Hair dryer and vacuum device

• US 8,028,437 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2008
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pauline Brown-Carter
• Original Assignee: Pauline Brown-Carter
• Inventors: Brown-Carter, Pauline
• Primary Examiner(s): Gravini; Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US12/244,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20090106998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 34/96, 34/97, 34/99, 341/00, 132/232, 132/119.1, 428/4, 392/384, 392/385, 606/15, 606/91, 705/14, 219/233
• US Class Current: 34/96
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 20/10 Hand-held drying devices, e.g. air douches
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 20/12 Details thereof or accessories therefor, e.g. nozzles, stands

Abstract

A hair dryer and vacuum device includes a housing having a nozzle, a handle, and a body portion situated between the handle and nozzle, the nozzle including a first channel extending from the body portion to an outlet port and a second channel extending from the body portion to an inlet port. A heating coil is mounted in the body portion for heating air and a dryer fan is positioned adjacent the heating coil that is configured to blow the heated air through the outlet port when energized. A vacuum fan is mounted in the second channel and configured to draw air into the second channel through the inlet port when energized. The device includes a collection chamber situated between the vacuum fan and the body portion and in communication with the second channel such that fallen hair is collected therein.

Claims

1. A hair dryer and vacuum device for selectively drying hair and vacuuming fallen hair, comprising:

a housing having a nozzle, a handle, and a body portion situated between said handle and said nozzle;

wherein said nozzle includes a first channel extending from said body portion to an outlet port and a second channel extending from said body portion to an inlet port;

a heating coil mounted in said body portion for heating air;

a dryer fan positioned adjacent to said heating coil that is configured to blow said heated air from said body portion through said first channel outlet port when energized;

a vacuum fan mounted in said second channel that is configured to draw air into said second channel through said second channel inlet port when energized;

a collection chamber situated between said vacuum fan and said body portion and in communication with said second channel such that fallen hair is collected therein.

2. The hair dryer and vacuum device as in claim 1, further comprising a door coupled to said body portion that is movable between open and closed configurations such for selectively emptying collected hair from said collection chamber.

3. The hair dryer and vacuum device as in claim 1, wherein said body portion defines a vent opening in communication with said body portion through which ambient air is drawn when said dryer fan is energized.

4. The hair dryer and vacuum device as in claim 3, further comprising a filter situated between said vent opening and said dryer fan such that contaminants are prevented from being blown through said first channel.

5. The hair dryer and vacuum device as in claim 2 wherein:

said door includes a fastener; and

said body portion defines a groove having a configuration complementary to said fastener for selectively securing said door in said closed configuration.

6. The hair dryer and vacuum device as in claim 4, further comprising a grill member situated in said outlet port.

7. The hair dryer and vacuum device as in claim 1 further comprising a battery situated in said handle and electrically connected to said dryer fan, said heating coil, and said vacuum fan.

8. The hair dryer and vacuum device as in claim 1 further comprising an AC electric power plug electrically connected to said dryer fan, said heating coil, and said vacuum fan.

9. The hair dryer and vacuum device as in claim 1 further comprising a first input electrically connected to said dryer fan.

10. The hair dryer and vacuum device as in claim 9, further comprising a second input electrically connected to said vacuum fan.

11. The hair dryer and vacuum device as in claim 10, further comprising a switch electrically connected to said first and second inputs.

12. A hair dryer and vacuum device for selectively drying hair and vacuuming fallen hair, comprising:

a housing having a nozzle, a handle, and a body portion situated between said handle and said nozzle;

wherein said nozzle includes a first channel extending from said body portion to an outlet port and a second channel extending generally from said body portion to a distal end defining an inlet port;

wherein said first channel is in communication with a interior area defined by said body portion and second channel is not in communication with said interior area;

a heating coil mounted in said body portion for heating air;

a dryer fan positioned adjacent to said heating coil that is configured to blow said heated air from said body portion through said first channel outlet port when energized;

a vacuum fan mounted in said second channel that is configured to draw air into said second channel through said second channel inlet port when energized;

a collection chamber situated between said vacuum fan and said body portion and in communication with said second channel such that fallen hair is collected therein;

a power source electrically connected to said dryer fan and said vacuum fan;

a first input electrically connected to said dryer fan;

a second input electrically connected to said vacuum fan;

a switch electrically connected to said first and second inputs that selectively directs current from said power source to either said first or said second input.

13. The hair dryer and vacuum device as in claim 12 further comprising an insert configured to selectively cover said second channel inlet port.