Supports – Stand and bracket – Having vertically adjustable stand
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-02
2001-03-13
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Stand and bracket
Having vertically adjustable stand
C248S160000, C248S161000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199805
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a support stand for small hand held devices. More specifically, this invention relates to an economical, self-supporting telescopically adjustable support stand for a portable hand held hair dryer which enables the operation of the hair dryer hands free.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hand held, lightweight hair dryers have become extremely popular and are well known in the art. In the common household, these hand held dryers have replaced, the bonnet-type hair dryers now normally only associated with hair salons or similar commercial establishments. Moreover, many hair salons use the bonnet type hair dryers only for special treatments, and increasingly use portable hand held hair dryers to achieve both speed and flexibility for the customer. Initially, the hand held hair dryers could not produce the desired heat generated by bonnet-type hair dryers, but in recent years have been able to produce comparable amounts of heated air.
The obvious advantages to the hand held hair dryers is their portable nature and low cost relative to the bulky bonnet-type hair dryers. Hand held hair dryers commonly have an ergonomic shape to fit in the palm of the hand and, due to plastics technology, are extremely lightweight. However, a primary advantage still accompanied with the bonnet type hair dryers is that the hands are free to utilize the various accessories available for manipulating the hair during drying.
During the recent growth of these hand held hair dryers, users have been trying to incorporate this primary advantage of the bonnet-type hair dryers without losing the portability and low cost of the hand held hair dryers. Numerous inventions have been devised to take the place of the hands while operating the hand held hair dryers. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,225,106, 4,278,223, 4,466,203, 4,712,313, 5,636,815 and 5,737,847 disclose various stands for hair dryers. These stands or holders have several undesirable features and disadvantageous which have limited their acceptance in the marketplace. Most of these stands are complex, employing either a “jaw” type or other clamping device to lock the hair dryer in place. All of these devices are limited in their ability to easily move the hair dryer to a selected position as periodically determined by the user. Some of the devices are dependent on being mounted to a chair or wall, and are thus not self-supporting. Other support stands require a specially configured hair dryer, and are not easily useable with the vast bulk of differently configured hair dryers already in the marketplace.
The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, and an improved self-supporting telescopically adjusting stand for selectively positioning a conventional hand held hair dryer is hereinafter disclosed. None of the prior art disclose or suggest the unique combination of features set forth in the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Due to the disadvantages in the prior art relating to support stands for hand held hair dryers, the present invention in one embodiment provides an improved telescopically adjustable height stand and a flexible conduit for positioning the attached hair dryer. A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple and economical self-supporting stand for holding a portable hair dryer, with the stand achieving the advantages sought in the bonnet type hair dryers combined with the advantages of a portable and economical hand held hair dryer.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a support base for stabilizing the stand, a telescopically adjustable extension for selective height adjustment comprised of at least two tubular members and one support locking member, a flexible conduit or other elongated flexible connection, and a ring-shaped holder. A portable hair dryer is supported on the ring shaped holder, allowing a person to have their hands free during operation. The flexible extension is selectively positionable with respect to the telescopic extension axis both in a direction parallel to the extension axis and in directions within a plane perpendicular to the extension axis, such that an attached hair dryer may be selectively positionable at multiple locations.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved self-supporting telescopically adjustable stand for a hand held hair dryer that achieves the advantages of the bonnet-type hair dryers combined with the advantages of hand held hair dryers.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a self-supporting telescopically adjustable stand that will allow a user to operate any one of various types and styles of portable hair dryers without having to hold the dryer.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a self-supporting telescopically adjustable stand that allows the supported hair dryer to be easily and quickly positioned at a desired height and angle relative to a base.
Still another object of the present invention to provide a self-supporting telescopically adjustable stand that is simple in nature, is durable, and is economical to manufacture, thereby keeping the ultimate consumer cost low.
It is a feature of the present invention that the self-supporting telescopically adjustable stand is portable and easily moved.
Yet another feature of the invention is the use of a generally ring-shaped support for receiving the handle of the hair dryer. A pair of straps each secured to the support may be used to reliably position the hair dryer relative to the ring-shaped support. The ring-shaped support may comprise a metal threaded rod which is rubber coated to increase frictional engagement with the hair dryer while minimizing any damage to the hair dryer.
Still another feature of the invention is the incorporation of a hair brush or hair accessories receptacle positioned on the base and about the telescopic support subassembly.
An advantage of the invention is that the assembly may be economically manufactured. Most components, including the base, may be fabricated from metal.
Another advantage of the invention is that the self supporting base may be replaced with a clamp for securing the assembly to a chair, counter, or table, or with a wall mount so that the assembly is normally supported by a wall when in use.
These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, wherein reference is made to the figures in the accompanying drawings.
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Baxter Gwendolyn
Bushman Browning
Ramirez Ramon O.
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