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Portable hair care tool caddyRelated Patent Categories: Supports: Racks, Special ArticlePortable hair care tool caddy description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060289367, Portable hair care tool caddy. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to the field of apparatus for hair care tools and caddies for organizing the same. More particularly, it concerns caddies that can accommodate plural hair care tools some of which have electrical power cords and some of which heat up when employed in hair care. [0002] Hair dryers, curling irons, and flat irons can be found in most household bathrooms, as well as nearly every commercial hair salon and beauty parlor where a woman's hair is styled. Requiring heat during use, these appliances and hair care tools typically generate high levels of heat. As a result, these hair care tools cannot be placed just anywhere while in use and immediately after use. [0003] The problem of where to place such hair care tools while they are in use is a major concern for salon stylists. By their very design, these tools, having a handle attached to a heated barrel end can become safety hazards. For instance, passers-by may inadvertently come in contact with these tools, especially if the barrel end is left hanging off the side of a counter or shelf. The use of electricity in proximity to water is always a concern, as well. [0004] Additionally, after-use storage of these hair care tools is a problem. The hair care tools when placed on a countertop or in a drawer take up valuable space and the tools' electrical cords can tangle and become entangled with other electrical cords. [0005] In a salon where each stylist typically has his or her own work-station as well as his or her own hair care tools and appliances, storage of these tools during use and after use becomes even more important. [0006] A number of products have been developed in an attempt to hold, support, and organize variably dimensioned and sized hair care tools and appliances. One known product is The Holder.TM.. This product includes variable-diameter, short, solid-side-walled, open-ended cylinders for holding styling tools such as hair dryers and curling irons. Each cylinder is manufactured for a wall-mount configuration. The barrel ends of a hair dryer or curling iron are partially supported or circumferentially trapped in the open-ended cylinders. By holding the different hair care tools in a vertical orientation, this product is designed for holding hot hair care tools during use, as well as for providing after-use storage. [0007] Other known products for holding hot hair dryers and curling irons include horizontally disposed shelves containing apertures, slots and cylinders for trapping or partially containing the barrel ends of the hair care tools in a vertical orientation. [0008] Known caddies having a vertically oriented surface and known pegboards disclose wall mounted bases having myriad hooks and loop fastening means to secure hair care tools thereto. [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,813 issued to Kager, et al., on Aug. 5, 2003, discloses a hair styling accessory holder. The holder includes a clamp, coupling arm, and receptacle for holding a hair dryer. The receptacle is an open-ended, solid-side-walled cylinder with the bottom end of the cylinder having a detachable cap with a central screen or mesh for ventilation as the hair dryer is in use or cooling down. [0010] A housing for organizing hair care tools is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,917,694 issued to Denny on Jun. 29, 1999. The housing contains receptacles for receiving hair dryers, curling irons, and other hair care appliances. The front face of the housing contains a number of electrical outlets and a main power switch. One of the receptacles is specifically designed to hold a curling iron. This receptacle is insulated to minimize the effects of convection and conduction. In contrast, the receptacle specifically designed to hold a hair dryer includes an additional opening to aid in cooling the hair dryer through the effects of convection and conduction. The housing can be placed on a horizontal surface or attached to a wall. The cylindrical receptacles of Denny also feature solid side-walls. [0011] Reference can also be made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,931 issued to Barr, Jr. on Jan. 23, 1996 for a hair drying and shaping implements holder. Barr, Jr.'s caddy includes a plurality of "holes" (openings) having open top and bottom ends and a slot-like side opening. Bores are included in the back portion of the holder for receiving the electrical cords of the different hair care tools. Again, the side-walls of the holes are solid. [0012] U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,708 issued on Jun. 22, 1976 to Reeves discloses a hair dryer cradle. The cradle includes solid side-walls and solid end-walled, cylindrical chamber which receives the nozzle of the hair dryer and a concave cavity for surrounding a part of the motor housing of the hair dryer. The cradle is configured for both horizontal and vertical stationing. [0013] Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for an apparatus that will accommodate efficient holding and storage of multiple hair care tools. Such an apparatus must be of relatively simple and straightforward design and construction to maximize portability, and employ both free-standing and wall-mount configurations. The tools contained therein must be positioned for ease of visibility, convenient access and arrangement. The apparatus must minimize the potential for causing bums by stationing the hair care tools handle end out and the heated barrel end partially contained. The apparatus must support an assortment of hair care appliances in a manner that allows each appliance to cool down while protecting hairstylists and others, e.g. household members, from accidentally touching the heated barrel ends. The apparatus must avoid the potential for the appliances' electrical cords entangling with one another and with other items stored in the apparatus. Inasmuch as the art is relatively crowded with respect to these various types of hair care tool organizers, holders, and caddies, it can be appreciated that there is a continuing need for and interest in improvements to such apparatuses, and in this respect, the present invention addresses the need and interest. None of the known disclosures are believed to detract from the described and claimed embodiments of the present invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0014] In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a hair care tool caddy is provided. The caddy includes a base and plural receptacles dimensioned to receive at least partway therein plural hair care tools with each plural receptacle configured as a wire-frame having more open than closed surface area. The base includes dual spaced-apart members hinged together near an apex for providing a free-standing configuration on a generally horizontal surface. Each receptacle is associated with at least a pair of electrical cord storage hooks adapted to wrap the electrical cords of the hair care tools received therein. The caddy further includes a pair of wall-mount tabs positioned on the apex for providing an alternative wall-mount configuration. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the invented hair care tool caddy in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. [0016] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the invented hair care tool caddy corresponding to FIG. 1. [0017] FIG. 3. is a left side, elevation view of the invented hair care tool caddy corresponding to FIG. 1. [0018] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the invented hair care tool caddy corresponding to FIG. 1. [0019] FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, left side, elevation view of a hinge of the invented hair care tool caddy in a free-standing configuration for use on a horizontally planar surface. [0020] FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, left side, elevation view of a hinge of the invented hair care tool caddy in a wall-mount configuration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Continue reading about Portable hair care tool caddy... Full patent description for Portable hair care tool caddy Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Portable hair care tool caddy patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. 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