Multi-function holder and carrier for hot appliances

Abstract

A carrier includes foldable sheets attached together and including an aesthetic outer surface and a heat-resistant insulating inner surface. The sheets include end flaps and first closures for closing the end flaps to form a three-sided pocket adapted to retain a hot appliance therein, and further the sheets include a side flap and second closure for closing the side flap to totally enclose the pocket to securely positively retain the hot appliance therein. The carrier includes a retainer for holding a power cord to the hot hair care device, regardless of an orientation of the device, in a location spaced from a hot portion of the hot appliance. Also, a scent is embedded in the sheets to provide a desired aroma when warmed by a heated appliance.

1 . A carrier for carrying a hot appliance such as a hot hair care device, comprising:
 foldable sheets attached together and including an aesthetic outer surface and an insulating inner surface;   the sheets including end flaps and first closures for closing the end flaps to form a three-sided pocket adapted to positively retain a hot appliance therein; the sheets further including a side flap and second closure for closing the side flap to close the pocket and securely positively retain the hot appliance therein with its cord retained under the side flap but away from the hot appliance.   
   
   
       2 . The carrier defined in  claim 1 , including a retainer for holding a power cord to the hot hair care device in a position on the carrier that is spaced from a hot portion of the hot appliance. 
   
   
       3 . The carrier defined in  claim 1 , including a scent in the foldable sheets that gives a desirable aroma when warmed by a hot portion of the appliance. 
   
   
       4 . The carrier defined in  claim 1 , wherein the end flaps extend from a rectangular portion of the sheets. 
   
   
       5 . The carrier defined in  claim 1 , wherein the foldable sheets are unfoldable to a relatively flat position where the insulating inner surface faces upwardly for use as an ironing board surface, with the first and second closures being a hook-and-loop material spaced at different locations on the aesthetic outer surface, the hook-and-loop material providing a rough surface for engaging a support surface to create increased friction to hold the foldable sheets stationary and in the relatively flat position. 
   
   
       6 . A multi-purpose carrier for holding at least one hot personal hair care appliance having a cord, comprising:
 a foldable sheet member including at least an outer sheet with aesthetic surface and a functional second sheet of heat-resistant material of similar size attached to the outer sheet in a laminar relationship; the sheet member including a center section and first and second side sections and seams defining two parallel fold lines along edges of the center section;   the sheet member being flexible for bending movement between an open position where the foldable member is substantially flat for use as an ironing board, and a folded position where the first side section forms a first pocket with the center section for holding at least one hot personal hair care appliance between portions of the functional second sheet and further where the second side section forms a second pocket against an outer surface of the first side section to hold the cord;   first and second flaps extending from opposing ends of the center section and located between the fold lines, and first fasteners on the first and second flaps with mating second fasteners on an outer surface of the first side section for releasably attaching the first and second flaps to the center section to close open ends of the first pocket, but with the cord from the appliance extending from the first pocket, past an edge of one of the first and second flaps, to the second pocket; whereby the appliance can be positioned in the first pocket in either of first or second positions and yet the cord can be routed to the second pocket;   a retainer on the outer surface of the first side section for holding the cord in the second pocket when in the folded position; and   a third flap extending from an outer edge of the second side section and including second fasteners for attaching the third flap to one of the first side section and the center section to hold the second side section in the folded position which thus closes the first pocket and also covers the second pocket.   
   
   
       7 . The carrier defined in  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the flaps is sufficiently long to wrap around a towel bar and hold the carrier vertically. 
   
   
       8 . The carrier defined in  claim 6 , including a loop behind one of the flaps for hanging the carrier in an upright position over a hook. 
   
   
       9 . The carrier defined in  claim 6 , including an additional multi-layered arrangement forming inner and outer pockets, wherein the outer pocket is covered by a transparent outer film for visibility through the film, and wherein the inner pocket is hidden behind the first pocket and generally not visible nor readily apparent. 
   
   
       10 . The carrier defined in  claim 6 , wherein the first and second fasteners include hook-and-loop patches of material attached to the outer sheet, the patches including protruding thread-like members that assist in holding the carrier stable when in the open position by engagement of the protruding thread-like members with a flat supporting structure such as a bedspread, a bed sheet, a towel or a countertop. 
   
   
       11 . The carrier defined in  claim 6 , wherein the foldable sheet member includes a water-impermeable layer for preventing moisture from passing therethrough, such that the carrier can be used as a spill-resisting shield. 
   
   
       12 . A multi-purpose carrier for holding at least one hot personal hair care appliance having a cord, comprising:
 a foldable sheet member including at least one functional sheet of heat-resistant material; the sheet member including two parallel fold lines dividing the sheet member into three sections;   the sheet member being bendable between an open flat position for use as an ironing board, and a folded position where the three sections are relatively flat against each other and forming first and second pockets on opposite sides of a center one of the three sections;   multiple flaps extending from ends of several of the three sections and including fasteners to releaseably secure the multiple flaps to thus hold the three sections in the folded position;   scent located in the foldable sheet in a location where a fragrance is emitted both when a hot personal hair care appliance is stored in one of the pockets and also when the foldable sheet is used as an ironing board.   
   
   
       13 . The carrier defined in  claim 12 , including a dryer sheet containing the scent and that is attached as part of the sheet member. 
   
   
       14 . A method comprising steps of:
 providing foldable sheets attached together and including an aesthetic outer surface and an insulating inner surface; the sheets including end flaps and first closures for closing the end flaps to form a three-sided pocket adapted to retain a hot appliance therein; the sheets further including a side flap and second closure for closing the side flap to close the pocket and securely positively retain the hot appliance therein;   opening the foldable sheets to a flat position and using the flattened sheets to do at least one of: provide a hot pad for supporting a hot iron on the user's lap, provide a flat heat-insulated surface for ironing clothing thereon, provide a protective hot pad in a sink using the end flaps to in part form a shape of a bowl in the sink, and provide a protective hot pad for a countertop; and   closing the foldable sheets to form the three-sided pocket, placing a hot appliance therein with the electrical power cord to the hot appliance held away from the three-sided pocket, and closing and then retaining the side flap in a closed position to positively securely protect the hot appliance until it cools.   
   
   
       15 . The method defined in  claim 13 , wherein the foldable sheets are shaped to fit in a sink, and including a step of placing the foldable sheets into the sink and using the foldable sheets as a hot pad in the sink.