A hair dryer comprising an outer housing and an inner housing separated by an annular isolating device

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of hair dryer (1), it includes outer shell (2a) and forms the inner shell (2b) of air flow, coaxially in the inner shell (2b) is provided with: air circulation chamber (3) equipped with inlet area (4) and outlet area (5);Air circulation system including straightener (6) and at least one heating element (12);And motor (8) is structured to drive rotation of propeller (7), at least two annular isolation devices (201-206) are inserted between the outer shell (2a) and the inner shell (2b), it is characterized in that, at least one (201-203) of the two annular isolation devices (201-206) is located around the heating element (12), and another (204-206) of the two annular isolation devices (201-206) is located around the motor (8) or the propeller (7).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the general field of hair-cutting equipment, such as hair dryers. Background Technology

[0002] Many household hair dryers integrate rotating components to generate radial airflow within the device. These rotating components (propellers) are driven to rotate, for example, by an electric motor unit incorporated into the device.

[0003] This rotating component is particularly used in hair dryer-type devices to generate an outflow of air. Hair dryers typically include a handle for the user to hold and a longitudinal section generally perpendicular to the handle for air circulation. The airflow from the longitudinal section is usually heated by a heating element.

[0004] In existing hair dryers, airflow is generated by a propeller-shaped rotating component that moves air from the air inlet area to the air outlet area.

[0005] For example, this type of hair dryer is described in international application WO2017 / 017330A1.

[0006] Furthermore, hair dryers known in the prior art include: an outer casing (constituting the housing of the device) and an inner casing that forms an airflow, wherein the inner casing is particularly provided with: an air circulation chamber equipped with an inlet area and an outlet area; an air circulation system including an air straightener and at least one heating element; and a motor configured to drive a propeller to rotate.

[0007] In this situation, it is important not to transmit vibrations from inside the equipment to the housing in order to limit noise perceived by the user, while ensuring good propeller guidance.

[0008] In this regard, the prior art discloses annular vibration isolation devices concentrated around an electric ventilator, which extend between housings.

[0009] The main drawback is that it only considers the vibrations of rotating components (motor and propeller), thus neglecting vibrations associated with air displacement. Furthermore, it assumes that the inner housing moves, with only the portion surrounding the motor guided / held by the isolation device, leaving the distal portion of the inner housing (i.e., the area near the air outlet) at risk of contacting the outer housing. This contact is particularly detrimental to noise levels perceived by the user, as all internal vibrations are subsequently transmitted to the outer housing.

[0010] Other known devices provide isolation in the form of a continuous element (e.g., in the form of foam material) that occupies the entire space between the inner housing and the outer housing.

[0011] This component is heavy, which negatively impacts the weight of the equipment. Furthermore, it is bulky, expensive, and difficult to industrialize.

[0012] Therefore, there is no existing solution that allows for limiting or even preventing the transmission of solid-state noise between the two housings caused by vibration, and this is achieved by using a small, easy-to-manufacture, and economical device. Summary of the Invention

[0013] To this end, the present invention provides a hair dryer comprising an outer shell and an inner shell forming an airflow, wherein the inner shell is coaxially disposed with: an air circulation chamber equipped with an inlet area and an outlet area; an air circulation system including a straightener and at least one heating element; and a motor configured to drive a propeller to rotate, wherein at least two annular isolation devices are inserted between the outer shell and the inner shell, characterized in that at least one of the two annular isolation devices is located around the heating element, while the other of the two annular isolation devices is located around the motor or the propeller.

[0014] By using the term "ring-shaped isolation device," throughout this application, including the claims, it refers to a vibration isolation device with a very small longitudinal range, thus excluding sleeve-shaped devices from this definition. Instead, any device having a circular, annular, ring-shaped, crown-shaped, or similar shape in an illustrative and non-limiting manner is included in the term.

[0015] The term "hair dryer" refers to any household appliance, typically any hair-cutting device, that allows an airflow, preferably a hot airflow, to be applied to the hair in order to dry it. Therefore, in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, this term strictly refers to a hair dryer, but also includes hair dryer brushes, rotating hair dryer brushes, and even devices that drive the hair using the Coanda effect.

[0016] Due to the features of this invention, the transmission of solid-state noise between the two housings is limited or even prevented.

[0017] Furthermore, due to the present invention, an air gap is formed between the inner shell and the outer shell, which helps to improve sound insulation and heat insulation.

[0018] Due to the specific positioning of the annular isolator, excellent guidance of the inner casing is achieved even with slight displacement of the inner casing. This also allows the motor to be placed in a relatively rigid silent bloc, thus better guiding the propeller's rotation.

[0019] In fact, minimizing the distance between the propeller and the air intake area of ​​the inner casing is beneficial for improving the pneumatic and acoustic performance of a hair dryer.

[0020] Therefore, it is necessary to rigidly or nearly rigidly mount the motor to the wall of the inner housing, which results in poor vibration isolation due to rotating components (motor and propeller). Thus, as proposed in this invention, it is important to prevent any contact between the inner housing and the outer housing.

[0021] The presence of the isolation device according to the invention optionally allows for rigid mounting of the motor on the inner housing to ensure proper positioning of the propeller / motor assembly within the inner housing. In this way, the entire inner housing is "suspended" and guided within the outer housing. This is particularly useful for optimizing the aerodynamic performance of the propeller by positioning it as close as possible to surrounding fixed components.

[0022] Depending on other advantageous and non-limiting features of the hair dryer, it can be used alone or in any combination of at least two of them:

[0023] - At least four annular isolation devices are inserted between the outer shell and the inner shell;

[0024] -The hair dryer includes four annular isolation devices;

[0025] - At least one annular isolation device is located around the motor;

[0026] Two annular isolation devices are located around the motor, while two other annular isolation devices are located around the heating element;

[0027] - The inner housing comprises at least two parts, namely, a distal portion surrounding the heating element and a central portion surrounding the motor;

[0028] - The inner housing includes at least one additional portion, which is formed by a proximal portion surrounding the propeller;

[0029] -The hair dryer includes two annular isolation devices surrounding the distal portion;

[0030] -The hair dryer includes two annular isolation devices surrounding the central portion;

[0031] - The hair dryer includes an annular isolation device surrounding the proximal portion;

[0032] -The annular isolation device has different diameters;

[0033] - The annular isolation device has a diameter that decreases along the air circulation direction between the inlet region and the outlet region;

[0034] -The annular isolation device is composed of an annular joint;

[0035] - The connector is mounted in a groove, and the outer shell and the inner shell have the groove, which are configured to allow the connector to move and expand within the groove. Attached Figure Description

[0036] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description now given with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of indication and not limitation, various possible embodiments of the invention.

[0037] In the attached diagram:

[0038] Figure 1 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the hair dryer according to the present invention;

[0039] Figure 2 It is shown Figure 1 A view of the internal components of a hair dryer;

[0040] Figure 3 This is a similar view of the same hair dryer, in which the external components can be seen;

[0041] Figure 4 This is a side view of a slightly different embodiment of the hair dryer, in which a portion of the hair dryer's outer casing is not shown to make the isolation device more clearly visible. Detailed Implementation

[0042] like Figure 1 As shown, the hair dryer 1 according to the present invention includes a body 10 that extends downward through a handle 11, which is only partially shown. The handle typically includes buttons for manually controlling the hair dryer 1.

[0043] Subject 10 has when considering Figure 1 It has a shape that converges from right to left and has a shape that rotates about the longitudinal axis A. The main body 10 is formed by two coaxial shells 2a and 2b, which can be referred to as shells.

[0044] The two shells 2a and 2b have roughly similar streamlined shapes.

[0045] Housing 2a is the outer shell and houses all the components of the hair dryer 1. The hair dryer 1 accommodates housing 2b, which constitutes an inner shell or inner housing, and houses a large number of the hair dryer's components. Under normal use conditions, the outer shell 2a is visible to the user, while the inner shell 2b is hidden within the outer shell 2a and is therefore invisible to the user.

[0046] Preferably, the annular vibration isolation device forming joints 201 to 206 is disposed between the inner housing 2b and the outer housing 2a and allows them to be isolated from each other on the vibration plane.

[0047] Air inlet region 4 is located at one end of housing 2a, and air outlet region 5 is located at its opposite end. Air circulation chamber 3 extends between air inlet region 4 and air outlet region 5.

[0048] During the operation of the blower 1, ambient air is drawn in at the inlet area 4. The ambient air enters the air circulation chamber 3 through openings made in the air inlet area 4 and in the inner housing 2b. The air then moves along the air circulation chamber 3 to the air outlet area 5. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, a removable centralized nozzle 50 is typically connected to the air outlet area 5.

[0049] The circulation system allows the air to move.

[0050] When considering the air circulation direction between the air inlet region 4 and the air outlet region 5, the circulation system, from upstream to downstream, includes: a propeller 7 arranged immediately adjacent to the air inlet region 4; a motor 8, preferably an electric motor, that allows the propeller 7 to rotate; and a straightener 6 that allows the air to be channeled and / or straightened at the outlet of the propeller 7. More specifically, the propeller 7 is advantageously selected from centrifugal propellers or helical-centrifugal propellers. This type of propeller is well known to those skilled in the art, and its operating principle is to draw in air along the central axis of the propeller and then eject it radially under the action of centrifugal force. Thus, this type of propeller generates a radial airflow. Depending on the configuration of the propeller 7, a helical component can also be imparted to the airflow. These propellers have a significant performance / noise trade-off and thus all concerns are found regarding their use in hair dryers such as the hair dryer of this invention.

[0051] The system also includes at least one heating element 12 disposed downstream of the straightener 6, which allows for heating of the air in the downstream section of the circulation chamber 3 before the air is discharged through the air outlet region 5. All these elements are advantageously coaxial, which allows for limiting their radial dimensions and perfect integration into the barrel of the blower. This construction is also particularly simple, reliable, and easy to implement.

[0052] The hair dryer also includes, but is not shown, means for controlling and adjusting the motor 8 and / or heating element 12, which allow parameters, such as the motor speed and / or heating temperature, to be individually modified from the off position to the full power position, possibly through one or more intermediate positions.

[0053] As in Figure 3As can be seen in particular, the straightener 6 includes a body 60 having a shape that converges from upstream to downstream, such as a frustoconical shape, and the inlet outer diameter of the body 60 is larger than the outer diameter of the propeller 7. The straightener 6 is positioned as close as possible to the propeller to capture the air vortices generated by the propeller. The function of the straightener 6 is to guide and straighten the airflow exiting the propeller 7. For this purpose, the straightener 6 includes a plurality of straightener blades 61 around its periphery, which are helical in shape. In a different embodiment, the blades may, for example, have a helical shape. In other words, the straightener 6 allows an airflow having a radial or helical radial component emanating from the propeller 7 to be converted into an airflow having essentially or even only an axial component.

[0054] By comparing Figure 1 And on the other hand, comparison Figure 2 and Figure 3 It can be seen that the main body 60 of the straightener 6 houses the aforementioned motor 8 inside, which drives the propeller 7 to rotate via the shaft 80.

[0055] The motor 8 is mounted in a truncated cone-shaped, elastically deformable shock absorber support 9 (silentbloc). In fact, this shape allows for airflow not to be disturbed.

[0056] According to the invention and as in Figure 1 and Figure 4 As can be seen, at least two annular isolating devices are inserted between the outer casing 2a and the inner casing 2b, at least one of which is located around the heating element 12, while the other of the two devices is located around the motor 8 and / or the propeller 7. Therefore, due to the invention, vibrations generated by the airflow, and not just those generated by the motor and propeller, are addressed along the entire path of the airflow. More specifically, the annular isolating device located around the motor 8 and / or the propeller 7 allows for the handling of vibrations generated by the rotation of the motor 8 and / or the propeller 7, preventing these vibrations (and therefore noise) from being transmitted from the inner casing 2b to the outer casing 2a in this region. The annular isolating device located around the heating element 12, in itself, allows for the handling of vibrations generated by the high-speed displacement of the air in this region, preventing these vibrations (and therefore noise) from being transmitted from the inner casing 2b to the outer casing 2a. Furthermore, this arrangement of the annular isolating devices ensures good mechanical retention between the inner casing 2b and the outer casing 2a by preventing any temporary contact between them, which would be a means of vibration transmission and thus generate significant noise.

[0057] In the following description, the annular isolation device is preferably composed of annular joints. These are inexpensive components that are readily available and easy to install. However, in different embodiments, they may be non-strict annular joints.

[0058] As mentioned above, this limits, or even prevents, the transmission of solid-state noise between the outer shell 2a and the inner shell 2b. Furthermore, the air gap formed between the inner shell 2b and the outer shell 2a contributes to better sound and heat insulation.

[0059] exist Figure 1 In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the number of ring devices is six. However, this number can be further reduced and can advantageously be equal to four, such as... Figure 4 As shown.

[0060] Reference Figure 1 The distal, central, and proximal portions of the inner shell 2b are designated by 20, 21, and 22, respectively, and these qualifiers are taken into account relative to the distance from the air inlet region 4.

[0061] The distal portion 20 generally extends around one or more heating elements 12, the central portion 21 extends around the motor 8, and the proximal portion 22 extends around the propeller 7. Due to this configuration, the size and shape of each of the distal portion 20, the central portion 21, and the proximal portion 22 can be well adapted to each or more elements it surrounds, which can... Figure 1 I saw it in the middle.

[0062] according to Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, three annular isolating devices 201 to 203 are positioned around the distal portion 20 of the inner housing 2b. Thus, these three annular isolating devices 201 to 203 extend around one or more heating elements 12. More precisely, they are positioned approximately around the downstream second half of the distal portion 20, i.e., as close as possible to the air outlet region 5.

[0063] Therefore, good retention and mechanical guidance between the coaxial inner housing 2b and outer housing 2a are ensured, preventing any risk of direct contact between the inner housing 2b and outer housing 2a at the heating element. Furthermore, excellent thermal insulation is achieved around the heating element, as well as excellent isolation from vibrations associated with air circulation in this area of ​​the device, where airflow is large and dense (due to proximity to air outlet area 5).

[0064] Two additional annular isolation devices 204 and 205 are positioned around the central portion 21, i.e., around the motor 8. More precisely, they are positioned approximately around the second half downstream of this central portion. This again ensures good retention and mechanical guidance between the coaxial inner housing 2b and outer housing 2a. Furthermore, excellent isolation is achieved from vibrations generated by the motor 8 that are not filtered out by the damper support 9.

[0065] Finally, the auxiliary device 206 is positioned around the proximal portion 22, that is, around the propeller 7 or, in any case, adjacent to the propeller 7. As previously mentioned, this allows for further and better absorption of vibrations caused by the high-speed rotation of the propeller 7.

[0066] exist Figure 4 In a variant example, and as already specified, the number of devices is equal to four. Note that two devices 201 and 202 are present around the distal portion 20, located near their respective ends. This ensures good retention and mechanical guidance between the coaxial inner housing 2b and outer housing 2a, preventing any risk of direct contact between the inner housing 2b and outer housing 2a at the heating element. Furthermore, excellent thermal insulation around the heating element and excellent isolation from vibrations associated with the large and dense airflow in the equipment (due to proximity to air outlet area 5) are achieved. The use of two annular isolation devices 201, 202 allows for an excellent trade-off between the cost and efficiency of vibration and / or thermal isolation and / or filtration.

[0067] The two annular isolation devices 204 and 205, in themselves, such as in Figure 1 As in the previous implementation, it is positioned around the central portion 21, i.e., around the motor 8.

[0068] Regardless of the implementation method, the presence of these annular isolation devices 201 to 206 allows for the avoidance of any contact between the outer casing 2a and the inner casing 2b, taking into account manufacturing tolerances, installation, and even the potential degradation of these casings during the service life of the equipment.

[0069] Furthermore, this allows for a rigid or near-rigid mounting of the propeller 7 relative to the inner housing 2b. In practice, vibrations generated by the rotation of the propeller 7, and even possible axial or radial displacement of the propeller 7, are transmitted to the inner housing 2b (given the rigid or near-rigid mounting), but due to the presence of the annular isolators 201-206 and their position as described, the inner housing 2b is "suspended" within the outer housing 2a. Therefore, any direct contact between the inner housing 2b (which may vibrate or even move) and the outer housing 2a is avoided, preventing noise (from vibration) from propagating to the outer housing 2a and thus being perceived by the user of the hair dryer.

[0070] For aerodynamic reasons, hair dryer designers typically aim to mount the propeller 7 as rigidly as possible to the inner housing 2b. In particular, hair dryer designers seek to reduce... Figure 1 The distance d shown is given. However, it is understandable that a minimum distance d, close to 0, is only possible when the propeller is mounted as rigidly as possible relative to the inner casing. In fact, as in... Figure 1As can be understood from the view, and as previously described, the propeller 7 is mounted on the motor shaft 80. The motor 8 itself is mounted within a resiliently deformable motor support 9. Therefore, the propeller 7 and motor 8 assembly can oscillate and rock with a certain degree of freedom associated with the characteristics of the resiliently deformable motor support 9. This is essential in prior art hair dryers to avoid transmitting vibrations and therefore noise to the housing. However, this contradicts the aforementioned desire to reduce distance d. However, the present invention significantly allows for the overall movement of the motor 8 and propeller 7 and the inner housing 2b assembly within the outer housing 2a, while avoiding any contact between the inner housing 2b and the outer housing 2a, thus preventing the transmission of vibrations and therefore noise.

[0071] The annular isolation devices 201 to 206 naturally have different diameters depending on their positioning. Therefore, due to the streamlined shape of the housings 2a and 2b (converging from upstream to downstream), their diameters decrease as they approach the air outlet region 5.

[0072] Advantageously, the annular isolation devices 201 to 206 are installed in the recesses G provided for this purpose in the housings 2a and 2b. Preferably, the dimensions of the housings 2a and 2b are designed to be large enough that the annular isolation devices can shift / expand during equipment operation without creating an airtight seal. This is particularly useful considering the temperature difference that may exist between the inside and outside of the equipment.

[0073] The propeller 7 shown in the figure is configured to be driven to rotate about a longitudinal axis. The propeller 7 includes a proximal end wall that defines an air inlet that is configured to allow airflow guided along the longitudinal axis to enter the propeller.

[0074] The propeller 7 also includes multiple airflow channels in fluid communication with the air inlet, the airflow channels being positioned about a longitudinal axis, each airflow channel extending radially outward toward the longitudinal axis between its inlet and outlet ends. Therefore, as in Figure 2 and Figure 3 As can be seen, air is ejected from propeller 7 radially along the longitudinal axis A through multiple channels or chambers. This type of propeller is a chamber type.

[0075] In this propeller 7, in response to the rotation of the propeller 7, airflow enters at the inlet and is then driven radially outward by the centrifugal force generated by the propeller's rotation. The radial airflow passes through the inlet and outlet ends of the airflow channel. A high flow rate of radial outflow can be obtained.

[0076] This propeller 7 is centrifugal or propeller-centrifugal. This type of propeller 7 is particularly appreciated for its excellent trade-off between generated noise and performance, especially good flow rate and good pressure resistance.

[0077] The volume exiting each radial airflow channel is smaller than the volume of movement between the two blades of a standard hair dryer propeller. Therefore, noise hazards caused by the collision of the small volume of air exiting each channel with the hair dryer's stationary components are limited.

[0078] Compared to existing centrifugal propellers, an increase in the inherent vibration frequency was also observed. Consequently, the noise generated by the air movement within the propeller is sharper.

[0079] Of course, instead of this propeller, propellers of conventional shapes known from the prior art can be used, such as the propeller described in WO2017 / 017330.

Claims

1. A hair dryer (1) comprising an outer casing (2a) and an inner casing (2b) forming an airflow, wherein the inner casing (2b) is coaxially provided with: an air circulation chamber (3) equipped with an inlet region (4) and an outlet region (5); an air circulation system including a straightener (6) and at least one heating element (12); and a motor (8) configured to drive a propeller (7) to rotate, wherein at least two annular isolation devices (201-206) are inserted between the outer casing (2a) and the inner casing (2b), characterized in that, At least one of the two annular isolation devices (201-206) (201-203) is located around the heating element (12), while the other of the two annular isolation devices (201-206) (204-206) is located around the motor (8) or the propeller (7).

2. The hair dryer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least four annular isolation devices (201-206) are inserted between the outer shell (2a) and the inner shell (2b).

3. The hair dryer (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The hair dryer (1) includes four annular isolation devices (201-206).

4. The hair dryer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, At least one annular isolation device (204-205) is located around the motor (8).

5. The hair dryer (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that, Two annular isolation devices (204-205) are located around the motor (8), while two other annular isolation devices (201-203) are located around the heating element (12).

6. The hair dryer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The inner housing (2b) comprises at least two parts: a distal portion (20) surrounding the heating element (12) and a central portion (21) surrounding the motor (8).

7. The hair dryer (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The inner shell (2b) includes at least one additional portion, which is formed by a proximal portion (22) surrounding the propeller (7).

8. The hair dryer (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The hair dryer (1) includes two annular isolation devices (201, 202) surrounding the distal portion (20).

9. The hair dryer (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The hair dryer (1) includes two annular isolation devices (204-205) surrounding the central portion (21).

10. The hair dryer (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The hair dryer (1) includes an annular isolation device (206) surrounding the proximal portion (22).

11. The hair dryer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The annular isolation devices (201-206) have different diameters.

12. The hair dryer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The annular isolation device (201-206) has a diameter that decreases along the air circulation direction between the inlet region and the outlet region.

13. The hair dryer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The annular isolation device (201-206) is composed of annular joints.

14. The hair dryer (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that, The connector (201-206) is installed in a groove (G), and the outer shell (2a) and the inner shell (2b) have the groove (G), which are configured to allow the connector to move and expand within the groove.

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