge passage P between the first nozzle plate 200 and the second nozzle plate 300 via the left air discharge holes 120 or the right air discharge holes 121 may be discharged in the left direction or the right direction along the outer surface of the first nozzle plate 200.

[0053] The direction adjusting part 400 is provided inside the main body 100. One side of the direction adjusting part 400 to which the hair care appliance is connected is open to allow the air to flow into the one side. A first passage groove 440 may be formed in the center of the other side of the direction adjusting part 400 such that a fixing member S is fitted into the first passage groove 440. A plurality of locking protrusions 410 may be formed on an outer lateral surface of the direction adjusting part 400. The locking protrusions 410 are fitted into the respective guide grooves 160 of the main body 100 and fitted into locking grooves 510 of the direction switching part 500. The locking protrusions 410 are guided along the guide grooves 160 with the rotation of the direction switching part 500 to adjust a rotational angle of the direction adjusting part 400 in the left-right direction.

[0054] Further, air passage holes 420 through which the air passes are formed in a circumference of the direction adjusting part 400. By opening and closing each pair of left air discharge holes 120 or right air discharge holes 121 using the air passage holes 420 with the rotation in the left-right rotation, the air may flow in the left direction or the right direction. As illustrated in FIG. 13A, the direction adjusting part 400 closes the left air discharge holes 120 out of each pair of left and right air discharge holes 120 and 121, and the air passage holes 420 are located at the right air discharge holes 121 to open the right air discharge holes 121, such that the air passes through the right air discharge holes 121 and is discharged in the right direction via the air discharge passage P between the first nozzle plate 200 and the second nozzle plate 300. On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 13B, the direction adjusting part 400 closes the right air discharge holes 121 out of each pair of left and right air discharge holes 120 and 121 with the rotation thereof, and the air passage holes 420 are located at the left air discharge holes 120 to open the left air discharge holes 120, such that the air passes through the left air discharge holes 120 and is discharged in the left direction via the air discharge passage P between the first nozzle plate 200 and the second nozzle plate 300.

[0055] Air guide pieces 430 may be formed on an inner wall surface of the direction adjusting part 400 in the longitudinal direction to guide the air introduced into an interior of the direction adjusting part 400 toward the air passage holes 420. The air guide pieces 430 may be formed on both sides of the air passage holes 420, respectively.

[0056] The direction switching part 500 may be connected to one side of the direction adjusting part 400 to rotate the direction adjusting part 400, thus switching the opening and closing of the left air discharge holes 120 or the right air discharge holes 121 in each pair.

[0057] Further, the locking grooves 510 into which the locking protrusions 410 of the direction adjusting part 400 are fitted, may be formed at one side of the direction switching part 500. A handle 520 may be formed at the other side of the direction switching part 500 to rotate the direction adjusting part 400 for opening and closing the left air discharge holes 120 or the right air discharge holes 121 in the left-right direction.

[0058] Further, a fastening groove 530 to which the fixing member Sis fastened, may be formed at the center of one side of the direction switching part 500. Mounting protrusions 540 may be formed on upper and lower portions of a lateral surface of the direction switching part 500 to be fitted into respective mounting grooves 610 of the rotation stopping member 600.

[0059] The rotation stopping member 600 is provided between the main body 100 and the direction switching part 500 to adjust the rotational angle of the direction switching part 500 and halt the direction switching part 500. The rotation stopping member 600 includes, at the upper and lower portions thereof, the plurality of mounting grooves 610 into which the mounting protrusions 540 of the direction switching part 500 are fitted. Halt pieces 620 may be formed at both sides of the rotation stopping member 600. The halt pieces 620 are locked into the respective locking grooves 170 of the main body 100 to halt the direction switching part 500 such that it no longer rotates at the rotated position.

[0060] Further, a third passage groove 630 may be formed in a central portion of the rotation stopping member 600. The fixing member S passes through the third passage groove 630 to be fastened to the direction switching part 500. Through-grooves 640 may be formed above and below the third passage groove 630. The locking protrusions 410 pass through the respective through-grooves 640 to be fitted into the respective locking groove 510.

[0061] An operation of the air roll for the hair care appliance of the present disclosure, which has the configuration described as above, will be described below.

[0062] The direction adjusting part 400 is provided inside the main body 100. The direction switching part 500 is connected to one side of the main body 100 by the fixing member S. The first nozzle plates 200 and the second nozzle plates 300 are mounted on the outer circumference of the main body 100 in an alternate manner. The hair care appliance for supplying air is connected to the main body 100. The air generated with the operation of the hair care appliance flows into the direction adjusting part 400.

[0063] Further, when the direction switching part 500 is rotated, the locking protrusions 410 locked into the locking grooves 510 are rotated such that the direction adjusting part 400 is rotated in the same direction as the rotation direction of the direction switching part 500 to adjust a discharge direction of the air. When the direction switching part 500 is rotated, the rotation stopping member 600 connected to the direction switching part 500 is also rotated. In this case, the halt pieces 620 are locked into the respective locking grooves 170. Thus, the direction switching part 500 no longer rotates as long as a user does not turn the handle 520.

[0064] Further, the air flowing into the direction adjusting part 400 flows into the air passage hole 420 and is discharged through the air discharge passage P between the first nozzle plate 200 and the second nozzle plate 300 via the left air discharge holes 120 or the right air discharge holes 121.

[0065] In this case, when the air passage holes 420 are located to correspond to the right air discharge holes 121 out of each pair of left and right air discharge holes 120 and 121 formed in the main body 100, the left air discharge holes 120 are closed and the right air discharge holes 121 are open. Thus, the air flowing into the air passage holes 420 passes through the right air discharge holes 121 and is oriented in the right direction by the inclined surface 320 formed in the right lower portion of the second nozzle plate 200, so that the air flows in the right direction via the air discharge passage P between the first nozzle plate 200 and the second nozzle plate 300 (see FIG. 13A).

[0066] Further, when the air passage holes 420 are located to correspond to the left air discharge holes 120 out of each pair of left and right air discharge holes 120 and 121 by turning the direction switching part 500 with the handle 520, the right air discharge holes 121 are closed and the left air discharge holes 121 are open. Thus, the air flowing into the air passage holes 420 passes through the left air discharge holes 120 and is oriented in the left direction by the inclined surface 320 formed in the left lower portion of the second nozzle plate 200, so that the air flows in the left direction via the air discharge passage P between the first nozzle plate 200 and the second nozzle plate 300 (see FIG. 13B).

[0067] Accordingly, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, by turning the direction switching part 500 in the left-right direction, the locking protrusions 410 locked into the locking grooves 510 rotate in the left-right direction and thus the direction adjusting part 400 rotates in the left-right direction, so that the air passage holes 420 are located to correspond to the left air discharge holes 120 or the right air discharge holes 121 in each pair with the rotation of the direction adjusting part 400. This makes it possible to manage both left and right hair using one air roll 10.

[0068] Although specific example embodiments have been described in the detailed description of the present disclosure, the present disclosure should not be interpreted as being limited to example embodiments described herein. The present disclosure should be understood as including various modifications, equivalents and alterations without departing from the sprit and scope of the present disclosure defined by the appended claims.

[0069] In other words, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described specific example embodiments and the above descriptions, various modifications may be made by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and technical spirit of the present disclosure. Of course, such modifications also belong to the scope of the present disclosure

TABLE-US-00001 [Explanation of Reference Numerals] 10: Air roll 100: Body 110: Connection piece 111: Locking portion 112: Protrusion 120: Left air discharge hole 121: Right air discharge hole 130: Fitting groove 140: O-ring 150: Second passage groove 160: Guide groove 170: Locking groove 200: First nozzle plate 210: First fitting protrusion 300: Second nozzle plate 310: Second fitting protrusion 320: Inclined surface 400: Direction switching part 410: Locking protrusion 420: Air passage hole 430: Air guide piece 440: First passage groove 500: Direction switching part 510: Locking groove 520: Handle 530: Fastening groove 540: Mounting protrusion 600: Rotation stopping member 610: Mounting groove 620: Halt piece 630: Third passage groove 640: Through-groove P: Air discharge passage S: Fixing member