Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids – Apparatus – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-16
2001-02-20
Wilson, Pamela (Department: 3749)
Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids
Apparatus
Combined
C034S096000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189229
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a novel holder for adjustably holding a hair dryer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hair dryers are well-known and widely-used appliances. Although hair dryers are used by millions of consumers everyday, they remain an awkward appliance to use simply because the user is generally using a brush and/or a comb concurrently. In order to simplify the use of hair dryers, many have attempted to create hair dryer holders to free the user's hands. However, because of the unusual and different shape of most hair dryers, the holders have not met the user's needs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,225,106 discloses an apparatus for supporting an electrical hair dryer. The apparatus includes a bracket having an arm that pivots and a holder having a slot and a yoke that is pivotly attached to the arm. The dryer is supported in the holder by placing the hand grip of the dryer in the slot and the barrel of the dryer in the yoke. Resilient straps secure the dryer in place.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,313 discloses a portable hair dryer holder designed to hold a hair dryer, allowing a person to use their two free hands on their hair.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,090 discloses an adjustable holder device for a hand-held hair dryer that allows rotational and vertical movement of the hair dryer. The device comprises a holder member that holds the hair dryer on one end and attaches to a base on the other end. A wall mount base is provided for permanent attachment to a wall that has a means for receiving the holder member in varying vertical positions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,531 discloses a hair dryer holder apparatus that is fully adjustable for releasably holding a hair dryer. The holder includes a horizontal ring base and a pair of spaced vertical telescoping posts, the upper ends of which include a hinged pair of adjustable arms angled generally towards each other. The arms have grippers which releasably hold the hair dryer at the handle and the nozzle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,670 discloses an apparatus for supporting an electrical hair dryer. The apparatus includes a base from which projects a flexible tube. The other end of the tube includes a hair dryer holder. The flexible tube may be positioned into any of a number of various orientations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,263 discloses a hair drying apparatus comprising a hair dryer holder, a power cord retainer, and a base. The holder allows the hair dryer to be removable, adjustable in height, and securably positioned. The base contains a power cord retainer and may be mounted on a wall.
U.S. Pat. Nos. D313,341, D374,312, and D374,312 disclose various designs for a hair dryer holder. U.S. Pat. No. D314,502 discloses a design for an adjustable hair dryer holder.
Although there are numerous means for holding a hair dryer disclosed in the art, there remains a need for a hair dryer holder that allows universal mounting (e.g., a wall, a mirror, a table, or a sink) while simultaneously providing a universal range of positions available for securing the hair dryer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a hair dryer holder for adjustably holding a hair dryer, comprising a base for attaching the hair dryer holder to a surface, an extension member including a bottom portion fixed to the base and an arm member extending from the base, and a universal joint member coupled to the arm member. The universal joint member includes a ball member juxtaposed between two cup members for rotation therein, the ball member configured for coupling to a nozzle of a hair dryer such that the nozzle can be positioned by the ball member.
In one embodiment, the ball member includes an aperture for receiving the hair dryer nozzle and is comprised of an elastomeric material such that the ball aperture is flexible to fit different diameter hair dryer nozzles. In another embodiment, the cup members have cup apertures of a first diameter and the ball aperture has a second diameter that is sufficiently smaller than the first diameter such that the ball has at least 15 degrees of rotation within the cup members when a hair dryer is secured thereto. In a further embodiment, the universal joint member is coupled to the arm member to rotate relative thereto.
Preferably, the ball aperture has about 15 to 35 degrees of rotation. In another embodiment, the universal joint member has at least about 180 degrees of rotation. In a preferred embodiment, the universal joint member has at least about 180 to 270 degrees of rotation.
In another embodiment, the base is a suction cup, a c-clamp, a weighted base, a mounting plate, a clamp, or a telescoping stand and base. In a preferred embodiment, the base is a suction cup that can be mounted on a flat surface such as a horizontal counter or a vertical mirror. Preferable, the ball member includes an adjustable clamp for receiving the nozzle of a hair dryer and an extender juxtaposed between the clamp and ball member. In another embodiment, the extension member is partial C-shaped.
The present invention is also directed to a hair dryer holder for adjustably holding a hair dryer, comprising an attachment means for attaching the hair dryer holder to a surface and a holder means for holding the hair dryer in a location extended from the attachment means. The holder means includes a means for coupling to a nozzle of a hair dryer and fixing the hair dryer in one of a range of universal positions, enabling the user to direct air flow from the hair dryer from any one of said positions.
In one embodiment, the attachment means is releasably attachable to the surface. In another embodiment, the holder means is portable by a user for use at different locations. In a further embodiment, the holding means is omni-directionally rotatable within a predetermined range. In still another embodiment, the holder means is coupled to the extension means such that it has about at least about 180 degrees of rotation in a first plane. Preferably, the extension means is coupled to the base such that it has at least about 180 degrees of rotation in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane.
The present invention is also directed to a kit for drying hair comprising a hair dryer having a handle and a nozzle, and a hair dryer holder for adjustably holding a hair dryer, comprising a base for attaching the hair dryer holder to a surface, an extension member including a bottom portion fixed to the base and an arm member extending from the base, and a universal joint member to the arm member and comprising a ball member juxtaposed between two cup members for rotation therein, the ball member configured for coupling to the nozzle of the hair dryer such that the nozzle can be positioned by the ball member.
The present invention is further directed to a method of drying hair comprising providing a hair dryer having a handle and a nozzle; providing a hair dryer holder for adjustably holding a hair dryer, the holder comprising a base for attaching the hair dryer holder to a surface, an extension member including a bottom portion fixed to the base and an arm member extending from the base, and a universal joint member to the arm member and comprising a ball member juxtaposed between two cup members for rotation therein, the ball member configured for coupling to the nozzle of the hair dryer such that the nozzle can be positioned by the ball member; securing the base of the hair dryer holder to the surface for convenient hair dryer holding; mounting the hair dryer in said hair dryer holder by securing the nozzle of the hair dryer within the ball member and cup members; and rotating the extension member and the universal joint member to selectively position the hair dryer in any one of a predetermined universal position for optimal drying of a user's hair.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 313314 (1991-01-01), Gaboriault et al.
patent: D. 314502 (1991-02-01), Weldin
patent: D. 374312 (1996-10-01), Edgar
patent: 4225106 (1980-09-01), Eplan
patent: 4453695 (1984-06-01), Sennott et al.
patent: 4712313 (1987-12-01), Gettleman
paten
Thomas Andrew P.
Thomas Anne Marie
Pennie & Edmonds LLP
Wilson Pamela
LandOfFree
Hair dryer holder does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Hair dryer holder, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hair dryer holder will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2615128