At a glance
| Patent number | CN211459143U (application CN201921914449) |
| Type | China utility model (实用新型) - protects product shape and structure |
| Original title | Portable rotatable hair-dryer (一种便携式可旋转吹风机) |
| Patent owner | Cixi Hengning Electric Appliance Co ltd |
| Inventors | Hu Han |
| Filing date | 2019-11-08 |
| Grant date | 2020-09-11 |
| Status (China) | In force in China until at most 2029-11-08 (if annual fees are paid) |
| Patent family | Chinese filings only - no US, European, Japanese, PCT or other filings listed |
| Cited by | 22 later documents |
| Source | Google Patents (search for CN211459143U) |
What the claims cover, in plain language
Claim 1 - a portable hair dryer comprising an air-blowing barrel (1) and a handle (2). The barrel is rotatably connected to the handle. A first inclined surface (11) is on the end face of the barrel, and a second inclined surface (24) is on the end face of the handle. The two inclined surfaces face each other and have the same inclination angle. A rotating structure (3) sits between them. When the barrel rotates circumferentially relative to the handle, the overall shape switches between a bent type and a linear type.
Claim 2 - the rotating structure includes a convex ring (31) on the first inclined surface and a rotating hole (32) on the second inclined surface. The convex ring has a ring groove (311) on its side wall, fits into the rotating hole, and the edge of the rotating hole extends into the ring groove. Claim 3 - a locking structure (4) is placed between the handle and the barrel. Claim 4 - the locking structure has a locking block (41) inside the handle and locking grooves on the convex ring: a first locking groove (42) for the bent position and a second locking groove (43) for the linear position. The locking block has a first arc guide surface (411) and a second arc guide surface (412) to help it release from each groove. Claim 5 - a limiting block (312) on the convex ring works with a resisting block (25) inside the handle to limit rotation. Claim 6 - the handle has a second outer shell (5) and an inner shell (6) made of a first inner shell (61) and second inner shell (62) buckled together. Claim 7 - a heating frame (9) is inside the barrel; a motor (26), circuit board (28) and battery (27) are inside the handle, all electrically connected to the circuit board. Claim 8 - the heating frame has multiple heating sheets (91) with convex parts (911) that insert into an inserting groove (81) on the barrel’s inner wall.
This is a simplified reading for orientation only. The legal scope is defined by the exact claim wording in the official Chinese document.
What this means for US production
This patent was filed only in China and is currently in force. It has no US or other foreign counterpart, so it does not restrict manufacturing or sales in the United States. However, because it remains active in China, making or selling this exact design in China needs the owner’s permission.
Two points to settle early:
- Other patents may exist. Sharkninja Operating Llc holds later US patents in the hair-dryer field that cite this document (US20230148725A1, US12225995B2, US12507781B2), and Guangdong Luoman Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. holds a citing WO publication (WO2025020957A1). These holders may have overlapping IP covering aspects of portable or folding dryers, so a freedom-to-operate (FTO) review of the rotating inclined-plane joint and the internal layout is recommended before tooling.
- Battery and thermal safety. The combination of a battery (lithium-ion cells are the likely production choice), a motor and a heating element in a sealed plastic housing requires careful thermal management and electrical isolation in the design phase.
Customization and manufacturing
What can be customized
| Area | Options |
|---|---|
| Outer shell colors and finish | Matte, gloss or soft-touch coating; custom brand colors |
| Battery capacity | Cell size and capacity to be confirmed in design based on target run time |
| Heating frame | Number and wattage of heating sheets set in design |
| Motor and fan | Fan blade profile and motor speed selected for target airflow |
| Locking feel | Spring tension on the locking block adjusted for click feedback |
| Accessories | Magnetic concentrator nozzles, charging cable type, storage pouch |
Things to plan for (US market)
- UL 859 - Standard for Household Electric Personal Grooming Appliances; covers construction, temperature limits and electrical safety for hair dryers sold in the US.
- FCC Part 15 - the motor and circuit board must not cause harmful radio-frequency interference.
- UN 38.3 - required for shipping lithium batteries; the battery cells inside the handle must pass these transport tests.
- California Proposition 65 - plastics, coatings and battery components must be screened for listed chemicals.
How a project runs
- Inquiry - target airflow, battery life, color, quantity and accessory list.
- Design - 3D modeling of the inclined planes, locking structure, inner shells and component layout; thermal simulation.
- Prototype - CNC or printed samples to verify the rotation action, locking engagement and balance.
- Pilot run - injection molds opened; assembled units undergo cycle testing on the rotating joint, thermal cut-off checks and battery discharge runs.
- Production - molding, PCB assembly, battery installation, final assembly, safety testing and packaging.
Quantities & timeline
The outer shells and inner shells require multi-cavity injection molds, the convex ring and locking block need precision tooling, and the heating frame involves sheet-metal stamping dies. Battery certification tests and UL evaluation add to the development schedule. Send us your target airflow, battery life, color, quantity and timeline and we will reply with options.
Patent drawings
Drawings reproduced from the public patent document for reference.
