Device for improving performance of hair dryer and related method of use

[0001] RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/264,528 filed Dec. 8, 2015, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0003] This invention relates to a device, system and method for improving the performance and results of a hair dryer, and more particularly for increasing the efficiency and improving the time required to dry hair. According to one aspect of the present invention, the device can be used to advantageously dry hair, in particular curly hair. The present invention provides many benefits, including softer curls or waves. Another aspect of the present invention is a method for providing hair that is less frizzy and easier to manage.

[0004] For decades, electric hair dryers have been used to dry and style hair. There have been modest improvements over time, including variations of the conventional hair dryer that have included caps, helmets, hoods or bonnets that can be worn on the head while drying the hair. For instance, early efforts are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,304,625 to Black & Decker, describing a hair dryer connected by a plastic hose to a flexible hair drying bonnet, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,358,383 to Black & Decker, describing a hair dryer bonnet made of sheets of vinyl plastic. These hoods are undesirable and require a substantial amount of time to thoroughly dry the hair.

[0005] Further, drying curly hair has proven to be particularly difficult, where the heat from the hair dryer disproportionately flattens the hair and can lead to hair damage over time. Attachments to hair dryers, such as diffusers, have helped address this issue. However, there are several drawbacks to this approach, including the substantial length of time required to dry hair when using a diffuser attachment. Another problem is that the resulting hair is frizzy and may be difficult to manage and style. Accordingly, there remains a need for a device that can efficiently dry hair, in particular curly hair, which also results in softer curls or waves.

[0013] The present invention relates to a device, system and method for improving the performance and results of a hair dryer. More particularly, the present invention relates to increasing the efficiency and/or improving the time required to dry hair, particularly curly hair. One benefit of the invention is that it results in softer curls or waves. Another aspect of the present invention is a method for providing hair that is less frizzy and easier to manage.

[0014] In certain embodiments, the device comprises a tubular sleeve body 10, having a first end and a second end. The first end is adapted to fit securely over the barrel of a hair dryer. The sleeve body can be made of a variety of fabrics, and most preferably a fabric that will absorb moisture, including but not limited to cotton. In another embodiment, the sleeve body is made of a synthetic mesh fabric. In at least one embodiment, the sleeve body is made of a breathable fabric with additional holes for air ventilation. According to at least one embodiment, the sleeve body is made of a fabric that can absorb the water from the hair. In a further embodiment, the sleeve body is made of a fabric that can wick away the moisture from the hair.

[0015] In certain embodiments, the first end is secured to a diffuser that is positioned or optionally attached to the end of a hair dryer barrel. The sleeve body second end is adapted to fit over the head of the user such that the hair of user is enclosed within the body of the sleeve. The sleeve body is fashioned from a moisture absorbent material such as fabric or synthetic mesh. The sleeve body further comprises a plurality of ringlets or apertures arranged along the length of the sleeve. In certain embodiments, the first and second ends are conformable around hair dryer diffuser and the head/neck of the user, respectively. In certain implementations, the first and second ends comprise an elastic ring. In further implementations the first and second end comprise drawstrings.

[0016] In use, the user secures the first end of the sleeve body to the hair dryer diffuser and pulls the second end of the sleeve over the user's head such that the user's hair in contained within the sleeve body. The user then turns on the hair dryer which channels air over the hair of the user. While it is being used, the user may optionally manipulate the hair through the sleeve body to promote absorption of the water by the sleeve body and to increase the surface area of the hair exposed to moving air.

[0017] In certain embodiments, the user may wrap the hair in rollers or curlers, for instance including but not limited to self-gripping rollers, velcro cling rollers, foam rollers, or soft curlers, in order to provide additional volume and styling of the hair.

[0018] In certain embodiments, the sleeve body contains an opening, preferably configured to permit the user to reach in and feel the hair, or alternatively scrunch the hair during operation. The opening also allows the user to determine whether the hair is completely dry prior to removing the hair from the sleeve body.

[0019] The inventor tested the amount of time required to dry long, curly hair. Starting with wet hair, and using a hair dryer with a diffuser attachment, the hair was dried in 12-13 minutes. The same test was performed with the hair dryer sleeve. When the hair dryer sleeve was used, the hair was dried in approximately 4-5 minutes.

[0020]

TABLE 1
Comparison of Drying Methods
Drying Method	Time Required to Dry Hair
Hair Dryer, with Diffuser	12-13 minutes
Hair Dryer, with Diffuser and Sleeve	4-5 minutes

[0021] Further, the inventor compared the characteristics and texture of the hair after various drying methods. When compared against the hair dryer with the diffuser without the sleeve, the hair dried with the diffuser and the hair dryer sleeve, the resulting hair had softer curls and had a less frizzy texture.

[0022] The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments of the present inventions. The foregoing embodiments and the methods described herein may vary based on the ability, experience, and preference of those skilled in the art. Merely listing the steps of the method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of the method. The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the claims are so limited. Those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.