2. Description of the Prior Art Filters for hair air-styling devices, such as a hair dryer, operate to inhibit undesired air born contaminants from entering into the hair air- styling device to prevent soiling of and damage to the hair air-styling device. Typically these filters use a fabric mat of the type that requires at least periodic cleaning maintenance or replacement. It is commonly known that failure to provide such maintenance can result in excessive thermal loading to the hair air-styling, which in turn can damage such a device. As users often delay or neglect entirely making the necessary maintenance of the filters, it is advantageous to provide a filter that is conveniently and easily maintained and/or replaced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a filter for use with a hair air-styling device that makes maintenance and/or replacement thereof convenient and relatively effortless for the user to complete.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a filter that is telescopically connected with the hair air-styling device.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a filter that can employ a variety of different types of screening fabric.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a filter that enables a user to visually ascertain when the filter needs maintenance.

It is yet still another object of the invention to provide a filter that improves filtering efficiency via electrostatics.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by a filter having a flexible screening fabric and a frame for detachably retaining the flexible screening fabric.

The frame is telescopically connected to a hair air-styling device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment in combination with the drawings identified below.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a filter in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a first end view of the filter of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view of the filter of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is an exploded view of an illustrative hair air-styling device incorporating the filter of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings and, in particular, Fig. 1, there is shown an illustrative embodiment of an improved filter 1 for use with a hair air-styling device 5 having a flexible screening fabric 10 and a frame 15 for retaining

flexible screening fabric 10.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 3, flexible screening fabric 10 can preferably be placed or retained on frame 15 such that fabric 10 creates an air permeable wall 14. Fabric 10 is preferably removably retained on frame 15 using an adhesive, a connector, or any other suitable securing mechanism sufficient to provide flexibility in use and to allow the flexible screening fabric to be removed and/or replaced. Fabric 10 can also be permanently secured to or connected to frame 15.

It is noted that fabric 10 can be formed of any material sufficient to sift and strain various impurities and undesired contaminants from the air entering hair air-styling device 5. Some examples of suitable materials include: naturally porous materials, thermoplastic materials such as polyester, glass materials, and perforated foil or metal materials. Further, fabric 10 can preferably be electrically conductive and charged sufficiently so as to safely, yet effectively, attract and retain various impurities from the air, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the filtering effect. Still further, fabric 10 can preferably be colored to enable a user to readily visually ascertain when maintenance and/or replacement of the fabric is warranted.

Preferably, frame 15 is connected to hair air-styling device 5 so as to selectively prevent undesired air born polluants or contaminants from being drawn into the hair air-styling device. It is noted that frame 15 can be selectively detachable from hair air-styling device to facilitate maintenance and/or replacement thereof. It is also noted that frame 15 can alternatively be permanently connected to said hair air-styling device to prevent removal and misplacement thereof. In addition, frame 15 can also be grounded to operate as a collector of electrostatically charged dust particles.

Frame 15 preferably has an outer rim 20 forming an inner space 12 over which flexible screening fabric 10 is stretched to form wall 14. It is noted that inner space 12 can be traversed by at least one rib 16 to

support fabric 10 as it spans inner space 12. Also, inner space 12 may also be traversed by a grill (not shown) or like structure to provide, not only added support to fabric 10, but more surface area to which fabric 10 may adhere should fabric 10 be connected to frame 15 by an adhesive type connection. In addition, rib 16 can also be conductive and grounded or charged to function as a collector for electrostatically charged dust particles.

Frame 15 is preferably shaped to telescopically cooperate with hair air-styling device 5. This telescopic relationship preferably enables a user selective access to the filter. The selective access preferably allows the user to visually determine the condition of the filter. Further, the selective access preferably also enables a user, should fabric 10 require cleaning, to easily and efficiently remove any collected undesired particulate matter by wiping or brushing over the surface of the fabric with their hand or a suitable tool for such a purpose. Still further, the selective access enables the user, should the condition of the fabric warrant, to quickly remove and replace the fabric with relative ease.

Referring to Fig. 4, preferably, hair air-styling device 5 has at least the following conventional elements : a housing 25 with an air inlet 30 and an air outlet 35, a power source (not shown), a motor assembly 40, a blower or fan 45, and a heating element 50. Hair air-styling device 5 can have any other feature foreseeably associated with such a device. In addition, hair air-styling device 5 has an opening 55 for telescopically receiving and retaining frame 15. Preferably, opening 55 is disposed adjacent air inlet 25. It is noted that frame 15 can have one or more projecting structures 60 that selectively abut housing 25, one or more friction bosses 65 that cooperate with opening 55, and one or more slots or grooves 70, all of which being configured to facilitate the sliding telescopic relationship between opening 55 of the hair air-styling device and frame 15 of the filter. It is also noted that frame 15 can be formed using from various materials and have any shape capable of telescopically

cooperating with the hair air-styling device. Still further, it is noted that adjacent to air inlet 25, a high voltage source 75 for electrostatically charging the air and dust particles entering air-styling device 5 can be mounted upstream and/or downstream of the filter. High voltage source 75 can be a point source, such as a single needle or an array source, such as a plurality of needles, or a plurality of conductive fibers, or a system of charged metal plates or any similar configuration and/or combination thereof for ionizing and charging the air and air born particles with a static charge.

In use, filter 1 is advantageous in that it provides a filter for use with a hair air-styling device that makes maintenance and/or replacement thereof convenient and relatively effortless. Also, filter 1 is advantageous in that it can employ a variety of different types of screening fabric for providing different filtration effects. Further, filter 1 is advantageous in that it enables the user to visually ascertain when the filter needs maintenance.

The present invention having been thus described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined herein.