Hand-drying device

• US 20050100436A1
• Filed: 08/12/2004
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mediclinics S.A
• Original Assignee: Mediclinics S.A
• Inventors: Egusquiza, Eduard
• Application Number:
  US10/917,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20050100436A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/1
• 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-drying device is disclosed. The hand-drying device includes a volute defining a spiral air passage, the volute comprising a spiral conduit for air, the conduit having an input at its center, a peripheral output, and a cross section that increases from the input to the output. The hand-drying device further includes a motor, located at the center of the volute and connected to the input of the volute for pulling in air from the environment at an input velocity and for passing the air through a the volute input to the volute output to expel the air at an output velocity that is greater than the input velocity. The spiral conduit comprises a cross-section that increases progressively from the input to the output.

Claims

1. A hand-drying device, comprising:

a volute defining a spiral air passage, the volute comprising a spiral conduit for air, the conduit having an input at its center, a peripheral output, and a cross section that increases from the input to the output; and

a motor, located at the center of the volute and connected to the input of the volute for pulling in air from the environment at an input velocity and for passing the air through a the volute input to the volute output to expel the air at an output velocity that is greater than the input velocity;

wherein the spiral conduit comprises a cross-section that increases progressively from the input to the output.

2. The hand-drying device of claim 1, wherein the output comprises a segment comprising an extension of the volute.

3. The hand-drying device of claim 1, wherein the volute comprises a point where the volute narrows and wherein the output comprises an air outlet nozzle.

4. The hand-drying device of claim 3, further comprising a segment leading to the air outlet nozzle wherein the segment comprises a constant width along substantially its whole length.

5. The hand-drying device of claim 4, wherein the segment comprises a chamber comprising a heating element mounted thereto.

6. The hand-drying device according to claim 2, wherein the air output comprises a nozzle having a narrower section than a duct leading to the nozzle.

7. A method for providing a stream of air for drying hands, the method comprising:

pulling environmental air into an input of a volute; and

passing the environmental air through a volute having a cross section that increases from the input to its output.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising heating the environmental air before it is expelled at the output.