Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids – Apparatus – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-07
2001-02-20
Gravini, Stephen (Department: 3749)
Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids
Apparatus
Combined
C034S210000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189230
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an electric hand dryer which is capable of drying other items.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electric hand dryers for use in public toilets or washrooms are generally known, and provide a hot air stream for blow-drying the hands of a user. For domestic use, in particular, there are items other than hands, such as towels or cloths, that may need drying, but the conventional hand dryers are not useful for this purpose.
The invention seeks to provide an improved electric hand dryer which solves this problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided an electric hand dryer comprising a body having an inlet and first and second outlets for air and a hanger associated with the second outlet, a blower unit incorporating a heating element and a motor-driven propeller provided inside the body for generating a hot air stream to exit the body through either outlet, and a manually movable operator for controlling the flow of the hot air stream to exit through either the first outlet for drying the hands of a user or the second outlet for drying a towel or the like supported on the hanger.
Preferably, the operator is movable between a first position opening the first outlet and disabling the second outlet and a second position closing the first outlet and enabling the second outlet.
More preferably, the first outlet is substantially aligned with the blower unit and the second outlet is provided downstream from the first outlet.
Further more preferably, the operator is provided between the first outlet and the blower unit.
In a preferred embodiment, the body has first and second chambers associated with the first and second outlets respectively and separated by a partition having a hole, and the operator is arranged for the blower unit to supply the hot air stream to the first chamber for exit through the first outlet when the operator closes the hole and to supply the hot air stream to the second chamber, via the first chamber, for exit through the second outlet when the operator reveals the hole.
It is preferred that the operator is in the form of a folding blind.
More preferably, an external knob is provided on the body for moving the operator.
In a preferred embodiment, the hanger is in the form of a hollow bar having an open end connected to the body at where the second outlet is such that the interior of the bar is in communication with that of the body, said bar having small apertures for discharging the hot air to dry a towel or the like supported on the bar.
More preferably, the body has two said second outlets on opposite sides, and the bar is U-shaped and has opposite open ends connected to the body at where the respective second outlets are.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3417481 (1968-12-01), Rumsey, Jr.
patent: 3656275 (1972-04-01), Hunter
patent: 4856206 (1989-08-01), Klein
patent: 5107603 (1992-04-01), Durazzani
patent: 5222308 (1993-06-01), Barker et al.
patent: 5377427 (1995-01-01), Mashata
patent: 5442867 (1995-08-01), Robinson
patent: 5727579 (1998-03-01), Chardack
patent: 6035545 (2000-03-01), Jones
Gravini Stephen
Leydig , Voit & Mayer, Ltd.
Oasis Global Limited
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