US3290794A

US3290794A - Hair dryer

Info

Publication number: US3290794A
Application number: US218720A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph R Mango
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1962-08-22
Filing date: 1962-08-22
Publication date: 1966-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 1983-12-13
Also published as: GB983037A; ES288690A1

Description

J. R. MANGO HAIR DRYER Dec. 13, 1966 Filed Aug. 22, 1962 |s Fig.3.

|NVENT0R Joseph R. Mango United States Patent C 3,290,794 HAIR DRYER JosephR. Mango, Midlothian, Ill., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Aug. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 218,720 8 Claims. (Cl. 34-99) This invention relates to hair dryers, more particularly to portable hair dryers of the domestic type, and has for an object to pr-ovide an additional function for such dryers, more particularly, the function of readily drying polish on the finger nails of the user.

Another object of the invention is to facilitate the drying of finger nail polish.

In one form of the present invention, the hair dryer case comprises a base portion and a cover therefor, the two being hingedly joined at one mating edge, whereby the cover may be pivoted to open position to expose the operating controls within the c-ase. ln a dryer of this type, much of the mechanism is disposed in the bottom portion of the case and a cover plate conceals and protects this mechanism. Preferably, the cover plate is provided with a raised portion of -generally frusto-conical shape, this raised portion providing additional space for the usual motor-blower combination. In .accordance with this invention, the inclined conical side wall of the frusto-conical raised portion of the cover plate is provided, in a limited area thereof, with a plurality of openings arranged in two groups through which air is -admitted to the blower. These entering air streams are utilized for the drying of finger nail polish.

The two groups of openings constitute the primary (and preferably substantially the only) rneans of entry of air to the blower below the cover plate. In accordance with usual practice with such devices, this air received by the blower is translated thereby through a passage in the casing, past a heater in such passage by which the air temperature is raised, and the heated air then discharged through an exhaust opening in the casing from whence it is led by a flexible hose to a bonnet or hood worn by the user in a manner wel-l known in this art and hence not described further herein.

Preferably, the two groups of openings above referred to are positioned in adjacent approximately 90 segments of the circular inclined side wall, these 90 segments being preferably located in the front half of the inclined Wall and the entire frusto-conical structure is disposed rearwardly of the front -of the casing a suicient distance to provide room at the front of the casing for comfortable support of the users hands while the iinger tips are disposed in close proximity to the two groups of openings, the openings of each of the two groups serving toprovide for air iiow over the linger nails of one hand of the user.

While it will Ibe apparent that the openings of each ygroup may be provided in various shapes and arr-angements, in the preferred embodiment herein illustrated the openings of each group are in the form of a plurality of vertical, closely spaced, parallel slots, these groups of slots presenting a pleasing -appearance as well as providing the necessary function of permitting entry of air to the blower therebelow. By providing substantially all of the openings to the blower at limited areas ol the inclined 'f The above discussed objects and other objects are i eiiected by the invention as will lbe apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective View of a hair dryer incorporating the present invention, illustrating the novel use thereof, for drying polish on the linger nails of the use-r;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the base portion of the hair dryer as sh-own in FIG. l, with portions of the structure broken away to more clearly illustrate details of the construction; and,

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line III- III off FIG. 2, looking in the direction indicated |by the arrows, portions of the structure being omitted in the interest of clarity.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the structure illustrated therein comprises three basic elements; an air translating and heating unit 1li, a 'hood 11 to surround the hair to be dried, and a flexible hose or conduit 12 for conducting heated air lfrom the air translating and heating unit 10 to the hood 11.

The present invention relates to the air translating and heating unit 10, this unit comprising a casing 13 including a base 14 and a cover 16 hingedly connected to the latter along one mating edge of the two parts.

The ibase 14 is adapted to rest upon a horizontal supporting surface of any suitable object and is defined by a bottom wall 15 and front, rear and side walls 15a extending upwardly from the bottom wall 15. A cover plate 17 is disposed in approximately parallel spaced relation to the bottom wall 15 and cooperates with upwardly extending walls 15a of the base to provide within the latter a compartment or chamber 18 in which is housed the usual components for a hair dryer of this type. These components include a blower 19 for translating air through the hose 12 to the hood, a motor 20 for driving the blower 19 and heater 21 for heating the translated air prior to its flow through the hose 12. Preferably, the chamber 18 is divided by horizontal partition Z2 into an upper portion 23 housing the motor 20 and a lower portion Z4 in which is contained the blower 19 and the heater 21. Both the partition 22 and the cover plate 17 are provided with

openings

26 and 27 respectively therein for discharge of t-he heated air from the chamber lower portion 24- to the hose 12.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 Iand 3, the cover plate 17 is provided with an upwardly formed Igenerally frustoconical portion 30 including a top wall 31 and inclined conical side wall structure 32, although it will be apparent that it could have other shapes.

While, in some prior constructions, the motor and blower housing has been provided with a perforated top surface for entry of air, the present invention has the top surface 31 of the raised frusto-conical porti-011 30 solid without .any air admission openings, such admission open-ings in the therein illustrated construction bein-g provided exclusively in the inclined side wall structure 32 of the frusto-conical portion. Furthermore, as best shown in FIG. l, these openings for admission of air are in the form of vertical parallel slots 33, disposed in two

groups

34 and 35, each group occupying approximately a segment of the inclined wall structure 32. These two groups of slots or 90 segments lare preferably located in the front half of the side wall struct-ure 32.

Preferably the approximately y90" seg-ments `of the wall structure 32 which contain the two

groups

34 and 35 of slots 33, are disposed slightly inwardly of the remainder of the incl-ined 'wall structure, to more rapidly receive and locate the inger tips of the user, and to prevent accidental slippage of the linger tips circumferentially out of alignment with the groups of openings'.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the partition 22 is provided with a plurality of openings 36 and 37 for flow of air from the slots 33 to the blower 19.

It will be noted that the raised truste-conical portion of the cover plate 17 is located somewhat rearwardly of the front edge of the base 14 and also is spaced inwardly from the side edges thereof, with the result that the front and right-hand sides or edges of the base ser-ve as a comfortable support for the hands or fingers of the user when utilizing the device for the drying of polish on the finger nails, in the manner clearly illustrated in FIG. 1. From an inspection of FIG. 1, it will be apparent that the user may rest the base portions of the iingers on the edge of the base structure with the tips of the fingers resting on ythe cover plate 17 Iadjacent the truste-conical raised portion 30. Furthermore, it will be apparent that the location of the openings in the two groups above discussed, `and the arrangement of these two Igroups in the front half of the conical inclined surface 32 provides for ia natural disposition of the hands while the finger nails are being dried. Consequently, this particular disposition of the two groups of openings is an important yfeature of applicants contribution.

By limiting substantially all openings for entry of air to the air translating device to the two restricted areas above discussed, there is provided a concentrated flow of air over the finger nails of the user with the result that the polish thereon is quickily dried.

It will be apparent from the above descrip-tion of a preferred embodiment of applicants invention that there is provided apparatus by which the iinger nail polish when applied to a users nails may be quickly and efficiently dr-ied, either at the same time that the hair is dried, or separately.

While the invention has been shown in but one form, it will be yapparent that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a domestic hair dryer of the portable type, means for drying polish on the fingernails of the user at the same time that the users hair is being dried, said means comprising: casing structure including a base, said base being :adapted to rest on a generally horizontal supporting surface, 'a cover plate cooperating with said base to define a chamber, air translating means disposed in said chamber, said cover plate hai/ing a generally frustoconical raised portion whose inclined side Wall has a plurality of openings therethrough for entry to the chamber of air to be translated by the air translating means, said openings being readily accessible to finger tips disposed in close proximity thereto, whereby nail polish 'applied to the nails of such fingers will tbe rapidly dried by the flow of air thereover just prior to entry of such air through said openings to the air translating means.

2. In a domestic hair dryer of the portable type, means for drying polish on the fingernails of the user iat the same time that the users hair is being dried, said means comprising: easing structure including a base, said base being adapted to rest on a generally horizontal supporting surface, a cover plate `cooperating with said base to define a chamber, air translating means disposed in said chamber, said cover plate having a generally frustoconical raised portion whose inclined side wall has a plurality of openings therethrough `for entry to the ch-amber of air to be translated by the air translating means, said openings being readily accessible to linger tips disposed in close proximity thereto, whereby nail polish applied to the nails of such fingers twill be rapidly dried by the flow of air thereover just prior to entry of such air through said openings to the air translating means, said air entry openings being provided in a limited portion only of the periphery of said inclined side wall.

3. In `a domestic hair dryer of the portable type, means tor drying polish on the fingernails of the user at the same time that the users hair is being dried, said means :omprising: casing structure including a base, said base )eing adapted to rest on :a generally horizontal supporting surface, a cover plate cooperating with said base to define a chamber, air translating means disposed in said chamber, said cover plate having a generally frusto-conical raised portion whose inclined side wall has a plurality of openings therethrough for entry to the chamber of air to be translated by Ithe air translating means, said openings being readily vaccessible to finger tips disposed in close proximity thereto, whereby nail polish applied to the nails of such fingers will be rapidly dried by the ow of air thereover j-ust prior to entry of such air through said openings to the air translating means, said air entry openings being provided in a limited portion only of the periphery of said inclined side walll, said openings being the only means for admission of air to the air translating means.

4. In a domestic hair dryer of the portable type, means for drying polish on the fingernails of the luser at the same time that the users hair is being dried, said means comprising: casing structure including :a ibase, said base being adapted to rest on a generally horizontal supporting surface, a cover plate cooperating with said base to define a chamber, air translating means disposed in said chamber, said cover plate having a generally frusto-conical raised portion whose inclined side wall has a plurality of openings therethrough for entry to the chamber of air to be translated by the air 4translating means, said openings being readily accessible to finger tips disposed in close proximity thereto, whereby nail polish applied to the nails of such fingers will be rapidly dried by the flow of air thereover just prior to entry of such air through said openings to the `air translating means, said air entry openings being provided in la limited portion only of the periphery of said inclined side wall, said openings being arranged in two groups.

5. In a domestic hair dryer of the portable type, means for drying polish on the fingernails of the user at the same time that the users hair is being dried, said means comprising: casing structure including a base, said base being adapted to rest on a generally horizontal supporting surface, a cover plate cooperating with said base to define a chamber, air translating means disposed in said chamber, said cover plate having a generally frusto-conical raised portion whose inclined side Wall has a plurality of openings therethrough for entry to thechamber of air to be translated by the air translating means, said openings being readily accessible to finger tips disposed in close proximity thereto, wherebyv nail polish applied to the nails of such fingers will be rapidly dried 4by the flow of air thereover just prior to entry of such air through said openings to the air translating means, said air entry openings being provided in a limited portion only of the periphery of saidinclined side wall, said openings being arranged in two groups, said two groups being provided in adjacent approximately 90 segments of said inclined side wall.

6. In a portable domestic hair dryer, means `for drying polish on the fingernails of the user at the same time that the users hair is being dried, said means comprising: casing structure including a base having a bottom wall and upstanding side wall structure, a cover plate cooperating'with said base to define La chamber, a blower and an electric motor therefor housed in said chamber, the cover plate Ibeing disposed in generally parallel relation to the base bottom wall and having a raised portion including a substantially fiat top wall and an intermediate side wall structure connecting said top wall with the remainder of the cover plate, said side wall struct-ure having two groups of openings therethrough for entry of air to the chamber for cooling said motor and for translation by the blower, said motor being disposed :above the blower and extending within the raised portion Iof the cover plate, said two groups of openings providing for Aconcentrated flow of air at restricted locations for rapid drying of nail polish on a users fingers when the fingers are positioned adjacent said groups of openings, each group of openings comprising 'a plurality of parallel,

closely spaced, vertical slots of insutlicient width to permit entry of the users lingers.

7. In a portable vdomestic hair dryer, means for drying polish on the iingernails `of the user at the same time that the users hair is being dried, ysaid means comprising: casing struct-ure including a base having la bottom wall and Iups-tanding front, rear and side walls, a cover plate cooperating with said base to deiine a chamber, a Iblower and an electric motor therefor housed in said chamber, the cover plate being disposed in `generally parallel relation to the base bottom wall and having a raised portion including top wall and an intermediate side Wall structure connecting said top Wall with the remainder of the cover plate, said side wall structure having ltwo groups of o-penings therethrough for entry of air to the chamber for translation by the 4blower therein, said t-wo groups of openings providing -for concentrated flow of air at restricted locations for rapid drying of nail polish on a users lingers when the fingers are positioned adjacent said groups of openings, said two groups of openings being disposed in adjacent approximately 90 segments of said intermediate side wall structure `and said adjacent 90 segments lying in the front half of said intermediate side wall structure.

8. In la portab-le domestic hair dryer, means for drying polish on the ngernails of the user at the same time that the fusers hair is being dnied, said means comprising: casing structure including a base having a bottom wall and upstanding side Wall structure, a cover plate coopenating with said Ibase to define a chamber, a blower and an electric motor therefor housed in said chamber, the cover plate .being disposed in .generally panalflel relation to the base bottom wall and having a raised portion including a top wall and 1an intermediate side Wall strncture connecting said top wall with the remainder of the cover plate, said side Wall structure of `the cover plate having a vgroup 'of openings therethrough for entry of air to the chamber for translation by the blower therein, the structure defining said chamber having an additional opening therethrough for discharge of translated air from the chamber to the users hair, said group of openings providing for concentrated iiow of air at a restricted locatio-n for rapid drying of nail polish on a fusers fingers when the lingers are positioned adjacent said group of openings, said openings being of insuicient size to permit entry of said ngers.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 190,788 6/ 1961 Carpenter 34-99 2,041,687 5/1936 Benson 219-39.13 2,466,915 4/ 1949 Shields 34-99 2,673,402 3/ 1954 Chambers 34-202 3,006,079 10/1961 Jepson 34-99 3,089,942 5./ 1963 Wrigglesworth 34-243 FOREIGN PATENTS 613,230 11/ 1948 Great Britain.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner,

NORMAN YUDKOFF, WILLIAM F. ODEA,

. Examiners. 4J. P. ROBINSON, A. D. HERRMANN,

Assistant Examiners.

Claims

1. IN A DOMESTIC HAIR DRYER OF THE PORTABLE TYPE, MEANS FOR DRYING POLISH ON THE FINGERNAILS OF THE USER AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE USER''S HAIR IS BEING DRIED, SAID MEANS COMPRISING: CASING STRUCTURE INCLUDING A BASE, SAID BASE BEING ADAPTED TO REST ON A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL SUPPORT ING SURFACE, A COVER PLATE COOPERATING WITH SAID BASE TO DEFINE A CHAMBER, SAID COVER PLATE HAVING A GENERALLY FRUSTOCHAMBER, SAID COVER PLATE HAVING A GENERALLY FRUSTOCONICAL RAISED PORTION WHOSE INCLINED SIDE WALL HAS A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS THERETHROUGH FOR ENTRY TO THE CHAMBER OF AIR TO BE TRANSLATED BY THE AIR TRANSLATING MEANS, SAID OPENING BEING READILY ACCESSIBLE TO FINGER TIPS DISPOSED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY THERETO, WHEREBY NAIL POLISH APPLIED TO THE NAILS OF SUCH FINGERS WILL BE RAPIDLY DRIED BY THE FLOW OF AIR THEREOVER JUST PRIOR TO ENTRY OF SUCH AIR THROUGH SAID OPENINGS TO THE AIR TRANSLATING MEANS.