Filter for hairdryer air inlets

Abstract

The present invention relates to a filter for hairdryer air inlets, intended to prevent the ingress of dust and particles into the machine. The filter comprises a connection support designed to be placed over the hairdryer inlet, covering the front of same. A filtering means that forms a substantially pleated lateral surface is disposed on the support and retained using a fitting ring. The proposed structural configuration allows simple and efficient installation over the air-suctioning area of the machine, ensuring efficient filtration without interfering with the normal operation of the device.

Description

[0001] Title of the Invention

[0002] FILTER APPLICABLE TO AIR INTAKES OF HAIR DRYERS

[0003] Scope of the Invention

[0004] The present invention for which a patent is sought has as its main object a FILTER APPLICABLE TO AIR INTAKES OF HAIR DRYERS, specially designed to prevent, or at least reduce, the entry of dust and particles into the machine and thereby protect the motor and various elements contained therein, extending its useful life.

[0005] The purpose of using the disposable filter of this invention is to prevent the entry of particles that could damage the motor and reduce its lifespan, such as airborne dust or chemicals (like hairspray) used in hair salons or beauty parlors. Furthermore, it prevents a large portion of these particles from passing through the dryer and settling on the hair of the user or client, thus improving the results of the drying or styling process.

[0006] It is especially noteworthy that this is a disposable filter designed to facilitate the filter replacement process, particularly in appliances that are used intensively.

[0007] More specifically, the present invention relates to a filter mounted on a support that allows it to be attached to the air intake of a dryer, covering it from the front. This support is truncated cone-shaped, and a filter element is placed on it, forming a pleated lateral surface and held in place by an adjusting ring. Prior Art

[0008] Currently, there are various air filtration solutions for hair dryers, both disposable and reusable.

[0009] Some of these filters feature specific pleats in a type of filter fabric or paper designed to increase the exposed surface area, thereby increasing the airflow that can be filtered. The disadvantage of these solutions compared to the invention presented here is that the pleats must be pre-molded, requiring a more complex manufacturing process that worsens the cost-effectiveness ratio. Furthermore, in some cases, the production of these types of filters involves assembly, adding other parts and processes to unify and stiffen the unit.

[0010] Reusable filters are also available on the market. These filters use a fabric framed within an overmolded plastic structure as their filter material. Like the previous types, they require a more complex and expensive manufacturing process. They are designed to be cleaned and reused. However, maintaining their initial filtration capacity over repeated use is difficult.

[0011] It can be said that there are already previous disclosures that show filters applicable to hair dryer machines, among which we can highlight the Japanese Utility Model JP 05009404 which describes a hair dryer equipped with a cylindrical filter cartridge (4) that is held over the air inlet mouth of the machine by means of a cap.

[0012] Also cited is Chinese Utility Model CN ​​2741418, which describes a hair dryer comprising a housing 1 provided at one end with an air inlet having a grille (10) configured to position and connect a disposable filter (7). However, the contact surface of each filter is insufficient or small, resulting in the need for frequent filter changes or cleaning.

[0013] Brief description of the invention - Advantages

[0014] The present invention describes a filter applicable to air intakes of hair dryers characterized by comprising a mounting bracket that is disposed over an air intake of a hair dryer machine, covering it frontally, wherein a filtering element is disposed on said mounting bracket that forms a pleated lateral surface and is retained by means of an adjusting ring.

[0015] The aforementioned mounting support is substantially truncated conical in shape and comprises a larger base, which is located proximal to the air inlet of the hair dryer and a smaller base which is located distal to said air inlet; between which extends a plurality of orderly distributed longitudinal ribs.

[0016] The filtering element of the present invention is substantially discoidal in shape, and has a central opening that rests on the smaller base of the support, forming a lateral pleat.

[0017] On the other hand, the aforementioned adjusting ring has a crown of substantially V-shaped teeth projecting radially from its inner surface. Alternatively, the same adjusting ring may have a substantially truncated conical shape with a substantially circular upper base from which a plurality of radial arms project, connecting at their opposite ends to a lower base whose perimeter has multiple rounded lobes configured to press and anchor the filter element against the mounting support. Finally, the filter element is a filter element selected from the group comprising polypropylene fabrics, polyethylene fabrics, cloth, paper, metal mesh, fiberglass, polyurethane foams, polyester foams, and electrostatic fabric filters.

[0018] Advantages

[0019] The main functional advantage of the filter of this invention, compared to known filtering devices, lies in the ratio between its filtering capacity and the small size of the disposable element used, both when stored (stacked flat) and when in use, once installed in the dryer. This is due to the transformation of the filter element from flat to folded during installation in the dryer.

[0020] Then there's the advantage at the production level, since it's a part that requires a very simple and inexpensive manufacturing process. This, in turn, enhances its disposable functionality and allows for a more efficient recycling process.

[0021] The filter applicable to air intakes of hair dryer machines referred to in this invention stands out because it responds to a configuration that adapts to the different diameters and shapes that the air intake of the dryer may present.

[0022] Thus constituted the filter referred to in this invention, firstly, it is worth noting that it is compatible with several models of hair dryers, regardless of their dimensions and motor size.

[0023] The invented filter also stands out for being very low cost to manufacture, especially because the consumable (disposable) part is made up solely of a disc-shaped filtering resource, which can be made, for example, with materials that are used massively to manufacture masks, gloves, bags, etc.

[0024] It can be shaped using conventional cutting processes. This can be done with different techniques, such as die cutting or laser cutting.

[0025] The disposable part of the set is the filter material, which stands out because it is possible to keep a good quantity in stock since approximately 60 filters fit in a small box of 8x8x1 cm.

[0026] There is even consideration being given to using filter media made from fabrics with antibacterial treatment; fabrics that can be manufactured in different colors and can also be printed for personalization or communication.

[0027] In preferred embodiments, the filter element may be made of highly recyclable and biodegradable polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) fabrics, or also of cloth, paper, wire mesh, fiberglass, polyurethane or polyester foams, electrostatic fabric filters, or any other material suitable for allowing air to pass through while capturing dust particles, hair, and / or other impurities from the environment. Being a single piece, the recycling process is simpler. It is also possible to use biodegradable fabrics made with polylactic acid (PLA), as well as fabrics made from paper pulp, which are also suitable for use in the filter of this invention.

[0028] Thus, the present invention significantly increases the filter's contact surface area, resulting in greater filtering capacity and increased filter durability. After a period of use, which can vary between weeks and months, the filter element will become saturated to the point where the dryer's performance will noticeably decrease, and it will be time to replace it. The steps for removing the filter element will then be the reverse of the process.

[0029] Synthetic Description of the Figures

[0030] To elaborate on the advantages briefly discussed above, to which users and experts in the field may add many more, and to facilitate the understanding of the constructive, constitutive, and functional characteristics of the invented filter, a preferred embodiment is described below, which is illustrated schematically and without a specific scale in the attached plates, with the express clarification that, precisely because it is an example, it should not be assigned a limiting or exclusive character to the scope of protection of the present invention, but rather it simply serves a purely explanatory and illustrative purpose regarding the basic concept on which it is based.

[0031] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the air inlet of a conventional hair dryer, on which the set of elements that make up the air filter of this invention are arranged.

[0032] Figure 2 is also a perspective view showing how the filter resource is presented for placement on the mounting support.

[0033] Figure 3 is also a perspective view showing how the adjustment ring works to position the filter element on the mounting bracket.

[0034] Figure 4 is also a perspective view, which in this case shows the arrangement of the side wall of the invented filter. Figure 5 is also a perspective view, showing the assembly mounted on the air inlet of the hair dryer.

[0035] Figure 6 is a schematic view that explains how the filter element is presented on the filter mounting support of this invention.

[0036] Figure 7 is also a schematic view showing how the adjustment ring acts on the filter element to position it on the mounting bracket.

[0037] Figure 8 is a top view of the adjustment ring in a possible alternative configuration.

[0038] Figure 9 is a top perspective view of the adjustment ring in a possible alternative configuration.

[0039] It is clarified that, in all figures, the same reference numbers and letters correspond to the same or equivalent constituent parts or elements of the set, according to the example chosen for the present explanation of the invented filter.

[0040] Detailed Description of a Preferred Example

[0041] As can be seen in Figure 1, the filter to which this invention refers is designed to be mounted on the air inlet of a hair dryer (1). It consists of a mounting bracket (2) on which a filter element (3) is placed and secured by an adjusting ring (4). The filter element (3) can be made of various materials such as highly recyclable and biodegradable polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) fabrics, cloth, paper, metal mesh, fiberglass, polyurethane or polyester foams, electrostatic fabric filters, or any other material suitable for allowing air to pass through while capturing dust particles, hair, and / or other impurities from the environment.

[0042] As can be seen especially in the first four figures, the mounting support (2) is a body of truncated conical shape, whose larger base (5) is located at its proximal end with respect to the air inlet of the hair dryer, while its smaller base (6) is located at its distal end with respect to the air inlet of the hair dryer; both bases being linked together through a plurality of longitudinal ribs (7) that extend between them giving shape to the structure of the side wall of the support, which is kept covered by a filtering resource (3).

[0043] It can be seen that the aforementioned filtering resource (3) is of a discoidal shape with a central opening (8) designed to be placed on the smaller base (6) of the support (2), and a circumferential perimeter (9), so that by the action of the adjustment ring (4) it is possible to place it extended on the support (2) so that a pleat is formed on its side wall of the filter.

[0044] It can be seen that, in order to obtain the aforementioned lateral pleating, the aforementioned adjustment ring (4) has, on its inner face, a plurality of pointed teeth (10) that project radially from its inner surface.

[0045] Alternatively, and as can be seen in Figures 8 and 9, in a constructive variant of said adjusting ring (4), it consists of a substantially truncated conical skeletal body comprising a continuous upper annular base (14). From said upper annular base (14) project a plurality of radial arms (13) extending towards a lower annular base (12). The radial arms (13) are angularly spaced from each other, defining a lightweight structure. These radial arms (13) are connected to the perimeter of the lower annular base (12), which has multiple rounded lobes configured to press and anchor the filter element (3) against the mounting support (2).In this way, the perimeter of the lower annular base (12) of this variant fulfills the function of inducing pleating in the filter material, acting as an adjustment and retention element concentrically on the smaller base of the support, while the upper annular base (14) ensures the centering of the ring.

[0046] Figures 1 and 5 show the presence of a closing cap (11), in this case distinguished by its cylindrical wall being affected by a multiplicity of through holes, an open front face and a circumferential rim that is fixed over the mouth of the dryer machine: It is clarified that this cap does not influence the operation of the invented filter, and other constructive solutions may exist.

[0047] Thus constituted the filter of this invention, figures 6 and 7 have been incorporated to show the operational sequence that is carried out in practice for its assembly in correspondence with the air inlet of a hair dryer machine.

[0048] Thus configured, the filter of this invention, for its use, is first inserted into the mounting bracket, using its central opening as an anchor, such that the flat circular face of the filter is centered, parallel, and adjacent to the smaller base of the truncated cone that constitutes said mounting bracket. Then, the adjusting ring is inserted concentrically towards the dryer, in which case the filter is deformed by folding radially, finally taking the shape imparted by the fitting with said adjusting ring. In this way, the filter is definitively formed to perform its filtering function.

Claims

CLAIMS Having described and exemplified the nature and main object of the present invention, as well as the way in which it can be put into practice, the following is declared to be claimed as property and exclusive rights: 1.- FILTER APPLICABLE TO AIR INTAKES OF HAIR DRYERS, designed to prevent the entry of dust and particles into the interior of the machine, characterized by comprising a mounting support (2) that is arranged on an air intake of a hair dryer machine (1), covering it from the front, in which on said mounting support (2) there is a filtering resource (3) that forms a substantially pleated lateral surface and is retained by means of an adjusting ring (4). 2.- FILTER, as claimed in 1, characterized in that the mounting support (2) is substantially truncated conical in shape and comprises a larger base (5) that is arranged proximal to the air inlet of the hair dryer (1) and a smaller base (6) that is arranged distal to said air inlet of said hair dryer; between said larger base (6) and said smaller base (5), a plurality of longitudinal ribs (7) are arranged in an orderly fashion. 3.- FILTER, as claimed in 1, characterized in that the filtering resource (3), of substantially discoidal shape, has a central opening (8), which rests on the smaller base (6) of the support (2) forming a lateral pleat. 4.- FILTER, as claimed in 1, characterized in that the said adjusting ring (4) has a crown of teeth substantially shaped like a “V” that project radially from its inner surface. 5.- FILTER, as claimed in 1, characterized in that the filtering resource (3) is a filtering resource selected from the group consisting of polypropylene fabrics, polyethylene fabrics, cloth, paper, metal mesh, fiberglass, polyurethane foams, polyester foams and electrostatic fabric filters. 6.- FILTER, as claimed in 1, characterized in that the adjustment ring (4) is constituted by a skeletal body of substantially truncated conical shape comprising a continuous upper annular base (14), from which a plurality of radial arms (13) project outwards towards a lower annular base (12); wherein the radial arms (13) are angularly spaced from each other and linked to the perimeter of the aforementioned lower annular base (12), which has a multiplicity of rounded lobes configured to press and anchor the filter element (3) against the mounting support (2).

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