Supports – Brackets – Article holding means
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-20
2003-02-18
Chin-Shue, Alvin (Department: 3634)
Supports
Brackets
Article holding means
C248S188200, C248S288110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06520467
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 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. Des. 313,341 and Des. 374,312 disclose various designs for a hair dryer holder. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 314,502 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, including 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 ball joint member coupled to the arm member and comprising a ball member disposed between a cup member and a plate member 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 has an aperture of a first diameter such that the ball member has at least 15 degrees of rotation within the cup member and the plate member when a hair dryer is secured thereto. In a preferred embodiment, the ball aperture has about 15 to 35 degrees of rotation. Preferably, the ball joint member is integral with the arm member.
In another embodiment, the base is releasably attached to the surface. In yet another embodiment, the base is portable by a user for use at different locations. Preferably, the ball joint member has at least about 180 degrees of rotation in a first plane. Additionally, it is preferred that the extension member 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. In a preferred embodiment, the ball joint member has at least about 180 to 270 degrees of rotation.
The base may be a suction cup, a c-clamp, a mounting plate, a clamp, a weighted base, or a telescoping stand and base. Preferably, the base is a suction cup. In still another embodiment, the ball member further includes an extension member and an adjustable clamp for receiving the nozzle of a hair dryer, wherein the extension member is juxtaposed between the clamp and ball member.
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Thomas Andrew P.
Thomas Anne Marie
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