Through surface hand drying system

• US 10,638,893 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xela Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Xela Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Muderlak, Todd J., Muderlak, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCormack, John P
• Application Number:
  US15/392,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20170105590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 34 96, 34283, 34415, 34443
• 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: A61L 2209/14 Filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/03 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/12 Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/127 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 20/00 Combinations of machines or apparatus covered by two or more of groups F26B9/00 - F26B19/00

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for automatically dispensing air, for example, for hand drying, through either a dedicated air only spout (side mount embodiment) or through a multi-use spout configured for dispensing water, soap and/or air. The air drying module, which is typically positioned below a counter, can be modified according to the system needs to operate with hot and/or cold air and to optionally include a filter and/or fragrance dispenser.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a spout assembly mounted through a support substrate and structured with an outlet;

a drying module connected to the spout assembly;

a fragrance dispersing module connected to the drying module;

wherein the drying module is structured to be operably activated for forcing;

(i) an airflow through the outlet of the spout assembly and (ii) another airflow one way from the drying module into the fragrance dispersing module such that fragrance is dispersed into the air outside of the drying module, but does not pass into the spout assembly;

wherein the fragrance dispersing module comprises a housing that is structured with air vents for passage of air therethrough from the drying module by activation of the drying module.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing contains a fragrance material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing of the fragrance dispersing module contains a wicking material comprising a fragrance substance.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, the fragrance dispersing module is releasably mounted in an external structure of the drying module.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fragrance dispersing module comprises a handle.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a spout assembly mounted through a support substrate and structured with an outlet;

a drying module connected to the spout assembly;

a fragrance dispersing module connected to the drying module;

wherein the drying module is structured to be operably activated for forcing;

(i) an airflow through the outlet of the spout assembly and (ii) another airflow one way from the drying module into the fragrance dispersing module such that fragrance is dispersed into the air outside of the drying module, but does not pass into the spout assembly;

wherein the drying module is operably connected to a motor-driven fan that is used for forcing at least one of the airflow through the outlet of the spout assembly and the another airflow from the drying module into the fragrance dispersing module; and

wherein the motor-driven fan is used to force both of the airflow through the outlet of the spout assembly and the another airflow from the drying module into the fragrance dispersing module.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the drying module further comprises an air filter.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus further comprises an air heating mechanism and the drying module is configured with an on/off switch to the air heating mechanism.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the support substrate comprises a sink, a counter of a sink, a table, or a cabinet.