Hand-held hair dryer

Abstract

A foldable hair dryer of the hand-held type which includes a housing incorporating an electrically operated means for producing a flow of heated air, a hand grip pivotally attached to the housing, and a power cord extending from the housing. The hand grip is rotatable to a operational position where it extends outwardly from the housing, and to a folded position where it is folded on a part of periphery of the housing. Formed along the periphery of the housing is a first groove which cooperates, when the hand grip is in the folded position, with the second groove formed in the hand grip to define a peripheral channel extending across the housing and the folded hand grip. The power cord can be received in the peripheral channel thus formed and be wound up along the entire periphery of the hair dryer when the hand grip is brought in the folded position. The hand grip is shaped to have a cap portion which closes an air discharge outlet when it is in the folded position so as to prohibit the entry of foreign matter therethrough. Means incorporated in the hair dryer for producing a flow of heated air is energized by the operation of a knob which is accessible from the exterior of the housing and is locked in position not to energize the means for producing a flow of heated air until the hand grip is brought in the operational position, thus preventing an accidental flow of heated air blown from the outlet when the hand grip is in the folded position, since such accidental flow would otherwise damage the hand grip and the power cord wound thereon.