Automatic hand washer and drier

• US 4,295,233 A
• Filed: 11/13/1979
• Issued: 10/20/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Hinkel, Lester H., Wolske, Lawrence E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Stuart S.
• Application Number:
  US06/093,906
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 4/558, 4/623-626, 4/628, 4/630, 4/631, 4/638, 4/643, 4/647, 4/648, 4/650, 4/653, 4/443, 4/448, 4/191, 4/DIG.7, 312/228, 52/34, 52/35, 248/146, 248/221.1, 248/221.3, 248/224.4, 34/90, 34/197, D23/49, D23/58
• US Class Current: 4/619
• 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: E03C 1/05 Arrangements of devices on wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like for remote control of taps remote control of taps or the like per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/14 Wash-basins connected to the waste-pipe
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/321 Siphon or angle valve covers

Abstract

A hand washing and drying apparatus having automatic means for providing hand washing material and hand drying air. The hand washing and drying operation is effected within a space defined by a bowl. The bowl may be recessed within the apparatus to facilitate an efficient use of warm water and warm air during the hand washing and drying operation. The hand drying air outlet may be mounted to the bowl for delivering the hand drying air directly thereinto. Similarly, a means for delivering hand washing material in the form of water may be mounted directly to the bowl. The automatic controls may include manually operable portions adapted to be manipulated by the user without substantially removing his hands from the bowl space. A soap dispenser may be mounted in the device adjacent the bowl space. The bowl may be provided with an upper arm extending at a forward angle for facilitated hand washing and drying. The apparatus may be arranged to be wall-mounted, with space provided below the lower front edge of the bowl permitting use thereof as by handicapped persons in wheelchairs as well as by normal users standing in front of the bowl. In a modified form, the drying air delivery apparatus and the washing water heating apparatus may be mounted to a rear panel of the outer cabinet of the apparatus. The device is arranged to be effectively self-cleaning in a simple and sanitary manner, such as in a restroom open to the public, permitting continued sequential use by a number of persons.

Claims

1. A hand washing and drying device comprising:

a bowl defining an upwardly and forwardly opening hand washing and drying space, said bowl including a rear wall having a downwardly facing portion and having an upper substantially planar narrow rim extending at a substantial angle to the horizontal for deterring persons from sitting on said rim, said bowl further having a bottom drain underlying said rear wall portion;

water supply means including a water heating tank mounted closely adjacent said rear wall of the bowl and having an outlet opening substantially vertically downwardly generally toward said drain through said rear wall portion inwardly adjacent said rim for supplying wash water into said space in a first direction away from said rim, said outlet being spaced above the lowermost level of the rim; and

air moving means including a blower mounted closely adjacent said rear wall of the bowl and having a horizontally elongaged outlet opening across said space through said rear wall portion adjacent said rim and at the level of said water supply means outlet for supplying hand drying air across said space in a second direction generally parallel to said rim.

2. The hand washing and drying device of claim 1 wherein said hand washing material supplying means includes a warm water supply having an outlet in said bowl rear wall portion adjacent said air moving means outlet.

3. The hand washing and drying device of claim 1 wherein said hand washing material supplying means includes a heating tank and heating means arranged to heat water therein for delivery to said space at a preselected hand washing temperature.

4. The hand washing and drying device of claim 1 wherein said air moving means includes an electric motor and power supplying connecting means are mounted to a rear portion of the device for removable plug-in connection to a conventional wall electrical power outlet.

5. The hand washing and drying device of claim 4 wherein said device covers the power outlet in the installed arrangement of the device.

6. The hand washing and drying device of claim 1 having an outer cabinet wherein the hand washing and drying space is recessed, whereby the hands may be partially enclosed during hand washing and drying, promoting an efficient use of hand washing material and hand drying air.

7. The hand washing and drying device of claim 1 wherein said bowl defines a rounded rearwardly recessed lower rear wall portion and said air moving means outlet is directed to cause the supplied air to flow downwardly through said space and be deflected by said bowl lower rear wall portion to pass upwardly along said upper rear wall portion and from an upper front portion of said space.

8. The hand washing and drying device of claim 1 wherein means are provided mounting the device with the lower edge of said rim at an elevation of approximately 37 inches (0.94 meters) above a subjacent floor level.

9. The hand washing and drying device of claim 1 wherein said air moving means outlet is at the upper edge of said rim.

10. The hand washing and drying device of claim 1 wherein a soap dispenser is disposed above the bowl in laterally adjacent relationship to said water supply outlet opening, and manually operable means for causing delivery of water from said water supply means outlet is mounted above said water supply means outlet and laterally of said soap dispenser.

11. The hand washing and drying device of claim 1 further including a cabinet for said device adapted for attachment to a vertical wall, said cabinet projecting laterally from said wall above floor level to provide a substantial clearance space below the lower front edge of the cabinet, said bowl being received within said cabinet, a drain conduit extending from said drain rearwardly immediately thereunder above said clearance space, and frontally accessible control means for said water supply means and said means for drying the user'"'"'s hands, said clearance space below the lower front edge of the cabinet, said frontally accessible hand receiving space and said control means being arranged to permit use of the device by a user seated in a wheelchair extending to under said cabinet lower front edge.

12. The hand washing and drying device of claim 11 wherein the control means for said water supply means and the control means for said means for drying the user'"'"'s hands are manually actuated and disposed on a forwardly accessible front portin of said cabinet.

13. The hand washing and drying device of claim 11 wherein said cabinet includes a rear wall and a hanger, means for mounting said hanger to said vertical wall, and means for removably mounting said rear wall to said hanger.

14. The hand washing and drying device of claim 13 wherein said cabinet further includes fingertip manipulatable means for removably said rear wall to said hanger.

15. The hand washing and drying device of claim 1 wherein said air moving means includes an air heating means.