Blow Dryer and Controls for Same

Abstract

A hand-held hair dryer has a body with an air intake and an outlet nozzle. A heating element is positioned within the body between the air intake and the outlet nozzle. A handle extends from the body and defines a hand grip. A temperature controller is located on a surface of the body and configured to control the temperature of the heating element. The temperature controller can lie essentially flush with or below a level of the surface of the body around the temperature controller. A motor control switch can be provided on the handle to operate a motor for directing air from the intake to the heating element and then to the outlet nozzle.

1 . A hair dryer comprising:
 a body having an air intake and an outlet nozzle;   a heating element within the body between the air intake and the outlet nozzle;   a handle extending from the body and defining a hand grip; and   a temperature controller on a surface of the body configured to control the temperature of the heating element, the temperature controller lying essentially flush with or below a level of the surface of the body around the temperature controller.   
     
     
         2 . A hair dryer according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature controller is a rotatable dial positioned on a side of the body and having an outward facing surface. 
     
     
         3 . A hair dryer according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bezel that snaps into an opening in the body and surrounds the temperature controller. 
     
     
         4 . A hair dryer according to  claim 3 , wherein the temperature controller is a rotatable dial surrounded by the bezel and having an outward facing surface. 
     
     
         5 . A hair dryer according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature controller further comprises:
 an opening through the surface of the body;   a support element within and spanning a width of the opening; and   a rotatable dial received in the opening and having a pivot stem extending through a hole in the support element.   
     
     
         6 . A hair dryer according to  claim 5 , further comprising a circuit board mounted to the support element and coupled to the heating element, the circuit board configured for controlling the temperature of the heating element according to a rotational position of the dial. 
     
     
         7 . A hair dryer according to  claim 6 , wherein the pivot stem on the dial is keyed to an opening in a variable resistance device coupled to the circuit board whereby rotation of the dial effects adjustment of the variable resistance device. 
     
     
         8 . A hair dryer according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature controller further comprises:
 an opening through the surface of the body;   a support element within and spanning a width of the opening;   a bezel snapped onto the surface of the body and surrounding the opening; and   a rotatable dial surrounded by the bezel and having a central pivot stem extending through a hole in the support element, the dial rotatable about the pivot stem.   
     
     
         9 . A hair dryer according to  claim 8 , wherein the dial snaps into the bezel. 
     
     
         10 . A hair dryer according to  claim 8 , wherein the dial has a pair of snap fingers that is received through and snaps onto the bezel. 
     
     
         11 . A hair dryer according to  claim 10 , wherein the pair of snap fingers limit rotation of the dial between a minimum heat position defining a minimum temperature setting and a maximum heat position defining a maximum temperature setting. 
     
     
         12 . A hair dryer according to  claim 11 , wherein one or both of the pair of snap fingers abuts against a stop at the minimum heat position and at the maximum heat position. 
     
     
         13 . A hair dryer according to  claim 8 , further comprising a temperature control circuit board mounted adjacent the support element and coupled to the pivot stem of the dial. 
     
     
         14 . A hair dryer according to  claim 13 , wherein the pivot stem is keyed to an opening in a variable resistance device on the circuit board whereby rotation of the dial effects adjustment of the variable resistance device. 
     
     
         15 . A hand-held hair dryer comprising:
 a body having an air intake, an outlet nozzle, and a flow path therebetween;   a motor within the body configured to draw air into the air intake, direct the air along the flow path, and force the air from the body through outlet nozzle;   a heating element within the body between the air intake and the outlet nozzle;   a handle extending from the body and defining a grip portion;   a motor control switch on the handle configured to operate the motor; and   a temperature controller on a surface of the body and configured to control the temperature of the heating element.   
     
     
         16 . A hair dryer according to  claim 15 , wherein the temperature controller is a dial rotatable between a minimum heat position defining a minimum temperature setting and a maximum heat position defining a maximum temperature setting, the dial adjustable to any selected heat position and desired temperature setting therebetween. 
     
     
         17 . A hair dryer according to  claim 16 , wherein an outward facing surface of the dial lies flush with or below a level of the surface of the body around the dial. 
     
     
         18 . A hair dryer according to  claim 15 , further comprising a cool shot button on the handle and spaced from the motor control switch. 
     
     
         19 . A hair dryer according to  claim 18 , wherein the cool shot button is positioned so as to be operable by one hand of a user grasping the grip portion of the handle, wherein the motor control switch is positioned so as to be operable by the one hand grasping the grip portion, and wherein the temperature controller is operable by the other hand of the user with the one hand grasping the grip portion. 
     
     
         20 . A hair dryer according to  claim 15 , wherein the temperature controller lies flush with or below a level of the surface of the body around the temperature controller.