Hand dryer

• US 20050076529A1
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: P&L Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: P&L Systems LLC
• Inventors: Holmes, Thomas Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/683,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20050076529A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/90
• 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

Abstract

A hand dryer 2 consists of an outer housing with a main fan 8 which draws air into the housing and out of a first outlet 12 on operation by a user. The dryer 2 also incorporates a substantially constantly operated second fan 22 which provides a substantially constant sterilising air flow.

Claims

1. A dryer comprising air stream generation means adapted to generate an intermittent flow of air with which a user may dry himself, and to generate a substantially continuous flow of substantially sterile air.

2. A dryer as claimed in claim 1, in which the air stream generation means includes a first fan to generate the intermittent, drying, air stream.

3. A dryer as claimed in claim 1, in which the air stream generation means includes a second fan, to generate the substantially continuous air stream.

4. A dryer as claimed in claim 2, in which the first fan is adapted to blow air out of a first outlet.

5. A dryer as claimed in claim 3, in which the second fan is adapted to blow air out of a second outlet.

6. A dryer as claimed in claim 1, which comprises sterilising means adapted to sterilise air that is drawn in through an inlet of the dryer.

7. A dryer as claimed in claim 6, in which the sterilising means is located substantially adjacent the inlet and extends away therefrom.

8. A dryer as claimed in claim 6, in which the first fan is adapted to draw air in through the air inlet, passed the sterilising means, through a first venting means and out through a first outlet.

9. A dryer as claimed in claim 6, in which the second fan is adapted to draw air in through the inlet, passed the sterilising means, through second venting means and out of a second outlet.

10. A dryer as claimed in claim 1, which includes fragrancing means adapted to produce a fragrance.

11. A dryer as claimed in claim 1, which is a hand/face dryer.

12. A dryer as claimed in claim 6, in which the sterilising means is adapted to illuminate at least part of the first outlet.

13. A dryer as claimed in claim 6, in which the sterilising means is adapted to at least partly sterilise the first outlet and a passage leading thereto.

14. A dryer as claimed in claim 6, in which, in use, a sterilising air flow passes through the first outlet and a passage leading thereto, said sterilising air flow being driven by convection currents and/or the general movement of air in and around the dryer and/or due to substantially constant air flow generated by the second fan.

15. A method of sterilising an air flow comprises operating a dryer according to claim 1.