Developments in or relating to hand drying

• US 9,743,812 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2012
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: Courtney, Stephen Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US14/407,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20150164289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,902 Days
• Field of Search: 34 90, 34100, 34201, 4619, 4623, 392380, 392384, 392385, 8149, 8159, 134 56 R, 1341023
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/00 Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
• 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: A47K 2210/00 Combinations of water taps, soap dispensers and hand dryers
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/004 Nozzle assemblies; Air knives; Air distributors; Blow boxes F26B3/082, F26B13/104, F26B13/108, F26B21/006 take precedence

Abstract

An arrangement comprises a sink and a sink fixture. The fixture has a water spout arranged to project over the basin of the sink, the water spout having a water nozzle arranged for connection through the spout to a water supply. The fixture also incorporates an elongate air-knife discharge outlet connected to an air supply for discharging an air-knife onto a user'"'"'s hand. The air-knife discharge outlet is angled downwards so that the air-knife is directed down into the basin of the sink.

Claims

1. An arrangement comprising a sink and a sink fixture, the fixture comprising a water spout arranged to project over a basin of the sink, the water spout having a water nozzle arranged for connection through the spout to a water supply, the spout further comprising an elongate air-knife discharge outlet connected to an air supply for discharging an air-knife onto a user'"'"'s hand, the air-knife discharge outlet being angled downwards at an angle of 25-45 degrees from vertical so that the air-knife is directed down into the basin of the sink.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the air-knife discharge outlet is provided on an underside of the spout.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein two air-knife discharge outlets are provided on the underside of the water spout, the air-knife discharge outlets being spaced apart along a length of the spout.

4. The arrangement of claim 3, in which the water nozzle is positioned in between the two air-knife discharge outlets.

5. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein each air-knife discharge outlet is provided on a branch duct extending laterally from the water spout, the branch duct connecting to an air supply duct running through the water spout.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the air supply is arranged to drive airflow through the air-knife discharge outlet at an exit-airspeed of at least 80 m/s.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the air-knife discharge outlet comprises an elongate discharge aperture or elongate line of discharge apertures.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the air-knife discharge outlet comprises an elongate air slot or plurality of elongate air slots.

9. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the width of the slot(s) is less than 2 mm.

10. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein air-knife discharge outlet is at least 80 mm long.

11. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the air-knife discharge outlet is arranged in fixed position on the spout.