# US 10,441,049 B2 · Hand held appliance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,049 B2 - Document ID: US10441049B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/971,916 - Filed: 2015-12-16 - Published: 2016-06-16 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-16 - Assignees: Dyson Technology Limited - Applicants: Dyson Technology Limited - Inventors: Craig Douglas; Christopher William Hedges; Antoine Francois Atkinson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441049B2 ## CPC - A45D 20/10: Hand-held drying devices, e.g. air douches - A45D 20/12: Details thereof or accessories therefor, e.g. nozzles, stands - A45D: HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT (wigs, toupees or the like A41G3/00, A41G5/00; hairdressers' chairs A47C1/04; hair cutting appliances, razors B26B); EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING ## Abstract A hand held appliance including a wall, a fluid flow path extending within the wall from a fluid inlet into the appliance to a fluid outlet from the appliance, a fan unit extending longitudinally within the wall for drawing fluid into the fluid inlet wherein the fan unit is non-concentric with respect to the wall. The fan unit may be positioned coaxially within the fluid flow path. The wall has a thickness and the thickness of the wall may varies. The wall may be generally tubular and the thickness of the wall varies around a circumference of the wall. The wall may be generally tubular and has an inner surface and an outer surface. A central axis of the inner surface may be different to a central axis of the outer surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hand held appliance comprising a wall having a cylindrical outer surface and an inner surface, the cylindrical outer surface having a central longitudinal axis, a fluid flow path extending within the wall from a fluid inlet into the appliance to a fluid outlet from the appliance, a fan extending longitudinally within the wall for drawing fluid into the fluid inlet, wherein the fan has a rotation axis that is the same as a central longitudinal axis of the inner surface of the wall and different than the central longitudinal axis of the cylindrical outer surface of the wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The appliance of claim 1, wherein the fan is positioned coaxially within the fluid flow path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The appliance of claim 1, wherein the wall is generally tubular and the thickness of the wall varies around a circumference of the wall. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The appliance of claim 1, wherein the wall is generally tubular and has an inner surface and an outer surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The appliance of claim 4, wherein a central axis of the inner surface is different to a central axis of the outer surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The appliance of claim 1, wherein power is supplied to a fan unit comprising the fan by wires extending from a power source and wherein the wires extending from the power source are housed in the wall. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The appliance of claim 6, wherein the wall is locally thicker in the vicinity of the wires. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The appliance of claim 6, wherein the wall comprises channels extending along the wall for housing the wires. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The appliance of claim 8, wherein the channels extend along the wall at least past the fan unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The appliance of claim 8, comprising a control switch wherein the control switch is aligned with the channels. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The appliance of claim 6, comprising a control switch, wherein the control switch is aligned with the wires. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The appliance of claim 6, wherein the appliance has a body comprising a first end and a second end and a handle extending from the body wherein the wires extend along the handle in the wall and the wires are radially located within the handle proximate the first end of the body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The appliance of claim 12, comprising a control switch, wherein the control switch is proximate the first end of the body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The appliance of claim 12, wherein the second end of the body comprises the fluid outlet from the appliance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The appliance of claim 12, wherein the handle comprises the fluid inlet into the appliance. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The appliance of claim 12, wherein the body comprises a further fluid inlet into the appliance. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The appliance of claim 16, wherein a further fluid flow path extends axially through the appliance from the further fluid inlet to the second end of the body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The appliance of claim 12, wherein the handle is orthogonal to the body and the fluid inlet is disposed at the distal end of the handle from the body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The appliance of claim 1, comprising a motor for driving the fan. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The appliance of claim 19, wherein the fan is aligned axially within the wall. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a hair care appliance. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The appliance of claim 21, wherein the hair care appliance is a hairdryer.