Oscillating hair dryer

• US 8,302,324 B1
• Filed: 08/20/2009
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stella Sharon Connelly
• Original Assignee: Stella Sharon Connelly
• Inventors: Connelly, Stella Sharon
• Primary Examiner(s): Gravini, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US12/544,343
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 34/95, 34/96, 34/97, 341/00, 342/66, 392/381, 392/384, 154/05, 132/118, 132/119.1, 248/183.1, 248/316.1
• US Class Current: 34/97
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 20/12 Details thereof or accessories therefor, e.g. nozzles, stands

Abstract

A hair dryer includes a housing, a fan unit, a heating element, a motor and a handle. The housing is the body of the hair dryer and has an inlet end and an outlet end. The motor rotates the housing relative to the handle in an oscillating manner. The fan unit is mounted in the housing so that air from vents at the inlet end pass through the fan unit to be blown out through the outlet end of the housing. As such, the housing moves without requiring any movement of the user'"'"'s hand, wrist, or arm. The handle also has a controller for activating operation, adjusting speed, and setting temperature.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a hair dryer having a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end, said hair dryer having a fan unit positioned within said housing, said hair dryer having a heating element positioned within said housing;

a handle rotatably connected to said housing of said hair dryer; and

a motor means positioned within said handle for rotating said housing relative to said handle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said inlet end comprising a plurality of vents.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, said fan unit having a front side and a back side, said front side facing said outlet end, said back side facing said inlet end.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sleeve extending between said housing and said handle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, said heating element being heated coils.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, said heating element being a series of framed heating coils.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a central shaft extending from an end of said motor through said sleeve.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a first cam fixedly attached to said central shaft;

a pivot shaft mounted on a top of said first cam;

a second cam fixedly attached to said pivot shaft, and

an attachment peg having an end attached to an interior of said housing, said first cam having a oblong shape with said pivot shaft placed at an opposite side and opposite end from said central shaft, wherein rotation of said central shaft displaces said pivot shaft, said second cam having a circular shape with said attachment peg attached near an edge of said second cam, wherein rotation of said second cam rotates said attachment peg, said attachment peg being fixedly attached to said second cam and said interior of said housing, wherein rotation of said attachment peg rotates the housing for an oscillating movement.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a control means mounted on said handle for activating operation, adjusting speed, and setting temperature, said control means being in communication with said motor means.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, said control means being a slide button.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, said control means comprising:

a first button for activating operation;

a second button for adjusting speed; and

a third button for setting temperature.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, said handle having a contoured surface so as to facilitate gripping.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a hair dryer housing, said housing having an inlet end and an outlet end and a mounting hole, said mounting hole formed on a bottom of said housing, said hair dryer having a fan unit positioned within said housing, said hair dryer having a heating element positioned within said housing between said fan unit and said outlet end;

a sleeve positioned within mounting hole and extending downwardly therefrom;

a handle affixed to said sleeve;

a motor positioned within said handle, said motor having a central shaft extending from an end of said motor through said sleeve; and

an oscillation means affixed to said housing and to an end of said central shaft opposite said motor, said oscillation means for rotating said housing about a longitudinal axis of said handle.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, said oscillation means comprising:

a first cam fixedly attached to said central shaft;

a pivot shaft mounted on a top of said first cam;

a second cam fixedly attached to said pivot shaft, and

an attachment peg having an end attached to an interior of said housing, said first cam having a oblong shape with said pivot shaft placed at an opposite side and opposite end from said central shaft, wherein rotation of said central shaft displaces said pivot shaft, said second cam having a circular shape with said attachment peg attached near an edge of said second cam, wherein rotation of said second cam rotates said attachment peg, said attachment peg being fixedly attached to said second cam and said interior of said housing, wherein rotation of said attachment peg rotates the housing for an oscillating movement.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a control means mounted on said handle for activating operation, adjusting speed, and setting temperature, said control means mounted on said handle and in communication with said motor.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, said control means being a slide button.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, said control means comprising:

a first button for activating operation;

a second button for adjusting speed; and

a third button for setting temperature.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, said handle having a contoured surface so as to facilitate gripping.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, said heating element being heated coils.

20. A apparatus comprising:

a hair dryer having a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end, said housing having a mounting hole on a bottom thereof, said hair dryer having a fan unit positioned within said housing, said hair dryer having a heating element positioned within said housing between said fan unit and said outlet end;

a sleeve extending downwardly from said mounting hole;

a handle affixed to said sleeve;

a motor positioned within said handle;

a central shaft extending from an end of said motor through said sleeve;

a first cam fixedly attached to said central shaft;

a pivot shaft mounted on a top of said first cam;

a second cam fixedly attached to said pivot shaft, and

an attachment peg having an end attached to an interior of said housing, said first cam having a oblong shape with said pivot shaft placed at an opposite side and opposite end from said central shaft, wherein rotation of said central shaft displaces said pivot shaft, said second cam having a circular shape with said attachment peg attached near an edge of said second cam, wherein rotation of said second cam rotates said attachment peg, said attachment peg being fixedly attached to said second cam and said interior of said housing, wherein rotation of said attachment peg rotates the housing for an oscillating movement.