Hand dryer with point of ingress dependent air delay and filter sensor

• US 10,172,498 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2015
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bradley Fixtures Corporation (Bradley Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bradley Fixtures Corporation (Bradley Corporation)
• Inventors: Bayley, Graeme S., Figurski, Mark A., Loberger, John M, Rundberg, Michelle L, Kohlwey, Kevin M, Dhein, Theodore E, Kreitzer, Kenneth A, Kline, Kevin B, Renner, Jason M, Biba, Scott I, Boudreau, Cory R
• Primary Examiner(s): SKUBINNA, CHRISTINE J
• Application Number:
  US14/967,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20160198909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,123 Days
• Field of Search: 4654
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/48 Drying by means of hot air hair-drying devices A45D20/00; curative hot-air baths A61H33/06; electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2210/00 Combinations of water taps, soap dispensers and hand dryers
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 4/00 Combinations of baths, douches, sinks, wash-basins, closets, or urinals, not covered by a single other group of this subclass such combinations when connected to water supply or waste pipe E03C1/01
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/01 for combinations of baths, showers, sinks, wash-basins, closets, urinals, or the like combinations of baths, douches, or the like, A47K4/00; cell-like units for special technical purposes E04B1/34869; panels adapted for locating conduits E04C2/52; ducts for installation lines E04F17/08
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/12 Velocity of flow; Quantity of flow , e.g. by varying fan speed, by modifying cross flow area F26B21/004 takes precedence; changing air flow pattern F26B21/022

Abstract

A lavatory system includes a hand dryer with at least a first proximity sensor and a second proximity sensor to detect an object for drying. A controller is communicatively linked to the first and second proximity sensors. The controller activates a drying operation after a first delay period if the first proximity sensor first detects the object for drying and activates a drying operation after a second delay period if the second proximity sensor first detects the object for drying. A filter flow sensor may also be provided to ensure proper filtering of the dryer'"'"'s air.

Claims

1. A lavatory system comprising:

a wash basin;

a faucet operably connected to the wash basin;

a hand dryer in fluid communication with the wash basin and including a hand-receiving cavity, a top portion with an air outlet, and a bottom portion with an air outlet, the hand-receiving cavity having first and second points of entry;

a blower motor in fluid communication with the air outlets for blowing air through the air outlets; and

a controller that activates the blower motor after observance of a first delay period if an object to be dried is presented to the hand-receiving cavity at the first point of entry and activates the blower motor after observance of a second delay period if an object to be dried is presented to the hand-receiving cavity at the second point of entry;

wherein the first delay period and the second delay period are different.

2. The lavatory system of claim 1 wherein the first point of entry is defined generally at a side of the hand-receiving cavity and the second point of entry is defined at a front of the hand-receiving cavity.

3. The lavatory system of claim 1 wherein the second delay period is longer than the first delay period.

4. The lavatory system of claim 1 further comprising a first sensor that detects side-presentment of the object to be dried to the hand dryer and a second sensor that detects front-presentment of the object to be dried to the hand dryer.

5. The lavatory system of claim 1 further comprising a soap dispenser having a spout in fluid communication with the wash basin.

6. The lavatory system of claim 1 wherein the first delay period is between zero and 300 milliseconds;

and wherein the second delay period is between 200 and 800 milliseconds.