Rotating air directing apparatus for a hair dryer

Abstract

A rotating air directing apparatus for a hair dryer is provided. The apparatus includes a tubular rotating member and a nozzle member disposed adjacent to an outlet opening of the tubular rotating member and adapted to rotate with the tubular rotating member. The nozzle member includes an angled tubular member having a nozzle opening disposed at an acute angle relative to the outlet opening. A plurality of curved vanes each have a fixed edge at a circumferential inner surface of the tubular rotating member, and an opposing free edge that defines a central open space of the tubular rotating member. Each of the plurality of curved vanes are spaced apart from each other, thereby defining a plurality of curved radial openings between adjacent curved vanes.

1 . A rotating air directing apparatus for a barrel of a hair dryer, the apparatus comprising:
 a tubular adapter member adapted to be removably coupled to the barrel of the hair dryer;   a tubular rotating member rotatably coupled to the tubular adapter member, wherein the tubular rotating member comprises a circumferential inner surface, an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a plurality of curved vanes;   a nozzle member disposed adjacent to the outlet opening of the tubular rotating member and adapted to rotate with the tubular rotating member, wherein the nozzle member comprises an angled tubular member having a nozzle opening disposed at an acute angle relative to the outlet opening; and   wherein the plurality of curved vanes each have a fixed edge at the circumferential inner surface that extends from the inlet opening to the outlet opening of the tubular rotating member, and an opposing free edge that defines a central open space of the tubular rotating member; and   wherein each of the plurality of curved vanes are spaced apart from each other, thereby defining a plurality of curved radial openings between adjacent curved vanes, and wherein each of the plurality of curved radial openings adjoins the central open space to form a continuous open path.   
     
     
         2 . The rotating air directing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one ring bearing disposed on an inner surface of the tubular adapter member and on an outer surface of the tubular rotating member. 
     
     
         3 . The rotating air directing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one ring bearing comprises a first ring bearing proximate to the outlet opening and a second ring bearing proximate to the inlet opening. 
     
     
         4 . The rotating air directing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of curved vanes are integrally formed with the tubular rotating member. 
     
     
         5 . The rotating air directing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of curved vanes comprises a first curved vane, a second curved vane and a third curved vane. 
     
     
         6 . The rotating air directing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle member is integrally formed with the tubular rotating member. 
     
     
         7 . The rotating air directing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of curved vanes comprises one or more side edges extending between the fixed edge and the free edge. 
     
     
         8 . The rotating air directing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the opposing free edge of each of the plurality of curved vanes is curved so that it contacts both ends of its corresponding fixed edge. 
     
     
         9 . The rotating air directing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular rotating member comprises a plurality of ball bearings in respective ball bearing retainers on a circumferential outer surface of the tubular rotating member. 
     
     
         10 . The rotating air directing apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of ball bearings provide contact between the tubular rotating member and the tubular adapter member at an inner ledge and a circumferential inner surface of the tubular adapter member. 
     
     
         11 . The rotating air directing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an air directing member fixedly disposed within the tubular adapter member adjacent to the inlet opening of the tubular rotating member. 
     
     
         12 . The rotating air directing apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the air directing member comprises a plurality of vanes that each extend radially from a center of the air directing member to a circumference of the air directing member, and are individually slanted to change the direction of air flow. 
     
     
         13 . The rotating air directing apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of vanes are slanted at an acute angle from a corresponding plane that is perpendicular to the circumference of the air directing member. 
     
     
         14 . The rotating air directing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a speed reducing element that is disposed in a groove around an outer circumference of the tubular rotating member proximate to the inlet opening. 
     
     
         15 . The rotating air directing apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the speed reducing element reduces a rotating speed of the tubular rotating element by expanding beyond the circumference of the tubular rotating member due to a centrifugal force when the tubular rotating member is rotating causing contact and friction between the speed reducing element and an interior circumference of the tubular adapter member. 
     
     
         16 . The rotating air directing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle opening is ovular in shape having a longest diameter that extends from a point linear with a planar circumference of the outlet opening to a point linearly between a center of the outlet opening and an opposing point on the planar circumference of the outlet opening. 
     
     
         17 . The rotating air directing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the central open space remains open when the rotating tubular member is rotating. 
     
     
         18 . A hair dryer assembly comprising:
 a hair dryer having a barrel;   a tubular rotating member rotatably coupled to the barrel, wherein the tubular rotating member comprises a circumferential inner surface, an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a plurality of curved vanes;   a nozzle member disposed adjacent to the outlet opening of the tubular rotating member and adapted to rotate with the tubular rotating member, wherein the nozzle member comprises an angled tubular member having a nozzle opening disposed at an acute angle relative to the outlet opening; and   wherein the plurality of curved vanes each have a fixed edge at the circumferential inner surface that curvedly extends from the inlet opening to the outlet opening of the tubular rotating member, and an opposing free edge that defines a central open space of the tubular rotating member that remains open when rotating; and   wherein each of the plurality of curved vanes are spaced apart from each other, thereby defining a plurality of curved radial openings between adjacent curved vanes, and wherein each of the plurality of curved radial openings adjoins the central open space to form a continuous open path.   
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for rotating and directing air from a barrel of a hair dryer, the apparatus comprising:
 a circumferential inner surface;   an inlet opening;   an outlet opening; and   a plurality of curved vanes, each of which have a fixed edge at the circumferential inner surface that extends from a first region the inlet opening to a second region near the outlet opening of the apparatus, and an opposing free edge that defines a central open space of the apparatus.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein each of the plurality of curved vanes are spaced apart from each other, thereby defining a plurality of curved radial openings between adjacent curved vanes, and wherein each of the plurality of curved radial openings adjoins the central open space to form a continuous open path. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the apparatus is rotatably coupled within at least one of the barrel of the hair dryer and a rotating air directing apparatus for the barrel of the hair dryer. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a nozzle member coupled adjacent to the outlet opening and comprising an angled tubular member having a nozzle opening disposed at an acute angle relative to the outlet opening. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for rotating and directing air from a barrel of a hair dryer, the apparatus comprising:
 an angled tubular member;   an inlet opening; and   an outlet opening disposed at an acute angle relative to the inlet opening and ovular in shape, having a longest diameter that extends from a point linear with a planar circumference of the inlet opening to a point linearly between a center of the inlet opening and an opposing point on the planar circumference of the inlet opening.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a tubular rotating member coupled adjacent to the inlet opening and comprising a circumferential inner surface and a plurality of curved vanes, each having a fixed edge at the circumferential inner surface and a free edge that defines a central open space of the tubular rotating member. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the tubular rotating member is rotatably coupled within at least one of the barrel of the hair dryer and a rotating air directing apparatus for the barrel of the hair dryer.