Hair dryer with cord stowage device

Abstract

The present invention discloses a pistol-grip hair dryer comprising: - a casing having an air inlet and an air outlet; - a handle, the axis of which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the casing; - a power supply cord; - an end piece for protecting the power supply cord, the end piece passing through a hole made in the distal portion of the handle; - a recess for receiving the cable, the recess being located in the upper part of the hair dryer casing. The invention is characterised in that the protective end piece is movable between a position in which it is aligned with the handle and a position for stowing the power supply cord in which the protective end piece is approximately perpendicular to the axis of the handle, the power supply cord being stowed, when in use, by being rolled up, using the recess for receiving the cable provided in the casing and the protective end piece.

Description

HAIR DRYER WITH CORD STORAGE DEVICE Subject of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a hair dryer comprising a device for storing the power cord by winding it around the hair dryer. State of the art

[0002] Hair dryers are equipped with a power cord that is usually quite long. After use, the user typically simply wraps the power cord around the hair dryer's casing for storage. However, if the cord isn't secured by some kind of device, it can come loose and slip off the hair dryer's casing. Therefore, there are systems available to keep the cord securely attached to the hair dryer once it's wrapped around it.

[0003] Document CN 104621947 discloses a hair dryer with a cord winding groove on the back of its casing. The user can wind the power cord through the groove to secure it. However, because the winding only occurs around the hair dryer casing, numerous loops are required before the cord is fully wound.

[0004] Document DE9114815 illustrates a hair dryer that includes a power cord winding device allowing the cord to be wound along the entire height of the hair dryer, specifically between the hair dryer body and the bottom of the handle. To achieve this, the distal part of the handle has a recessed channel for the cable, and the hair dryer body has a protrusion to center the cable and prevent it from slipping out of the body.

[0005] Document EP1151690A2 discloses a hair dryer comprising a device for storing the power cord compactly on the hair dryer. The cord is stored by winding it around two contact surfaces, corresponding on one side to the hair dryer housing and on the other to the cord protection sleeve located at the base of the hair dryer handle. The contact surfaces have indentations into which the cord is inserted to be held in place.

[0006] Document DE3501161 describes a hair dryer that includes a cord winding holder. The holder is located on the underside of the handle and can pivot between a position aligned with the handle and a position perpendicular to it. The user can position the holder perpendicular to the handle to wind the cord between the holder and the hair dryer housing.

[0007] When the cord is wrapped around the hairdryer, its bend radius at the handle is very small. This bend in the cord gradually wears it out. This is one of the primary reasons why hairdryers are returned to manufacturers due to damage. Objectives of the invention

[0008] The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, and in particular to provide a pistol-grip hair dryer with efficient cord storage by wrapping the cord around the hair dryer. The invention secures the cord once it is in its storage position and prevents it from slipping out of the casing.

[0009] Another aim of the invention is to provide a solution that prevents damage to the cord at the outlet of the hair dryer, thanks to the presence of a movable protective tip.

[0010] Another aim of the invention is to facilitate the handling of the hair dryer during use, thanks to the mobility of the cord protection tip at the exit of the handle, allowing better flexibility when moving the cord at the exit of the hair dryer.

[0011] Another aim of the invention is to allow more compact storage of the hair dryer thanks to the mobility of the protective nozzle which is folded substantially perpendicular to the axis of the handle and avoids having an extra length below the handle. Summary of the invention

[0012] The present invention discloses a pistol-type hair dryer comprising: - a housing with an air intake and an air outlet; - a handle whose axis is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the case; - a power cord; - a protective cap for the power cord passing through an opening in the distal part of the handle; - a cable retention housing located in the upper part of the hair dryer housing; characterized in that the protective tip is movable between an alignment position with the handle and a storage position of the power cord in which the protective tip is approximately perpendicular to the axis of the handle, said power cord being stored, in use, by winding using the cable retention housing provided in the housing and the protective tip.

[0013] According to particular embodiments, the invention comprises one or more of the following features: the protective cap includes a semi-spherical internal part of the handle and a tubular external part of the handle; the semi-spherical internal part pivots about an axis; the semi-spherical internal part of the protective cap includes two screws whose screw pillars retain the cord inside the protective cap; the radius of curvature of the power cord in the distal part of the handle is at least 0.8 cm, preferably at least 1 cm, even more preferably at least 1.2 cm; the cable retention housing accommodates at least four times the coiled diameter of the cord; the retention housing has a length of between 3.5 and 5.5 cm, preferably between 4 and 5 cm; the retention housing has a depth of between 0.7 and 1.3 cm, preferably between 0.8 and 1.2 cm. Brief description of the figures

[0014] Figure 1 shows a side view of an example of a hair dryer according to the invention, with the protective end of the power cord in a position aligned with the handle of the hair dryer.

[0015] Figure 2 represents the hair dryer of Figure 1, with its power cord stored by wrapping it around the hair dryer casing and the protective cap placed approximately perpendicular to the axis of the hair dryer handle.

[0016] Figure 3 represents the hair dryer of Figure 1, with the protective tip of the power cord placed in an intermediate position, between the position of alignment with the handle and the storage position substantially perpendicular to the axis of the handle.

[0017] Figure 4 represents the hair dryer of figure 1, with the protective end of the power cord placed in the storage position substantially perpendicular to the axis of the handle.

[0018] Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the lower part of the handle and the protective tip, the protective tip being in a position aligned with the handle of the hair dryer according to the invention.

[0019] Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the lower part of the handle and the protective nozzle, the protective nozzle being in a storage position substantially perpendicular to the axis of the handle of the hair dryer according to the invention.

[0020] Figure 7 represents the cross-sectional view of Figure 5 in which the power cord has not been shown, in order to illustrate the axis of rotation of the protective cap.

[0021] Figure 8 shows a three-dimensional view of the lower part of the handle, more specifically illustrating the handle cord exit hole.

[0022] Figure 9 shows a partial cross-sectional view of Figure 8, illustrating the arrangement of the internal semi-spherical portion of the protective cap in the lower part of the handle. The cord exit hole is shaped to allow the cord to exit the handle on the same axis as the handle, or perpendicular to the handle's axis, following a rotation of the protective cap. List of reference symbols 1: Hair dryer 2: Hair dryer casing 3: Hair dryer handle 4: Power cord 5: Power cord protective sleeve / end cap 6: Housing for securing the power cable on the case 7: Cord exit hole in the handle's protective cap 8: Hemispherical inner part of the protective cap 9: Tubular outer part of the protective cap 10: screw pillar 11: axis of rotation of the protective tip Detailed description of the invention

[0023] An example of a hair dryer according to the invention is illustrated in the Figure 1. This is a pistol-grip hair dryer, that is, comprising a body 2 with a handle 3, the handle being separate from the body and the axis of the handle being substantially perpendicular to the axis of the body. Like all battery-free hair dryers, it is equipped with a power cord 4 exiting the hair dryer through an opening 7 located at the lower end of the handle.

[0024] The hair dryer of the present invention includes a device for storing the power cord after use, allowing the cord to be wound around the hair dryer. More specifically, it comprises a housing 6 formed in the upper part of the hair dryer casing and a movable protective end 5 for the power cord is provided on the distal end of the hair dryer handle. The protective end can be moved between a position aligned with the handle, as shown in Figure 1, and a storage position in which the movable end is positioned approximately perpendicular to the handle, as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

[0025] As shown in Figure 2, when the user wishes to store the hairdryer, they can wrap the power cord around the hairdryer casing and the protective cap in the storage position. In this way, the cap holds the power cord in place. On the casing, each loop of the cord fits into a designated slot to secure the cord. This slot is a recess in the casing, preferably between 3.5 and 5.5 cm long, preferably between 4 and 5 cm, and between 0.7 and 1.3 cm deep, preferably between 0.8 and 1.2 cm.

[0026] The size of the loops formed by the cord around the hairdryer is maximized thanks to the device of the invention, which limits the number of turns required to store the entire cord. Indeed, the distance traveled by the cord is approximately equal to the length of the handle plus the diameter of the housing on the handle side. The distance traveled by the cord between the protective end cap and the retaining housing is preferably greater than 23 cm, and even more preferably greater than 24 cm. Furthermore, given that the end cap of The protection is mobile; the radius of curvature of the cord at the exit of the handle is increased, which prevents damage to it.

[0027] The movable protective cap is shown in more detail in Figures 5 and 6. The protective cap is located on the distal side of the handle and passes through the opening 7 at the end of the handle. Thus, the cap comprises an internal part 8 attached to the handle and an external part 9 attached to the handle. The internal part 8 is semi-spherical and extends into the external part 9, which is tubular. The cord comprises a first part internal to the hairdryer that supplies power to electrical components such as the motor, and a second part external to the hairdryer that connects to the mains power supply. The protective cap protects the cord as it passes outside the handle, with the cord being housed locally inside the cap.

[0028] The internal part of the nozzle, in the form of a semi-spherical shell, is preferably formed of two hollow quarter-spheres fixed with two screws. The pillars of the two screws 10 frame the power cord to channel it inside the semi-spherical shell.

[0029] The protective tip is movable and can pivot around an axis 11 located at the center of the internal semi-spherical part, as shown in Figure 7. In this way, the internal semi-spherical part can pivot around this axis, which allows the external tubular part to move from an alignment position with the handle, as shown in Figure 5, to a storage position in which the external part is approximately perpendicular to the handle, as shown in Figure 6.

[0030] Thanks to its retention within the movable protective cap, the cord at the distal end of the handle has a bend radius of at least 0.8 cm, preferably at least 1 cm, and even more preferably at least 1.2 cm. The mobility of the protective cap also allows for greater flexibility of use due to the cord's movement near the handle, without damaging it. The user needs to be less careful during use, and the cord is somewhat protected from wear and tear.

[0031] When the protective cap is in the stowed position, the hemispherical part is positioned to close the opening at the end of the handle, ensuring a watertight seal. In this position, the opening acts as a housing for the protective cap. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the cord exit hole has a specific shape that allows the protective cap to move from its aligned position relative to the handle to the Storage position in which the tip is perpendicular to the axis of the handle. The opening is therefore located partly in the base of the handle but also partly on a lateral side of the handle so that the protective tip can pass through the handle laterally to be positioned in the storage position.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Gun-type hair dryer (1) comprising: - a housing (2) with an air inlet (8) and an air outlet (9); - a handle (3) whose axis is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the housing; - an electrical power cord (4); - a protective tip (5) for the electrical power cord (4) passing through an orifice (7) included in the distal part of the handle (3); - a cable holding housing (6) located in the upper part of the housing (2) of the hair dryer; characterized in that the protective end piece (5) is movable between a position of alignment with the handle (3) and a position for storing the electrical power cord (4) in which the protective end piece (5) is approximately perpendicular to the axis of the handle (3), said electrical power cord (4) being stored, in use, by winding using the cable holding housing (6) provided in the housing (2) and the protective end piece (5).

2. Hair dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that the protective tip (5) comprises an internal part (8) of the handle of semi-spherical shape and an external part (9) of the handle of tubular shape.

3. Hair dryer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the semi-spherical internal part (8) pivots around an axis (11).

4. Hair dryer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the semi-spherical internal part (8) of the protective end piece (5) comprises two screws whose screw pillars (10) hold the cord inside the protective end piece (5).

5. Hair dryer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radius of curvature of the electrical power cord (4) in the distal part of the handle (3) is at least 0.8 cm, preferably at least 1 cm, more preferably at least 1.2 cm.

6. Hair dryer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cable holding housing (6) can accommodate at least four times the wound diameter of the cord.

7. Hair dryer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding housing has a length of between 3.5 and 5.5 cm, preferably between 4 and 5 cm.

8. Hair dryer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding housing has a depth of between 0.7 and 1.3 cm, preferably between 0.8 and 1.2 cm.

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