Rotating Air Guide Attachment for Wider Hair Drying Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hair dryers have unidirectional airflow that limits the area treated, leading to inefficiency, potential hair damage, and user fatigue due to the need for manual movement to cover larger areas.

Innovation Solution

An air guide accessory that transforms a unidirectional airflow into a multidirectional airflow by using a rotor and stator system, allowing the airflow to sweep in multiple directions without requiring user effort, with a specific angle and design to optimize efficiency and compactness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a unidirectional airflow is used in hair styling devices, then the device structure is simple, but the treated area is limited and user fatigue increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidtreated area
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by introducing a rotatable nozzle that can change the direction of airflow dynamically. The nozzle is connected to the device body through a rotation mechanism that allows it to sweep across different angles, transforming the static unidirectional airflow into a dynamic multi-directional airflow pattern. This enables the treated area to expand without requiring the user to manually move the entire device, thereby resolving the contradiction between simple device structure and limited treated area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Area of stationary object

If the user manually moves the styling tool to cover larger areas, then the treated area increases, but user fatigue and risk of injury increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreated areaVSAvoiduser fatigue
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements the self-service principle by designing a nozzle that automatically changes its own direction through the airflow's rotational force. The nozzle is equipped with a rotation mechanism that allows it to sweep across different angles autonomously, eliminating the need for the user to manually reposition the entire device. This self-adjusting capability expands the treated area while keeping the user's hand and arm stationary, thereby reducing user fatigue and the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Area of stationary object

If a rotating element is added to direct airflow in different directions, then the treated area increases, but the attachment size and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreated areaVSAvoidattachment size
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the nesting principle by integrating the rotation mechanism directly within the nozzle structure itself. The rotational components are nested inside the nozzle body, with the rotation axis and mechanical elements contained within the nozzle's internal volume. This compact integration allows the nozzle to achieve multi-directional airflow capability without significantly increasing the overall attachment size, as the rotating elements are housed within the existing nozzle geometry rather than adding external bulk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The accessory increases the treated hair area, reduces user fatigue, and enhances drying efficiency while maintaining ergonomic comfort and safety, with a compact design that can be easily attached and detached.

Implementation Method 1

an air drive device (121) designed to rotate said rotor (12) around said stator axis (S-S') by means of said first airflow (F1)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAerodynamic force:

Data Source

PatentEP4369984B1Rotatable accessory for a blowing hairstyling device
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 SEB SA
  • EP4369984B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4369984B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4369984B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air guiding accessory (1) designed to transform a first substantially monodirectional flow of air (F1) of a hairstyling device (2) into a second flow of air (F2) scanning a plurality of different directions, the air guiding accessory comprising: a stator (11) extending along and around a stator axis (S-S') from a stator input plane (PES) to a stator output plane (PSS), a rotor (12) extending from a rotor input plane (PER) to a rotor output plane (PSR) and comprising an aeraulic drive device (121) designed to rotate the rotor (12) about the stator axis (S-S') by means of the first flow of air (F1), the rotor (12) comprising at least one portion extending along and around a scanning axis (R-R') that forms an angle of intersection (|3) with the stator axis (S-S') of between 5 and 40 degrees, characterised in that the point at which the scanning axis (R-R') intersects the stator axis (S-S') lies between the rotor input plane (PER) and stator output plane (PSS).