US5727331A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual switch electric hair dryer
Assignee: Applica Consumer Products Inc
•
Filing: 1996-06-27
•
Granted: 1998-03-17
•
Expires: 2016-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A hair dryer including more than one switch to control air flow rate and/or temperature. The switches are located on different portions of the hair dryer, allowing the user to select air flow rate and/or temperature when gripping the dryer in different ways. In one aspect, a switch is mounted like a trigger on a pistol-shaped hair dryer. A collar located entirely around the hair dryer's barrel mechanically links this trigger switch to a lever positioned on the barrel. When the lever on the barrel is squeezed or pulled, the collar rotates around a pivot to activate the trigger. This collar arrangement thus provides a second switch to control the air flow rate and/or temperature of the dryer.
Inventors
- 👤 Arnold Thaler
- 👤 Tung-hoi Ng
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:31
CPC Classifications
A; A45; A45D; A45D20/00; A45D20/04; A45D20/08; A45D20/10; A45D20/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A hair dryer having a blower comprising: a plurality of switches for controlling the blower, wherein each of said plurality of switches is positioned to be accessed by a user and wherein said plurality of switches includes a first switch for controlling at least one function of said blower and includes a second switch for controlling at least one of said at least one function of said blower, said second switch being located on a different portion of the hair dryer from said first switch and wherein the hair dryer has a handle and a barrel and said first switch is located on the handle and said second switch is located on the barrel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A hair dryer having a blower comprising: a plurality of switches for controlling the blower, wherein each of said plurality of switches is positioned to be accessed by a user and wherein said plurality of switches includes a first switch for controlling at least one function of said blower and includes a second switch for controlling at least one of said at least one function of said blower, said second switch being located on a different portion of the hair dryer from said first switch and wherein the hair dryer has a handle and a barrel and said first switch is located on the handle and said second switch is located on the barrel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
138 words
A hair dryer comprising: (a) a blower for generating a current of air through the hair dryer; (b) a heater for heating said current of air; (c) a handle for gripping said hair dryer; (d) a barrel for aiming said current of air; (e) a trigger located on the barrel end of said handle to control said blower and said heater through associated circuitry; (f) a collar located entirely around said barrel and touching said trigger; (g) a pair of pivot shafts attached to opposite sides of said hair dryer and passing through holes located on opposite sides of said collar; and (h) a collar arm attached to the top of said collar such that movement of said collar arm toward or along said barrel causes said collar to rotate about said pivot shafts and activate said trigger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
138 words
A hair dryer comprising: (a) a blower for generating a current of air through the hair dryer; (b) a heater for heating said current of air; (c) a handle for gripping said hair dryer; (d) a barrel for aiming said current of air; (e) a trigger located on the barrel end of said handle to control said blower and said heater through associated circuitry; (f) a collar located entirely around said barrel and touching said trigger; (g) a pair of pivot shafts attached to opposite sides of said hair dryer and passing through holes located on opposite sides of said collar; and (h) a collar arm attached to the top of said collar such that movement of said collar arm toward or along said barrel causes said collar to rotate about said pivot shafts and activate said trigger.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A hair dryer according to claim 2 wherein said collar arm is made of flexible plastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A hair dryer according to claim 2 wherein said collar arm contains a collar arm end that curves away from said barrel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A hair dryer according to claim 2 wherein said collar arm is textured on the side opposite said barrel allowing the user to more easily move said collar arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A hair dryer according to claim 2 wherein said collar arm is integrally molded with said collar.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3332611A
Cited
US3261107A
Cited
US3518776A
Cited
US3903905A
Cited
US3885127A
Cited
US3939850A
Cited
US4195217A
Cited
US4198558A
Cited
US4114022A
Cited
US4167660A
Cited
US4196343A
Cited
US4316007A
Cited
US4659907A
Cited
US4683369A
Cited
US4904847A
Cited
US4977306A
Cited
US4910385A
Cited
EP0489382A2
Cited
FR2670093A1
Cited
US5181328A
Cited
US5394620A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-16 | 2001-09-15 | 2002-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-16 | 2005-09-15 | 2006-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-16 | 2009-09-15 | 2010-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |