Air-moving appliance including an attachment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10660418-B2
Application number	US-201715650606-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2017
Priority date	Jul 14, 2017
Publication date	May 26, 2020
Grant date	May 26, 2020

Abstract

An air-moving appliance includes a body defining a cavity, an inlet for airflow to enter the cavity, and an outlet for the airflow to exit the cavity. The air-moving appliance also includes an attachment configured to connect to the body in flow communication with at least one of the inlet and the outlet. The air-moving appliance further includes a grip feature configured to extend between and contact the attachment and the body when the attachment is connected to the body. The grip feature is configured to provide an interference fit between the attachment and the body and resist movement of the attachment relative to the body when the attachment is connected to the body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air-moving appliance comprising:
a body including an inner wall and an outer wall, the outer wall and the inner wall defining a cavity therebetween, the inner wall defining a central passage of the body;
an inlet for airflow to enter the cavity;
an outlet for the airflow to exit the cavity;
an attachment including a wall configured to extend into the central passage of the body and a stop including a collar extending about and radially spaced from the wall, the stop being configured to contact the body and limit insertion of the wall into the central passage of the body, the collar and the wall cooperatively defining an attachment inlet therebetween, the attachment inlet being located for flow communication with the outlet; and
a grip feature configured to extend radially between and contact the wall of the attachment and the inner wall of the body when the attachment is connected to the body, wherein the grip feature is configured to provide an interference fit between the attachment and the inner wall of the body and resist movement of the attachment relative to the body when the attachment is connected to the body.

2. An air-moving appliance as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the attachment includes a connector, and wherein the body defines a central passage configured to receive the connector therein, the connector having a shape that corresponds to the shape of the central passage.

3. An air-moving appliance as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the grip feature is configured to extend about the connector.

4. An air-moving appliance as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the body and the attachment define a gap therebetween when the attachment is connected to the body, and wherein the grip feature has a width greater than the gap between the attachment and the body to provide the interference fit.

5. An air-moving appliance as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the grip feature is elastic.

6. An air-moving appliance as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the grip feature comprises an O-ring.

7. An air-moving appliance as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the air-moving appliance includes a handle configured to be held by a user during operation of the air-moving appliance.

8. An air-moving appliance as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the attachment comprises at least one of a concentrator, a diffuser, a pick, a nozzle, a straightener, a brush, a tool, and a wand.

9. An air-moving appliance as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the grip feature is configured to removably connect to at least one of the body and the attachment.

10. An attachment for releasable connection with an air-moving appliance having a central passage, the attachment comprising:
a first end configured to connect to the air-moving appliance;
a second end spaced from the first end;
a body defining a passage for airflow between the first end and the second end;
a connector including a wall configured to extend into the central passage of the air-moving appliance and connect the first end to the air-moving appliance;
a stop configured to contact the air-moving appliance and limit insertion of the wall into the central passage, the stop including a collar extending about and radially spaced from the wall of the connector, the wall of the connector and the collar of the stop cooperatively defining an inlet in flow communication with the passage defined by the body; and
a grip feature configured to extend between the wall and the air-moving appliance when the wall extends into the central passage.

11. An attachment as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the body and the connector are integrally formed.

12. An attachment as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the connector is configured to removably connect to the body.

13. An attachment as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the grip feature comprises an O-ring.

14. An attachment kit for an air-moving appliance, the kit comprising:
a first attachment including a first end configured to connect to the air-moving appliance, a second end spaced from the first end, and a passage for allowing airflow between the first end and the second end;
a second attachment including a first end configured to connect to the air-moving appliance, a second end spaced from the first end, and a passage for allowing airflow between the first end and the second end;
a connector configured to extend into a central passage of the air-moving appliance, wherein the connector is configured to connect at least one of the first end of the first attachment and the first end of the second attachment to the air-moving appliance; and
a grip feature configured to extend between the connector and the air-moving appliance when the connector extends into the central passage.

15. An attachment kit as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the connector is configured to removably connect to the first attachment and the second attachment.

16. An attachment kit as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the connector comprises a cylinder and the grip feature comprises an O-ring configured to circumscribe the cylinder.

Assignees

• Spectrum Brands Inc

Inventors

• Degrood Michael John
• Kuzia Jay William

Classifications

• A45D20/12 Primary

  Details thereof or accessories therefor, e.g. nozzles, stands · CPC title

• A45D20/122

  Diffusers, e.g. for variable air flow · CPC title

• A45D20/10 Primary

  Hand-held drying devices, e.g. air douches · CPC title