Fixture for a sink

• US 9,982,422 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2016
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2011
• 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, Moloney, Patrick Joseph William, Lesniowski, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Deery, Erin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ros, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US14/995,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20160130792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 4638, 4535, 4643, 4648, 4675, 4678, 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: E03C 1/01 for combinations of baths, showers, sinks, wash-basins, closets, urinals, or the like combinations of baths, douches, or the like, A47K4/00; cell-like units for special technical purposes E04B1/34869; panels adapted for locating conduits E04C2/52; ducts for installation lines E04F17/08
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8593 Systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A dual-purpose fixture for a sink or wash basin, incorporating both a water tap and a hand dryer. The water tap has a spout arranged to project over the basin of the sink, and the hand dryer incorporates two or more hand-dryer nozzles—at least one for each of a user'"'"'s hands. The left-hand nozzle is located on the left-hand side of the spout and the right-hand nozzle is located on the right-hand side of the spout, specifically so that the spout acts as a dividing partition between the two hand-dryer nozzles. This encourages correct usage of the hand-dryer. The fixture may be fitted to a sink or wall-mounted above the sink.

Claims

1. An arrangement comprising a fixture in combination with a sink, the fixture being fitted next to the basin of the sink and comprising a spout which projects over the basin of the sink, this spout comprising a water outlet which is connected to a water supply via a water supply pipe, the arrangement further comprising a hand dryer of the type which uses a high momentum air flow to strip the water from a user'"'"'s hand, the air flow being discharged through a nozzle on the fixture which is connected to an air supply via an air duct, wherein at least a portion of the water supply pipe is within the air duct.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, in which the nozzle is in a fixed position on the fixture.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, in which the air supply is configured to discharge air through the nozzle at an exit velocity in excess of 100 m/s.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, comprising a sensor for detecting the presence of user'"'"'s hands and an actuator for automatically dispensing water and/or discharging air in response to detection of a user'"'"'s hands.

5. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the nozzle is provided on a respective branch duct which extends laterally from the spout.

6. The arrangement of claim 5, wherein the nozzle on the branch duct spans 80-170 mm.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, in which the nozzle is connected to the air supply via the spout.

8. The arrangement of claim 7, wherein the water outlet is connected to the water supply via the spout.

9. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the nozzle comprises one or more elongated slits.

10. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the elongated slits are less than 1 mm wide.

11. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the fixture comprises two nozzles, arranged on two respective branch ducts, one extending laterally either side of the spout.

12. The arrangement of claim 11, in which the branch ducts are cylindrical.

13. An arrangement comprising a fixture in combination with a sink, the fixture being fitted next to the basin of the sink and comprising a water spout arranged to project over the basin of the sink, the water spout having a water outlet connected through the spout to a water supply via a water supply pipe, the arrangement further comprising a hand dryer for directing air onto the hands of a user, the air being directed through a nozzle, the nozzle being connected to a source of pressurized air via an air duct which in use drives the air through the nozzle at a speed exceeding 100 m/s, wherein at least a portion of the water supply pipe is within the air duct.

14. An arrangement comprising a fixture in combination with a sink, the fixture being fitted next to the basin of the sink and comprising a water spout arranged to project over the basin of the sink, the water spout having a water outlet connected through the spout to a water supply via a water supply pipe, the arrangement further comprising a hand dryer for directing air onto the hands of a user to dry them, the air being directed through a nozzle via an air duct, the nozzle spanning a width of 80-170 mm, wherein at least a portion of the water supply pipe is within the air duct.

15. A fixture for fitting next to the basin of a sink, the fixture comprising a water spout arranged to project over the basin of the sink, the water spout having a water outlet arranged for connection through the spout to a water supply via a water supply pipe, the fixture further comprising a nozzle arranged for connection to a source of pressurized air via an air duct, the nozzle spanning a width of 80-170 mm, wherein at least a portion of the water supply pipe is within the air duct.