Air diffusers

#The present invention relates to air diffusers for hairdryers.

#Handheld warm air hairdryers generally produce a narrow stream of warm air. If it is desired to produce a more even distribution of the warm air, then an air diffuser may be fitted to the barrel of the hairdryer for this purpose.

#Most conventional air diffusers suffer from the disadvantage that they are awkward to use. In particular, the combined hairdryer and diffuser is substantially longer than the hairdryer alone and is difficult to manipulate especially when drying hair on the crown of the head or hair at the back of the head.

#The invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, a number of different constructions of air diffuser according to the invention. In each case the air diffuser comprises an assembly consisting of an angled diffuser head and a diffuser neck for for connection between the diffuser head and the hairdryer barrel. In the drawings:

#FIGS. 1 to 5 are various views of a first construction, showing the diffuser head and a pair of alternative diffuser necks which allow the diffuser head to be connected to a range of different hairdryers;

#FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second construction of diffuser neck; and

#Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 to 5. These figures show an air diffuser comprising a diffuser head 1, a first diffuser neck 2, and a second diffuser neck 3. The diffuser necks 2, 3 are in the form of sleeves one end of which may be attached to the diffuser head 1 and the other end of which may be fitted over the barrel of a hairdryer (not shown). The first diffuser neck 2 has a tapering internal diameter so as to enable it to accommodate hairdryer barrels with outer dimensions between 36 mm and 56 mm. The second diffuser neck 3 is of generally larger dimensions than the first, so as to accommodate hairdryer barrels with dimensions between 72 mm and 54 mm.

#The diffuser head 1 is disposed at an angle to the diffuser neck 2 or 3 and thus to the hairdryer barrel, so that the stream of hot air coming from the barrel is directed against the internal surface of the diffuser head 1 and is deflected out through the diffuser head mouth 1a. Because the diffuser head 1 is at an angle to the hairdryer barrel, the hairdryer is easier to manipulate.

#The diffuser necks 2, 3 are each provided with air vents 4. As air is driven along the diffuser neck 2 or 3, substantially all of the air enters the diffuser head 1 and emerges through the diffuser mouth 1a. However, if a back pressure builds up in the diffuser neck 2 or 3, then some of the air will vent through the air vents 4. In certain circumstances, and for certain models of hairdryer, a partial vacuum may be created in the diffuser neck 2 or 3 and air at ambient temperature is then sucked into the diffuser neck 2 or 3. It will be appreciated that venting or sucking takes place only as required in response to a back pressure or a partial vacuum, and that generally speaking substantially all of the air from the hairdryer flows out through the diffuser mouth.