HAND TREATMENT DEVICE

• US 20150059085A1
• Filed: 08/26/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: SEIBT, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 9,506,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/638
• 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: A47K 2210/00 Combinations of water taps, soap dispensers and hand dryers
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/02 Toilet fittings of general application A47K
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/14 Wash-basins connected to the waste-pipe
• 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 21/12 Velocity of flow; Quantity of flow , e.g. by varying fan speed, by modifying cross flow area F26B21/004 takes precedence; changing air flow pattern F26B21/022
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

A hand treatment device is provided for drying a user'"'"'s hands with an airflow. The hand treatment device comprises a hand treatment chamber comprising a hand insertion section and an outflow sink for purging fluid carried by the airflow from the user'"'"'s hands to the outflow sink. Therein, the airflow is generated by applying a negative pressure to the outflow sink, such that air is sucked from an environment of the hand treatment device through the hand insertion section into the outflow sink.

Claims

1. A hand treatment device for drying a user'"'"'s hands with an airflow, the hand treatment device comprising:

a hand treatment chamber comprising a hand insertion section and an outflow sink for purging fluid carried by the airflow from the user'"'"'s hands to the outflow sink,

wherein the airflow is generated by applying a negative pressure to the outflow sink, such that air is sucked from an environment of the hand treatment device through the hand insertion section into the outflow sink.

2. The hand treatment device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first sensor for detecting a presence of the user'"'"'s hands in the hand insertion section; and

a second sensor for detecting a presence of the user'"'"'s hands in the hand treatment chamber,

wherein the airflow is generated in accordance with a signal of the first sensor and the airflow through the hand insertion section is stopped in accordance with a signal of the second sensor.

3. The hand treatment device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fluid supply device adapted for providing at least one of water and a disinfectant,

wherein the fluid supply device comprises a spray device, which is adapted for supplying the at least one of the water and the disinfectant into the hand insertion section, such that at least one of the user'"'"'s hands and the hand treatment chamber are at least one of cleaned and disinfected.

4. The hand treatment device according to claim 1,

wherein at least one air inlet opening is arranged on an inner wall of the hand treatment chamber, which at least one air inlet opening is adapted for providing at least one further airflow, such that the user'"'"'s hands are pushed by the at least one further airflow towards a center plane of the hand treatment chamber.

5. A washstand, comprising:

a washbasin; and

a hand treatment device for drying a user'"'"'s hands with an airflow, the hand treatment device including a hand treatment chamber having a hand insertion section and an outflow sink for purging fluid carried by the airflow from the user'"'"'s hands to the outflow sink,

wherein the airflow is generated by applying a negative pressure to the outflow sink, such that air is sucked from an environment of the hand treatment device through the hand insertion section into the outflow sink.

6. The washstand according to claim 5,

wherein the hand treatment device is arranged at a front side of the washbasin or below the washbasin.

7. The washstand according to claim 5, wherein the hand treatment device is pivotably mounted for being pivoted from a storage position into a use position;

and

wherein the hand treatment device is adapted for automatically pivoting from the storage position into the use position, when a water supply of the washbasin is activated.

8. The washstand according to claim 5,

wherein the washstand is configured for a contactless usage.

9. A lavatory module for a means of transport, comprising:

a hand treatment device for drying a user'"'"'s hands with an airflow, the hand treatment device comprising;

a hand treatment chamber comprising a hand insertion section and an outflow sink for purging fluid carried by the airflow from the user'"'"'s hands to the outflow sink; and

a fluid supply device adapted for providing at least one of water and a disinfectant,

wherein the airflow is generated by applying a negative pressure to the outflow sink, such that air is sucked from an environment of the hand treatment device through the hand insertion section into the outflow sink.

10. An aircraft comprising:

a hand treatment device for drying a user'"'"'s hands with an airflow, the hand treatment device including a hand treatment chamber having a hand insertion section and an outflow sink for purging fluid carried by the airflow from the user'"'"'s hands to the outflow sink, the hand treatment device including a first sensor for detecting a presence of the user'"'"'s hands in the hand insertion section;

wherein the airflow is generated by applying a negative pressure to the outflow sink, such that air is sucked from an environment of the hand treatment device through the hand insertion section into the outflow sink and the airflow is generated in accordance with a signal of the first sensor.

11. The aircraft according to claim 10, further comprising:

an airflow generating device comprising a valve, which is adapted for connecting a source of negative pressure to the outflow sink;

wherein the airflow generating device is adapted for generating the airflow to dry the user'"'"'s hands; and

wherein the negative pressure is applied by opening the valve, such that air is sucked from the environment of the hand treatment device through the hand insertion section into the outflow sink.

12. The aircraft according to claim 11,

wherein the source of negative pressure is a vacuum toilet system of the aircraft or an outside environment of the aircraft.

13. The aircraft according claim 10,

wherein the hand treatment device is connected to a toilet assembly of the aircraft and a flush of the toilet assembly is activated when the hand treatment device is activated.

15. The aircraft according to claim 10, further comprising a washbasin, wherein the hand treatment device is arranged at a front side of the washbasin or below the washbasin.

16. The aircraft according to claim 15,

wherein the hand treatment device is pivotably mounted for being pivoted from a storage position into a use position;

and

wherein the hand treatment device is adapted for automatically pivoting from the storage position into the use position, when a water supply of the washbasin is activated.

17. The aircraft according to claim 10, wherein the hand treatment device further comprises:

a fluid supply device adapted for providing at least one of water and a disinfectant,

wherein the fluid supply device comprises a spray device, which is adapted for supplying the at least one of the water and the disinfectant into the hand insertion section, such that at least one of the user'"'"'s hands and the hand treatment chamber are at least one of cleaned and disinfected.

18. The aircraft according to claim 10, wherein at least one air inlet opening is arranged on an inner wall of the hand treatment chamber, which at least one air inlet opening is adapted for providing at least one further airflow, such that the user'"'"'s hands are pushed by the at least one further airflow towards a center plane of the hand treatment chamber.

19. The aircraft according to claim 10, wherein the hand treatment device further comprises:

a second sensor for detecting a presence of the user'"'"'s hands in the hand treatment chamber,

wherein the airflow through the hand insertion section is stopped in accordance with a signal of the second sensor.

14. (canceled)