STERILIZING HAND DRYER

• US 3,667,134 A
• Filed: 09/14/1970
• Issued: 06/06/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas Rockson
• Original Assignee: Thomas Rockson
• Inventors: Rockson, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Matteson, Jr., Frederick L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramey, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US05/071,985
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 34/80,81,90,91,100,202,219,224,225,60,68,243 128/256 21/91,92,93,101,102 219/369,370
• US Class Current: 34/60
• 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: A61L 2/0047 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

An electrical hand dryer apparatus for sterilizing the user'"'"''"'"'s hands, having a closed compartment and including a blower for recirculating a volume of air past a chamber in which the user inserts his hands. The drying apparatus includes germicidal lamps for sterilizing the air and a means for heating the air while it is being recirculated. The apparatus also includes moisture absorbing rods for drying the air.

Claims

1. A sterilizing, air drying apparatus, comprising;

a hand receiving compartment having at least one aperture provided therein for receiving a body limb, an air storage compartment coupled to and disposed adjacent said hand receiving compartment, air blower means for recirculating air between said hand receiving compartment and said air storage compartment, a first sterilizing lamp disposed within said air storage compartment, a second sterilizing lamp disposed within said hand receiving compartment, and heater meAns disposed in the path of said recirculating air for heating the air.

2. The sterilizing air drying apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said air blower means comprises;

a tangential blower having its input coupled to said hand receiving compartment and its exhaust coupled to said air storage compartment, and an electric motor coupled to said tangential blower for providing rotation thereto.

3. The sterilizing air drying apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said air blower means additionally comprises a motor storage compartment including external ventilation means, said storage compartment being isolated from said hand receiving compartment and said air compartment.

4. The sterilizing air drying apparatus as recited in claim 3 additionally comprising air dryer means disposed in said air path for removing moisture from the air.

5. The sterilizing air drying apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said air dryer means comprises at least one ascarite rod secured within said air storage compartment.

6. The sterilizing air drying apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said air dryer means comprises at least one silica gel rod secured within said air storage compartment.

7. The sterilizing, hand drying apparatus as recited in claim 4 further comprising a slidable cover disposed within said hand receiving compartment behind said aperture, and having a slidable control knob affixed to said cover and extending outwardly through said hand receiving compartment for changing the position of said cover with respect to said aperture and thereby opening and closing said aperture.

8. The sterilizing air drying apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said hand receiving compartment additionally comprises a transparent wall for providing visual access to said hand receiving compartment.

9. The sterilizing air drying apparatus as recited in claim 8 additionally comprising proximity control means disposed within said hand receiving compartment and electrically coupled to the input of said air blower means.