STERILIZING HAND DRYER

• US 3,766,397 A
• Filed: 04/12/1972
• Issued: 10/16/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas Rockson
• Original Assignee: Thomas Rockson
• Inventors: Rockson, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lawrence, James W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Church, C. E.
• Application Number:
  US05/243,274
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 250/43,51,52,85,48 34/202
• US Class Current: 250/432.00R
• 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 electric hand dryer comprising a cabinet having a pair of circular openings provided in the front surface thereof for receiving the user'"'"''"'"'s arms and hands, a sterilizing air bath chamber into which the arms and hands of the user are inserted, and through which sterilized, heated air is circulated for drying the hands of the user, a sterilization chamber in which a plurality of horizontally-disposed air baffles and germicidal lamps are disposed for sterilizing the air, and a pair of air blowers for forcing air into and out of the sterilization chamber and into the air bath chamber for drying the user'"'"''"'"'s hands with the sterilized air. An air filter is provided for filtering the air drawn into the sterilizing chamber from outside the cabinet.

Claims

1. A sterilizing, hand dryer, comprising:

a housing, including a first hand-receiving compartment having at least one aperture provided therein for receiving a body limb, and an air sterilization compartment, coupled to and disposed adjacent said hand-receiving compartment for sterilizing air;

air blower means, disposed within said housing for circulating air from outside said housing through said air sterilization compartment;

a plurality of horizontally-disposed, vertically spaced-apart baffle members, disposed in said aIr sterilization compartment, for providing a horizontal and vertical path through said sterilization compartment;

a plurality of sterilizing lamps, disposed adjacent said baffle members in said sterilization compartment, for sterilizing the air circulating through said sterilization compartment;

at least one additional sterilizing lamp, disposed within said hand-receiving compartment, for sterilizing air flowing through said compartment; and

heater means, disposed between said sterilization compartment and said hand-receiving compartment, for heating air circulating from said sterilization compartment to said handreceiving compartment.

2. The sterilizing hand dryer as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises an air inlet opening, disposed adjacent and coupled to said sterilization compartment, a first air outlet opening coupled to said sterilization compartment, and a second air outlet opening disposed adjacent and coupled to said hand-receiving compartment, and wherein said blower means comprises a first air blower disposed adjacent said air intake opening for drawing air in through said opening and forcing the air into said sterilization compartment, and a second air blower, disposed between said sterilization compartment and said hand-receiving compartment for forcing air from said sterilization compartment into said hand-receiving compartment.

3. The sterilizing hand dryer as recited in claim 2, further comprising heating means, disposed adjacent said second air blower between said sterilizing compartment and said hand-receiving compartment, for heating the air forced from said sterilization compartment to said hand-receiving compartment.

4. The sterilizing hand dryer as recited in claim 3, further comprising filter means, disposed between said first air blower and said sterilizing compartment, for filtering air drawn from outside said housing into said sterilization compartment.

5. The sterilizing hand dryer as recited in claim 4, further comprising switch means, coupled to said air blowers and said sterilizing lamps, for activating said lamps and said blowers when the user places his arms and hands in said hand-receiving compartment.

6. The sterilizing hand dryer as recited in claim 5, wherein said switch means is a proximity sensor switch, disposed within said hand-receiving compartment.

7. The sterilizing hand dryer as recited in claim 5, wherein said switch means is a foot switch, comprising a planar member pivoted at one end, an electro-mechanical switch coupled to said sterilizing lamps and said blowers, and a spring member, disposed between said housing and said planar member, for coupling an electrical power source to said blowers and said sterilizing lamps when said planar member is depressed by the foot of the user.

8. The sterilizing hand dryer as recited in claim 5, wherein said housing further comprises a transparent window, disposed adjacent said pair of apertures, for providing visual access to the interior of said hand-receiving compartment.

9. The sterilizing hand dryer as recited in claim 5, further comprising a first air blower storage compartment, coupled to said sterilization compartment and said air intake opening, and a second air blower storage compartment and said hand-receiving compartment, for housing said first and second air blowers and separating said blowers from said sterilization and hand-receiving compartments of said housing.

10. The sterilizing hand dryer as recited in claim 5, wherein said air intake openings and said air exit openings in said housing are louvered.