LARGE PLUSH TOWEL WARMER AND DEHUMIDIFIER
First Claim
1. A forced hot air towel warmer and dehumidifier comprising:
- a substantially airtight enclosure having a sealable access means to enable placing a towel and the like to be warmed in the substantially airtight enclosure and to enable removing a warmed towel therefrom;
first means disposed within the substantially airtight enclosure having air passages there through to support the towel;
second means disposed within the substantially airtight enclosure to draw air from above the towel to be warmed and thereby to create and pre-pressurize a stream of air;
third means disposed within the substantially air tight enclosure adjacent the second means, to further pressurize and continuously circulate the stream of air within the substantially airtight enclosure;
fourth means disposed within the substantially air tight enclosure adjacent the third means to heat the stream of air;
fifth means disposed within the substantially air tight enclosure adjacent the fourth means containing a temperature sensor and comprising a constant temperature antechamber in which a volume of pressurized air maintained within a predetermined temperature range is caused to continuously impinge on the towel to be heated;
sixth means disposed within the substantially air tight enclosure associated with said stream of air, said second means said third means said fourth means and said fifth means to detect and determine the users intent, to automatically maintain said stream of pressurized air at a temperature within a predetermined temperature range for a given period of time, and to control the air flow direction either totally within or through the enclosure. seventh means disposed between the towel heating cavity and said second means to selectively direct the air flow to either recycle within said substantially air tight enclosure or to periodically pass through the enclosure;
eighth means associated with said substantially air tight enclosure to enable permanent installation of said hot air towel warmer within a bathroom to prevent said hot air towel warmer from falling into a selected one of a tub or shower;
said eighth means including a cavity disposed in a wall of said bathroom between adjacent studs of said wall, said cavity being disposed adjacent said selected one of a tub or shower to permanently receive said substantially air tight enclosure, said sealable access means being disposed in an exposed surface of said substantially air tight enclosure, and an electrical power source disposed in said wall connected to said sixth means and thereby controlling power to said second, third and fourth means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An increased air pressure forced hot air towel warmer comprising a substantially airtight enclosure configured to be more desirable and user friendly when placed in close proximity to a tub or shower whether mounted within cabinetry, on the wall or when permanently installed between existing standard 16 inch on center wall support studs while protruding as little as possible into the room. Intended for use with large area plush towels and bath sheets for which insertion in a limited width wall enclosure or shallow depth cabinetry leads to greater vertical depth of towel material to be penetrated and substantially increases the resistance to air flow, therefore back pressure, thereby necessitating increased supply pressure to maintain adequate hot air flow through the towel. Increased supply pressure is created without objectionable noise by use of low noise rotary blowers and associated pressure accumulator cavities arranged in tandem such that their respective pressure gradients are additive. Experience has also shown that all towels exhibit some degree of adsorbed moisture, the present invention includes an embodiment for increasing user satisfaction by removing excess adsorbed moisture during the warming cycle to achieve dehumidification by means of periodic short time interval ejection of the warmed moisture laden air within the enclosure with simultaneous replacement by room air to sequentially reduce the moisture content retained within the warmed towel.
43 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A forced hot air towel warmer and dehumidifier comprising:
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a substantially airtight enclosure having a sealable access means to enable placing a towel and the like to be warmed in the substantially airtight enclosure and to enable removing a warmed towel therefrom;
first means disposed within the substantially airtight enclosure having air passages there through to support the towel;
second means disposed within the substantially airtight enclosure to draw air from above the towel to be warmed and thereby to create and pre-pressurize a stream of air;
third means disposed within the substantially air tight enclosure adjacent the second means, to further pressurize and continuously circulate the stream of air within the substantially airtight enclosure;
fourth means disposed within the substantially air tight enclosure adjacent the third means to heat the stream of air;
fifth means disposed within the substantially air tight enclosure adjacent the fourth means containing a temperature sensor and comprising a constant temperature antechamber in which a volume of pressurized air maintained within a predetermined temperature range is caused to continuously impinge on the towel to be heated;
sixth means disposed within the substantially air tight enclosure associated with said stream of air, said second means said third means said fourth means and said fifth means to detect and determine the users intent, to automatically maintain said stream of pressurized air at a temperature within a predetermined temperature range for a given period of time, and to control the air flow direction either totally within or through the enclosure. seventh means disposed between the towel heating cavity and said second means to selectively direct the air flow to either recycle within said substantially air tight enclosure or to periodically pass through the enclosure;
eighth means associated with said substantially air tight enclosure to enable permanent installation of said hot air towel warmer within a bathroom to prevent said hot air towel warmer from falling into a selected one of a tub or shower;
said eighth means including a cavity disposed in a wall of said bathroom between adjacent studs of said wall, said cavity being disposed adjacent said selected one of a tub or shower to permanently receive said substantially air tight enclosure, said sealable access means being disposed in an exposed surface of said substantially air tight enclosure, and an electrical power source disposed in said wall connected to said sixth means and thereby controlling power to said second, third and fourth means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A forced hot air towel warmer comprising:
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a substantially airtight enclosure having a sealable access means to enable placing a towel and the like to be warmed in the substantially airtight enclosure and to enable removing a warmed towel therefrom;
first means disposed within the substantially airtight enclosure having air passages there through to support the towel;
second means disposed within the substantially airtight enclosure and consisting of an air blower and associated pressure accumulator cavity to draw air from above the towel to be warmed and thereby to create and pre-pressurize a stream of air;
third means disposed within the substantially air tight enclosure adjacent the second means, and pneumatically disposed in tandem with said second means such that their respective pressures are additive to further pressurize and continuously circulate the stream of air within the substantially airtight enclosure;
fourth means disposed within the substantially air tight enclosure adjacent the third means and consisting of a resistance coil heater to heat the stream of air;
fifth means disposed within the substantially air tight enclosure adjacent the fourth means containing a temperature sensor and comprising a constant temperature antechamber in which a volume of pressurized air maintained within a predetermined temperature range is caused to continuously impinge on the towel to be heated;
sixth means disposed within the substantially air tight enclosure associated with said stream of air, said second means said third means said fourth means and said fifth means to detect and determine the users intent, and to automatically maintain said stream of pressurized air at a temperature within a predetermined temperature range for a given period of time. seventh means associated with said substantially air tight enclosure to enable permanent installation of said hot air towel warmer within a bathroom to prevent said hot air towel warmer from falling into a selected one of a tub or shower;
said seventh means including a cavity disposed in a wall of said bathroom between adjacent studs of said wall, said cavity being disposed adjacent said selected one of a tub or shower to permanently receive said substantially air tight enclosure, said sealable access means being disposed in an exposed surface of said substantially air tight enclosure, and an electrical power source disposed in said wall connected to said sixth means and thereby controlling power to said second, third and fourth means. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification