JP3160653B2 - Hair dryer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hair dryer in which a power cord is connected to a dryer body via a connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, the power cord of a hair dryer is
Although it is integrally connected to the dryer body by soldering, recently, there is a type in which a power cord is detachably connected to the dryer body via a connector (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-259208). . In the case of a hand-held hair dryer, a connector socket is often provided at the lower end of the grip.

[0003]

The hair dryer has a built-in motor for driving a fan and a heater for heating cold air, and consumes a relatively large current even though it is a small electric device. In particular, in recent years, the maximum value of the heater capacity of a hair dryer has reached 1200 W. In such a hair dryer to which a large current is supplied, in the case where the power cord is connected via a connector, it is necessary to reduce the electrical contact resistance between the plug and the socket of the connector. If a large current is supplied with a large contact resistance,
This is because a large amount of heat is generated between the contact terminals, and the surroundings may be overheated, causing an accident such as a burn, a fire, or an electric shock. In order to reduce the electrical contact resistance, the contact area and contact pressure between the contact terminals may be increased. Further, the structure of the connector may be made robust so that the plug and the socket can be connected without wobble, and the hair dryer can be held in a fixed state even when used. However, in order to satisfy the above requirements, the size of the connector is increased, and the cost is increased and the weight is increased. In the case of a detachable connector, a large operating force is required for the detachment of the connector due to an increase in the contact area and pressure of the contact terminal.

An object of the present invention is to forcibly air-cool a connector so that overheating of the connector and its surroundings can be prevented, and even if a small, lightweight and inexpensive connector is used, it is possible to supply a large current. An object of the present invention is to obtain a hair dryer that can withstand without hindrance. Another object of the present invention is to cool the connector by utilizing a part of the wind generated by the blower fan, thereby simplifying the structure for cooling the connector, and thereby reducing the weight of the hair dryer. It is to realize cost reduction.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a blower fan 5 and a heater 7 are arranged inside a main body case 1 as shown in the figure, and a power cord 12 is connected to the main body case 1 via a connector 13. In the hair dryer to be connected, the connector 13 is arranged in a cooling air passage 19 formed on the windward side of the heater 7 in the main body case 1. Also, the invention comprises a body case 1 having a blowout port 9
In a hair dryer in which a blower fan 5 and a heater 7 are disposed and a power cord 12 is connected to the main body case 1 via a connector 13, a main body case 1 is provided.
The cooling fan 21 is disposed inside the cooling air outlet, and a wind escape port 20 is provided at a location different from the blow-out port 9. The cooling air passage 19 formed between the cooling fan 21 and the wind escape port 20 is provided in the cooling air passage 19. The connector 13 is arranged.

[0006]

The connector 13 is forcibly cooled by cooling air generated by the blower fan 5 or the cooling fan 21. Therefore, even if the connector 13 generates heat by applying a large current, the heat can be reliably removed, and the temperature state of the connector 13 and its peripheral portion can be maintained in an appropriate state.

[0007]

According to the hair dryer of the present invention, the connector 13 is forcibly cooled by the cooling air generated by the blower fan 5 or the cooling fan 21, and the heat generated in the connector 13 when a large current is supplied is ensured. To be removed. Therefore, even with a dryer in which the power cord 12 is connected by using the small, lightweight and inexpensive connector 13, the connector 13 and its peripheral portion can be prevented from being overheated, and there is no problem in supplying a large current. I can withstand it. According to such a hair dryer, the connector 13
This is advantageous in that burns, ignition, or electric shock due to overheating of the or its peripheral portion can be eliminated, and that the cost of the connector 13 and the space occupied by the connector 13 in the main body case 1 can be reduced.

According to the mode in which the connector 13 is cooled by a part of the air flow generated by the blower fan 5, it is not necessary to provide the cooling fan 21 only for cooling the connector. Can be simplified,
The hair dryer can be lightened by that much, and the cost required for manufacturing can be reduced.

[0009]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows Embodiment 1 of a hair dryer according to the present invention. The body case 1 of the hair dryer has a fan case 2, a blower tube 3 and a grip 4 integrally formed. A blower fan 5 and a motor 6 for rotating the blower fan 5 are arranged inside the fan case 2. Heater 7 inside
Place. The blower fan 5 is formed as a multi-blade fan. The blower fan 5 sucks air from inlets 8 opened on both side surfaces of the fan case 2 and sends pressurized air toward the heater 7 and the outlet 9.

Inside the grip 4, an operation switch 11 for controlling power supply to the motor 6 and the heater 7, and a connector 13 for connecting the power cord 12 to the main body case 1.
Is provided. When the operation switch 11 is slid upward from the off position at the lower end, each operation state of cold air, weak air, and hot air is obtained. The connector 13 includes a socket 14 fixed to the lower end of the grip 4 and a plug 15 fixed to an end of the power cord 12.
The power cord 12 can be separated from the main body case 1 by removing and inserting the power cord 5.

When the hair dryer is continuously operated at the maximum output state, the above-mentioned connector 13 does not have a sufficient current-carrying capacity and may generate heat to a dangerous state. In order to avoid such a state, the connector 13 is forcibly cooled using a part of the cool air generated by the blower fan 5.

A first cut-off portion 16 and a second cut-off portion 17 are provided facing the rotating peripheral surface of the blower fan 5. The air flow supplied from the blower fan 5 is divided by these two cut-off portions 16 and 17, and most of the air flow is supplied to the dry air passage 1 containing the heater 7.
The air is supplied to the air outlet 8 and blown out from the outlet 9, and a part of the air is supplied to a cooling air passage 19 in the grip 4. In order to discharge the cooling air sent to the cooling air passage 19 to the outside of the case, a plurality of air outlets 20 are opened in the lower end wall of the grip 4.

As described above, when the cooling air is supplied from the blower fan 5 into the grip 4, the connector 13 can always be forcibly cooled when the hair dryer is in the operating state. It is possible to prevent the section from being overheated. The cooling air passing through the inside of the grip 4 also contacts the operation switch 11 to take away the heat. Therefore, even if the operation switch 11 generates heat due to poor contact or the like, the operation switch 11 can be prevented from falling into an overheated state. Since the cooling air is generated using the blower fan 5, there is no need to provide a separate cooling fan, and the cost required for manufacturing the hair dryer is reduced by that much,
Overall weight can be reduced.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 shows a hair dryer according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This hair dryer is basically different from the first embodiment in that an axial flow fan is used as the blower fan 5. In this embodiment, a connector 13 is provided in a cooling air passage 19 between the suction port 8 and the blower fan 5.
Are arranged, and the connector 1 is moved by the suction airflow of the blower fan 5.
Cool 3 The socket 14 of the connector 13 is fixed and held by a mounting boss 23 integrated with the main body case 1. 24 is a suction grill. In addition, the same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals including the following embodiments, and the description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, the mounting boss 23 is protruded from the inner surface of the fan case 2 in consideration of the mounting strength of the connector 13.
The fan case 2 can be arranged at a position away from the inner surface.

FIG. 3 shows a hair dryer according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This hair dryer is shown in Fig. 1.
The hair dryer has basically the same form as that of the hair dryer, but differs in that a cooling fan 21 is provided separately from the blower fan 5. Specifically, a cooling fan 21 of a centrifugal fan type is integrally provided on one side of the blower fan 5, and the outer surface thereof is covered with a fan case 25 made of a separate piece from the main body case 1. In addition, a filter 26 for dust removal is provided on the windward side of the operation switch 11 in the cooling air passage 19 to prevent loose hair and cotton dust from adhering to connection terminals and the like provided in the grip 4. The filter 26 can be pulled out of the case and cleaned. Reference numeral 27 denotes a suction port of the fan case 25, and reference numeral 28 denotes a suction grill. In addition, the cooling fan 21 which is configured separately from the blower fan 5 may be arranged on the shaft of the motor 6 so as to be arranged with the blower fan 5. Suction grill 28
Is reduced to a mesh size or a mesh sheet is attached thereto, so that a filtering effect is exerted on the blower fan 5 as well. Of course, the filter 26 can be attached to the suction port 27 of the fan case 25.

(Other Modified Embodiments) In each of the above embodiments,
Although the power cord 12 is connected by the detachable connector 13, the present invention can be applied to a connector using the rotary connector 13 shown in FIG. In the rotary connector 13, the swivel ring 30, the connection terminal tube 31, and the connection terminal pin 32 are arranged concentrically on the plug 15 side in a vertically displaced state, and the connection terminal tube 31 and the connection are connected on the socket 14 side. In correspondence with the terminal pins 32, a terminal plate 33 holding these
34 are provided. Further, the flange portion of the swivel ring 30 is sandwiched between the flange wall 35 integrated with the grip 4 and the lower end wall of the socket 14, and the entire plug 15 is fixed so as to be freely rotatable only.

In the rotary connector 13, the connection terminal tube 3
1 and terminal plate 33, and connection terminal pins 32 and terminal plate 34
Can rotate relatively to each other, so that heat may be generated at the contact portion. In this case, too, the cooling air is supplied in the form shown in FIG. 1 or FIG.
Can be prevented from overheating.

The connector 13 shown in FIG.
Cooling fins 37 project from the outer surface of the
By increasing the contact area of the connector 4, the connector 13 can be efficiently cooled. Ribs 38 projecting from the inner surface of the grip 4 and supporting the socket 14 also help cool the socket 14.

The connector 13 shown in FIG. 6 comprises a socket 14 comprising a terminal holder 14a integral with the grip 4 and a cap 14b which can be attached to and detached from the grip 4, so that dust adhering to the contact terminals 39 and 40 can be cleaned. It is like that. The terminal holder 14 a is provided with a pair of springs 41 for holding the connection state of the plug 15, one of which is used as a contact terminal 39. Cap 1
4b has a cylindrical boss 42 at the center of the inner surface, and a pin-shaped contact terminal 40 is fixed to a rear end wall thereof. The plug 15 is internally connected to the cylindrical boss 42. The cap 14b has a pair of locking claws 43, and these can be engaged with the engaging grooves 44 on the inner surface of the grip to maintain the connected state. In a state where the cap 14b is separated from the grip 4, even if the plug 15 is connected to the cap 14b, not only is no current supplied, but also the spring 41 cannot receive the retaining action, so that the plug 15 easily comes off.

In addition to the above, the connector 13 is connected to the cooling air passage 1.
9 between the air outlets 8 and 27 and the air outlet 20
It may be provided anywhere. The cooling fan 21 can be driven independently of the blower fan 5.
For example, a cooling fan 21 and a motor for the fan can be arranged in the grip 4. The fan structure of the cooling fan 21 can be freely selected, such as an axial flow type or a multi-blade fan type. In this case, the temperature of the connector 13 is detected, and if the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, the operation can be performed according to the temperature state, and temporal operation management such as stopping the main switch with a predetermined time delay after turning OFF can be performed. Becomes The socket 14 and the plug 15 are formed of a plastic molded product. If a material such as alumina having excellent thermal conductivity and electrical insulation is mixed into the plastic material, the heat can be more efficiently radiated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a hair dryer according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a hair dryer according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a hair dryer according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a connector showing a modified embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional plan view of a grip showing a modified embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a connector showing a modified embodiment,
FIG. 6A shows a state in which the cap is separated from the grip, and FIG.
(B) shows a state where the cap is assembled to the grip.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body case 5 Blower fan 7 Heater 12 Power cord 13 Connector 19 Cooling air passage 20 Air vent 21 Cooling fan 26 Filter

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hair dryer in which a blower fan (5) and a heater (7) are arranged inside a main body case (1) and a power cord (12) is connected to the main body case (1) via a connector (13). A hair dryer characterized in that the connector 13 is arranged in a cooling air passage 19 formed further upwind. 2. A hair dryer in which a blower fan 5 and a heater 7 are arranged inside a main body case 1 having an air outlet 9 and a power cord 12 is connected to the main body case 1 via a connector 13. 1, a cooling fan 21 is arranged inside, and an air outlet 20 is provided at a location different from the outlet 9, and a cooling air formed between the cooling fan 21 and the air outlet 20 is provided. A hair dryer, wherein the connector 13 is arranged in the passage 19. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said connector comprises a detachable plug and a socket, one of which is disposed in said main body case and the other of which is connected to a power cord.
Or the hair dryer according to 2.