Hardhat dryer that folds efficiently

Abstract

An efficiently folding hard-bonnet dryer, which can be folded down to only six inches in standing height. This improved design is effected in part by rotating the lower half of the hard bonnet on an axis through the center of the bonnet, and also by telescoping the neck and arranging a pair of motors and a heater in an efficient geometry to span the folded neck.

1 . A portable hair dryer comprising: 
 a base;    a heater within said base for heating air;    an extendible neck supported by said base adapted to selectively move between an extended position and a non-extended position;    a bonnet attached to said neck adapted to distribute said heated air about a user's head; and    a fan within said base to transfer said heated air from said base to said bonnet.    
   
   
       2 . A portable hair dryer according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said hair dryer is adapted to be able to be folded to a height of less than 8 inches.    
   
   
       3 . A portable hair dryer according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said hair dryer is adapted to be able to be folded to a height of approximately 6 inches.    
   
   
       4 . A portable hair dryer comprising: 
 a base adapted to rest on a generally flat surface;    a heater adapted to heat air;    a bonnet adapted to be positioned adjacent to a user's hair and to direct heated air toward said user's hair;    a fan adapted to cause said heated air to pass through said bonnet; and    a neck portion adapted to support said bonnet relative to said base.    
   
   
       5 . A portable hair dryer according to  claim 4 , wherein 
 said neck portion is pivotally connected to said base and to said bonnet.    
   
   
       6 . A portable hair dryer according to  claim 4 , wherein 
 said neck portion comprises a plurality of telescopically-fitting portions adapted to be extended or compressed in a manner in which said portions are telescopically nested.    
   
   
       7 . A portable hair dryer according to  claim 4 , wherein 
 said neck portion is pivotally connected to said base and to said bonnet; and    said neck portion comprises a plurality of telescopically fitting portions adapted to be extended or compressed in a manner in which said portions are telescopically nested.    
   
   
       8 . A portable hair dryer according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 said hair dryer is adapted to be able to be folded to a height of less than 8 inches.    
   
   
       9 . A portable hair dryer according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 said hair dryer is adapted to be able to be folded to a height of approximately 6 inches.    
   
   
       10 . A portable hair dryer according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 said hair dryer is adapted to be selectively locked in a folded position, and selectively locked in an extended, operating position.    
   
   
       11 . A portable hair dryer according to  claim 7 , further comprising 
 a bonnet extension portion pivotally attached to said bonnet and adapted to be selectively positioned to extend downwardly from said bonnet or to extend upwardly from said bonnet.