Split Nozzle Hair Dryer

Abstract

A hand held hair dryer is provided herein with a split nozzle having a first nozzle arm and a second nozzle arm arranged opposing the first nozzle arm, such that a slot region is formed between the first nozzle arm and the second nozzle arm. The first nozzle arm and the second nozzle arm each include a plurality of air vents, which are configured to direct air flow within the slot region simultaneously from multiple opposing directions. In some embodiments, the hair dryer is further provided with a moveable component, which is selectively configurable to direct the air flow within the slot region simultaneously from multiple opposing directions, or to redirect the air flow in a primarily forward direction out a front end of the split nozzle.

1 . A hair dryer, comprising:
 a rear housing region;   a nozzle region extending from the rear housing region, wherein the nozzle region comprises:
 a first nozzle arm; and 
 a second nozzle arm arranged opposing the first nozzle arm, such that a slot region is formed between the first nozzle arm and the second nozzle arm; 
 wherein the first nozzle arm and the second nozzle arm each comprise a plurality of air vents configured to direct air flow within the slot region simultaneously from multiple opposing directions; and 
   a moveable sleeve coupled to an exterior surface of the nozzle region and selectively configurable to open and close the slot region.   
     
     
         2 . The hair dryer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of air vents within each nozzle arm are configured to direct the air flow in a substantially downward direction and/or a substantially backward direction. 
     
     
         3 . The hair dryer as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of air vents within each nozzle arm are configured to direct the air flow in the substantially downward direction at an angle less than about 60 degrees relative to a plane of the air vents. 
     
     
         4 . The hair dryer as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of air vents within each nozzle arm are configured to direct the air flow in the substantially downward direction at an angle less than about 20 degrees relative to a plane of the air vents. 
     
     
         5 . The hair dryer as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of air vents within each nozzle arm are configured to direct the air flow in the substantially backward direction at an angle less than about 75 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis extending through the nozzle region. 
     
     
         6 . The hair dryer as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of air vents within each nozzle arm are configured to direct the air flow in the substantially backward direction at an angle less than about 60 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis extending through the nozzle region. 
     
     
         7 . The hair dryer as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a handle region for a user to grip the hair dryer. 
     
     
         8 . The hair dryer as recited in  claim 7 , wherein a back end of each nozzle arm comprises a curvature that redirects the air flow away from the handle region of the hair dryer. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The hair dryer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the moveable sleeve is selectively configurable to:
 open the slot region for directing the air flow within the slot region simultaneously from multiple opposing directions; and   close the slot region for redirecting the air flow in a primarily forward direction out a front end of the split nozzle.   
     
     
         11 . The hair dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable sleeve further comprises cooling air passages configured such that unheated air from a rear housing region of the hair dryer is redirected to cool an outer surface of the moveable sleeve. 
     
     
         12 . The hair dryer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the moveable sleeve is attached to the hair dryer in a moveable manner, which allows rotation of the moveable sleeve around the first and second nozzle arms to open and close the slot region. 
     
     
         13 . The hair dryer as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the moveable sleeve is configured to be rotated by a user's hand. 
     
     
         14 . The hair dryer as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising a motor configured to control rotation of the moveable sleeve upon actuation by a user. 
     
     
         15 . The hair dryer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the moveable sleeve comprises:
 a sleeve body including two sleeve arms, which are sized to align with openings in the slot region created between the first and second nozzle arms; and   a sleeve cuff coupled to the sleeve body and configured to rotatably engage with a main body of the split nozzle to provide rotational movement of the moveable sleeve around the first and second nozzle arms.   
     
     
         16 . The hair dryer as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the moveable sleeve further comprises:
 a pair of sleeve bypass air inlet ports, which are formed within the sleeve body and generally aligned with the sleeve arms of the moveable sleeve; and   a pair of sleeve caps coupled to, or formed integral with, an outer surface of the sleeve arms so as to extend over and encompass the sleeve bypass air inlet ports;   wherein the sleeve bypass air inlet ports, the sleeve arms and the sleeve caps combine to form cooling air passages configured such that unheated air from a rear housing region of the hair dryer is redirected to cool an outer surface of the moveable sleeve when the moveable sleeve is selectively configured to close the slot region.   
     
     
         17 . The hair dryer as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising a pair of housing bypass air exit ports, which are provided on a main body of the split nozzle and positioned to align with the pair of sleeve bypass air inlet ports when the moveable sleeve is selectively configured to close the slot region. 
     
     
         18 . The hair dryer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the moveable sleeve is coupled to the hair dryer in a removable manner, which allows the moveable sleeve to slide onto the first and second nozzle arms to close the slot region, and slide off the first and second nozzle arms to open the slot region. 
     
     
         19 . The hair dryer as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the moveable sleeve is a substantially cylinder shaped sleeve, which is configured to surround the first and second nozzle arms and close the slot region when attached to the hair dryer. 
     
     
         20 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method for operating a hair dryer comprising a split nozzle having a first nozzle arm and a second nozzle arm arranged opposing the first nozzle arm, such that a slot region is formed between the first nozzle arm and the second nozzle arm, wherein the first nozzle arm and the second nozzle arm each comprise a plurality of air vents configured to direct air flow within the slot region simultaneously from multiple opposing directions, wherein the method comprises:
 configuring a moveable sleeve, which is coupled at one end to an exterior surface of the split nozzle, in a first position to direct the air flow within the slot region simultaneously from multiple opposing directions; and   reconfiguring the moveable sleeve in a second position so that the moveable sleeve encloses the slot region and redirects the air flow in a primarily forward direction out a front end of the split nozzle.   
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the configuring the moveable sleeve comprises rotating the moveable sleeve to the first position to open the slot region, and the reconfiguring the moveable sleeve comprises rotating the moveable sleeve to the second position to enclose the slot region. 
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the configuring the moveable sleeve comprises sliding the moveable sleeve off the split nozzle to open the slot region, and the reconfiguring the moveable sleeve comprises sliding the moveable sleeve onto the split nozzle to enclose the slot region.