GB1564283A - Hair driers - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN HAIR DRIERS (71) We, BRAUN AKTIENGES ELLSCHAFT, a body corporate organised and existing under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, of 22 Rtisselsheimer Strasse, 6 Frankfurt/Main, Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The invention relates to a portable hoodtype hair drier, whose hood is equipped with a hose line to which can be connected a motorised blower unit.

A double-walled hood-type drier is known (U.S. Patent Specification No. 3,727,321) having a motorised blower unit which is supported directly in the crown area of the use?s head. Such a drier tends to tilt backwards in the case of sudden movements of the head.

A hood-type drier is also known (German Gebrauchsmuster No. 74 19 321) in which the hot air blower unit is constructed in the manner of a collar and is supported on the user's shoulders in the neck area. This drier has the disadvantage that the user's head can only be moved to a limited extent. The hoodtype drier disclosed in German Gebrauchsmuster No. 74 28 848 has the same disadvantage. The drier according to the latter specification has a hot air blower which can be removed from the hood. A hood-type drier is also known (Swiss Patent Specification No.

569,443), whose removable hot air blower is equipped with a carrying loop which can be hung round the user's neck, the blower being connected to the hood by means of a hose line. An important disadvantage of this drier is that during the drying process, the hose rests on the user's chest and shoulders and greatly heats these parts of the body.

In addition, a hood-type drier is known (U.S. Patent Specification No. 3,131,281) in which the hood and hot air blower are connected by means of a hose line, the blower being placed on a mounting surface in the vicinity of the user. This drier has the disadvantage that the freedom of movement of the user is greatly restricted. In the case of another hood-type drier (French Patent Specification No. 1,501,607) the hot air blower is located in the vicinity of the user's neck and is detachably connected with the hood. The disadvantage of this drier is that it slips too easily from the back of the head.

Finally, it is also known (German Patent Specification No. 816,298) to equip the hose line of hood-like driers with a flexible supporting member, for example a wire coil in order to prevent abrupt bending of the hose.

The problem of the present invention is to provide a portable hoodrype hair drier whose hot air blower is removable and usable as a hand-held hair drier and which gives the user maximum comfort when worn. The hoodtype drier must be easy to pack away and cheap to manufacture. Maximum freedom of movement for the user's head must be ensured and it must be possible to hear any noises in the vicinity.

According to the invention, there is provided a portable hood-type hair drier comprising a hood, a hose line connected at one end to the hood, a blower unit adapted to be connected to the other end of the hose line and a carrying bracket adapted to rest on and be supported by a wearer's shoulder, the said other end of the hose line being supported on said carrying bracket. Advantageously, the bracket is connected to one end of the hose line, whereby the blower unit can be fastened or fixed to the bracket in such a way that there can be a direct air passage between the hose line and the air outlet of the blower unit.

Preferably, the carrying bracket is substantially arcuate and carries a socket adapted to receive the said other end of the hose line and the blower unit. Advantageously, the socket is provided with grooves and/or projections or locking means which serve to secure the blower unit and the hose line end.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a hoodetype drier with a hose line and carrying bracket according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a part-sectional side elevation of the bracket illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the hood-type hair drier comprises a double-walled hood 1 to which is connected one end of a hose line 2 the other end 3 of which leads into a pipe socket 4 carried on a carrying or shoulder bracket 5. A motorised blower unit 6 is inserted from below in the direction of arrow A into the socket 4 and is held in the latter at 7 by a tapered cone or a spring catch 10.

The bracket 5 takes the form of a U-shaped bracket, whose bottom 8 is advantageously provided with a layer of cushioned foam material. One end 9 of the bracket 5 is constructed in one piece with the pipe socket 4. The cold air sucked in by the motorised blower unit 6 flows in the direction of arrow A through the said unit where it is heated and then flows as hot air into the hood-type drier 1 via the pipe socket 4 and hose line 2.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A portable hood-type hair drier comprising a hood, a hose line connected at one end to the hood, a blower unit adapted to be connected to the other end of the hose line and a carrying bracket adapted to rest on and be supported by a wearer's shoulder, the said other end of the hose line being supported on said carrying bracket.

2. A hair drier according to claim 1, wherein the carrying bracket is substantially arcuate and carries a socket adapted to receive the said other end of the hose line and the blower unit.

3. A hair drier according to claim 2, wherein the socket is provided with locking or spring catches for securing the hose line end and/or the blower unit 4. A hair drier according to any preceding claim, wherein the carrying bracket is provided with a layer of cushioning material on the side which is designed to engage with a wearer's shoulder.

5. A portable hood-type hair drier substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Figure 2 is a part-sectional side elevation of the bracket illustrated in Figure 1. Referring to the drawings, the hood-type hair drier comprises a double-walled hood 1 to which is connected one end of a hose line 2 the other end 3 of which leads into a pipe socket 4 carried on a carrying or shoulder bracket 5. A motorised blower unit 6 is inserted from below in the direction of arrow A into the socket 4 and is held in the latter at 7 by a tapered cone or a spring catch 10. The bracket 5 takes the form of a U-shaped bracket, whose bottom 8 is advantageously provided with a layer of cushioned foam material. One end 9 of the bracket 5 is constructed in one piece with the pipe socket 4. The cold air sucked in by the motorised blower unit 6 flows in the direction of arrow A through the said unit where it is heated and then flows as hot air into the hood-type drier 1 via the pipe socket 4 and hose line 2. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A portable hood-type hair drier comprising a hood, a hose line connected at one end to the hood, a blower unit adapted to be connected to the other end of the hose line and a carrying bracket adapted to rest on and be supported by a wearer's shoulder, the said other end of the hose line being supported on said carrying bracket.

2. A hair drier according to claim 1, wherein the carrying bracket is substantially arcuate and carries a socket adapted to receive the said other end of the hose line and the blower unit.

3. A hair drier according to claim 2, wherein the socket is provided with locking or spring catches for securing the hose line end and/or the blower unit

4. A hair drier according to any preceding claim, wherein the carrying bracket is provided with a layer of cushioning material on the side which is designed to engage with a wearer's shoulder.

5. A portable hood-type hair drier substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.