Drying apparatus

• US 8,347,521 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• 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: Churchill, John, Dyson, James, Gammack, Peter David, Hackwell, Paul Cedric Campbell, Nicolas, Frederic, Macnaughton, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/997,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20090113746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,407 Days
• Field of Search: 34/80, 34/85, 34/90, 34/95, 342/02, 342/18, 342/10, 342/32, 392/380, 392/381, 392/386, 211/70.6, 134/26, 134/57.R, 134/143, 134/155
• US Class Current: 34/82
• 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, a fan located in the casing and creating an airflow, and at least one slot-like opening communicating with the fan and arranged in the casing so as to direct an airflow transversely across the cavity. The slot-like opening has a maximum width which is no greater than 0.8 mm. This produces a very narrow, high velocity, high pressure airflow which is capable of drying an object efficiently and quickly and is suitable for use in a hand dryer.

Claims

1. A hand dryer comprising a casing, a cavity formed in the casing for receiving a user'"'"'s hands, a fan located in the casing and creating an airflow, and two slot-like openings communicating with the fan, one slot-like opening being provided on each of a front wall and rear wall of the cavity so as to direct an airflow transversely across the cavity, wherein the two slot-like openings have different widths and the maximum width is no greater than 1.0 mm, the different widths allowing a greater proportion of the airflow to be emitted from one of the two slot-like openings.

2. The hand dryer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of the two slot-like openings is at least 0.3 mm.

3. The hand dryer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the width of the two slot-like openings is no more than 0.7 mm.

4. The hand dryer as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the velocity of the airflow emitted through the two slot-like openings is at least 80 m/s.

5. The hand dryer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the velocity of the airflow emitted through the two slot-like openings is at least 100 m/s.

6. The hand dryer as claimed in claim 5, wherein the velocity of the airflow emitted through the two slot-like openings is at least 150 m/s.

7. The hand dryer as claimed in claim 6, wherein the velocity of the airflow emitted through the two slot-like openings is approximately 180 m/s.

8. The hand dryer as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the pressure of the airflow emitted through the two slot-like openings is at least 15 kPa.

9. The hand dryer as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pressure of the airflow emitted through the two slot-like openings is at least 22 kPa.

10. The hand dryer as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the two slot-like openings have a constant width along their length.

11. The hand dryer as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein one of the slot-like openings has a width which varies along its length.

12. The hand dryer as claimed in claim 11, wherein the width of the one of the slot-like openings is greatest at its center.

13. The hand dryer as claimed in claim 12, wherein the maximum width of the one of the slot-like openings is less than twice the minimum width thereof.

14. The hand dryer as claimed in claim 13, wherein substantially half of the length of the one of the slot-like openings has a width which is greater than the minimum width.

15. The hand dryer as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the two slot-like openings are opposed to one another.

16. The hand dryer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of the slot-like opening in the front wall of the cavity is smaller than the width of the slot-like opening in the rear wall of the cavity.

17. The hand dryer as claimed in claim 16, wherein the opposed slot-like openings are arranged such that, in use, the airflows emitted therethrough are inclined towards the innermost end of the cavity.

18. The hand dryer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opposed slot-like openings are arranged such that, in use, the airflows emitted therethrough are substantially parallel to one another.