Hair dryers containing high-watt density ceramic heaters

Abstract

A heated hairdryer employs flat, thick film ceramic heaters. The ceramic heaters are high Watt density, low mass, resistance heaters that operate at a high temperature. A conductor is applied to one or both sides of either a fired or green ceramic plate. The conductor is then applied in circuit tracks upon the ceramic surface or surfaces. The conductive material is then covered by a second plate or by glass or other high temperature enamel to prevent the conductive circuit from oxidizing. The plate is then fired at high temperatures. These ceramic heaters can be formed into a variety of configurations for use as hairdrying heating elements.

1 . A hair styling device comprising: 
 a handle;    a barrel extending from an end of said handle; and    a ceramic heater, wherein said ceramic heater comprises a ceramic plate and a conductor applied to one or more surfaces of said ceramic plate.    
   
   
       2 . A hair styling device according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a second plate covering said conductor.    
   
   
       3 . A hair styling device according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said second plate is formed from ceramic.    
   
   
       4 . A hair styling device according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said second plate is formed from glass.    
   
   
       5 . A hair styling device according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said conductor is in the form of circuit tracks on said one or more surfaces of said ceramic plate.    
   
   
       6 . A hair styling device according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said ceramic heater is adapted to be fired at high temperatures.    
   
   
       7 . A hair styling device according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said ceramic heater is adapted to be formed into any one of a variety of configurations.    
   
   
       8 . A hair styling device according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said ceramic heater is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of high fired ceramic, alumina and aluminum nitride.    
   
   
       9 . A method of producing a heater comprising the steps of: 
 applying a conductor to one or more surfaces of a ceramic plate;    covering said conductor;    firing said plate at a high temperature; and    forming said heater into one of a variety of configurations.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein 
 the conductor is applied in the form of circuit tracks.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising 
 producing solder pads in the form of plated or vacuum metallized solder pads.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein 
 said covering is a second plate.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein 
 said covering is a glass.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein 
 said covering is a high temperature enamel.