Electric hand dryer and towel dryer

• US 6,189,230 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1999
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oasis Global Limited
• Original Assignee: Oasis Global Limited
• Inventors: Huen, Hing Wah
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/348,465
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 34/60, 34/90, 34/91, 341/04, 342/02, 342/09, 342/10, 342/33, 346/19, 346/21, 392/380, 392/382, 392/384, 223/52, 223/63, 223/67
• US Class Current: 34/90
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/06 combined with means for drying towels A47K10/30 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

An electric hand and towel dryer includes an enclosure having an inlet and first, second, and third outlets for heated air. A tube associated with the second and third outlets connects to opposed air outlets in the enclosure. A blower unit incorporates a heating element, a motor, and a fan located inside a first chamber of the enclosure for generating a hot air stream. The stream selectively exits the enclosure through the first outlet or the second and third outlets. A folding blind controls the flow of the hot air through the first or second and third outlets for respectively drying hands or a towel supported on the hanger.

Claims

1. An electric hand and towel dryer comprising:

an enclosure having an air inlet and first and second chambers, the air inlet being in communication with the first chamber;

a heater, a motor, and a fan driven by the motor, located in the first chamber, for drawing air into the enclosure, heating the air, and discharging the air heated by the heater into the second chamber;

a partition including an internal opening, the partition being located in and dividing the second chamber into a front chamber and a rear chamber, the front and rear chambers communicating through the internal opening;

a first air outlet in the enclosure in the front chamber for discharging air heated by the heater;

opposed second and third air outlets in the rear chamber;

a tube connected to the enclosure, extending between and providing an air flow path between the second and third air outlets, the tube including plurality of holes in the tube and located between the second and third air outlets; and

a manually movable operator movable between positions alternatively blocking flow of air heated by the heater through the first outlet and through the internal opening.

2. The electric hand and towel dryer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first air outlet is coaxial with the motor and the fan.

3. The electric hand and towel dryer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the manually movable operator is located in the front chamber between the first air outlet and the fan.

4. The electric hand and towel dryer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the manually movable operator is a folding blind.

5. The electric hand and towel dryer as claimed in claim 4, including an external knob located on the enclosure for actuating the manually movable operator.

6. The electric hand and towel dryer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the folding blind includes a plurality of slats for blocking the flow of air through the first air outlet, one of the slats selectively blocking the flow of air through the internal opening in the partition.

7. The electric hand and towel dryer as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of the slats is independently hingedly connected to the enclosure and including links connecting pairs of slats for manual movement of the folding blind between positions.

8. The electric hand and towel dryer as claimed in claim 7, including an external knob having a link connected to one of the slats, the knob being located on the enclosure for manual movement of the folding blind between positions.