Hand dryer device

• US 10,362,910 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2017
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chicony Power Technology Co. Ltd. (Chicony Electronics Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Chicony Power Technology Co. Ltd. (Chicony Electronics Company Limited)
• Inventors: Chou, Chen-Shi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gravini, Stephen M
• Application Number:
  US15/724,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20190045983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 34202
• 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: F26B 21/001 Drying-air generating units, e.g. movable, independent of drying enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/004 Nozzle assemblies; Air knives; Air distributors; Blow boxes F26B3/082, F26B13/104, F26B13/108, F26B21/006 take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 25/16 mainly closed, e.g. drum

Abstract

A hand dryer device cooperated with an airflow driver includes a first housing, a second housing, and an airflow driving unit. The first housing has a first body and a first extension portion. The second housing has a second body and a second extension portion. The second body is connected to the first body for defining an accommodating space, and the first and second extension portions together form a concave annular structure having an extension space. The airflow driving unit includes a sensor, a control module and an airflow guiding structure. The sensor is disposed on the outer surface of the first housing and/or the second housing. The sensor detects and outputs a sensing signal. The control module receives the sensing signal and outputs a control signal. The airflow guiding structure is disposed adjacent to an air outlet and extends to the extension space.

Claims

1. A hand dryer device used to cooperate with a home appliance having an airflow driver, comprising:

a first housing having a first body and a first extension portion, wherein the first extension portion is connected to the first body;

a second housing disposed corresponding to the first housing and having a second body and a second extension portion, wherein the second extension portion is connected to the second body, the second body is connected to the first body for defining an accommodating space, the second extension portion and the first extension portion together form a concave annular structure, the concave annular structure has an extension space therein, and the home appliance is received in the accommodating space; and

an airflow driving unit disposed in the accommodating space and the extension space, and comprises;

a sensor disposed on an outer surface of the first housing and/or the second housing, wherein the sensor detects and outputs a sensing signal,

a control module receiving the sensing signal and outputting a control signal to enable the airflow driver of the home appliance to output a strong airflow, and

an airflow guiding structure disposed adjacent to an air outlet of the airflow driver and extending to the extension space.

2. The hand dryer device of claim 1, wherein the airflow guiding structure comprises a bag, one end of the bag covers the air outlet, a shape of the bag is gradually narrowed in radius toward the extension space, and another end of the bag is disposed outside the extension space.

3. The hand dryer device of claim 2, wherein the first extension portion and/or the second extension portion comprises at least a nozzle, the nozzle is disposed at one end of the first extension portion and/or the second extension portion, and the nozzle is a hollow gradual-narrowed opening.

4. The hand dryer device of claim 2, wherein the airflow driving unit further comprises a sealing structure disposed at a junction of the airflow guiding structure and the air outlet for forming a closed air channel.

5. The hand dryer device of claim 1, wherein the airflow guiding structure further comprises an isolation plate disposed inside the accommodating space, an edge of the isolation plate is connected to inner surfaces of the first housing and the second housing, and the isolation plate has an opening.

6. The hand dryer device of claim 5, wherein the airflow guiding structure further comprises at least a guiding plate, the guiding plate is connected to a periphery of the opening of the isolation plate, and the guiding plate extends from the periphery of the opening to the extension space.

7. The hand dryer device of claim 5, wherein the first extension portion and/or the second extension portion comprises at least a nozzle, the nozzle is disposed at one end of the first extension portion and/or the second extension portion, and the nozzle is a hollow gradual-narrowed opening.

8. The hand dryer device of claim 5, wherein the airflow driving unit further comprises a sealing structure disposed at a junction of the airflow guiding structure and the air outlet for forming a closed air channel.

9. The hand dryer device of claim 1, further comprising a drainage unit disposed on the first body or the second body, wherein the drainage unit is isolated with the accommodating space and the extension space.

10. The hand dryer device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a photosensitive circuit, and when the photosensitive circuit receives an optical signal, the photosensitive circuit outputs the sensing signal to the control module.

11. The hand dryer device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an infrared beam interruption circuit, and when the infrared beam interruption circuit receives an interruption signal, the infrared beam interruption circuit outputs the sensing signal to the control module.

12. The hand dryer device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a wireless remote-control receiving unit, and when the wireless remote-control receiving unit receives a remote-control signal, the wireless remote-control receiving unit outputs the sensing signal to the control module.

13. The hand dryer device of claim 1, wherein the control signal is an enabling signal or a disabling signal.

14. The hand dryer device of claim 1, wherein the airflow driving unit further comprises a charging mechanism disposed inside the accommodating space for charging the airflow driver.

15. The hand dryer device of claim 1, further comprising a moving mechanism disposed on the outer surface of the first housing and/or the second housing.

16. The hand dryer device of claim 1, wherein the first extension portion and/or the second extension portion further comprises an installation structure disposed on the first housing and/or the second housing, and the hand dryer device is installed on a periphery structure via the installation structure.

17. The hand dryer device of claim 1, wherein the home appliance is a vacuum cleaner or a hair dryer.