Hair dryer assembly

Abstract

A hair dryer assembly provides an additional amount of heat to the air exiting the dryer ( 2 ). The assembly includes a hand-held hair dryer ( 2 ) and a diffuser ( 22 ) attachable to the air outlet end ( 18 ) of the hair dryer ( 2 ). The diffuser comprises a heating element ( 28 ) to add heat directly to a user's hair or to air passing out of the hair dryer ( 2 ) and through the diffuser ( 22 ). This additional measure of heat is used to facilitate drying and/or styling of hair.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An attachment for a hair dryer comprising: 
 a diffuser adapted to be removably attached to a hot air outlet end of a hair dryer;    a resistance heater positioned within said diffuser.    
     
     
         2 . The attachment for a hair dryer as recited in  claim 1  wherein said diffuser is bowl-shaped.  
     
     
         3 . The attachment for a hair dryer as recited in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a plastic insert positioned within said diffuser.  
 
     
     
         4 . The attachment for a hair dryer as recited in  claim 3  wherein said plastic insert has a plurality of holes therein.  
     
     
         5 . The attachment for a hair dryer as recited in  claim 3  wherein said resistance heater is positioned on said plastic insert.  
     
     
         6 . The attachment for a hair dryer as recited in  claim 3  wherein said plastic insert has a plurality of projections extending outwardly therefrom.  
     
     
         7 . The attachment for a hair dryer as recited in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 means for electrically connecting said resistance heater to a power supply circuit of said hair dryer.  
 
     
     
         8 . The attachment for a hair dryer as recited in  claim 1  wherein said resistance heater is selected from the group consisting of a rope heater, a ceramic heater and a PTC heater.  
     
     
         9 . A diffuser attachment for a hair dryer comprising: 
 a diffuser housing;    a insert, having a plurality of holes therein, wherein said insert has a diameter at least slightly smaller than an inner diameter of said diffuser housing;    a resistance heater positioned on said plastic insert;    means for fastening said concave plastic insert into said diffuser housing; and    means for electrically connecting said resistance heater to a power supply circuit of a hair dryer.    
     
     
         10 . The diffuser attachment for a hair dryer as recited in  claim 9  wherein said diffuser housing is bowl-shaped.  
     
     
         11 . The diffuser attachment for a hair dryer as recited in  claim 9  wherein said plastic insert is comprised of a circular piece of plastic.  
     
     
         12 . The diffuser attachment for a hair dryer as recited in  claim 11  wherein said plastic insert has a concave curvature.  
     
     
         13 . The diffuser attachment for a hair dryer as recited in  claim 9  wherein said insert is comprised of metal.  
     
     
         14 . The diffuser attachment for a hair dryer as recited in  claim 9  wherein said resistance heater is selected from the group consisting of rope heaters, ceramic heaters and PTC heaters.  
     
     
         15 . The diffuser attachment for a hair dryer as recited in  claim 9  wherein said resistance heater is positioned around a circumference of said insert.  
     
     
         16 . The diffuser attachment for a hair dryer as recited in  claim 9  wherein said plastic insert has a plurality of projection is extending outwardly therefrom.  
     
     
         17 . A hair drying assembly comprising: 
 a hair dryer;    a diffuser comprising a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said diffuser is adapted to be attached to a hot air outlet of said hair dryer;    a resistance heater positioned within said diffuser;    means for electrically connecting said resistance heater to a power supply circuit of said hair dryer.    
     
     
         18 . The hair drying assembly as recited in  claim 12  wherein said means for electrically connecting said diffuser to said power supply circuit of said hair dryer comprises: 
 an electrical socket positioned within a hot air outlet of said hair dryer, and  
 an electrical terminal on said first end of said diffuser, wherein said electrical terminal on said diffuser is received in said socket when said diffuser is attached to the hot air outlet of said hair dryer.  
 
     
     
         19 . A method of drying hair comprising: 
 providing a hair dryer assembly comprising a hair dryer and a diffuser positioned on an air outlet end of said hair dryer, wherein said diffuser comprises a resistance heater positioned therein;    positioning a section of hair within said diffuser;    starting power flow to said hair dryer; and    holding said section of hair within said diffuser until a desired style or condition is achieved.    
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 19  further comprising: 
 starting power flow to said resistance heater.  
 
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 19  wherein said section of hair positioned within said diffuser is wet hair.  
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 21  wherein said step of holding said section of hair within said diffuser comprises: 
 holding said section of hair within said diffuser until said section of hair is substantially dry.