Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Discharging or preventing accumulation of electric charge – By charged gas irradiation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-20
2001-02-20
Leja, Ronald W. (Department: 2836)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Discharging or preventing accumulation of electric charge
By charged gas irradiation
C392S380000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06191930
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to hot-air hair dryers and relates particularly to a hot-air hair dryer which produces negative ions using a high-voltage transformer.
2. Description of Prior Developments
It is well known that combing and brushing one's hair can impart a static electrical charge on the hair. This is generally considered undesirable insofar as statically charged hair is difficult to manage and can attract airborne dust and dirt.
Since one's hair is often brushed or combed when being dried by a conventional hair dryer, some hair dryers have been provided with ion generators to neutralize the static charge created by combing and brushing during hair drying. Although these prior hair dryers generally function satisfactorily, they often rely on the use of piezoelectric generators to produce ions. These generators must be mechanically operated by a user and are not particularly convenient to use.
Some prior ion-generating hair dryers have used voltage generators to produce ions, but the voltages produced have been relatively low, such as 1600 to 1700 volts applied to a negative ion emitter. Moreover, conventional voltage generators are relatively bulky and heavy and result in a relatively large hair dryer assembly.
Accordingly, a need exists for an ion-emitting hair dryer which produces relatively highly charged negative ions and which requires a single ion generator.
A further need exists for such a hair dryer which is compact, lightweight, easy-to-use and which avoids the use of manually-actuated piezoelectric ion generators.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been developed to fulfill the needs noted above, and therefore has as an object the provision of a hair dryer which emits highly charged negative ions for neutralizing the static charge on hair as it is being brushed or combed and dried.
A further object of the invention is the provision of an ion-emitting hair dryer which uses a high-voltage transformer to produce highly charged negative ions.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hair dryer having a high-voltage transformer located in the ambient air intake flow path of the dryer.
Yet another object of the invention is the provision of an ion-emitting hair dryer having a high-voltage transformer located on the exterior of the hair dryer.
These and other objects are met by the present invention which is directed to an ion-emitting hair dryer having a transformer which produces a negative electrical charge of at least about 6000 volts. This relatively high negative voltage significantly improves the manageability of ionized or statically-charged hair. A negative ion-generating electrode can be located in a conventional manner near the outlet of the hair dryer or at a position between the fan and the heating coil of the hair dryer.
The transformer can be advantageously located at the intake side of the dryer fan to receive cooling intake air, or the transformer can be located on the exterior of the hair dryer, such as on the power cord. In this latter case, the elimination of the transformer from the body of the hair dryer significantly reduces the weight of the hair dryer and thereby increases its ease of use.
The aforementioned objects, features and advantages of the invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularity, and will, in part, become obvious from the following more detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which form an integral part thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4258408 (1981-03-01), Cantelli
patent: 5612849 (1997-03-01), Prehodka et al.
patent: 5805406 (1998-09-01), Mailand
patent: 2067071 (1981-07-01), None
Helfgott & Karas P.C.
IGIA Direct, Inc.
Leja Ronald W.
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