Hand-held hair dryer and holder assembly

Abstract

A hand-held hair dryer and holder assembly including a hand-held hair-dryer a holder, and a cord hanger connected to the holder. The holder is adapted for mounting to a supporting surface. The holder provides a location for storing the hand-held hair dryer when the hand-held hair dryer is not in operation. An electrical cord extends from the hand-held hair dryer. The cord is utilized to electrically connect the hand-held hair dryer to a power supply. The cord hanging member is adapted to support a portion of the cord when the hand-held hair dryer is not in operation. The cord hanging member being removably or integrally connected to the holder.

1 . A hang-up hair dryer assembly comprising: 
 a hand-held hair dryer;    a housing adapted for mounting to a supporting surface, the housing providing a location for storing the hand-held hair dryer when the hand-held hair dryer is not in operation;    an electrical cord extending from the hand-held hair dryer, the electrical cord electrically connecting the hand-held hair dryer to a power supply;    a cord hanger connected to the housing and extending outwardly from sides of the holder, the cord hanger supporting a portion of the cord when the hand-held hair dryer is not in operation.    
   
   
       2 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the portion of the cord is generally spaced from the housing and from the hand-held hair dryer when the hand-held hair dryer is in operation.  
   
   
       3 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the portion of the cord is generally unsupported when the hand-held hair dryer is in operation.  
   
   
       4 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the cord extends between the hand-held hair dryer and the housing.  
   
   
       5 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the cord extends directly between the hand-held hair dryer and a power supply.  
   
   
       6 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the cord includes a first portion connected to the housing, a second portion connected to the hand-held hair dryer, and a third portion extending between the first portion and the second portion, and wherein the cord hanger supports a portion of the third portion of the cord when the hand-held hair dryer is not in operation.  
   
   
       7 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the hand-held hair dryer includes a handle portion and a barrel portion, wherein the supporting surface is a substantially vertical wall, and wherein the housing includes a lower portion providing a location for storing the handle portion and a top portion providing a location for storing the barrel portion, and wherein the cord hanger is connected to the lower portion of the housing.  
   
   
       8 . A hand-held hair dryer and holder assembly comprising: 
 a hand-held hair dryer;    a holder adapted for mounting to a supporting surface, the holder providing a location for storing the hand-held hair dryer when the hand-held hair dryer is not in operation;    an electrical cord extending between the holder and the hand-held hair dryer, the cord having a first portion connected to the holder, a second portion connected to the hand-held hair dryer, and a third portion extending between the first portion and the second portion; and    a cord hanging member connected to the holder, and extending outwardly from sides of the holder, the cord hanging member adapted to support a portion of the third portion of the cord when the hand-held hair dryer is not in operation.    
   
   
       9 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the cord hanging member is removably connected to the holder.  
   
   
       10 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 9  wherein the cord hanging member may be removably connected to at least two separate locations on the holder.  
   
   
       11 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the cord hanging member is integrally connected to the holder.  
   
   
       12 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the holder includes at least one through bore sized to receive a fastener adapted to be fixed to the supporting surface.  
   
   
       13 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the holder is of one-piece construction and is molded of plastic.  
   
   
       14 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the third portion of cord includes coil cord.  
   
   
       15 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 8  and further comprising a second cord hanging member connected to the holder, the second cord hanging member adapted to support a portion of the third portion of the cord when the hand-held hair dryer is not in operation.  
   
   
       16 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the cord hanging member includes a base portion extending outwardly from the holder and a knob portion connected to the base portion, the knob portion adapted to support a portion of the third portion of the cord when the hand-held dryer is not in operation, wherein the portion of the third portion of the cord defines a diameter, and wherein the knob portion is spaced from the holder by a distance greater than the diameter.  
   
   
       17 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the cord hanging member includes a base portion extending outwardly from the holder and a knob portion connected to the base portion, the base portion adapted to support a portion of the third portion of the cord when the hand-held dryer is not in operation.  
   
   
       18 . A method of storing a hand-held hair dryer when the hand-held hair dryer is not in use, the method comprising: 
 providing a hand-held hair dryer;    providing a housing sized to releasably receive at least a portion of the hand-held hair dryer to provide a location for storing the hand-held hair dryer when the hand-held hair dryer is not in operation;    connecting a cord hanger to the housing;    mounting the housing to a supporting surface;    electrically connected the hand-held hair dryer to a power supply using an electrical cord extending from the hand-held hair dryer;    releasably securing the hand-held hair dryer in the housing; and    releasably supporting a portion of the electrical cord on the cord hanger when the hand-held dryer is not in operation to limit an amount of unsupported cord hanging from the hand-held hair dryer.    
   
   
       19 . A method of storing a hand-held hair dryer in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the housing at least partially defines a first cord aperture, wherein the cord includes a first portion extending through the first cord aperture, a second portion mechanically and electrically connected to the hand-held hair dryer, and a third portion extending between the first portion and the second portion, and wherein releasably supporting a portion of the electrical cord on the cord hanger includes releasably supporting a portion of the third portion of the electrical cord on the cord hanger.  
   
   
       20 . A method of storing a hand-held hair dyer in accordance with  claim 19  wherein the housing at least partially defines a second cord aperture, wherein the cord includes a fourth portion extending through the second cord aperture, and wherein electrically connected the hand-held hair dryer to a power supply includes positioning a portion of the cord in a void between the housing and the supporting surface.