Wall mounted electric air heating device for drying or warming a person

• US 4,857,705 A
• Filed: 09/16/1987
• Issued: 08/15/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Galaxy Machine Corporation
• Original Assignee: Galaxy Machine Corporation
• Inventors: Blevins, Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): Bartis, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US07/097,794
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 219/366-373, 219/374-376, 219/359, 219/361, 219/364, 219/363, 219/379, 34/96-101, 34/225, 34/243 R, 34/229, 34/233, 34/237, 34/239, 200/81.9 R
• US Class Current: 392/381
• 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: F24H 3/0411 for domestic or space-heating systems

Abstract

A wall mounted electric heating device for warming or drying a person standing in front thereof by directing a stream of air on the person includes an elongated vertically upstanding housing adapted to be mounted on a wall and having an upper blower portion housing a blower for generating a downward flow of air over a thermostatically protected electric resistance heating element into an elongated, closed-bottom vent portion having a front wall provided with an elongated, narrow, rectangular front vent opening which has a length corresponding approximately to the height of a person standing in front of the device. The vent portion is defined by flat front, side and rear walls which continuously converge symmetrically with respect to each other to form a downwardly converging air flow conduit having a rectangular cross-section which decreases continuously along the length of the vent portion to its bottom thereof to ensure uniform airflow outwardly along the entire length of the front vent opening. The energization of the heating element is controlled by a timer and an airflow responsive switch allows energization of the heating element only if the blower is operative. A curved air deflector is provided in the upper part of the vent portion to ensure sufficient air flow through the upper portion of the vent opening.

Claims

1. A device mounted to a wall surface for drying a standing person, comprising:

a housing having an elongated vertical vent portion and a blower portion connected to and positioned immediately above said vent portion, said both portions being at least partially defined by a single rearward wall and a pair of laterally converging side walls, said rearward and said side walls all being flat and extending continuously from the top of said blower portion to the bottom of said vent portion, said rearward wall being adapted to be mounted to a wall surface and defining the backs of said both portions and having lateral side edges which continuously converge symmetrically with respect to each other, said side walls projecting forwardly of said rearward wall with the lateral edges of said rearward wall defining the angle of convergence of said side walls, and with said vent portion being further defined by a forward side wall that extends from immediately below said blower portion to the bottom of said vent portion, said forward side wall in cooperation with said rearward wall and said lateral side walls defining a downwardly converging airflow conduit having a closed bottom and a rectangular cross-section which decreases continuously along the downward length of said vent portion, and a narrow elongated rectangular vent positioned in and through said forward side wall and extending substantially the length thereof;

an electric motor driven blower received in said blower portion and operable to generate a downwardly directed airflow into said vent portion, said lateral side walls each having an air inlet vent positioned adjacent said blower;

a port member positioned inside said housing substantially at the interface of said blower and vent portions, said member supporting said blower and having an upwardly directed opening in airflow communication with said blower for receiving said downwardly directed airflow, said port member further having a downwardly directed opening communicating in the upper end of said vent portion conduit for directing said airflow into said conduit; and

an electric heating element, positioned immediately below the downwardly directed opening of said port member, and operable to heat said airflow.

2. The device of claim 1, including a layer of insulation positioned adjacent an inner surface of, respectively, said rearward wall and said lateral side walls.

3. The device of claim 1, including a single air deflector positioned horizontally across the upper end of said rectangular vent opening, said deflector extending rearwardly into said conduit and being shaped and positioned in a manner so as to deflect a portion of said airflow outwardly through the upper end of said vent opening.

4. The device of claim 1, including a rectangular vane member positioned in said port member in a manner so that said vane member bends in response to said generated airflow, and a safety switch member positioned adjacent said vane member, said switch member being connected in circuit with said heating element and responsive to bending movement of said vane member, for operating said electric heating element in response to such movement.