Electric resistance heating devices – Heating devices – Concentrated heated air stream
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-27
2001-11-06
Jeffery, John A. (Department: 3742)
Electric resistance heating devices
Heating devices
Concentrated heated air stream
C034S097000, C361S002000, C320S115000, C200S050310, C200S050010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314236
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a hair dressing appliance and, in particular, to a portable hair dryer that is usable without an electrical cord.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ART
U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,183 discloses a cordless portable hair dryer that has heater and a fan that forms an air stream that is heated by the heater. The portable hair dryer includes a battery for operating the fan and an electrical resistor that heats the heater. When not in use, the hair dryer is seated in a base that supplies electrical power to recharge the battery and to cause the resistor to heat the heater. International Patent Publication No. WO 99/01049 discloses a similar cordless portable hair dryer in which, when seated in the base, the battery and resistor are separately powered. The portable hair dryers disclosed by these patents do not include safety features that assure against operation of the fan when the dryer is seated in the base or against arcing upon insertion or removal of the dryer from the base.
An objects of the present Invention is to provide a cordless portable hair dryer with an interlock that prevents operation of the fan while the dryer is seated in the base.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cordless portable hair dryer with means that prevent arcing during insertion and/or removal of the dryer from the base.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A hair dryer according to the invention has a heater, a fan positioned to form an air flow that is heated by the heater, a battery, and a trigger operated switch connected in circuit with the fan and the battery. When the hair dryer is seated in a base, an electrical source charges the battery and heats the heater. Manual operation of the trigger causes the switch to connect or disconnect the fan to the battery when the hair dryer is unseated from the base. An interlock prevents the switch from being closed when the hair dryer is seated in the base, thereby preventing the fan and heater from operating when the hair dryer is so disposed.
The hair dryer includes a handle that is insertable into and removed from the base. The interlock includes a pin and spring. The pin occupies a first position that prevents the closing of the switch to connect the fan to the battery when the hair dryer is seated in the base. The pin occupies a second position when the hair dryer is separated from the base. In this position, the pin permits the closing and opening of the switch to connect and disconnect the fan to and from the battery.
Another aspect of the invention is an arc prevention assembly that prevents arcing between a first plurality of contacts disposed on the handle and a second plurality of mating electrical contacts disposed on the base during insertion and removal of the handle to and from the base.
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patent: 3429319 (1986-02-01), None
patent: 2131686 (1984-06-01), None
patent: 2299755 (1996-10-01), None
patent: 5-251137 (1993-09-01), None
patent: 99-01049 (1999-01-01), None
Conair Corporation
Jeffery John A.
Ohlandt Greeley Ruggiero & Perle LLP
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