Sterilising Filter Arrangement Apparatus & Method

• US 20080253754A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alpha Technologies Incorporated (EnerSys)
• Original Assignee: Alpha Technologies Incorporated (EnerSys)
• Inventors: Rubin, Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/720,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20080253754A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 392/381
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 20/12 Details thereof or accessories therefor, e.g. nozzles, stands
• 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: A47L 7/04 for using the exhaust air for other purposes, e.g. for distribution of chemicals in a room, for sterilisation of the air spraying or atomising in general B05
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/04 using substances evaporated in the air without heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/16 using physical phenomena
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/91 Bacteria; Microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2267/40 Different types of filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0005 Mounting of filtering elements within casings, housings or frames B01D46/2422 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0028 provided with antibacterial or antifungal means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/10 Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/20 General details of domestic laundry dryers D06F59/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A sterilizing hand-drying apparatus is used to produce a stream of sterilized, heated air for drying hands. The apparatus is provided with an electric control circuit that supplies electrical power to the apparatus. The electric control circuit has a cut-off mechanism that disables the supply of electrical power when the housing is opened. This minimizes the risk of the user being electrocuted when opening the housing.

Claims

1-122. -122. (canceled)

123. A sterilizing hand-drying apparatus adapted to produce a stream of substantially sterilized, heated air for drying hands, the apparatus including:

a housing;

heating-means positioned in the housing for heating of air useable for drying hands;

inlet-means through which the air, in use, enters the housing and travels to reach the heating-means;

outlet-means through which the air, in use, after being heated by the heating-means, is emitted as heated air useable for drying hands; and

airflow-generation-means adapted to move the air swiftly as an airflow from the inlet-means via the heating-means to the outlet-means;

wherein the apparatus is provided with an electric control circuit that supplies electrical power to the apparatus,

and wherein the electric control circuit is provided with a cut-off mechanism that disables the supply of electrical power when the housing is opened so as to minimize risk of the user being electrocuted when opening the housing.

124. Apparatus of claim 123 wherein the cut-off mechanism includes a two-state switch which enables the supply of electrical power only when in the first state, and wherein an actuator is provided within the housing that maintains the switch in the first state when the housing is closed, and which activates the switch into the second state when the housing is opened to thereby disable the supply of electrical power to the apparatus when the housing is opened.

125. Apparatus of claim 123 wherein the cut-off mechanism includes a resiliently-mounted switch which enables the supply of electrical power only when activated, and wherein a cut-off-mechanism-activator is provided within the housing and arranged so as to activate the switch when the housing is closed, and to deactivate the switch when the housing is opened thereby to disable the supply of electrical power to the apparatus when the housing is opened.

126. Apparatus of claim 125 wherein the resiliently-mounted switch is mounted on a base-mounting to which a hood of the housing is removably attachable, and the cut-off-mechanism-activator is mounted on an interior surface of the hood.

127. Apparatus of claims 125 wherein the cut-off-mechanism-activator is mounted on a base-mounting to which a hood of the housing is removably attachable, and the resiliently-mounted switch is mounted on an interior surface of the hood.

128. Apparatus of claims 126 wherein the cut-off-mechanism-activator is in the form of a depressor that activates the cut-off mechanism when in contact therewith.

129. Apparatus of claim 127 wherein the cut-off-mechanism-activator is in the form of a depressor that activates the cut-off mechanism when in contact therewith.

130. Apparatus of claim 126 wherein the base-mounting is adapted to be fastened to an upright mounting surface, such that the hand-drying apparatus is able to be installed onto the upright mounting surface by attaching the housing to the base-mounting.

131. Apparatus of claim 127 wherein the base-mounting is adapted to be fastened to an upright mounting surface, such that the hand-drying apparatus is able to be installed onto the upright mounting surface by attaching the housing to the base-mounting.

132. A baseplate to which a hood of a housing of a sterilising hand-drying apparatus is adapted to be removably attached,

wherein the hand-drying apparatus is provided with an electric control circuit that supplies electrical power to the apparatus,

and wherein the baseplate is provided with a cut-off mechanism that disables the supply of electrical power to the electric control circuit when, in use with the hood attached to the baseplate, the housing is opened so as to minimise risk of the user being electrocuted when opening the housing.

133. A baseplate to which a hood of a housing of a sterilising hand-drying apparatus is adapted to be removably attached,

wherein the hand-drying apparatus is provided with an electric control circuit that supplies electrical power to the apparatus,

and wherein the baseplate is provided with a cut-off mechanism that disables the supply of electrical power to the electric control circuit when, in use with the hood attached to the baseplate, the housing is opened so as to minimise risk of the user being electrocuted when opening the housing, and

wherein the sterilising hand-drying apparatus includes:

a housing;

heating-means positioned in the housing for heating of air useable for drying hands;

inlet-means through which the air, in use, enters the housing and travels to reach the heating-means;

outlet-means through which the air, in use, after being heated by the heating-means, is emitted as heated air useable for drying hands; and

airflow-generation-means adapted to move the air swiftly as an airflow from the inlet-means via the heating-means to the outlet-means.

134. A sterilising hand-drying apparatus adapted to produce a stream of substantially sterilised, heated air for drying hands, the apparatus including:

a housing;

heating-means positioned in the housing for heating of air useable for drying hands;

inlet-means through which the air, in use, enters the housing and travels to reach the heating-means;

outlet-means through which the air, in use, after being heated by the heating-means, is emitted as heated air useable for drying hands;

airflow-generation-means adapted to move the air swiftly as an airflow from the inlet-means via the heating-means to the outlet-means; and

filter material adapted to filter the airflow;

wherein the apparatus includes a filter-replacement mechanism that is able to automatically replace the filter material in use with replacement filter material.

135. Apparatus of claim 134 wherein the filter-replacement mechanism replaces the filter material in use with replacement filter material periodically after a period of time.

136. Apparatus of claim 134 wherein the filter-replacement mechanism replaces the filter material in use with replacement filter material progressively in a continuous or intermittent manner.

137. Apparatus of claim 136 wherein the filter material is in the form of a sheet-like strip.

138. Apparatus of claim 137 wherein the filter material is conveyed by a motorized reel-mechanism.

139. Apparatus of claim 134 wherein the filter material includes bacteria-entrapment-filter-means through which, in use, the airflow passes, and

wherein the bacteria-entrapment-filter-means, in use, is adapted to trap and retain therein a substantial portion of bacteria in the airflow, such that the airflow leaving the bacteria-entrapment-filter-means is more sterile than when entering the bacteria-entrapment-filter-means.

140. An auto filter-replacement mechanism to change filter material of a sterilizing hand-drying apparatus, said hand drying apparatus including:

a housing;

heating-means positioned in the housing for heating of air useable for drying hands;

inlet-means through which the air, in use, enters the housing and travels to reach the heating-means;

outlet-means through which the air, in use, after being heated by the heating-means, is emitted as heated air useable for drying hands;

airflow-generation-means adapted to move the air swiftly as an airflow from the inlet-means via the heating-means to the outlet-means; and

filter material adapted to filter the airflow,

said auto filter-replacement mechanism providing automatic replacement of the filter material in use with replacement filter material.