Hair dryer with infrared source

Abstract

A hairdryer having a body with a handle portion and a head portion is provided. The handle portion has an ergonomically shape and a control interface. The head portion has an inlet end defining an air inlet and an outlet end defining an air outlet. The head portion also has a blower for drawing air into the inlet, to direct the fluid air through the head portion, and force the fluid air out the outlet. The head portion also has one or more primary heaters for heating the fluid air as it passes through the head portion and one or more secondary heaters for selectively providing radiant energy to the fluid air as it exits the head portion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hairdryer comprising: 
 a body having a handle portion and a head portion, said head portion having a blower for generating airflow, a primary heater for providing heat to said airflow, and a secondary heater for selectively providing radiant energy to said airflow as desired.    
     
     
         2 . The hairdryer of  claim 1 , wherein said handle portion has a control interface.  
     
     
         3 . The hairdryer of  claim 2 , wherein said control interface enables an operator to at least activate and/or deactivate said secondary heater.  
     
     
         4 . The hairdryer of  claim 1 , wherein said primary heater is a convection heater.  
     
     
         5 . The hairdryer of  claim 1 , wherein said secondary heater is an infrared heater.  
     
     
         6 . The hairdryer of  claim 1 , wherein said secondary heater is a PTC ceramic heater.  
     
     
         7 . The hairdryer of  claim 1 , wherein said primary and said secondary heaters may be operated individually and/or together as desired.  
     
     
         8 . The hairdryer of  claim 1 , wherein said secondary heater is self-regulating.  
     
     
         9 . The hairdryer of  claim 1 , wherein said head portion has a first end with an air ingress and a second end with an air egress with said secondary heater centrally disposed at said second end.  
     
     
         10 . A hair styling appliance comprising: 
 a body having at least two portions, a first portion and a second portion, said first portion accommodating at least a primary heating source and a secondary heating source, said second portion accommodating a control interface for allowing an operator to control said primary heating source and/or said secondary heating source, or the heating effect provided by said primary heating source and/or said secondary heating source, individually and/or together as desired.    
     
     
         11 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 10 , wherein said primary heating source is one or more convection heaters.  
     
     
         12 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 10 , wherein said secondary heating source is one or more infrared heaters.  
     
     
         13 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 10 , wherein said secondary heating source is one or more PTC ceramic heaters.  
     
     
         14 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 10 , wherein said secondary heating source is self-regulating.  
     
     
         15 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 10 , wherein said first portion has a first end with an air ingress and a second end with an air egress, and wherein said secondary heating source is centrally positioned at said second end.  
     
     
         16 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 15 , wherein said first portion has a blower for generating an airflow.  
     
     
         17 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 16 , wherein said primary heating source initially heats said airflow, and wherein said secondary heating source selectively provides radiant energy thereto.  
     
     
         18 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 16 , wherein said blower, or the effect provided thereby to said airflow, is controlled via said control interface.  
     
     
         19 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 16 , wherein said blower is adjustable to provide a variety of different airflow effects.  
     
     
         20 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 10 , wherein said primary heating source and said secondary heating source are each separately adjustable to provide a variety of different heating effects.