Combination Mist Steamer and Dryer

Abstract

A combination mist steamer and dryer is provided herein. The combination mist steamer and dryer, notably, includes both the functions of a professional quality mist steamer and a hair dryer into a single device. The combination mist steamer and dryer may also include a plurality of members connected by hinges configured to allow the combination mist steamer and dryer to adopt a compact storage configuration and one or more use configurations. The combination mist steamer and dryer is useful for allowing a user to enjoy professional quality mist hair treatment in a setting of their choosing, using a highly portable device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combination mist steamer and dryer, comprising:
 a top member comprising one or more hoods and a mist outlet;   a mist generator configured to expel mist through the mist outlet; and   a hair dryer motor,
 wherein the one or more hoods are configured to removably attach to the top member, substantially contain mist expelled by the mist outlet, and substantially contain air pushed by the hair dryer motor. 
   
     
     
         2 . The combination mist steamer and dryer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an intermediate member connected to the top member by a first hinge; and   a bottom member connected to the intermediate member by a second hinge,
 wherein the first hinge and the second hinge are configured to allow the top member, the intermediate member, and the bottom member to collapse into a storage configuration when each of the first hinge and the second hinge are closed, in which each of the top member, the intermediate member, and the bottom member lie in parallel planes, the top member abuts the intermediate member, and the intermediate member abuts the bottom member, and adopt one or more use configurations when one or more of the first hinge and the second hinge are open. 
   
     
     
         3 . The combination mist steamer and dryer of  claim 2 , wherein in the storage configuration, the combination mist steamer and dryer comprises an exterior having a shape substantially similar to a rectangular prism. 
     
     
         4 . The combination mist steamer and dryer of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more hoses attached to each of the top member and a bottom member, the one or more hoses being configured to direct mist from the mist generator to the mist outlet and being configured to direct air from the hair dryer motor to the one or more hoods. 
     
     
         5 . The combination mist steamer and dryer of  claim 4 , wherein at least one hose of the one or more hoses is sloped such that a mist condensate drains through the at least one hose and is prevented from dripping onto a user, wherein the mist condensate is generated when mist is expelled through the mist outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The combination mist steamer and dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the top member further comprises a semi-permeable cover contacting the mist outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The combination mist steamer and dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more hoods comprise:
 one or more air vents configured to accept at least a first portion of air pushed by the hair dryer motor; and   one or more diffuser rods configured to accept at least a second portion of air pushed by the hair dryer motor,
 wherein the one or more hoods are configured to facilitate hair drying of one or more of textured hair and curly hair. 
   
     
     
         8 . The combination mist steamer and dryer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an intermediate member connected to the top member;   a bottom member connected to the intermediate member, the bottom member comprising an attachment slot;   a mist tank, wherein the mist tank, the mist generator, and the hair dryer motor are each configured to attach to the attachment slot; and   a hose attached to each of the top member and the bottom member.   
     
     
         9 . The combination mist steamer and dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the mist comprises ultrasonic mist having particle diameters in the range of 200 nm to 1250 nm. 
     
     
         10 . The combination mist steamer and dryer of  claim 8 , wherein the mist generator comprises an ultrasound transducer with an operating frequency range of 1.5 to 1.7 MHz. 
     
     
         11 . The combination mist steamer and dryer of  claim 1 , wherein
 the hair dryer motor is configured to pump air at one or more of: a first setting comprising a low flow rate and a high temperature, a second setting comprising a high flow rate and a low temperature, and a third setting comprising a medium flow rate and a medium temperature, and   the hair dryer motor is configured to allow a user to independently switch between each of the first setting, the second setting, and the third setting.   
     
     
         12 . The combination mist steamer and dryer of  claim 11 , wherein the hair dryer motor is configured to pump air at a maximum flow rate of 400 cf/min. 
     
     
         13 . The combination mist steamer and dryer of  claim 11 , wherein the hair dryer motor is configured to pump air at a minimum temperature of 80° F. and a maximum temperature of 220° F. 
     
     
         14 . The combination mist steamer and dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the hair dryer motor comprises heating coils configured to operate between 800 and 1800 W. 
     
     
         15 . The combination mist steamer and dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the hair dryer motor comprises a centrifugal ducted fan. 
     
     
         16 . The combination mist steamer and dryer of  claim 1 , further comprising a mist tank comprising a volume of 500-1000 mL. 
     
     
         17 . The combination mist steamer and dryer of  claim 1 , further comprising a digital control panel configured to control at least one or more of mist duration, mist intensity, hair drying duration, hair drying intensity, and hair drying temperature. 
     
     
         18 . A method of treating hair, comprising:
 providing a combination mist steamer and dryer in a use configuration;   steaming the hair with mist using the combination mist steamer and dryer in the use configuration;   drying the hair with air using the combination mist steamer and dryer in the use configuration,
 wherein the combination mist steamer and dryer in the use configuration is configured to perform the steaming and drying independently or consecutively. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the combination mist steamer and dryer comprises the use configuration and a storage configuration, and   the providing the combination mist steamer and dryer in the use configuration comprises changing from the storage configuration to the use configuration.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the combination mist steamer and dryer comprises a first hinge and a second hinge configured to close in opposing directions, such that when changing between the storage configuration and the use configurations, the combination mist steamer and dryer comprises an intermediate configuration approximating a ‘Z’ shape.