Patent ID: 6393717
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: A47K

Abstract:
A foot dryer device with diffused heated air flow system comprising:a molded bottom housing; a heater assembly; and a user support grate; said user support grate being constructed from rigid, non-heat conductive plastic having an outer support frame supporting a grating structure forming a number of diffused, heated air flow passageways and providing a user support surface of sufficient size and strength to support a user standing thereon; said molded bottom housing having a dome-shaped diffuser structure completely covering the top area of said molded bottom housing and having a number of air diffusion passageways formed entirely therethrough between the top surface of diffuser structure top and the bottom surface of diffuser structure top each having a diffuser passageway diameter less than said thickness between said top surface of diffuser structure top and said bottom surface of diffuser structure top, a bottom housing top opening sized to receive therein said outer support frame of said user support grate and defined by a top interior housing edge, a circumferential foot grate frame support ledge extending into an air space cavity, defined above said top surface of diffuser structure top and below said top interior housing edge, from an interior sidewall surface of said molded bottom housing, a user support grate retainer in mechanical relation with said outer support frame of said user support grate to maintain said outer support frame slidably positioned above said circumferential foot grate frame support ledge, and an air intake opening provided through said molded bottom housing into connection with said dome-shaped diffuser structure; said heater assembly including a fan having a fan blade for generating a fan air flow along an air flow path connected to said dome-shaped diffuser structure beginning with air flowing in through said air intake opening of said molded bottom housing and ending with diffused air currents exiting from said number of air diffusion passageways of said dome-shaped diffuser structure, an electric heater element positioned in said airflow path in a manner to add heat to said air of said fan air flow, a normally open, watertight momentary contact switch in power source controlling electrical connection with said fan and said electric heater element having an actuator positioned in connection between said molded bottom housing and said user support grate such that said weight of a user supported on said user support grate generates and maintains an actuating force sufficient to actuate and maintain said normally open, watertight momentary contact switch in said closed state supplying electrical power to said fan and said electric heater element causing them to operate.