Manual drying device and method therefor

• US 20060201015A1
• Filed: 03/08/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Darryl Russell
• Original Assignee: Darryl Russell
• Inventors: Russell, Darryl
• Application Number:
  US11/074,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20060201015A1
• 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
• 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 9/003 Small self-contained devices, e.g. portable

Abstract

Manual drying device and method uses motion applied to a foot pedal to operate an air handler. The air handler propels air toward a user'"'"'s hands for drying.

Claims

1. A manual hand drying device, comprising in combination:

an air handler having an inlet, an outlet, and at least one blowing surface for moving air from said inlet to said outlet; and

at least one foot pedal coupled to said air handler so that a motion of said at least one foot pedal operates said air handler, whereby a positioning of the hands of an operator of said device at said outlet during a movement of said at least one foot pedal generates a flow of air onto said hands.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one blowing surface of said air handler comprises the blades of a fan.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said fan is electric, and further comprising:

a shaft coupled to at least one said foot pedal so that a motion of said foot pedal rotates said shaft; and

a generator mechanically coupled to said shaft and electrically coupled to said fan, whereby a rotation of said shaft generates electricity for operating said fan.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising two foot pedals coupled to said shaft so that a rotation of said shaft resulting from a downward motion of one said foot pedal generates an upward motion of the other said foot pedal, whereby said shaft is continually rotatable by an operator standing with one foot on each said foot pedal and engaging in a rocking motion.

5. The device of claim 3, further comprising a spring coupled to said at least one foot pedal for biasing said foot pedal in an upward position, wherein said foot pedal is coupled to said shaft via a clutch so that only a downward motion of said foot pedal rotates said shaft, whereby said shaft is rotatable by a periodic positioning of an operator'"'"'s weight onto said foot pedal.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said air handler further comprises a pump defining a chamber, a first valve to prevent an egress of air out of said pump through said inlet and a second valve to prevent an ingress of air into said pump through said outlet, and wherein said blowing surface defines a portion of said pump so that a downward motion of said foot pedal compresses said chamber and an upward motion of said foot pedal expands said chamber.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising a spring coupled to said at least one foot pedal for biasing said at least one foot pedal in an upward position.

8. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

two said foot pedals,

a traverse member coupled to one said foot pedal at one end and the other said foot pedal at the other end;

a pivoting member coupled to the center of said traverse member so that a downward motion of one said foot pedal results in an upward motion of the other said foot pedal; and

two said pumps coupled to said foot pedals so that a downward motion of one said foot pedal compresses the chamber of one said pump and expands the chamber of the other said pump.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a heating element for heating said air blown by said air handler;

a shaft coupled to at least one said foot pedal so that a motion of said foot pedal rotates said shaft; and

a generator mechanically coupled to said shaft and electrically coupled to said heating element, whereby a rotation of said shaft generates electrical energy for operating said heating element.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a battery coupled to said generator for storing an output of said generator.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising an indicator for displaying a charge of said battery.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a heating element for heating said air blown by said air handler;

an external power supply; and

a switch for selectively coupling said heating element to said external power supply, whereby an operation of said heating device is controlled by said switch.

13. A method of hand drying, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one air handler for blowing air from an outlet of said air handler;

providing at least one foot pedal coupled to said air handler so that a movement of said foot pedal operates said air handler;

moving said foot pedal by alternately positioning bodyweight upon said foot pedal and removing bodyweight from said foot pedal, whereby said air handler blows air from said outlet in response to said moving said foot pedal; and

positioning at least one hand proximate said outlet so that said blown air contacts said at least one hand.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of providing at least one foot pedal comprises the steps of:

providing a first foot pedal;

providing a second foot pedal coupled to said first foot pedal so that an upward motion of one said foot pedal results from a downward motion of the other said foot pedal; and

coupling at least one of said first foot pedal and said second foot pedal to said air handler so that a movement of at least one of said first foot pedal and said second foot pedal operates said air handler.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of moving said foot pedal is performed by standing with one foot on one said foot pedal and the other foot on the other said foot pedal and shifting said bodyweight from one said foot to the other said foot.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of providing a heating element positioned in the path of said air that is blown for heating said air that is blown.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of providing a generator mechanically coupled to at least one said foot pedal and electrically coupled to said heating element, whereby said moving said foot pedal generates electrical energy for operating said heating element.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

providing a battery coupled to said generator; and

storing an output of said generator with said battery.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

detecting a sufficient charge of said battery for an operation of said heating element; and

electrically coupling said heating element to said battery for operating said heating element with said battery.