# US 12,035,793 B2 · Hair appliance switch mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,035,793 B2 - Document ID: US12035793B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/089,108 - Filed: 2020-11-04 - Published: 2022-05-05 - Granted: 2024-07-16 - Earliest claimed: 2020-11-04 - Assignees: Helen of Troy Limited - Applicants: Helen of Troy Limited - Inventors: Steven J. Paliobeis; Luke Hillebrecht - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12035793B2 ## 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 1/04: by electricity - A45D 2/001: {Hair straightening appliances} - A45D 20/122: {Diffusers, e.g. for variable air flow} - A45D 20/30: Electric circuitry specially adapted for hair drying devices - G05G 1/08: Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels - G05G 1/10: Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles {(G05G1/085 takes precedence)} - G05G 5/06: for holding members in one or a limited number of definite positions only ({G05G5/005}, G05G5/03, G05G5/05, G05G5/28 take precedence) - G05G 5/16: by friction - 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 - G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00) ## Abstract A hair appliance includes a handle, an electrical component coupled with the handle, and a switch mechanism in electrical communication with the electrical component and a power source. The electrical component has a plurality of settings. The switch mechanism includes a switch and a rotatable adjustment member. The switch has multiple positions and includes a sliding actuator. Each position corresponds to a respective setting for the electrical component. The rotatable adjustment member includes a contact surface operatively coupled with the sliding actuator such that rotational movement of the rotational adjustment member results in translational movement of the sliding actuator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hair appliance comprising: a handle; an electrical component coupled with the handle and having a plurality of settings; and a switch mechanism in electrical communication with the electrical component and a power source, the switch mechanism including: a switch having multiple positions and including a sliding actuator, each position corresponding to a respective setting for the electrical component; and a rotatable adjustment member including a contact surface operatively coupled with the sliding actuator such that rotational movement of the rotational adjustment member results in translational movement of the sliding actuator, wherein the sliding actuator is configured to translate in a direction parallel to a rotational axis of the rotatable adjustment member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hair appliance of claim 1, wherein the electrical component is one of a heater and a fan motor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hair appliance of claim 1, wherein the sliding actuator includes a post operatively coupled with the contact surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hair appliance of claim 1, wherein the rotational axis is coincident with a longitudinal axis of the handle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hair appliance of claim 1, wherein the contact surface includes at least one inclined plane or curved surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hair appliance of claim 1, wherein the contact surface includes at least one contact surface at least partially wrapping around the rotational axis of the rotatable adjustment member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hair appliance of claim 1, wherein the switch mechanism includes a slider operatively coupled with the sliding actuator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The hair appliance of claim 7, wherein the handle includes a housing portion having an opening that receives the slider and confines the slider to translational movement. ### Claim 9 A hair appliance comprising: a handle; an electrical component coupled with the handle and having a plurality of settings; and a switch mechanism in electrical communication with the electrical component and a power source, the switch mechanism including: a switch having multiple positions and including a sliding actuator and a slider operatively coupled with the sliding actuator, each position corresponding to a respective setting for the electrical component; and a rotatable adjustment member including a contact surface operatively coupled with the sliding actuator such that rotational movement of the rotational adjustment member results in translational movement of the sliding actuator, wherein the slider includes a base and a post extending away from the base, wherein the post contacts the contact surface, and wherein the rotatable adjustment member includes a slot defining at least a portion of the contact surface and the slot receives the post. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The hair appliance of claim 9, wherein the base includes a pocket that receives the sliding actuator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The hair appliance of claim 9, wherein the rotatable adjustment member includes a ring and a flange extending away from the ring, wherein the ring is provided on the handle so as to be accessible to an operator of the hair appliance and the flange includes the slot. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The hair appliance of claim 9, wherein the contact surface is one of a first contact surface and a second contact surface each defining a boundary of the slot. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The hair appliance of claim 12, wherein the first contact surface is spaced from the second contact surface a distance equal to a diameter of the post. ### Claim 14 A hair appliance comprising: a handle; an electrical component coupled with the handle and having a plurality of settings; and a switch mechanism in electrical communication with the electrical component and a power source, the switch mechanism including: a switch having multiple positions and including a sliding actuator, each position corresponding to a respective setting for the electrical component; and a rotatable adjustment member including a contact surface operatively coupled with the sliding actuator such that rotational movement of the rotational adjustment member results in translational movement of the sliding actuator, wherein the rotatable adjustment member includes a ring and a flange extending away from the ring, wherein the ring is provided on the handle so as to be accessible to an operator of the hair appliance and the flange includes the contact surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The hair appliance of claim 14, wherein the flange is offset radially inwardly from an external surface of the ring. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The hair appliance of claim 14, wherein the flange includes a slot defining at least a portion of the contact surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The hair appliance of claim 14, further comprising a housing portion, and the rotatable adjustment member and the housing portion cooperate to define a detent mechanism having a plurality of positions corresponding to the multiple positions of the switch. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The hair appliance of claim 17, wherein the ring includes peaks and valleys and the housing portion includes a resilient tab having a bump, where each valley corresponds to one position among the plurality of positions corresponding to the multiple positions of the switch.