Hair care accessories

Abstract

A hair care accessory is provided for use in drying and/or styling hair. The hair care accessory can include an elongate frame having a longitudinal axis and an inner lumen extending there through along the longitudinal axis. The hair care accessory can also include a plurality of plates disposed on the elongate frame. The plurality of plates can include a first row of plates that can be spaced circumferentially around a first longitudinal portion of the elongate frame, and at least one second row of plates that can be spaced circumferentially around a second longitudinal portion of the elongate frame. Each plate in the first row of plates can define a first longitudinally extending outlet and each plate in the second row of plates can define a second longitudinally extending outlet. The second longitudinally extending outlet being circumferentially offset from the first longitudinally extending outlet.

1 . A hair care accessory comprising:
 an elongate frame having a longitudinal axis and an inner lumen extending there through along the longitudinal axis; and   a plurality of plates disposed on the elongate frame, the plurality of plates including a first row of plates spaced circumferentially around a first longitudinal portion of the elongate frame, and at least one second row of plates spaced circumferentially around a second longitudinal portion of the elongate frame, each plate in the first row of plates defining a first longitudinally extending outlet and each plate in the second row of plates defining a second longitudinally extending outlet, the second longitudinally extending outlet being circumferentially offset from the first longitudinally extending outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The hair care accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate frame comprises a plurality of outlet groups spaced circumferentially around the elongate frame in the first and second longitudinal portions of the elongate frame. 
     
     
         3 . The hair care accessory of  claim 2 , wherein a first plurality of outlet groups in the first longitudinal portion of the elongate frame are circumferentially offset from a second plurality of outlet groups in the second longitudinal portion of the elongate frame. 
     
     
         4 . The hair care accessory of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of outlet groups of the elongate frame are fluidically coupled to the inner lumen of the elongate frame and are configured to direct air from the inner lumen of the elongate frame through the first and second longitudinally extending outlets. 
     
     
         5 . The hair care accessory of  claim 2 , wherein an outlet group of the plurality of outlet groups comprises two or more outlets, the two or more outlets being circumferentially offset from one another. 
     
     
         6 . The hair care accessory of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second longitudinally extending outlets are configured to convey air circumferentially around the first and second row of plates respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The hair care accessory of  claim 1 , wherein plates of the first and second rows of plates comprise an inner surface adjacent to the elongate frame, the inner surface comprising a plurality of vanes adjacent to the first and second longitudinally extending outlets and protruding toward the elongate frame. 
     
     
         8 . The hair care accessory of  claim 7 , wherein one or more vanes of the plurality of vanes further comprise a spacing element opposite the first and second longitudinally extending outlets, the spacing element configured to maintain a gap between the elongate frame and plates of the first and second rows of plates. 
     
     
         9 . The hair care accessory of  claim 1 , further comprising an appliance mating portion positioned at a first end of the elongate frame, the appliance mating portion configured to detachably couple the elongate frame to a hair care appliance. 
     
     
         10 . The hair care accessory of  claim 9 , wherein the appliance mating portion comprises an air inlet at which air is received from the hair care appliance. 
     
     
         11 . A hair care accessory, comprising:
 a hollow elongate frame having a plurality of opening sections, each opening section comprising at least one curved wall oriented to direct fluid flow in a radially outward and in a circumferential direction; and   a plurality of plates mounted on the hollow elongate frame, each plate positioned over at least one of the opening sections such that the plate and the at least one curved wall of the at least one opening section define at least one elongated outlet, and wherein airflow directed through the at least one elongated outlet is configured to flow circumferentially around at least a portion of an outer surface at least one of the plurality of plates.   
     
     
         12 . The hair care accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of opening sections are arranged circumferentially in rows around and longitudinally along the hollow elongate frame. 
     
     
         13 . The hair care accessory of  claim 12 , wherein opening sections of a first row are rotationally offset from opening sections of a second row, the first row being longitudinally adjacent to the second row along the hollow elongate frame. 
     
     
         14 . The hair care accessory of  claim 11 , wherein each opening section includes two or more outlets adjacent to the at least curved wall and configured to convey air across the at least one curved wall and through the at least one elongated outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The hair care accessory of  claim 14 , wherein adjacent outlets of the two or more outlets are circumferentially offset from one another within each opening section. 
     
     
         16 . The hair care accessory of  claim 11 , wherein each plate comprises an attachment hook on an inner surface thereof, the attachment hook configured to couple with the at least one curved wall of each opening section. 
     
     
         17 . The hair care accessory of  claim 11 , wherein each plate is positioned over at least one of the opening sections via one or more ridges protruding from an inner surface of each plate, the one or more ridges configured to maintain a gap between the hollow elongate frame and each plate. 
     
     
         18 . The hair care accessory of  claim 17 , wherein a height of the gap corresponds to a height of the at least one elongated outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The hair care accessory of  11 , wherein the plurality of plates includes a plurality of plate pairs, each plate pair comprising a first plate and a second plate, the second plate circumferentially offset form the first plate. 
     
     
         20 . The hair care accessory of  claim 11 , further comprising an appliance mating portion positioned at a first end and an end cap positioned at a second end opposite the first end, the appliance mating portion configured to detachably couple the hollow elongate frame to a hair care appliance and the end cap comprising a heat-resistant material. 
     
     
         21 - 76 . (canceled)