TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an air jet forming device and more particularly but not exclusively to devices which can be used for the drying of hair, for example in the form of a hand-held hairdryer.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Hand-held hairdryers are a common household item in most developed homes and have been disclosed in various patents and applications, including US6393718, US4260875, US20130291394 and US8302324. Hand-held hairdryers are used both domestically and professionally.

[0003] The above referenced patents disclose various operational modes of hand-held hairdryers but despite addressing the functional aspects of the devices, including the degree to which the temperature and air flow rate can be controlled, there appears to be lacking a design with an overall profile which specifically facilitates easy handling ability of the user.

[0004] Figure 1 shows an example of a conventional embodiment of a hand-held hairdryer (being a particular form of an air jet forming device) disclosed in the prior art. Such devices are typically comprised of an air guiding tube 21 with a single handle 25 often in the form of a pistol grip situated substantially perpendicular to the main body 26. The temperature controls 23 and the air flow rate controls 24 are located on the handle 25 of the device.

Typically, there is a cold shot button 22 to facilitate styling. These devices can be bulky. Enclosed within the housing 20 of such hand-held hair dryer devices are the necessary electrical heating and fan components and the corresponding controllers, which contribute to making the devices cumbersome.

[0005] An alternative to the conventional hand-held hairdryer shape shown in figure 1 may take the form of an S-shape as disclosed in application CN202800503Uwhich is stated to facilitate better styling. However, such an arrangement does not necessarily improve handling ability.

[0006] There is a need for an air jet forming element with a profile which enables the device to be held in alternate grasps. It would also be advantageous if the element facilitated easy and full access to control elements of the element, irrespective of grasp chosen. In addition, or in the alternative it would be advantageous if the element facilitated a dynamic range of alternate temperature and air jet flow rate.

[0007] In preferred forms, given the extent of usage of hair drying appliances by professional hairdressers/stylists, it would be advantageous to have an element with a profile which is easy to manoeuvre. This would thereby provide benefits for the musculoskeletal health of the user. Furthermore, having a large degree of control via a variety of grasp positions would be advantageous in the promotion of styling ability.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.

Notes

[0009] The term "comprising" (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including", and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of.

[00010] The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[00011] Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention there is provided an air jet forming device including a casing comprising at least a first, second and third element; and wherein the at least a first, second and third element adjoin at a common junction.

[00012] In a further broad form of the invention there is provided, a method of generating and directing and controlling the direction of flow of air; said method comprising forcing air generated in a first element through the interior of the second element so as to exit the second element in an exit flow; and wherein the direction of the exit flow is determined by manipulation of a third element; and wherein the first, second and third element adjoin at a common j unction.

[00013] In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided, a casing for an air jet forming device; the casing comprising at least a first, second and third element; and wherein the at least a first, second and third element adjoin at a common junction. [00014] Accordingly, in a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of generating an air jet by means of a fan and a fan motor disposed in one element of an air jet forming device.

[00015] Accordingly, in yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided method of controlling the air jet flow rate using a pulse width modulation technique; and wherein the heater controller electronics are responsive to feedback from the dual push button control.

[00016] Accordingly, in yet a further broad form there is provided an air jet forming device including a casing comprising at least a first, second and third element; and wherein the at least a first, second and third element adjoin at a common junction and wherein the second element of said device projects at an obtuse angle relative to the first element at the common junction and wherein the third element of said device projects at an obtuse angle relative to the first element at the common junction.

[00017] The below features may be combined individually or in any combination or permutation thereof with any one of the above statements of the broadest form of the invention.

[00018] Preferably at least a first, second and third element are all aligned on a

longitudinal plane; and wherein the at least a first, second and third element adjoin at a common junction located on the longitudinal plane.

[00019] Preferably the first element of said device is an air jet directing element.

[00020] Preferably the second element of said device is an air introducing element.

[00021] Preferably the third element of said device is a handle element.

[00022] Preferably the second element of said device projects at an obtuse angle relative to the first element at the common junction.

[00023] Preferably the third element of said device projects at an obtuse angle relative to the first element at the common junction. [00024] Preferably the second element is perpendicular to the third element at the common junction.

[00025] Preferably the device is operable by a control element located proximate the common junction.

[00026] Preferably the control element comprises a dual push button with a first push button disposed in an opposed relationship to a second push button.

[00027] Preferably the first push button is located on an opposite side of the longitudinal plane to the second push button.

[00028] Preferably the control element can be easily accessed and operated whilst grasping the device in any one of three preferred combinations.

[00029] Preferably operation of a dual push button arrangement regulates the air jet flow rate.

[00030] Preferably operation of the second push button regulates the air jet temperature.

[00031] Preferably the desired settings for any push button combination produces a dynamic customised range of alternating temperature and air flow rate.

[00032] Preferably each of the first push button and second push button are identifiable by touch and can be distinguished by raised portions on the surface.

[00033] Preferably an air jet is generated by a fan located in an air introducing nozzle.

[00034] Preferably an air jet motor and a heater are powered from a remote power supply module containing air jet motor controller electronics and an air jet heater controller.

[00035] Preferably the remote power supply module is connected to the air jet forming device by a cable.

[00036] Preferably the air jet forming device is a hair dryer.

[00037] Preferably a method of generating an air jet by means of a fan and a fan motor disposed in one element of the air jet forming device. [00038] Preferably the air jet flow rate is controlled by means of a pulse width modulation technique.

[00039] Preferably the heater controller electronics are responsive to feedback from the dual push button.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[00040] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[00041] Figure 1, illustrates a typical conventional hand-held hair dryer for domestic or commercial use.

[00042] Figure 2 A is a perspective view of a casing portion of an air jet forming element in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[00043] Figure 2B is a further perspective view of a casing portion of an air jet forming element in accordance with the embodiment of figure 2A.

[00044] Figure 3 A is a side view of an air jet forming element incorporating controls in accordance with a further embodiment.

[00045] Figure 3B is a side detailed, partly cut away view of a nozzle portion of the air jet forming element of figure 3A.

[00046] Figure 4 is a block diagram of an electrical circuit operable with the air jet forming element of figure 3A.

[00047] Figure 5 is a screen view of an application operable on a portable digital device for control of at least aspects of the operation of the element of figure 3 A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERED EMBODIMENTS

[00048] With reference to figures 2A, 2B there is shown perspective views of a casing 8 of an air jet forming device in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this instance the casing 8 comprises three main elements in this instance formed as an integral housing. In a particular preferred form, the housing is comprised of a plastics material. In this instance the casing 8 is formed from three elements. In this instance the longest element is an air jet directing element 11 which in this instance forms a main body portion from which second and third elements extend. In this instance the second and third elements comprise an air introducing element 12 and a handle element 13. In this instance the three elements extend from a common junction 14 so as to form a substantially Y profile.

[00049] With reference to figures 3A, 3B the casing 8 maybe incorporated into and form part of an air jet forming device 10. In this instance the air jet forming device 10 includes a profile specifically designed for easy handling whilst still allowing full access to a control element 15 incorporated within the device 10. In this instance the control element 15 facilitates the control of features such as temperature and air flow rate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention functionality and parameters of operation of the device 10 may be controlled using an application for example on a Bluetooth-enabled hand-held device 45 as will be described in more detail later in this specification.

[00050] With reference to figure 3B the casing around the air jet directing element 11 portion of the housing is covered by an insulating foam/rubber grip 31. In this instance there is an inner tube 33 encased within the air jet directing element 1 1 portion of the housing and whereby the heating coil is situated within the inner tube 33. Heated air passes only through the inner tube 33. Cool air which enters the device via the air introducing element 17 passes through the cold air passage 32 and that combined with the insulating foam/rubber grip 31 ensure that the device is cool enough to hold in a configuration which can include grasping around the air jet directing element 11.

[00051] In this instance the control element 15 is situated proximate the common junction 14. In this instance the control element 15 comprises a dual push button in the form of a first push button 15A and a second push button 15B (not shown) in this instance disposed in opposed relationship on each side of the junction 14. In one form the first push button 15A controls the temperature of the air flow exiting the air jet forming device. In one form the second push button 15B (not shown) controls the air flow rate of the air flow exiting the air jet forming device. In preferred forms the two buttons 15A and 15B are easily identifiable and distinguishable by means of distinctive tactile surface coverings. In a particular form the tactile surface coverings include orienting features whereby the buttons 15A and 15B can be distinguished irrespective of the orientation of the device 10 in the user's grasp. In a preferred form control signals associated with the control element 15 may be transmitted via a cable 9 to a remote power supply module 40 (refer figure 4).

AIRFLOW CONTROL

[00052] The air introducing element 12 is an open ended plastic tube encasing a fan 16 which is controlled by a brushless DC motor 38. The open-end of the tube is fitted with a perforated cover 17 to allow ambient air to enter freely into the air introducing element 12 and protect the user from contact with the rotating blades of the fan. The air jet flow rate is determined by the velocity of the fan and can be manually controlled by the user via one of the dual push buttons of the control element 15. In one form there may be two or three broad settings which can be selected for the air flow rate; low, medium (for three speed) and high and these can subsequently be finely tuned using for example a Bluetooth enabled hand-held device 45 (refer figure 5). The selected setting (from both the dual push button control and the Bluetooth device) sends a signal to the remote power supply module 40 which may be used to operate the DC motor of the fan 38. In one form the momentary press and release of one the push button causes the air flow rate settings to alternate amongst the three (or two) broad settings combinations.

HEAT CONTROL

[00053] The incoming air is passed through a heating coil 18 located within the inner tube 33. The air temperature is controlled by the user via the corresponding push button of the control element 15. A solid state relay 36 controls the cycle time of electric current flow to the heating element. The duty cycle may be varied to modulate the heat output. In one form there are two broad settings which can be selected for the heat; low, and high and these can subsequently be finely tuned using for example a Bluetooth enabled hand-held device 45 (refer figure 5). The selected setting (from both the dual push button control and the Bluetooth device) sends a signal to the remote power supply module 40 which may be used to operate the solid state relay 36 controlling the heater 18. In one form the momentary press and release of one of the push buttons causes the air flow rate settings to alternate between the two broad settings.

[00054] In one form if both dual push buttons of the control element 15 are fully depressed simultaneously the power to the heater is cut and the motor speed increased, and thereby a cold shot is induced. Once both buttons are released the air jet forming device will return to its prior setting. The cold shot will not terminate until both buttons have been released. [00055] The ambient air entering the air introducing element 12 passes the fan and heating element and is projected at the corresponding flow rate and temperature through the concentrator 19 which is located at the open end of the air jet directing element. The concentrator 19 is interchangeable and specially shaped attachments can be affixed to the main embodiment depending on the requirements of the user.

[00056] Housed within the remote power supply module 40 are the Motor controller 27 which uses a pulse width modulation signal to control rotation speed of the fan, the solid state relay 36 which is used to modulate the heat output, the microprocessor 34 and transformer 39.

[00057] The temperature and air-flow rate settings can be customised within a limited range using the slide controls 46 of the control configurability screen 47 presented for example on the user interface of a Bluetooth-enabled hand-held device 45 (refer figure 5).

IN USE

[00058] The substantially Y profile of the device facilitates the hand holding of the device in three different ways for ease for use whilst still having full access with the thumb and index finger on the dual push buttons of the control element 15; The first hand hold is by directly grasping the air directing element 1 1 close to the interchangeable nozzle.; The other two hand hold variations are by placing the palm of the hand on the long edge of either the air introducing element 12 or the handle element 13 and the thumb in the junction of the two elements.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[00059] Embodiments of the air jet forming device may be applied with advantage in a number of practical fields. A particular but non limiting application is in the field of hair drying appliances either as used in the home or in professional establishments such as hairdressing salons.