Hair Styling Appliance With Moisture Application

Abstract

A hair appliance in which the axis of air flow through the appliance is generally in a parallel first direction through one end of the appliance and the handle and then exits the hair appliance in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The air flow through the handle is not heated. Thus, special heat resistance and/or heat shielding materials are not required in the handle. In this manner, the handle may be sized in a manner that ergonomically fits a user's hand. Further, moisture may be provided from the hair appliance. The moisture may be directed towards a user's hair by a negative pressure that results from the heated air flows proximate the moisture region. In one embodiment, the moisture generation unit may be an ultrasonic vibration unit using a piezoelectric vibrator. In one embodiment, the hair styling appliance may be a paddle dryer.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A hair styling appliance, comprising:
 a first end region;   a second end region, the second end region being at an opposite end of the hair styling appliance opposite of the first end region;   a fan contained in the first end region;   a handle region between the first end region and the second end region, the handle region sized to allow a user to hold the hair styling appliance between the first end and the second end;   an air conduit within the handle region, the air conduit forming a handle air flow path between the first end region and the second end region so that air from the fan flows through the handle air flow path generally in a first direction;   a heater in the second end region; and   an air outlet region, the air outlet region directing air out of the hair styling appliance in an air outlet direction, the air outlet direction being angled relative to the handle air flow path by greater than 45 degrees.   
     
     
         2 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a moisture generation unit. 
     
     
         3 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the moisture generation unit has a refillable reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the moisture generation unit is removable from the hair styling appliance. 
     
     
         5 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 2 , the moisture generation unit having an ultrasonic vibrator which is capable of generating a vapor/mist. 
     
     
         6 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the moisture generation unit is removable from the hair styling appliance. 
     
     
         7 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 2 , moisture from the moisture generation unit formed in a moisture region, the moisture region being located in the hair styling appliance so that moisture from the moisture region exits the hair styling appliance separate from air that flows out the hair styling appliance through the air outlet region. 
     
     
         8 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 7 , the hair styling appliance configured so that air that flows out the hair styling appliance through the air outlet region creates a negative pressure in the moisture region so as to direct moisture in the moisture region toward a user's hair. 
     
     
         9 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the moisture generation unit is configured so that moisture is injected into the moisture region in a moisture direction that is angled relative to the air outlet direction by 30 degrees or more. 
     
     
         10 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the moisture generation unit is configured so that moisture is injected into the moisture region in a moisture direction that is angled relative to the air outlet direction by 60 degrees or more. 
     
     
         11 . The hair styling appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the fan is a two stage fan. 
     
     
         12 . A paddle dryer hair styling appliance, comprising:
 an air inlet end a having an air inlet;   an air outlet end, air outlet end being a paddle end of the paddle dryer hair appliance;   a fan contained in the air inlet end;   a handle between the air inlet end and the air outlet end, the handling generally configured in a first axial direction, the handle providing a grip region for a user to hold the hair styling appliance;   a handle air path within the handle, the handle air path forming an air flow path between the air inlet end and the air outlet end, the handle air path being in the first axial direction;   one or more air outlets, the one or more air outlets directing air out of the hair styling appliance in an air outlet direction, the air outlet direction being angled relative to the first axial direction by greater than 45 degrees; and   a heater located between the grip region of the handle and the one or more air outlets so that air flowing in the air flow path is not heated.   
     
     
         13 . The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of  claim 12 , further comprising a moisture generation unit. 
     
     
         14 . The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the moisture generation unit is removable from the hair styling appliance. 
     
     
         15 . The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of  claim 13 , the moisture generation unit having an ultrasonic vibrator which is capable of generating a vapor/mist. 
     
     
         16 . The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of  claim 13 , moisture from the moisture generation unit formed in a moisture region, the moisture region being located in the paddle dryer hair styling appliance so that moisture from the moisture region exits the hair styling appliance separate from air that flows out the hair styling appliance through the one or more air outlets. 
     
     
         17 . The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of  claim 16 , the paddle dryer hair styling appliance configured so that air that flows out the paddle dryer hair styling appliance through the one or more air outlets creates a negative pressure in the moisture region so as to direct moisture in the moisture region toward a user's hair. 
     
     
         18 . The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the moisture generation unit is configured so that moisture is injected into the moisture region in a moisture direction that is angled relative to the air outlet direction by 75 degrees or less. 
     
     
         19 . The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the moisture generation unit is configured so that moisture is injected into the moisture region in a moisture direction that is angled relative to the air outlet direction by 60 degrees or less. 
     
     
         20 . The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the fan is a two stage fan. 
     
     
         21 . The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the moisture region is located between two opposing sets air outlets. 
     
     
         22 . The paddle dryer hair styling appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the fan is a two stage fan.