Body drying system

A body drying system is disclosed for drying the entire body of a user, or alternatively, the towel or robe of a user. The body drying system of this invention includes a rectangular housing with apertures formed within its forward face. The apertures are designed to allow for the passage of warmed air. The housing is specifically dimensioned to fit between a towel rack and the wall onto which the rack is mounted. Thus, the operator may stand in front of the apertures of the housing in order to dry himself or herself. Alternatively, the operator may hang a towel or robe on the rack in front of the apertures. Controls are provided for selecting the degree of heating, the starting time, and the stopping time of the drying system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a body drying system and more particularly 
pertains to dryer which may be positioned between a towel rack and a wall 
for drying a towel and/or the user's body. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of body dryers is known in the prior art. More specifically, dryers 
heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of drying off a person's 
body are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious 
structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs 
encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the 
fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,182 illustrates a body dryer which 
includes a platform for supporting the feet of the user. Another patent of 
interest is U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,900. This patent illustrates a body air 
dryer which includes a hot air dryer suspended from a ceiling and a 
flexible skirt which forms a cylinder surrounding the user. Yet another 
patent of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 3,621,199 which illustrates a body 
drying apparatus. The apparatus includes a duct for hot air having an 
outlet and a deflector arranged to deflect a stream of hot air issuing 
from the outlet. 
In this respect, the body drying system according to the present invention 
substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the 
prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for 
the purpose of drying the body of a user or drying the towel or robe of 
the user. Furthermore, the present invention provides for a body drying 
apparatus specifically adapted to be received between a towel rack and the 
wall onto which the rack is mounted. 
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for 
new and improved heaters which can be for drying a person or, in the 
alternative the persons towel or robe. In this regard, the present 
invention substantially fulfills this need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
dryers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an 
improved dryer construction wherein the same can be utilized for drying 
towels, robes, or the body of a person. As such, the general purpose of 
the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater 
detail, is to provide a new and improved body drying system apparatus and 
method which has all the advantages of the prior art dryers and none of 
the disadvantages. 
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a body drying 
system for blow drying the entire body of an individual after bathing 
comprising a towel rack mountable on the wall of a bath room with a 
horizontal towel supporting rail; a substantially rectangular housing 
halving a forward face, a rearward face, an upper surface and a lower 
surface, three oblong apertures horizontally oriented within the forward 
face, the rectangular housing dimensioned to be received between the towel 
rack and the bathroom wall onto which the rack is mounted; a set of 
louvers positioned within each of the apertures of the housing, the 
louvers of each set of louvers being horizontally oriented and pivotally 
mounted about horizontal axes for directing air in an intended direction; 
a heating element positioned within the housing adjacent the forward face 
for heating air passing there adjacent; a blower positioned within the 
housing intermediate the rearward face and the heating element, the blower 
adapted to direct air towards and through the apertures of the housing; a 
timing mechanism positioned within the forward face of the housing, the 
timing mechanism operatively coupled to both the heating element and the 
blower to effect their activation and inactivation; and a temperature 
control switch positioned within the forward face of the housing, the 
switch having settings corresponding to low, medium and high, the 
temperature control switch operatively coupled to the heating element. The 
rail may be located at an elevation beneath the upper surface or at 
another location so to allow a supported towel to depend to a location 
adjacent to the louvers. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved body drying system which has all the advantages of the prior art 
body drying systems and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
body drying system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and 
marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved body drying system which is of a durable and reliable 
construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved body drying system which is susceptible of a low cost of 
manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly 
is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby 
making such body drying systems economically available to the buying 
public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to dry a user after a 
bath or shower which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior 
art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some 
of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved body drying system. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to dry a towel or bath robe 
of a user. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide comforting 
warmth to a person after a bath or shower. 
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a body drying 
system for blow drying and the entire body of an individual after bathing 
comprising a towel rack mountable on the wall of a bath room with a 
horizontal towel supporting rail; a substantially rectangular housing 
having a forward face, a rearward face, an upper surface and a lower 
surface, three oblong apertures horizontally oriented within the forward 
face, the rectangular housing dimensioned to be received between the towel 
rack and the bathroom wall onto which the rack is mounted; a set of 
louvers positioned within each of the apertures of the housing, the 
louvers of each set of louvers being horizontally oriented and pivotally 
mounted about horizontal axes for directing air in an intended direction; 
a heating element positioned within the housing adjacent the forward face 
for heating air passing thereadjacent; a blower positioned within the 
housing intermediate the rearward face and the heating element, the blower 
adapted to direct air towards and through the apertures of the housing; a 
timing mechanism positioned within the forward face of the housing, the 
timing mechanism operatively coupled to both the heating element and the 
blower to effect their activation and inactivation; and a temperature 
control switch positioned within the forward face of the housing, the 
switch having settings corresponding to low, medium and high, the 
temperature control switch operatively coupled to the heating element. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, a 
new and improved body drying system embodying the principles and concepts 
of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 
10 will be described. 
The present invention relates to a body drying system 10 blow drying the 
entire body of an individual after bathing or for drying the user's towel 
and/or robe. The system includes a substantially rectangular housing 12 
having a forward face 14, a rearward face 16, an upper surface 18 and a 
lower surface 20 and side faces 22. In the first and prefered embodiment 
of the invention, three rectangular oblong apertures 26 are horizontally 
oriented within the forward face 14 of the housing. Within each of the 
oblong apertures is a number of louver elements 28, with the louver 
elements within each of the apertures serving to define a set 30. Each set 
of louvers is horizontally oriented with the louver elements pivotally 
mounted about parallel horizontal axes. Apertures are formed in the 
rearward face to facilitate the flow if air through the housing and to 
prevent overheating. 
The overall rectangular housing 12 is dimensioned and designed to fit 
between a towel rack 34 and the wall 36 on which the rack is mounted. The 
rack has a towel supporting rail 40 secured to the wall 36 at an elevation 
beneath the upper surface 18 and spaced from the wall 36 and receive the 
housing 12 therebetween. The rail 40 could be higher so long as a towel 
may depend therefrom to be situated in front of the apertures 26 for 
drying purposes. 
There are a number components positioned within the interior of the 
housing. The first component is a heating element 44. The heating element 
is positioned within the housing adjacent its forward face 14. The second 
component is the blower 46. The blower is positioned within the housing 
intermediate the rearward face 16 and the heating element 44. The blower 
is designed to direct air towards the apertures 26 of the housing. Thus, 
as is standard in such heating devices, the air directed from the blower 
46 is warmed by its travel around the heating element 44, and then exits 
by way of the apertures 26 in the housing. 
The housing and the apertures are dimensioned and proportioned such that 
the air from the blower generates a positive pressure build up within the 
housing before exiting. In this situation the housing acts as a plenum to 
force the air from the apertures. Outwardly flared walls 48 assist in this 
function. 
There are a number of elements positioned on the forward face 14 of the 
housing. The first element is a timing mechanism 52. The timing mechanism 
is operatively coupled by lines 54 to both the blower 46 and the heating 
element 44. The timing mechanism 52 serves to regulate the stopping time 
and/or the starting time of the blower and the heating element. The timing 
mechanism 52 includes a time setting device 56. The time setting device 
may take the form of an analog dial or a digital keypad. In either form, 
the setting device is used by the operator of the blow drying system to 
regulate its stopping time and or its starting time. 
The second element positioned on the forward face of the housing is a 
temperature control switch 58. The temperature control switch 58 is 
operatively coupled by lines 60 to the heating element 44. The switch 
includes bottoms for settings corresponding to low, medium and high heat. 
In the second embodiment, the three oblong apertures 26 formed within the 
forward face 16 of the housing are replaced by two rectangular vertically 
oriented apertures 64. Furthermore, the louver sets of the first 
embodiment are replaced by louver sets which are formed from a number of 
vertically oriented louver elements 66 pivotally mounted about a vertical 
axis. Thus, the air flow from any one of the apertures can be directed 
about the vertical axis. 
In the third embodiment of the device, the oblong apertures formed within 
the forward face of the housing are replaced by six circular apertures 70. 
The circular apertures are positioned in two columns of three apertures. 
Furthermore, the louver sets of the first embodiment are replaced by 
louver sets which are formed from a number of louver elements 72 extending 
radially outward from the center of each of the circular apertures. In the 
second embodiment, each set of louvers is rotatively coupled to one of the 
circular apertures. Thus, the air flow from any one of the apertures can 
be directed about a 360 degree angle. 
Shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is an alternate embodiment of the invention 
featuring a hand held nozzle attachment 76. The nozzle attachment has a 
forward 78 and a rearward end 80. It is adapted to be removable coupled to 
one of the apertures of the forward base of the housing of any other prior 
embodiments. A tapered air deflector 82 is at the rearward end 80 of the 
attachment coupled with respect thereto is a magnetic flange 84 for 
coupling the rearward end 80 to the forward base of the housing. The 
magnetic flange is preferably located around the periphery at the rearward 
end of the air deflector. At the forward end of the nozzle attachment is a 
handle 86. A flexible hose 88 is centrally located between the forward and 
rearward ends to allow the directing of the flow of air in any direction 
as determined by the user holding the handle 86. A central aperture 92 
extends the entire distance between the forward and rearward ends of the 
nozzle attachment. 
FIGS. 8 and 9 show yet a further alternate embodiment of the invention. 
According to the FIG. 8 embodiment, an air freshening attachment 94 is 
capable of being utilized. The air freshening attachment is removable 
coupled adjacent to one of the apertures of the hounding. The attachment 
has a central chamber with apertures 98 on the front and rear face 
thereof. An air freshening material 102 is located between the walls of 
the housing 96. A screen or mesh 104 covers the apertures 98 to retain the 
air freshening material in location. A bracket 108 is secured with respect 
to the housing and includes magnets 110 at its rearward faces for magnetic 
securement with respect to the forward face of the housing adjacent to a 
set of louvers. In this manner, warm air from the system may be directed 
through the housing 96 for being scented by the air freshening material 
102 through which it passes. 
In use, the housing is placed within a bathroom specifically, within the 
space defined by a wall and a towel rack mounted upon the wall. Thus, a 
robe or towel which is placed upon the towel rack can receive the warmed 
air supplied by the blow drying system of the present invention. 
Furthermore, a start time and stop time can be set by way of the timing 
mechanism and the time setting device. This can be done in such a manner 
that the operator of the system can wake up to or step out of the shower 
to a warm robe or towel. In use as a body dryer, an operator stepping out 
of the shower can turn the device on and stand in front of the apertures 
in order to dry his or her body. If desired, the operator can select a 
start time and or a stop time to facilitate his or her drying. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further 
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.