Portable drying system

• US 5,651,189 A
• Filed: 02/10/1995
• Issued: 07/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bodi-Blo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bodi-Blo, Inc.
• Inventors: Coykendall, Daniel A., Reynolds, Barbara Davis
• Primary Examiner(s): Sollecito, John M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/387,288
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 34/90, 34/91, 34/233, 34/97, 34/225, 34/553, 392/380, 392/381
• US Class Current: 34/90
• 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: F26B 21/001 Drying-air generating units, e.g. movable, independent of drying enclosure

Abstract

A system for drying a large object, such as the human body, in an effective and sanitary manner. The system comprises a blower secured in a housing constructed with a plenum assembly having a decreasing volumetric configuration for diffusing and projecting a sheet of air in a select direction at a relatively uniform velocity. The air is filtered before passing through the blower and is heated for the comfort of the user. In this manner a person can utilize the sanitary benefit of warm air drying instead of towels and the like.

Claims

1. A forced air drying system for removing moisture from a user comprising:

housing;

an air blower secured within fixed region of said housing;

a first plenum having a decreasing volumetric configuration secured within said housing adapted for receiving the discharge of air from said blower;

a second plenum disposed in flow communication with said first plenum having a decreasing volumetric configuration, said second plenum having angulated side walls terminating in an opening formed therebetween for the discharge of air therefrom;

said first plenum having an elongate, generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration of decreasing volumetric size along the length thereof for said air discharge reception and airflow momentum diffusion thereof; and

support means for facilitating the upstanding positioning of said housing relative to a user; and

a throttle plate secured in said opening for throttling the flow of air therethrough.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said blower comprises a squirrel cage fan adapted for discharging air therefrom into said first plenum.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing further includes a filter disposed in flow communication with said blower for filtering air passing therethrough.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said filter is of the electrostatic variety.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further including a heating unit for warming the air discharged from said housing.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said heating unit comprises an electrical resistance heating element disposed adjacent to said first plenum.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing is constructed with a pyramid shape.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said pyramid shaped housing includes three triangular sides and a generally triangular base from which said sides upstand.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 and further including a triangular shaped filter disposed adjacent said air blower in flow communication therewith for filtering the air flow therethrough.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said air blower comprises a squirrel cage fan and said triangular filter comprises an air permeable portion of a rear region of said housing for facilitating the ingress of air therethrough and the filtration thereof before discharge from said housing.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further including control means for actuating said blower, said control means being disposed on a frontal surface of said housing in the vicinity of said opening.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said air blower is of the electrical motor variety and of the type which produces an EMF, said blower being disposed in the region of the housing most remote to and distant from said opening and a user standing adjacent thereto, whereby the exposure of the user to the EMF of the motor is minimized.

13. A method for forced air drying the body of a user comprising the steps of:

providing an air blower;

providing a housing for said air blower;

securing said blower within said housing;

forming a first plenum with a decreasing volumetric configuration;

securing said first plenum within said housing in direct flow communication with said blower for receiving discharge of air therefrom;

forming a second plenum with a decreasing volumetric configuration, angulated side walls and an opening formed between said side walls for the discharge of air therefrom;

securing said second plenum in flow communication with said first plenum and within said housing and oriented relative thereto for discharge of drying air therefrom;

supporting said housing and said decreasing volumetric plenums for facilitating the use thereof in an upstanding position relative to a user; and

driving said blower to force air from said housing in the direction of the body of said user; and

said step of forming said second plenum includes the step of providing a throttle plate and positioning said plate in said opening for throttling the airflow therethrough.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 and further including the step of providing a filter for said air flow through said plenums and securing said filter in said housing in flow communication with said blower.

15. The method as set forth in claim 13 and further including the step of providing a heating unit for warming the air discharged from said housing.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15 and further including the step of securing said heating unit adjacent said first plenum.

17. The method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said heating unit comprises an electrical heating element.

18. The method as set forth in claim 13 and further including the steps of constructing said housing in a generally pyramid shape.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18 and further including forming said pyramid shape of said housing with three triangular sides and a generally triangular base and securing said sides to said base whereby said sides upstand therefrom.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19 and further including the steps of providing a filter and securing said filter adjacent said air blower in flow communication therewith.

21. The method as set forth in claim 20 and further including providing control means for actuating said blower, securing said control means on a frontal surface of said housing in the vicinity of a user positioned in the region of air discharged therefrom.

22. The method as set forth in claim 13 and further including the step of securing said air blower in the region of the housing most remote to and distant from the user whereby the exposure of the user to the EMF of the motor is minimized for safety reasons.