Hair dryer holder

Abstract

A hair dryer consists of a nozzle engaging frame that is composed of an upper nozzle engaging member and a lower nozzle engaging member, each of which is formed from steel wire bent into a horizontal generally planar hollow geometric shape, such as a hollow square. The nozzle engaging frame is supported by a substantially L-shaped arm member attached at one end to the vertical support of the nozzle engaging frame. The opposite end of the L-shaped arm member is attached to a spring clamp which, in turn, is clamped to the edge of a counter top or other edge to support the complete hair dryer holder assembly and hair dryer. The L-shaped arm may be formed with an included angle less than 90° so that when the hair dryer is inserted into the nozzle engaging frame, the nozzle of the hair dryer is directed slightly toward the countertop and away from the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hair dryer holder for supporting a hair dryer from the edge of a horizontal counter top, the hair dryer being of the type having a barrel with an air intake end, an air discharge nozzle and a handle extending generally perpendicular to the barrel, the hair dryer holder comprising:
 a nozzle engaging frame, the nozzle engaging frame comprising an upper nozzle engaging member and a lower nozzle engaging member, the upper nozzle engaging member comprising an elongate frame member formed into a hollow, horizontal, generally planar, closed geometric shape, the lower nozzle engaging member also comprising an elongate frame member formed into a hollow generally planar, closed geometric shape;   a vertical support attached to the upper nozzle engaging member and the lower nozzle engaging member, the vertical support member maintaining the upper nozzle engaging member and the lower nozzle engaging member in a juxtaposed, substantially parallel, spaced-apart configuration;   a clamp comprising an upper clamp member a lower clamp member, the upper clamp member and the lower clamp each comprising a body portion and a jaw portion, the body portion of the upper clamp member being pivotably attached to the body portion of the lower clamp member, the clamp further comprising a resilient member for urging the jaw portions of the upper and lower clamp members together to grip the edge of a counter top; and   an arm member comprising a first end attached a first attachment point to the upper clamp member and a second edge attached at a second attachment point to the nozzle engaging frame, whereby the arm member supports the nozzle engaging frame in a cantilevered manner relative to the clamp.   
     
     
         2 . The hair dryer holder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the nozzle engaging frame extends in a first direction away from the second attachment point and the clamp extends in a substantially opposite direction away from the first attachment point.   
     
     
         3 . The hair dryer holder of  claim 1 , wherein
 the upper nozzle engaging member and the lower nozzle engaging member are hollow closed geometric shapes having substantially equal diagonals.   
     
     
         4 . The hair dryer holder of  claim 1 , wherein
 the upper nozzle engaging member and the lower nozzle engaging members are each hollow rectangles.   
     
     
         5 . The hair dryer holder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the upper nozzle engaging member and the lower nozzle engaging member are each hollow rectangles having two opposite sides the inside edges of which are spaced apart a distance of 55-95 millimeters.   
     
     
         6 . The hair dryer holder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the upper nozzle engaging member and the lower nozzle engaging member are each hollow rectangles having two opposite sides the inside edges of which are spaced apart a distance of 70-82 millimeters.   
     
     
         7 . The hair dryer holder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the upper nozzle engaging member and the lower nozzle engaging member are spaced apart by a distance of at least 10 mm   
     
     
         8 . The hair dryer holder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the upper nozzle engaging member and the lower nozzle engaging member are spaced apart by a distance of between 10 mm to 100 mm   
     
     
         9 . The hair dryer holder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the upper nozzle engaging member and the lower nozzle engaging member are formed from steel wire having a diameter of approximately 6 millimeters.   
     
     
         10 . The hair dryer holder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the upper nozzle engaging member includes a depression in the upper surface thereof, the depression being sized to cradle the handle of the hair dryer.   
     
     
         11 . The hair dryer holder of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the depression has an arcuate upper surface.   
     
     
         12 . The hair dryer holder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the depression is located on the side of the upper nozzle engaging member opposite the second attachment point of the arm member.   
     
     
         13 . The hair dryer holder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the arm member is attached to the vertical support.   
     
     
         14 . The hair dryer holder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the arm member comprises an L-shaped member having an upper arm member and a lower arm member, the angle between the upper arm member and the lower arm member being less than 90 degrees, whereby when the clamp is clamped to the counter top, the nozzle of the hair dryer is pointed slightly toward the counter top when placed in the nozzle engaging frame.   
     
     
         15 . The hair dryer holder of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the angle between the upper arm member and the lower arm member is approximately 80 degrees.