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(11) | EP 4 825 253 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC |
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| (54) | HAIR STYLING NOZZLE AND HAIR DRYER |
| (57) This hair styling nozzle coupled to an air discharge portion in a hair dryer, comprises:
a rear coupling portion fastened to the air discharge portion; an air guide extending
forward from the rear coupling portion; a nozzle head located in front of the air
guide and comprising a nozzle hole through which wind is discharged; and an elastic
fastening portion which fastens the nozzle head and the air guide so that the position
of the nozzle head relative to the air guide is variable, and the hair styling nozzle
guides the air to flow downward so that a style in which hair is pressed close to
the scalp can be effectively realized. |
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a hair styling nozzle for fixing a shape of hair and a hair dryer including the same.
[Background]
[0002] When reflowing moisture from human hair in a wet state as desired or styling the human hair from a current shape into a desired shape, a hair dryer that discharges gas through an air outlet may be used.
[0003] A fan unit or the like for flowing gas may be embedded in the hair dryer, and the hair dryer including such an internal configuration may be designed so that a user may conveniently use the hair dryer in consideration of its own weight and the like.
[0004] When a heater module is located in a head portion and a temperature of a case also increases due to heat of the heater module, there may be a risk of burns, and internal components such as a controller may be affected. Therefore, a structure is needed in which the heat of the heater module is not transferred to the outside or to other locations, but is entirely transferred to air passing through an airflow path.
[0005] In particular, in order to use the hair dryer wirelessly, a battery needs to be embedded, a space for mounting the battery in the hair dryer needs to be additionally secured, and components such as an ion generator may be additionally provided for functional expansion.
[0006] The hair dryer may be used for hair styling in addition to drying hair. In order to perform hair styling, a separate tool such as a hair brush or a hair iron that applies heat is needed, or professional skill is needed, and thus it is difficult to directly perform highly satisfactory styling at home.
[0007] Various types of accessories for expanding functions of the hair dryer are being developed so that hair styling may be performed more easily even at home.
[Summary]
[Technical Purpose]
[0008] A purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a hair styling nozzle and a hair dryer including the same, which enable down perm styling for bringing hair above an ear into close contact with a scalp to be easily performed at home.
[Technical Solutions]
[0009] Provided is a hair styling nozzle coupled to an air outlet of a hair dryer, the hair styling nozzle including: a rear coupling portion fastened to the air outlet; an air guide extending in a frontward direction from the rear coupling portion; a nozzle head located in front of the air guide and including a nozzle hole through which air is discharged; and an elastic fastening portion fastening the nozzle head and the air guide to each other such that a relative position of the nozzle head with respect to the air guide is variable.
[0010] The elastic fastening portion may include a screw passing through the air guide and fastened to the nozzle head, and a spring into which the screw is inserted and which is interposed between the air guide and the nozzle head.
[0011] The rear coupling portion may include a ring coupling portion located around the air outlet, and a central coupling portion constituting an inner area of the rear coupling portion and coupled to a magnet located at a center of the air outlet, and the air guide may include an outer guide connecting the ring coupling portion to the nozzle head, and a phase plug extending in a frontward direction from the central coupling portion and having a vertical cross-sectional area decreasing as the phase plug extends in the frontward direction.
[0012] The elastic fastening portion may pass through the phase plug and be fastened to the nozzle head.
[0013] The hair styling nozzle may include a movement gap formed between the air guide and the nozzle head, and a sealing ring located inwardly of the movement gap and interposed between the air guide and the nozzle head.
[0014] The air guide may include an outer guide extending from the rear coupling portion to the nozzle head, the nozzle head may include a side wall portion protruding in a rearward direction from a periphery of a front surface thereof and surrounding an outer circumference of the outer guide, and the sealing ring may be interposed between the side wall portion and the outer guide.
[0015] The sealing ring may include a fixed portion fixed to the outer guide, a contact portion protruding from the fixed portion and contacting the side wall portion, and a flexible portion located between the fixed portion and the contact portion, and a hardness of the flexible portion may be lower than a hardness of the fixed portion.
[0016] The contact portion may have a hardness equal to or greater than a hardness of the flexible portion and lower than a hardness of the fixed portion.
[0017] The outer guide may include a first fixing rib located in front of and in rear of the fixed portion to support the fixed portion, and a second fixing rib inserted into the fixed portion.
[0019] The contact portion may include, at an end portion thereof, a protrusion protruding toward the side wall portion.
[0020] Provided is a hair dryer including a hair dryer main body including a ring-shaped air outlet, and a hair styling nozzle coupled to the air outlet, wherein the hair styling nozzle includes: a rear coupling portion fastened to the air outlet; an air guide extending in a frontward direction from the rear coupling portion; a nozzle head located in front of the air guide and including a nozzle hole through which air is discharged; and an elastic fastening portion fastening the nozzle head and the air guide to each other such that a relative position of the nozzle head with respect to the air guide is variable.
[Advantageous Effects]
[0021] The hair styling nozzle of the present disclosure guides air to flow downward, thereby effectively implementing a style in which hair is in close contact with a scalp.
[0022] In addition, the hair styling nozzle of the present disclosure may improve usability by being capable of softly contacting a scalp through a movable structure of the nozzle head.
[0023] In addition, the hair styling nozzle of the present disclosure may prevent air from leaking through the movement gap between the nozzle head and the air guide.
[0024] The effects obtainable from the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.
[Brief Description of the Drawings]
[0025]
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a hair dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating the hair dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an inside of the hair dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 4 is a front perspective view illustrating a hair styling nozzle according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view illustrating the hair styling nozzle according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view illustrating the hair styling nozzle according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the hair styling nozzle according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIGS. 8 and 9 are views illustrating flows of air according to a size of a second nozzle hole of the hair styling nozzle according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a hair styling nozzle according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a sealing ring of the hair styling nozzle according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating various embodiments of the sealing ring of the hair styling nozzle according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.
[Best Mode]
[0026] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to be easily implemented by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs.
[0027] However, the present disclosure may be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to embodiments described herein. In addition, in order to clearly describe the present disclosure, components irrelevant to the description are omitted, and like reference numerals are assigned to similar components throughout the specification.
[0029] Further, in this specification, it will be understood that when a component is referred to as being "connected with" another component, the component may be directly connected with the other component or intervening components may also be present. In contrast, it will be understood that when a component is referred to as being "directly connected with" another component in this specification, there are no intervening components present.
[0030] Further, in this specification, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing a specific embodiment only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.
[0031] Further, in this specification, the singular forms "a" and "an" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
[0032] Further, in this specification, it will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," and "including" specify the presence of certain features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, and parts or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, and parts or combinations thereof.
[0033] Further, in this specification, the term "and/or" includes a combination of a plurality of listed items or one of the plurality of listed items. In this specification, "A or B" may include "A," "B," or "both A and B."
[0034] The present disclosure relates to a portable device capable of being used handheld by a user and, more particularly, to an electronic device that is small in size and designed to be used handheld by a user. Since the portable device is not used in a stationary position but rather is held and used directly by the user, the portable device needs to be lightweight, and grip comfort of a handle 102 is important. Additionally, because the portable device is prone to contamination from external substances, a waterproof feature may be necessary. It is necessary to seal a gap between a case and a frame so that internal air is not discharged to a region other than an air outlet.
[0035] The portable device of the present disclosure relates to beauty devices. For example, the portable device relates to a hair dryer 100. While the present disclosure is described based on the hair dryer 100, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Portable devices such as handheld skincare devices or body care devices may also be included in the scope of the present disclosure.
[0036] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the hair dryer 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the hair dryer 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the hair dryer 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, taken along line A-A of FIG. 2.
[0037] In the drawings, the x-axis represents the left-right direction, the y-axis represents the front-rear direction, and the z-axis represents the up-down direction. When viewed from the front, +x is to the right, and -x is to the left. Further, +y is a frontward direction, -y is a rearward direction, +z is an upward direction, and -z is a downward direction.
[0038] The hair dryer 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a main body including a head portion 101 and a handle portion 102. The handle portion 102 includes, at a lower portion thereof, an air inlet 104 through which air is introduced from the outside, and the head portion 101 includes an air outlet 103 through which air is discharged, a heater module 150, and a touch display 135 on a rear surface.
[0039] An inside of the main body 101 and 102 of the hair dryer 100 includes an airflow path extending from the air inlet 104 to the air outlet 103. The airflow path of the present disclosure is not a straight path. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, air in the airflow path flows vertically in the handle portion 102 and then bends horizontally in the head portion 101.
[0040] The air inlet 104 may be located at the lower portion of the handle portion 102, and the air outlet 103 may be located at a front of the head portion 101. The handle portion 102 and the head portion 101 may have shapes corresponding to a direction in which the airflow path extends. For usability, the handle portion 102 may extend in a direction slightly tilted in a frontward direction from a vertical direction with respect to the head portion 101.
[0041] The handle portion 102 may be formed in a cylindrical shape with a diameter that may be gripped by the user, and the head portion 101 may be formed in a cylindrical shape with a diameter greater than that of the handle portion 102. The diameter of the handle portion 102 may be uniform from the bottom to the top, but the head portion 101 may have a slightly smaller diameter at the front to guide air toward the air outlet 103.
[0042] The air inlet 104 may include air intake holes 1283 formed around a circumference of the handle portion 102 and a filter to prevent introduction of other foreign substances such as dust. A filter frame to which the filter is fixed may be located at a lower portion of the handle portion 102 and may constitute the air inlet 104.
[0043] The filter is made of a material different from that of cases 111 and 121 forming an exterior of the hair dryer 100 and is a thin film-shaped member, and thus may be damaged by an external impact. Therefore, a filter cover 128 for protecting the filter may be further included, and the filter cover 128 may be configured to be detachable for cleaning and replacement of the filter.
[0044] The air outlet 103 may be located at the front of the head portion 101 and may include a ring-shaped opening. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a heating wire 156 of the heater module 150 of the present disclosure has a donut shape in which a central portion is empty and is wound around a cylindrical heater housing 158. The air outlet 103 may also have a ring shape corresponding to the arrangement of the heating wire 156. That is, a center of the air outlet 103 may be blocked to form the ring shape.
[0045] A hair styling nozzle 200 coupled to the air outlet 103 may be further included to expand functions of the hair dryer 100. The hair styling nozzle 200 may be easily detachably implemented through a magnet located at a central portion of the air outlet 103.
[0046] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the hair styling nozzle 200 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the hair styling nozzle 200 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The hair styling nozzle 200 of the present disclosure is a hair styling nozzle 200 for pressing and fixing side hair above an ear in a short hair style. A styling method of bringing hair protruding in a vertical direction from hair roots above the ear into close contact with a scalp direction is commonly called down perm styling.
[0047] Down perm styling may be performed in a beauty salon using a perm agent, but there is a problem that, after a certain period of time, hair may stand again due to newly grown hair. There is a need for a styling tool that allows easy styling at home when drying hair without going to a beauty salon.
[0048] In order to prevent side hair from protruding, a conventional device may be worn on the head in the form of a band. However, rear hair may be pressed by a band portion connecting both ends. Alternatively, a band-shaped device needs to be used for a long time for down perm styling, or there is a risk of burns when heat is applied.
[0049] The present disclosure provides the hair styling nozzle 200 that may be coupled to the air outlet 103 of the hair dryer 100 so that down perm styling may be performed at home.
[0050] The hair dryer 100 of the present disclosure may include a rear coupling portion 210 located at a rear side and fastened to the air outlet 103, a nozzle head 220 located at a front side and having nozzle holes 222, 223, and 224 (see FIG. 7) through which hot air is provided, and an air guide 230 connecting between the rear coupling portion 210 and the nozzle head 220 and guiding hot air to be supplied from the rear side to the front side.
[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the rear coupling portion 210 having a shape corresponding to the air outlet 103 of the hair dryer 100 may be included, and the rear coupling portion 210 may include a ring coupling portion 211 fastened to an outer circumference of the air outlet 103 and a central coupling portion 215 fastened to a center of the air outlet 103.
[0052] The central coupling portion 215 may be fastened, through magnetic force, to a nozzle coupling portion 113 located at the center of the air outlet 103. A magnet having a polarity different from that of the nozzle coupling portion 113 may be disposed to fix the hair styling nozzle 200 to the main body head portion 101.
[0053] When the central coupling portion 215 and the nozzle coupling portion 113 are fixed by magnetic force, the ring coupling portion 211 comes into close contact with the outer circumference of the air outlet 103. A rear surface of the ring coupling portion 211 may include an elastic material so that the rear surface of the ring coupling portion 211 comes into close contact with the air outlet 103 of the head portion 101 to prevent air from leaking between the ring coupling portion 211 and the air outlet 103.
[0054] The nozzle head 220 located in front of the rear coupling portion 210 may include a plurality of first nozzle holes 222 for evenly supplying hot air introduced through the rear coupling portion 210 to hair.
[0055] The hair styling nozzle 200 of the present disclosure is a device used in close contact with a head above an ear, and an area of the nozzle head 220 is greater than an area of the rear coupling portion 210 so that hot air may be supplied to a wide area.
[0056] The nozzle head 220 may have a length in the horizontal direction greater than a length in the vertical direction and may have a rectangular shape or a shape in which corner portions are curved as illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0057] FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the hair styling nozzle 200 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure and is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 4. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the nozzle head 220 may be curved to have a predetermined curvature in the horizontal direction corresponding to a shape of the head, such that both end portions protrude in a frontward direction. Since a length in the vertical direction is shorter than a length in the horizontal direction, and the portion of the head above the ear is not a portion having large curvature, the nozzle head 220 may have a flat surface in the vertical direction.
[0058] The air guide 230 may include an outer guide 231 extending from an outer circumference of the ring coupling portion 211 and a phase plug 235 extending from the central coupling portion 215.
[0059] Since the nozzle head 220 is wider in the horizontal direction than the rear coupling portion 210, the outer guide 231 extending from the rear coupling portion 210 to the nozzle head 220 has a front end wider than a rear end. The outer guide 231 may have a shape that gradually widens from the rear coupling portion 210 to the nozzle head 220, but may also be configured to have a shape that narrows from the rear end toward the front end and then widens again, as illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0060] Since the air outlet 103 has a ring shape, if the outer guide 231 does not have a portion (rear end portion) that collects air toward the center, hot air may not be smoothly supplied to a central portion. Accordingly, the rear end of the outer guide 231 may have a shape that narrows toward the front.
[0061] The phase plug 235 may form a gentle curved surface that narrows from the rear side toward the front side to correspond to a shape of the rear end of the outer guide 231. Although the phase plug 235 of the present embodiment is formed in a hemispherical shape, since a width in the horizontal direction of the nozzle head 220 is different from a width in the vertical direction of the nozzle head 220, a shape in the vertical direction and a shape in the horizontal direction of the phase plug 235 may be configured differently.
[0062] For down perm styling that presses hair above the ear downward, the nozzle head 220 may include a plurality of vertical ribs 221 extending in the vertical direction so that air discharged from the nozzle holes 222 flows downward. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the vertical ribs 221 may protrude in a frontward direction from the front surface thereof 226 of the nozzle head 220, and a plurality of vertical ribs 221 may be arranged at predetermined spacings in the horizontal direction.
[0063] FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the hair styling nozzle 200 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure and is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 4. The vertical ribs 221 protrude in a frontward direction from the front surface 226 of the nozzle head 220, so that the front surface 226 of the nozzle head 220 does not directly contact a scalp and may maintain a predetermined distance. Hot air provided through the first nozzle holes 222 to a space between the front surface 226 of the nozzle head 220 and the scalp may flow downward because horizontal flow is restricted by the vertical ribs 221.
[0064] The front surface 226 of the nozzle head 220 of the present disclosure is characterized by having multiple steps. Referring to FIG. 7, front surfaces 2261, 2262, and 2263 are formed in three steps, but may be formed as two front surfaces 226 or a greater number of front surfaces 226.
[0065] The front surface 226 may include a first front surface 2261 located at an uppermost portion and a second front surface 2262 located under the first front surface 2261 and located in a rearward direction. A third front surface 2263 may be located under the second front surface 2262, or the front surface 226 may be formed of a greater number of front surfaces 226 forming multiple steps.
[0066] Due to the multi-step structure, a spacing between the scalp of the user and the front surfaces 2261, 2262, and 2263 of the nozzle head is greater at a lower portion, and thus heat discharged from the first nozzle holes 222 may flow downward.
[0067] Referring to FIG. 7, front ends of the vertical ribs 221 form straight lines extending in the vertical direction, but rear ends of the vertical ribs 221 form steps and may be located in a rearward direction. That is, since the front surfaces 2261, 2262, and 2263 of the nozzle head 220 are located in a rearward direction as they extend downward, a width in the front-rear direction of the vertical ribs 221 may have a multi-step shape in which a lower side is wider than an upper side.
[0068] A plurality of first nozzle holes 222 facing in a frontward direction may be formed in the first front surface 2261. Air discharged from the first nozzle holes 222 toward the head in a direction perpendicular to the first front surface 2261 may flow downward along the vertical ribs 221.
[0069] In order to provide hot air flowing downward, the second nozzle hole 223 facing downward may be formed in a stepped portion between the first front surface 2261 and the second front surface 2262 disposed in rear of the first front surface 2261. When the third front surface 2263 is additionally included under the second front surface 2262, a third nozzle hole 224 may be further provided in a step between the second front surface 2262 and the third front surface 2263. Since the second nozzle hole 223 and the third nozzle hole 224 have similar roles, the second nozzle hole 223 will be described as a reference.
[0070] FIGS. 8 and 9 are views illustrating flows of air according to a size of the second nozzle hole 223 of the hair styling nozzle 200 of the present disclosure.
[0071] The lower end of the first front surface 2261 and the upper end of the second front surface 2262 are spaced apart from each other to form a step, and the second nozzle hole 223 may be formed in the step. A shape of the second nozzle hole 223 may vary according to positions of the lower end of the first front surface 2261 and the upper end of the second front surface 2262.
[0072] The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 is an embodiment in which the lower end of the first front surface 2261 and the upper end of the second front surface 2262 are located at the same height in the vertical direction (y1=0) and are arranged to be spaced apart from each other only in the front-rear direction (x>0).
[0073] In this regard, since the second nozzle hole 223 faces downward in the vertical direction, a direction of air discharged from the second nozzle hole 223 also faces downward. However, in this case, before hot air is provided to hair, the hot air may flow downward and be discharged, and thus a shape of the second nozzle hole 223 may be changed so that the hot air is provided further in a frontward direction.
[0074] The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 is an embodiment in which the lower end of the first front surface 2261 and the upper end of the second front surface 2262 are located to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction (y2>0), and the nozzle hole may have a shape opened in an oblique direction toward a lower side of the front surface 226. The flow of air in FIG. 9 illustrates a result of a simulation designed with y2=2 mm.
[0075] Air discharged from the second nozzle hole 223 of the present embodiment is discharged more obliquely than in the embodiment of FIG. 8, and thus hot air may reach a position farther in a frontward direction beyond front ends of the vertical ribs 221, as illustrated in FIG. 9. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, hot air may be more effectively transferred to hair located in front of the nozzle head 220.
[0076] The size in the front-rear direction of the second nozzle hole 223 may be formed greater than the size in the vertical direction (x>y2) so that hot air discharged through the second nozzle hole 223 is discharged in a direction inclined downward rather than in a frontward direction. Since the size in the front-rear direction and the size in the vertical direction of the second nozzle hole are determined by the positions of the lower end of the first front surface 2261 and the upper end of the second front surface 2262, a spacing between the lower end of the first front surface 2261 and the upper end of the second front surface 2262 may be configured such that the vertical direction is smaller than the front-rear direction.
[0077] FIG. 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the hair styling nozzle 200 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. The hair styling nozzle 200 of the present disclosure is used in close contact with a scalp of a user, and may include an elastic member 262 such that, when the user presses the hair styling nozzle 200 toward the scalp, the hair styling nozzle 200 may contact the scalp without applying strong pressure to the scalp.
[0078] A method such as adding a rubber material to protrusions contacting the scalp may be used. However, because a large area of the hair styling nozzle 200 of the present disclosure contacts the scalp, when the vertical ribs 221 contacting the scalp are formed of rubber, a problem may occur in that hair is caught.
[0079] Accordingly, the present disclosure may improve usability by adding elasticity to a fastening structure 260 between the nozzle head 220 and the air guide 230 so that a position of the nozzle head 220 contacting the scalp may be variable.
[0080] In the present embodiment, fastening between the nozzle head 220 and the air guide 230 is implemented through an elastic fastening portion 260, and the elastic fastening portion 260 may include a spring 262 as illustrated in FIG. 10. Although a maximum distance between the air guide 230 and the nozzle head 220 is fixed, when the nozzle head 220 is pressed rearward, the nozzle head 220 may be pushed rearward so that a spacing between the nozzle head 220 and the air guide 230 may be reduced.
[0081] As described above, the air guide 230 may include a phase plug 235 located at a center and an outer guide 231 located around an outer circumference. The outer guide 231 extends from the ring coupling portion 211 and provides a flow path through which hot air discharged from the air outlet 103 is supplied to the nozzle head 220.
[0082] The phase plug 235 protrudes in a frontward direction from the central coupling portion 215 and may have a shape tapered in the frontward direction. The phase plug 235 may serve to collect, toward a central direction, hot air discharged from the ring-shaped air outlet 103.
[0083] The elastic fastening portion 260 may include a spring 262 for changing a spacing between the nozzle head 220 and the air guide 230, and a screw 261 for limiting movement of the nozzle head 220 caused by the spring 262.
[0084] The screw 261 is a member that limits a maximum distance so that the nozzle head 220 and the air guide 230 are not separated from each other, and may pass through the phase plug 235 and be fastened to a screw boss 228 formed in the nozzle head 220.
[0085] The screw boss 228 protrudes rearward from the front surface 226 of the nozzle head 220, and may be formed on the second front surface 2262 because the second front surface 2262 has no nozzle hole facing frontward.
[0086] The screw 261 inserted into the phase plug 235 is not fixed in position to the phase plug 235 in the front-rear direction, and thus a relative position of the phase plug 235 with respect to the screw 261 may vary. The spring 262 may surround an outer surface of the screw 261 and may be interposed between the phase plug 235 and the nozzle head 220.
[0087] The spring 262 may adjust a spacing between the nozzle head 220 and the air guide 230 while a length thereof changes. Since the phase plug 235 has a curved surface, a portion through which the screw passes may protrude in a frontward direction to form a protruding portion 236, so that a rear end of the spring 262 may be supported.
[0088] FIG. 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a central portion in the vertical direction. Referring to FIG. 10, the nozzle head 220 may include a side wall portion 225 extending in a rearward direction from a periphery of the front surface 226. The air guide 230 is inserted into a rear surface of the nozzle head 220, and an end portion of the outer guide 231 may be coupled to an inner side of the side wall portion 225 of the nozzle head 220.
[0089] Since the outer guide 231 is inserted from the rear of the nozzle head 220, a coupling portion between the outer guide 231 and the nozzle head 220 faces rearward. The coupling portion between the outer guide 231 and the nozzle head 220 is spaced apart from the front surface 226 of the nozzle head 220, which contacts hair, and thus a problem in which hair is caught between the outer guide 231 and the nozzle head 220 may be minimized.
[0090] The nozzle head 220 may include a nozzle hook 229 protruding from a rear end of the side wall portion 225, and the nozzle hook 229 may be fastened to a circumference of the outer guide 231 to hold the outer guide 231 so that the outer guide 231 is not separated from the nozzle head 220.
[0091] Because the nozzle hook 229 is caught in a rearward direction of the outer guide 231, in the state illustrated in FIG. 10, the nozzle head 220 moves in a rearward direction and does not restrict movement in a direction in which the outer guide 231 is further inserted into the inside of the nozzle head 220. In addition to the nozzle hook 229 protruding from an end portion of the side wall portion 225 of the nozzle head 220, a hook 229' for preventing separation between the air guide 230 and the nozzle head 220 may be further included.
[0092] Since the nozzle head 220 has a movable structure, the nozzle hook 229 is needed so that interference does not occur between the nozzle head 220 and the air guide 230. However, air introduced into the hair styling nozzle 200 through a movement gap g may leak through the movement gap g. A sealing ring 250 may be included to allow movement between the nozzle head 220 and the air guide 230 and, at the same time, block air leaking through the movement gap g between the nozzle head 220 and the air guide 230.
[0093] The sealing ring 250 may be interposed between a circumference of the outer guide 231 and a circumference of the side wall portion 225 of the nozzle head 220, and may have a ring shape in which both end portions are connected. Unlike a typical sealing structure for waterproofing or windproofing, the sealing ring 250 of the present disclosure needs to prevent air from leaking while having flexibility, and thus is characterized by a cross-sectional shape.
[0094] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the sealing ring 250 of the hair styling nozzle 200 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0095] The sealing ring 250 may be fixed to the circumference of the outer guide 231 to face outward, and may contact an inner side of the side wall portion 225 of the nozzle head 220. The sealing ring 250 may be constructed to be greater than a gap between the nozzle head 220 and the outer guide 231 so as to be brought into close contact with the nozzle head 220.
[0096] The sealing ring 250 may include a fixed portion 251 fixed to the outer guide 231, and a contact portion 254 brought into close contact with the side wall portion 225 of the nozzle head 220. A flexible portion 252, which easily changes shape according to movement of the nozzle head 220, may be included between the contact portion 254 and the fixed portion 251.
[0097] The sealing ring 250 may include an elastic material such as silicone, and the fixed portion 251, the contact portion 254, and the flexible portion 252 may be made of the same material or may be made of different materials. However, in consideration of convenience of manufacturing, the fixed portion 251, the contact portion 254, and the flexible portion 252 may be made of the same material but may be constructed to have different characteristics by varying thicknesses and shapes thereof.
[0098] The contact portion 254 has elasticity and may be brought into close contact with the side wall portion 225 of the nozzle head 220, and may be constructed to have a large area so as to maintain a contact state with the side wall portion 225 of the nozzle head 220 even during movement.
[0099] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating various embodiments of the sealing ring 250 of the hair styling nozzle 200 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. The contact portion 254 may have a semicircular cross-section as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 12, or may be formed in a rectangular shape as illustrated in (b) of FIG. 12. A protruding portion 255, wrinkles, or the like may be formed at an end portion of the contact portion 254, that is, a portion contacting the side wall portion 225.
[0100] The contact portion 254 of the sealing ring 250 may be formed in a tube shape having an empty inner space so as to be brought into close contact with the side wall portion 225 when contacting the side wall portion 225. Since the sealing ring 250 forms a closed curve, an inner side surface coupled to the outer guide 231, right side in the drawing, may be opened, as in a bicycle tube, to form an empty space inside the contact portion 254.
[0101] The flexible portion 252 may use a material that easily changes shape, and may offset movement caused by movement of the nozzle head 220 by deformation of the flexible portion 252, thereby minimizing movement of the contact portion 254 on the side wall portion 225.
[0102] As illustrated in FIG. 11, wrinkles may be formed in the flexible portion 252 so that the flexible portion 252 easily changes shape. The flexible portion 252 may be constructed to be equal in thickness to the contact portion 254 or thinner than the contact portion 254.
[0103] The fixed portion 251 has rigidity so as to be stably fixed to the outer guide 231, and may be formed thicker than other portions to ensure rigidity. However, because there is a risk of separation due to material characteristics, fixing ribs 2341 and 2342 for fixing the sealing ring 250 to the outer guide 231 may be included as illustrated in FIG. 11.
[0104] The fixing ribs may include a first fixing rib 2341 surrounding not only an outer side of the fixed portion 251 but also an inner side, a front surface 226, and a rear surface thereof, and may include a second fixing rib 2342 inserted not only around the fixed portion 251 but also into a center of the fixed portion 251.
[0105] Since the sealing ring 250 has a shape with an opened inner side, the fixed portion 251 is divided into front and rear portions, and thus the second fixing rib 2342 may be inserted between the divided portions of the fixed portion 251. The second fixing rib 2342 may be formed in a T-shape to minimize separation of the sealing ring 250.
[0106] A wall thickness of the contact portion 254 may be constructed to be 0.5 mm or smaller, and a wall thickness of the fixed portion 251 may be constructed to be 1 mm or greater, such that the wall thickness of the fixed portion 251 is several times greater than the wall thickness of the contact portion 254. In the present embodiment, the wall thickness of the contact portion 254 is 0.3 mm, and the wall thickness of the fixed portion 251 is 1.5 mm.
[0107] As described above, the hair styling nozzle 200 of the present disclosure may effectively implement a style in which hair is brought into close contact with a scalp by guiding air to flow in a downward direction.
[0108] In addition, the hair styling nozzle of the present disclosure may improve usability by being capable of softly contacting the scalp through the movable structure of the nozzle head 220.
[0109] In addition, the hair styling nozzle of the present disclosure may prevent air from leaking through the movement gap g between the nozzle head 220 and the air guide 230.
[0110] Although the present disclosure has been illustrated and described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be variously improved and changed without departing from the technical spirit of the present disclosure provided by the following claims.
1. A hair styling nozzle coupled to an air outlet of a hair dryer, the hair styling nozzle
comprising:
a rear coupling portion fastened to the air outlet;
an air guide extending in a frontward direction from the rear coupling portion;
a nozzle head located in front of the air guide and including a nozzle hole through which air is discharged; and
an elastic fastening portion fastening the nozzle head and the air guide to each other such that a relative position of the nozzle head with respect to the air guide is variable.
2. The hair styling nozzle of claim 1, wherein the elastic fastening portion includes:
a screw passing through the air guide and fastened to the nozzle head; and
a spring into which the screw is inserted and which is interposed between the air guide and the nozzle head.
3. The hair styling nozzle of claim 1, wherein the rear coupling portion includes:
a ring coupling portion located around the air outlet; and
a central coupling portion constituting an inner area of the rear coupling portion and coupled to a magnet located at a center of the air outlet,
wherein the air guide includes:
an outer guide connecting the ring coupling portion to the nozzle head; and
a phase plug extending in a frontward direction from the central coupling portion and having a vertical cross-sectional area decreasing as the phase plug extends in the frontward direction.
4. The hair styling nozzle of claim 3, wherein the elastic fastening portion passes through
the phase plug and is fastened to the nozzle head.
5. The hair styling nozzle of claim 1, further comprising:
a movement gap formed between the air guide and the nozzle head; and
a sealing ring located inwardly of the movement gap and interposed between the air guide and the nozzle head.
6. The hair styling nozzle of claim 5, wherein the air guide includes an outer guide
extending from the rear coupling portion to the nozzle head,
wherein the nozzle head includes a side wall portion protruding in a rearward direction from a periphery of a front surface thereof and surrounding an outer circumference of the outer guide, and
wherein the sealing ring is interposed between the side wall portion and the outer guide.
7. The hair styling nozzle of claim 6, wherein the sealing ring includes:
a fixed portion fixed to the outer guide;
a contact portion protruding from the fixed portion and contacting the side wall portion; and
a flexible portion located between the fixed portion and the contact portion,
wherein a hardness of the flexible portion is lower than a hardness of the fixed portion.
8. The hair styling nozzle of claim 7, wherein a hardness of the contact portion is equal
to or greater than the hardness of the flexible portion and is lower than the hardness
of the fixed portion.
9. The hair styling nozzle of claim 7, wherein the outer guide includes a first fixing
rib located in front of and in rear of the fixed portion to support the fixed portion,
and a second fixing rib inserted into the fixed portion.
10. The hair styling nozzle of claim 7, wherein the contact portion has a hollow tube
shape.
11. The hair styling nozzle of claim 7, wherein the contact portion includes, at an end
portion thereof, a protrusion protruding toward the side wall portion.
12. A hair dryer comprising:
a hair dryer main body including a ring-shaped air outlet; and
a hair styling nozzle coupled to the air outlet,
wherein the hair styling nozzle includes:
a rear coupling portion fastened to the air outlet;
an air guide extending in a frontward direction from the rear coupling portion;
a nozzle head located in front of the air guide and including a nozzle hole through which air is discharged; and
an elastic fastening portion fastening the nozzle head and the air guide to each other such that a relative position of the nozzle head with respect to the air guide is variable.