Appliance construction for use as a hairdressing tool and as a steam iron

Claim 2

A compact appliance comprising: a housing of generally elongate hollow construction; said housing having a front end providing a workhead and a rear end comprising a main body portion, and being adapted to be held in the user''s hand; said workhead including fluid dispensing means; fluid heating means, reservoir means adapted to contain a liquid and liquid conduit means connecting said reservoir means and said fluid dispensing means; pump means including a piston for pumping said liquid from said reservoir means to said fluid dispensing means; blower means including a motor, in said body portion, and adapted for passing air through said body portion to said workhead; means operable for energizing said fluid heating means and adapted to dispense heated or unheated fluid; said fluid heating means disposed rearwardly of said fluid dispensing means, and said blower means disposed adjacent to said fluid heating means; whereby all of said means form a compact assembly in said housing such that said appliance may be conveniently held in the palm of a user''s hand during use of said appliance.

Claim 3

An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said pump means is disposed in said workhead.

Claim 4

An appliance according to claim 2, including valve means in said conduit means for restricting the flow of liquid from said reservoir means to said fluid dispensing means; and said pump means and said reservoir means together form a single assembly.

Claim 5

An appliance according to claim 2, wherein said piston of said pump means includes biasing means and a pivotable actuator engageable with said piston and adapted to be depressed for pumping said liquid.

Claim 6

An appliance according to claim 2, wherein said pump means is disposed in said main body portion.

Claim 7

An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said pump means and said reservoir means together form a single assembly.

Claim 8

An appliance according to claim 5, wherein said pump means is interposed in said liquid conduit means between said reservoir means and said fluid dispensing means.

Claim 9

An appliance according to claim 7, wherein said piston of said pump means includes biasing means and a pivotable actuator engagable with said piston and adapted to be depessed for pumping said liquid.

Claim 10

A compact appliance comprising: a housing of generally elongate hollow construction; said housing having a front end providing a workhead and a rear end comprising a main body portion, and being adapted to be held in the user''s hand; said workhead including fluid dispensing means; fluid heating means, reservoir means adapted to contain a liquid, and liquid conduit means in said body portion; said conduit means connecting said reservoir means and said fluid dispensing means, and a portion thereof being in juxtaposition with said fluid heating means such that said liquid is adapted to receive heat from said fluid heating means enabling the dispensing of vapor of said liquid from said dispensing means; valve in said conduit means precluding the flow of liquid and permitting the flow of gas to said fluid dispensing means; blower means including a motor, in said body portion, and adapted for passing air through said body portion to said workhead; means operable for energizing said fluid heating means and adapted to dispense heated or unheated gas; said fluid heating means disposed rearwardly of said fluid dispensing means, and said blower means disposed adjacent to said fluid heating means; whereby all of said means form a compact assembly in said housing such that said appliance may be conveniently held in the palm of a user''s hand during use of said appliance.

Claim 11

A compact appliance comprising: a housing of generally elongate hollow construction; said housing having a front end providing a workhead and a rear end comprising a main body portion, and being adapted to be held in the user''s hand; said workhead including fluid dispensing means; fluid heating means, reservoir means adapted to contain a liquid, and liquid conduit means in said body portion; said conduit means connecting said reservoir means and said fluid dispensing means, and a portion thereof being in juxtaposition with said fluid heating means such that said liquid is adapted to receive heat from said fluid heating means enabling the dispensing of vapor of said liquid from said dispensing means; valve in said conduit means precluding the flow of liquid and permitting the flow of gas to said fluid dispensing means; blower means including a motor, in said body portion, and adapted for passing air through said body portion to said workhead; means operable for energizing said fluid heating means and adapted to dispense heated or unheated gas; said fluid heating means disposed rearwardly of said fluid dispensing means, and said blower means disposed adjacent to said fluid heating means; whereby all of said means form a compact assembly in said housing such that said appliance may be conveniently held in the palm of a user''s hand during use of said appliance.

Claim 12

An appliance according to claim 9, wherein a portion of said conduit means is in juxtaposition with said fluid heating means so that said liquid is adapted to receive heat from said fluid heating means enabling the dispensing of vapor of said liquid from said fluid dispensing means.

Claim 13

An appliance according to claim 9, wherein said fluid dispensing means includes a capillary conduit having a plurality of small apertures for permitting the passage of gas to a hair dressing implement removably fastened to said workhead.

Claim 14

An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said conduit means includes nozzle means terminating at said blower means and the flow of said liquid is directed against said bhower means for beaking up said liquid into a spray, and propelling said spray to said fluid dispensing means.

Claim 15

An appliance according to claim 8, wherein said fluid dIspensing means comprises an atomizer.

Claim 16

An appliance according to claim 4, wherein said fluid dispensing means comrpises an atomizer.