Magnetically directed hair dryer nozzle

[0001] (a) Field of the Invention

[0002] This application relates to a device and method for directing heated air from a hair dryer onto the hair while brushing or combing the hair. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a hair dryer with a pivoting nozzle that follows a brush or combing device. The position of the nozzle relative to the brush is preferably controlled through magnetic attraction.

[0003] (b) Discussion of Known Art

[0004] Known art addresses various problems associated with the styling of hair while using a blow dryer to dry the hair. Many of these, however, concern themselves with diffusing the flow of air in order to prevent hot spots that can over-dry or damage the hair. Diffusers are also helpful in styling because they distribute the airflow over a large region, thus making it easier for the user keep the brush or comb within the area covered by the flow of heated air. However, by diffusing the air, the efficiency and effectiveness of the dryer is greatly diminished. Also, the lack of focus of the air stream from a diffuser will cause the areas of the hair to dry before the user has had an opportunity to brush the hair.

[0005] A hair dryer with an oscillating nozzle is shown U.S. Pat. No. 6,966,125 to Rago et al. The Rago et al. device, however, causes the nozzle to oscillate at set rates, without concern for the area of the hair being brushed. Accordingly, the user must try to coordinate the brushing or styling with the movement of the nozzle, which can be particularly difficult if the user is holding the dryer with one hand and using the other hand to brush the hair that is on the same side as the dryer.

[0006] Accordingly, a review of known art reveals that there is a need for a device or system that allows a user to coordinate the flow from a blow dryer and a brush or other styling tool being used in conjunction with the blow dryer.

[0007] It has been discovered that the problems left unanswered by known art can be solved by providing a hairdryer or blow dryer and brush system that includes:

[0008] A blow dryer having a body and a nozzle that is pivotally mounted from the body;

[0009] A hair brush or comb that includes a magnet that produces a magnetic field; and

[0010] An indexing system that aligns the nozzle with the brush or comb by detecting the magnetic field of the magnet, so that movement of the brush or comb across the hair while pointing the blow dryer towards the user's head causes the nozzle to point towards the comb, thereby

[0011] It should also be understood that while the above and other advantages and results of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, showing the contemplated novel construction, combinations and elements as herein described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it should be clearly understood that changes in the precise embodiments of the herein disclosed invention are meant to be included within the scope of the claims, except insofar as they may be precluded by the prior art.

[0023] While the invention will be described and disclosed here in connection with certain preferred embodiments, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described here, but rather the invention is intended to cover all alternative embodiments and modifications that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims included herein as well as any equivalents of the disclosed and claimed invention.

[0024] Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2A where a hairdryer or blow dryer 10 incorporating inventive principles taught herein has been illustrated. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2A a hollow nozzle 12 that includes a central axis 30 and an exit end 23. The nozzle 12 rotates about the central axis 30 through bearings 16 that support the nozzle 12 and allow the nozzle 12 to rotate either clockwise or counterclockwise about the central axis 30 of the nozzle, as indicated by the arrow tail indicia 20 or arrow head indicia 22 shown in FIG. 2A. It will be understood that it is contemplated that the blow dryer 10 is used in conjunction with a comb or brush 18 that includes at least one magnet 24 that creates a magnetic field 26 that is used to control the movements of the nozzle 12 relative to the body 40 of the blow dryer 10.

[0025] Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4 it will be understood that it is contemplated that once the nozzle 12 has been mounted on bearings 16, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, and then use magnets 28 to then link through the magnetic field 26 to the brush 18. As shown on FIG. 4, the nozzle 12 will respond to the movement of the brush 18 past the nozzle 12 by rotating about the axis 30 of the nozzle 12, as indicated by the arrows 31. The flow from the elongated shape 25 of this example of the nozzle 12 will be directional due to the use of slats 27 and the elongated shape 25 illustrated in FIG. 4. The elongated shape combined with the use of the slats will result in a focused stream that will be shifted as the flow follows towards the brush. The elongated shape will include ends 29 and sides 38.

[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates the use of a rounded nozzle that also includes slats 27. This arrangement will use bearings that allow the nozzle 12 to rotate about the axis 30 of the nozzle 12. A perceived disadvantage of the rounded nozzle of FIG. 5 versus the elongated nozzle of FIG. 4 is the focusing that is achieved with the combination of the slats 27 and the elongated shape.

[0027] FIGS. 6, 7A, 7B, and 7C illustrate that it is also contemplated that the principles taught herein may also be embodied in a device where the nozzle pivots about a vertical axis. In this arrangement the blow dryer assembly 10 includes a pivoted nozzle 12 that is mounted at the exit 14 of the blow dryer 10. As in the examples illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, the blow dryer 10 is used in conjunction with a comb or brush 16 that includes at least one magnet 24 that creates a magnetic field 20 that is used to control the direction of orientation of the nozzle 12.

[0028] Because the linking is carried out through a magnetic field 26, it is contemplated that the magnet generating the magnetic field may be placed on the brush or the nozzle and a ferrous mating element placed on the mating nozzle or brush. It is contemplated that ferrous element may be the material that is used to form the nozzle 12 or incorporated into the tip 36 of the nozzle 12. If a sufficiently powerful magnet is imbedded into the brush 16, the magnetic field generated from the magnet may be used to keep the nozzle 12 pointed towards the brush 18 while combing or styling. However, the use of magnets on both the nozzle and the brush is a preferred embodiment because the use of magnets on each of the components results in an overlap of the magnetic fields. This overlap results in a stronger coupling of the two elements, and thus obviates the need for the use of exceptionally strong, more expensive, magnets.

[0029] Turning now to FIGS. 6, and 7A-7C, where nozzle is shown supported from the body 40 of the blow dryer 10 through a hinge 30 that acts along a single hinge line that is oriented along a vertical axis. The nozzle 12 is located downstream of a fan 44 that forces air past a heating element 60 as the air 34 flows towards the nozzle 12.

[0030] While the magnetic coupling disclosed here may be used to pivot the nozzle of this example, it is also contemplated that a system for assisting the movement of the nozzle 12 may also be utilized. Thus, FIGS. 6, and 7A-7C show how the magnetic coupling is used with a power assist mechanism 62 to allow the nozzle 12 to follow the magnetic field 26 that emanates from the brush 18.

[0031] FIG. 6 illustrates that the ferrous element 36 may be a part of a pointer 44 that is supported by a hinge 42 in the nozzle 12. Thus, the pointer 44 will be drawn to the magnetic field 26, and the orientation of the pointer 44 may be used to generate a control signal that is used to activate a motor 48 that moves the nozzle 12 until the central axis 30 of the nozzle 12 is aligned with the pointer 44. The control of the motor may be accomplished in various ways. For example, in FIG. 7A a system that uses various position contacts 50 that are brought into contact with a pointer contact 52 as the pointer 44 moves over the position contacts 50 allow the flow of an electrical current from the pointer contact 52 through the position contacts 44 to create a signal that is either proportionate to the angle of the pointer 44 or which corresponds to flow through a specific position contact 50.

[0032] Turning to FIG. 73, it will be understood that it is also contemplated that the electrical signal that is used to control the motor 48 may also be generated through the use of photocells 54, which would stop producing an electrical signal once the pointer 44 is directly over and thus covering the photocell 54, which works on the well-known photovoltaic effect. Accordingly, the lack of an electrical signal could then be used as a signal to activate the motor 48 in order to move the nozzle 12 until it is aligned with the pointer 44.

[0033] FIG. 7C illustrates that stop switches 64 may also be used to stop the movement of the nozzle 12 once the nozzle reaches the end of the desired travel. The switches would simply open the electrical circuit to the motor 36. Additionally, FIG. 7C shows the use of direction switches 58 that turn on electrical power to the motor 48 to achieve rotation towards the side of the respective direction switch 58. Thus, it is contemplated that as the brush is moved next to the direction switch 58, the direction switch 58 will cause the motor to rotate in the direction of the respective switch until the stop switch 64 is tripped. Then, once the magnetic field of the brush 16 passes over another direction switch 58, the motor 36 will then cause the nozzle to rotate in the direction of the most recently encountered direction switch 58 until another stop switch 64 is encountered.

[0034] Thus it can be appreciated that the above-described embodiments are illustrative of just a few of the numerous variations of arrangements of the disclosed elements used to carry out the disclosed invention. Moreover, while the invention has been particularly shown, described and illustrated in detail with reference to preferred embodiments and modifications thereof, it should be understood that the foregoing and other modifications are exemplary only, and that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as claimed, except as precluded by the prior art.