Dryer

• US 7,946,055 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2006
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: Dyson, James, Churchill, John, Gammack, Peter David
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/997,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20080216343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,807 Days
• Field of Search: 34/80, 34/90, 341/04, 342/02, 342/10, 342/18, 342/24, 165/201, 68/3.R, 68/38, 392/380, 392/381, 134/26, 134/57.R, 2 1/6, 462/6, 462/3
• US Class Current: 34/80
• 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

A drying apparatus has a casing, a cavity formed in the casing for receiving an object, and a fan located in the casing and creating an airflow. At least one slot-like opening communicates with the fan and is arranged in the casing so as to direct an airflow transversely across the cavity. The slot-like opening is formed between opposing walls which are manufactured from a thermosetting plastics material. By manufacturing the walls of the slot-like opening from a thermosetting plastic material such as melamine, the walls of the slot-like opening can be molded economically instead of machined from metal. The thermosetting plastic material is dimensionally stable when moulded, thermally resistant and impact resistant.

Claims

1. A hand drying apparatus, comprising:

a front portion having an upper end, the front portion comprising, proximate to the upper end, a slot-like opening formed between opposing slot walls, wherein the opposing slot walls are manufactured from a thermosetting plastics material, and at least one upstanding member is provided between the opposing slot walls;

a rear portion having an upper end, the rear portion comprising, proximate to the upper end, a slot-like opening formed between opposing slot walls, wherein the opposing slot walls are manufactured from a thermosetting plastics material, and at least one upstanding member is provided between the opposing slot walls;

a cavity formed between the front portion and the rear portion, wherein the upper end of the front portion and the upper end of the rear portion are spaced apart to provide an opening into the cavity through which a user'"'"'s hands may be inserted; and

a fan, wherein

the slot-like opening in the front portion is in communication with the fan so as to direct a portion of an airflow generated by the fan transversely across the opening of the cavity in a first direction, and

the slot-like opening in the rear portion is in communication with the fan so as to direct a portion of the airflow generated by the fan transversely across the opening of the cavity in a second direction, different from the first direction.

2. The hand drying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front portion and the rear portion are formed from melamine.

3. The hand drying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the slot-like openings has a maximum width which is no greater than 0.5 mm.

4. The hand drying apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the width of each of the slot-like openings is at least 0.3 mm.

5. The hand drying apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the width of each of the slot-like openings is no more than 0.4 mm.

6. The hand drying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the slot-like openings has a constant width along its length.

7. The hand drying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one upstanding member is formed integrally with one of the opposing slot walls.

8. The hand drying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one upstanding member is shaped so as to minimise the introduction of turbulence to an airstream emitted through the slot-like opening when the hand drying apparatus is in use.

9. The hand drying apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one upstanding member has a tear-drop shaped cross-sectional shape.

10. The hand drying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one upstanding member is positioned a predetermined distance from at least one of the slot-like openings.

11. The hand drying apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one upstanding member is positioned no more than 10mm from at least one of the slot-like openings.

12. The hand drying apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one upstanding member is positioned substantially 2.5mm from at least one of the slot-like openings.

13. The hand drying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermosetting plastics material has antibacterial properties.