CROSS REFERENCES TO RELA TED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority from commonly owned US Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62/487,522, entitled: Oil Dispersal Holder for a Hairdryer, filed on April 20, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is directed to portable hair dryers and oil infusion treatments for hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE IN VENTION

Oil treatments, and in particular, hot oil treatments for hair are commonly performed in both salons and at borne. However, as beneficial as they are, they are messy, as oils must be poured out of bottles or containers, heated, and then manually placed into hair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides methods and systems for infusing flowable materials, such as oil into hair, for example, as hot oil, in a clean, efficient, economical, and simple manner.

The present invention is an apparatus for facilitating the aforementioned infusion of flowable material, which either an add-on device to an existing portable hair dryer, or other air stream source, or is integral with the portable hairdryer. As an add-on, the device of the invention typically fits to the portable hair dryer by friction, in a fractional engagement (which is typically removably attachable) and/or mechanical fasteners, adhesives and the like.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a device through which a substance is provided to an airstream. The device comprises: a body including a hollow interior cavity allowing for the passage of an airstream therethrough, the body adapted to communicate with an air egress portion of a hairdryer. The body includes: at least one port for receiving a flowable material source, and a channel in communication with the port and the interior cavity of the body, the channel configured for providing for the passage of the flowable material from the port to the interior cavity of the body, in response to a suction force created by the airstream passing through the interior cavity of the body.

Optionally, the hollow interior of the body is configured for creating suction force by the airstream passing through the body.

Optionally, the channel is dimensioned to hold the flowable material therein until the holding force is overcome by the suction force.

Optionally, the flowable material source includes a liquid source. Optionally, the liquid source includes an oil source.

Optionally, the body includes a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end configured for engaging the air egress portion a hairdryer.

Optionally, the proximal end of the body is configured for engaging the air egress portion a hairdryer in a removably attachable engagement.

Optionally, the proximal end of the body is configured for engaging the air egress portion a hairdryer in at least one of a frictional, mechanical, or adhesive engagement.

Optionally, the body includes an elastomeric material.

Optionally, the body is integral with the hairdryer, and the body defines at least a portion of the air egress portion of the hairdryer.

Optionally, the oil source includes a container for oil in communication with a membrane for absorbing oil and seating in the port in a removably attachable manner.

Optionally, wherein the body includes a ring rotatably mounted on the body, and the at least one port is supported by the ring, the rotational movement of the ring such that the at least one port is moveable into alignment with the channel. Optionally, the at least one port includes a plurality of ports and the rotational movement of the ring such that each of the ports is moveable into alignment with the channel.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for delivering a substance in an airstream to a destination. The method comprises: providing a body to a source of an airstream, the body including a hollow interior cavity allowing for the passage of an airstream therethrough, the body including: at least one port for receiving a ilowable material, and a channel in communication with the port and the interior cavity of the body, the channel configured for providing for the passage of the ilowable material from the port to the interior cavity of the body, in response to a suction force created by the airstream passing through the interior cavity of the body; providing a ilowable material source to the port; and, activating the airstream such that the airstream creates a suction force through the channel for the ilowable material to enter the airstream in the interior cavity, whereby the ilowable material flows in the airstream through the interior cavity to the destination.

Optionally, the source of the airstream includes a hairdryer.

Optionally, the body is brought into an engagement with the hairdryer.

Optionally, the body is integral with the hairdryer.

Optionally, the providing the ilowable material source to the port includes providing a liquid source and seating a membrane for absorbing the liquid of the liquid source in the port.

Optionally, the liquid source includes an oil source.

Unless otherwise defined herein, all technical and/or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the invention, exemplary methods and/or materials are described below. In case of conilici, the patent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be necessarily limiting. BRI EF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the present in vention are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the invention, in this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

Attention is now directed to the drawings, where like reference numerals or characters indicate corresponding or like components. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 A is a diagrammatic view showing the apparatus of the invention in use with a portable hair dryer;

FIG. I B is an exploded view of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 1C is a container for liquid including a liquid drawing member as part, of the apparatus of the invention of FIGs. 1 A and 1 B;

FIG, 2A is a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2B is a cross section of the apparatus of FIG. 2A taken along lines 2B-2B;

FIG. 2C is perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 2A having received a portable hair so as to be ready for operation of the present invention;

FIGs. 2D and 2E are cross sections of the apparatus of FIG. 2C taken along lines 2D-2D, as attached to a portable hair dryer, showing an example operation of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the invention; and,

FIGs. 4A-4C are perspective views of another embodiment of the apparatus of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout this document terms of orientation, such as proximal and distal are used. The use of these terms is for explanation purposes, and is not in any way limiting.

FIG. 1A shows the apparatus of the present invention 100 on an airstream source, such as a portable hair dryer 102. The apparatus 100 includes a body 1 10, for example, a tubular body, with a hollow interior cavity (area) 1 12, and a port 1 14. The port 1 14 receives a container 1 39, which, for example, is a fiowable material source, such as a liquid source, including an oil source, or the like. The port 1 14 terminates in a channel 1 16 (FIGs. 2B, 2D and 2E), leading to the interior cavity 1 12.

The port 1 14 is configured to receive, for example, in a frictionally snug arrangement, a membrane 1 38m, which is saturated with a fiowable material, for example, a liquid, such as oil, for treating, or otherwise placement, into hair, as drawn from a container (e.g., bottle) 1 19 or other source. The membrane 11.8m is part of a liquid drawing member 1 18, through which liquid is drawn from the bottle 1 39 (when the bottle 1 19 is inverted, such that the membrane 1 18m is oriented downward with respect to the container 1 19). The liquid drawing member 1 1 8 and container 1 19 are shown in detail in FIG. I C. The membrane 1 1 8m is, for example, made of metal and serves to absorb and. hold the oil with a force, such as surface tension, such that the oil is released from the membrane 1 18m by suction, e.g., from the hairdryer 102. The airflow 120 (or airstream) is produced by the hair dryer 102 and flows through the tubular body 1 10, exiting the tubular body 1 10 at a distal 11.0d end. A proximal end 3 3 Op of the tubular body 1 10 attaches to the distal end or air egress portion'end 102d of the portable hair dryer 102.

FIG. I B shows the components of the apparatus 100 with the hair dryer 102, as shown in FIG. 1 A in an exploded view.

FIGs. 2A and 2B show the tubular body 1 10, with a container e.g., a bottle 1 1 9 of liquid., such as oil, with the membrane I I 8m (saturated with liquid, e.g., oil), received in the port 1 14 on the tubular body 1 10, for example, by seating in the port 1 14 (in a removably attachable manner). A cap 1 1 8c (FIG. I C) fits over the port 1 14, to keep the liquid in the port 1 14. A channel or pore 1 16 extends through the inner wall 3 1 Ox of the tubular body 1 10, from the port 1 14 to the interior cavity 1 12. The channel 1 16 is dimensioned such that oil remains in the bottle 1 18 until a suction force from the portable hair dryer 102, is applied to the channel 1 16, and the oil is drawn from the membrane 1 18m. The membrane 1 18m receives the oil through the tube 1 18t of the liquid drawing member 1 18. The suction draws oil through the channel 116, for example, in drops or droplets, into the interior cavity 1 12 (for egress through the tubular body 1 10 to the hair). The suction force is created by the hair dryer 102, as it discharges (blows) air, typically hot air, in a stream, from the proximal end 1 lOp to the distal end l lOd of the tubular body 1 10. The suction forces are shown in detail in FIG. 2D.

The port 1 14 has a diameter d3 (FIG. 2B), for example, of approximately 18 mm. The channel 116 is, for example, cylindrical in shape, and, for example, a circular cylinder. For example, the channel 116 is of a longitudinal dimension dl of approximately 7 mm, and is, for example, of a diameter d2 of approximately 3 mm. While a single channel 1 16 is shown, there may be multiple channels extending from the port 1 14 to the interior cavity 1 12, through the wall 1 l Ox of the tubular body 1 10.

Turning also to FIG. 2C, the tubular body 1 10 is such that it receives the distal end 102d of the portable hair dryer 102 in a secure manner, for example, by a frictional engagement or fit. The friction fit is typically removably attachable, so as to allow for the body 1 10, to be easily coupled to or removed from the hairdryer 102 with normal forces, such as those of a human user. The friction fit includes a frictional engagement between the inner wall 1 l Oy of the tubular body 1 10 and the outer wall l( ⁾ 2z of the hair dryer 102. The friction fit of the tubular body 1 10 to the hairdryer 102 may be augmented with mechanical fasteners, adhesives and the like. The friction fit can also be a mechanical fit, for example, by a screw fit, where the outer wall 102z of the hair dryer 102 is threaded correspondingly to the inner wall 1 ί Oy of the tubular body 1 10, or vice versa. The tubular body 1 10 and corresponding interior cavity i 12, are, for example, cylindrical in shape, but could be any other shape, including different shapes, depending on the hair dryer, the tubular body 1 10 is to be attached to.

FIG. 2D shows an example operation of the tubular body 1 10 and oil source 1 19 with oil 1 19x, in operation with a hair dryer 102. initially, for example, tubular body is placed onto the hair dryer 102 or other airstream source, and the flowable material, liquid, or oil source 1 19 is placed into the port 3 14. Air blown from the hair dryer 102 in a stream 120 (FIG. 1 A) is in accordance with the an-ow 200, showing the air moving from the proximal end 1 lOp of the tubular body 110, to the distal end l lOd of the tubular body 1 10, where the air stream exits the tubular body 1 10. The airstream creates a suction force, inward, into the interior cavity 1 12, this suction force represented by the arrow 202. The coupling of the suction force (arrow 202) and distally flowing air stream (arrow 200} cause drops, e.g., of oil, 204a-204e, 204x (FIG. 2E), to exit the bottle or source 119, pass through the channel 1 36, and move distally with the distally directed air stream, so as to exit the tubular body 1 10 through the distal end 1 l Od, in an air/oil stream 120 (FIG. 1 A), and reach the destination (the hair).

FIG. 2E shows the continued example operation of the tubular body 110 from FIG. 2D. Here, a stream of droplets 2()4x has been established, and is now being emitted from the tubular body 3 10, and directed to a destination, for example, the hair.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a body 1 10', also tubular in shape, which is similar to the tubular body 1 10, except where specifically indicated. The body 1 10' includes a conical portion 301 (beginning at a proximal end 300p), which terminates in a laterally extending portion 302 (and a distal end 3()0d), the body shape is also the shape of the internal cavity of the body 1 10'. ^' [ ^" his shape augments the suction forces of the airstream, passing from the proximal end 300p to the distal end 300d of the body 1 10'. The body 1 10' also includes a port 114 and channel (not shown) similar to that shown for the body 1 10, as described above,

The alternative body 1 30' is made of a flexible and resilient material, such as elastomers, for example, polymers, rubbers, or silicones, allowing the end 300p to be fitted over the end l()2d of a hair dryer. The end 300p initially expands to receive the end 102d of the hair dryer 102 (FIG. 2C), and then snaps back over the end 102d to form a frictional engagement and fit. This results in a frictional engagement between the inner wall of the tubular body 1 10' and the outer wall of the hair dryer 102 (like that shown in FIG. 2C). The material of the tubular body 110 ^" at the proximal end 300p provides for the connection and disconnection of the tubular body 1 10' and hair dryer 302 by manual force.

As the tubular body 1 30' at its proximal end 300p is, for example, of a flexible and resilient material, this allows for attachment of the tubular body 1 10' to hairdryers 102 with distal ends of multiple dimensions and shapes. FIGs. 4A-4C show an alternative embodiment of the tabular body 1 10". The alternative embodiment tubular body 1 10" is similar to the tubular body 1 10 at its ends 1 1 Op, l l Od, and channel 1 36. The tubular body 110" differs from the tubular body 1 10 in that the tubular body 110" includes a ring 400, rotatabie mounted in a groove 402, cut into the tubular body 1 10\ The ring 400 rotates as per the double-headed arrow 406a. and includes ports 4I4a-414c, similar to the port 1 14 detailed above. The ports 414a-414c are on the ring 400, such that when the ring 400 is rotated, the particular port 414a-414c aligns with the channel 1 16, so that the port 414a- 414c receives the membrane 1 18m and is closed by the cap 118c, in a friction fit, so liquid does not leak from the port 1 14. The liquid 1 19x in the bottle 1 19 or source associated with the particular port 414a-414c, can be dispersed by the suction force of the airstream from the hair dryer 102, as it acts on the membrane 1 18m. m FIG. 4A, a central port 414b is shown aligned with the channel 1 16. When another source of material, e.g., oil in a bottle, for example, from port 414c is desired, the ring 400 is rotated, in accordance with the arrow 406b. The rotation is from the position in FiG. 4A, through FIG. 4B, where all of the ports 4 ! 4a-414c on the ring 400 are out of alignment with the channel 1 16, to the position shown in FIG. 4C. where port 414c is aligned with the channel 1 16. However, the rotation can be opposite that of the arrow 406b, such that the port 414c aligns with the channel 1 16. While the ring 400 shown is a full ring, extending around the entire circumference of the tubular body 1 10", it can also be a partial ring, extending around only a portion of the circumference of the tubular body 1 10".

In alternative embodiments of the tubular body 1 10", there may be additional channels 1 16 for any one additional port, so that there are two channels for any two ports of the three ports 414a- 414c, or three channels 1 16 for each of the ports 414a~414c. The ring 400 can be rotated unidirectional iy or bidirectionaily, so that the ports are out of alignment with the respective channels 1 16. Alternately, one or more of the aforementioned channels 1 16 can be formed of one or more channels.

While the invention has been shown as an attachable tubular body 1 10, 1 10', 1 10" separable from the hair dryer 102, the respective body 1 10, 1 10\ 1 10" can be integral with the hair dryer, for example, defining at least a portion of its distal end, or permanently attached to a hair dryer 102. Alternately, the hairdryer 102 itself, at its distal end, can be configured like that of each the bodies 1 10, 1 10% 1 10".

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace ail such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.