US-20260123730-A1 - ELASTOMERIC HAIR DRYER ATTACHMENT

US20260123730A1US 20260123730 A1US20260123730 A1US 20260123730A1US-20260123730-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to an elastomeric hair dryer attachment for use on handheld hair dryers. The hair dryer attachment includes an elastomeric, cylindrical body or ring that is removably mounted to a barrel of a standard hair dryer, and includes an array of spikes extending outwards from the body, and arranged in alternating rows to provide hair channels to effectuate combing and styling of hair. Each spike tapers in dimensional size moving from a proximate end to a distal end terminating at a same horizonal axis to provide a flat hair brush surface. The hair dryer attachment may be formed as a single-piece molded unit.

Inventors

Candice Alisha Dunbar

Assignees

DrySpike L.L.C.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251126

Claims (20)

1 . A hair dryer attachment comprising: an elastomeric cylindrical ring including an opening defining an interior surface opposite an exterior surface, and a spike base formed integral with said exterior surface; a plurality of spikes each including a distal end opposite a proximate end integral with said spike base, each of said plurality of spikes extending outwards from said spike base, and each tapering in diameter from said proximate end towards said distal end; and wherein said opening is sized to removably receive a barrel of a hair dryer such that said plurality of spikes are oriented along a top, horizontal surface of said barrel when said hair dryer attachment is inserted onto said barrel.
2 . The hair dryer attachment of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of spikes are arranged in staggered rows, each of said staggered row spaced-apart from each other to form open channels.
3 . The hair dryer attachment of claim 2 , wherein each spike of said plurality of spikes varies in length based on a position of each spike on said spike base, said distal end of each of said plurality of spikes terminating at a same horizontal axis to form a flat brush surface.
4 . The hair dryer attachment of claim 3 , wherein said staggered rows comprises a first row including a first number of spikes of said plurality of spikes, a second row including a second number of spikes of said plurality of spikes, a third row including a third number of spikes of said plurality of spikes, and a fourth row including a fourth number of spikes of said plurality of spikes.
5 . The hair dryer attachment of claim 4 , wherein said first, second, third, and fourth number of spikes comprises the same number of spikes, or a different number of spikes.
6 . The hair dryer attachment of claim 5 , wherein said first number of spikes comprises five spikes, said second number of spikes comprises four spikes, said third number of spikes comprises five spikes, and said fourth number of spikes comprises four spikes.
7 . The hair dryer attachment of claim 5 , wherein said first number of spikes comprises six spikes, said second number of spikes comprises five spikes, said third number of spikes comprises six spikes, and said fourth number of spikes comprises five spikes.
8 . The hair dryer attachment of claim 5 , further including a textured grip that is provided on said exterior surface of said cylindrical ring, said textured grip comprising any of ridges, protrusions, nubs, indentations, raised patterns, dimples, or any combination thereof.
9 . The hair dryer attachment of claim 3 , wherein said elastomeric cylindrical ring includes one or more magnets embedded therein, said one or more magnets surrounding said opening of said cylindrical ring.
10 . The hair dryer attachment of claim 3 , further including one or more gripping elements, each disposed along an inner circumference of said interior surface of said ring.
11 . The hair dryer attachment of claim 3 , wherein said elastomeric cylindrical ring, and said plurality of spikes comprise a non-metallic, non-ionizing, silicon material including any of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material with a Shore hardness ratings between 60 A-90 A, a fluor silicone rubber compound material, an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) elastomer, a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) with a Shore hardness ratings between 40 A-90 A, an elastomeric material having a Shore hardness of between 00 and 70.
12 . A hair dryer attachment comprising: a cylindrical body having a body length including an opening formed therethrough defining an interior surface opposite an exterior surface; a plurality of spikes each including an elongate body having a distal end opposite a proximate end made integral with said cylindrical body, said plurality of spikes disposed on said body length and arranged in a plurality of rows, or in a staggered pattern, said spikes spaced apart from each other to form channels therebetween, a first group of said plurality of spikes having a first length, a second group of said plurality of spikes having a second length, and a third group of said plurality of spikes having a third length, each spike of said plurality of spikes tapering in diameter along said body from said proximate end towards said distal end, said first length, said second length, and said third length being different from each other; and wherein said opening is sized to removably receive a barrel of a hair dryer therein such that said plurality of spikes are oriented along a top, horizontal surface of said barrel when said hair dryer attachment is fully inserted onto said barrel.
13 . The hair dryer attachment of claim 12 , wherein said length of each spike of said plurality of spikes varies based on a position of each spike on said cylindrical body, said distal end of each of said plurality of spikes terminating at a same horizontal axis to form a flat brush surface.
14 . The hair dryer attachment of claim 13 , wherein said plurality of rows comprises a first row including a first number of spikes, a second row including a second number of spikes, a third row including a third number of spikes, and a fourth row including a fourth number of spikes.
15 . The hair dryer attachment of claim 14 , wherein said first number of spikes comprises any of five or six spikes, said second number of spikes comprises any of four or five spikes, said third number of spikes comprises any of five or six spikes, and said fourth number of spikes comprises any of four or five spikes.
16 . The hair dryer attachment of claim 13 , further including a textured grip provided on said exterior surface of said cylindrical body, said textured grip comprising any of ridges, protrusions, nubs, indentations, raised patterns, dimples, or any combination thereof.
17 . The hair dryer attachment of claim 13 , further including one or more gripping elements, each gripping element disposed along an inner circumference of said interior surface of said body.
18 . A hair styling tool integrated with a cylindrical barrel of a hairdryer, said hair styling tool comprising: a plurality of spikes each including an elongate body having a distal end, and a proximate end integrated with said cylindrical barrel, said plurality of spikes extending outwards from a top, planar surface of said cylindrical barrel, and arranged in a staggered pattern, or in parallel rows on said cylindrical barrel forming open channels for receiving a person's hair during use, each of said plurality of spikes tapering in diameter along said body from said proximate end towards said distal end; wherein each of said plurality of spikes comprises a length that varies based on a position of each spike on said barrel such that a first group of spikes includes a first length, a second group of spikes includes a second length, and a third group of spikes includes a third length; and wherein said distal end of each of said plurality of spikes terminates at a same horizontal axis above said top planar surface of said cylindrical barrel to form a flat brush surface.
19 . The hair styling tool of claim 18 , wherein said plurality of spikes comprise a non-metallic, non-ionizing, silicon material including any of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material with a Shore hardness ratings between 60 A-90 A, a fluor silicone rubber compound material, an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) elastomer, a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) with a Shore hardness ratings between 40 A-90 A, an elastomeric material having a Shore hardness of between 00 and 70.
20 . The hair styling tool of claim 19 , wherein said plurality of spikes are over-molded on said cylindrical barrel of said hairdryer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) that claims priority to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 19/381,889, filed Nov. 6, 2025, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/717,301, filed Nov. 7, 2024, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to hair styling accessories and devices, and more particularly, to a hair dryer attachment for use with hair styling tools such as handheld hair dryers. The hair dryer attachment includes a cylindrical body or ring having outwardly extending spikes that are arranged in a functional layout to effectively brush, comb, or style a person's hair. The hair dryer attachment accommodates fitting differently sized barrels of conventional hair dryers, and is easily customized with interchangeable attachment designs to enhance styling efficiency, and/or ergonomic use. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A variety of hair styling tools and accessories are generally employed to dry, style, and manage hair for both personal and professional use. One particular category comprises hair dryers that are used in combination with brushes or combs to assist with drying and styling hair. Hair dryers generate heated airflow that is directed onto hair sections while users simultaneously manipulate brushes to achieve desired styling results. Traditional hair styling typically requires users to coordinate multiple tools including a primary brush to section and hold hair, a hair dryer for heat application, and often a secondary brush for detangling and styling operations. Over time, hair styling methods have evolved to include various techniques and tool combinations designed to improve efficiency and styling outcomes. For example, professional stylists often employ round brushes of different sizes to create volume and shape, while flat brushes are used for smoothing and straightening applications. Hair styling accessories have also been developed to enhance comfort, reduce styling time, and minimize heat damage during prolonged styling sessions. Compact and specialized styling tools have been designed to improve portability and accommodate different hair types and styling preferences. Individuals often spend considerable time styling their hair for both personal grooming and professional appearance requirements. As such, efforts have been made to develop more efficient hair styling methods and tools that reduce the time and effort required to achieve professional results. Many attachments are typically rigid and pose various limitations. For example, conventional rigid attachments are generally constructed from inflexible plastic materials that can cause damage and tangling of the hair, provide poor heat distribution, and provide limited adaptability for attaching such devices to different size, hair dryer barrels. Also, the inflexible nature of rigid attachments may cause discomfort during use and compromise the styling effectiveness due to inadequate hair grip and control. Similar challenges exist when users attempt to achieve professional styling results using traditional multi-tool approaches. Users must repeatedly alternate between holding a hair dryer and various brushes, requiring them to constantly set down and pick up tools throughout the styling process. This approach extends styling time significantly, creates user fatigue, risks dropping expensive equipment, and often results in poor styling outcomes due to loss of hair sectioning control and interruption of continuous heated airflow. Accordingly, there is an established need for a solution to at least one of the aforementioned problems. There remains a need for an improved hair dryer attachment that provides a removable attachment that fits various barrel sizes of hair dryers, while providing a functional layout of spikes for enabling efficient styling through flexible construction. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure is directed to a hair dryer attachment that provides simultaneous drying and styling functionality through flexible construction, enables single-handed operation while maintaining styling tension, and enhances user comfort. A technical problem that exists is the inefficiency of current devices lacking universal fit characteristics across different hair dryers and separate models without compromising styling effectiveness or hair health. One embodiment of the present disclosure provides an elastomeric hair dryer attachment comprising: an attachment ring, including a cylindrical body having an interior surface having a cylindrical shape configured to securely grip and mount onto the barrel portion of a conventional handheld hair dryer; a top spike base extending from the attachment ring; and a plurality of spikes extending outward from the top spike base in a systematically arranged pattern, wherein the attachment ring and thereby the