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US 6,285,828 B1Granted
Infrared hair dryer heater
AssigneeHelen of Troy Limited
InventorMichael Cafaro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hair dryer having both a fan-forced convection heater and radiant heater which emits energy having wavelengths in both the infrared and visible spectrum. The housing of the dryer is translucent to visible light but absorbent of infrared radiation and arranged to facilitate the transfer of heat generated by the absorption of the infrared radiation into the fan-forced airflow. The visible light emanating from the dryer provides an indicator of the dryer's operation and a warning of the presence of the otherwise invisible and otherwise dangerous infrared radiation.
Claims8
A hair dryer comprising:
- a convection heater for providing a current of air;
- a radiant heater for emitting energy having wavelengths in both the infrared and visible spectrum;
- a tubular duct surrounding said radiant heater, said duct being substantially translucent to energy having wavelengths in the visible spectrum and substantially opaque to energy having wavelengths substantially in the infrared spectrum;
- and
- a blower for forcing said current of air past said convection and radiant heaters, whereby said current of air is heated and exhausted from said hair dryer.
2 more elements
A hair dryer comprising:
- a blower for generating a current of air;
- a convection heater having a plurality of heating coils;
- a halogen lamp adapted for emitting visible light and infrared energy;
- and
- a housing having an exhaust opening and a tubular duct surrounding both said convection heater and said lamp, said duct being adapted to direct said current of air substantially through said convection heater wherein said current of air is heated, said duct being substantially opaque to said infrared energy such that said radiant energy is retained within said duct, and said duct being substantially translucent to said visible light, and whereby said visible light is emitted through said duct and said exhaust opening, and substantially all of said heated air and said retained infrared energy are exhausted through said exhaust opening.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.