Foot dryer apparatus

A foot dryer includes a dryer housing having front and rear units defining a foot receiving cavity. A footrest is disposed in the foot receiving cavity for supporting a foot of a user. A blower is disposed adjacent the footrest and contained within the rear unit. The blower delivers air under pressure into the cavity. A holder supported by the housing above the user's foot may be used to dispense a moisture or fungus inhibiting agent downwardly onto the foot without the aid of the blower.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention relates to an improved foot dryer for preventing the
 formation of foot fungus.
 There have been many types and kinds of apparatus used to evaporate
 residual moisture from the feet of users and to facilitate the prevention
 of foot fungus. For example, see the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,413,862;
 1,658,489; 2,247,483; 3,711,958; 3,986,643; 4,878,602; 5,003,705;
 5,007,182; 5,130,551; 5,157,850; and 5,438,764.
 As disclosed in the mentioned patents, various foot dryers designs show
 that heated air may be blown under pressure onto the foot of a user and a
 fungus inhibiting agent may be dispersed to help prevent the formation of
 foot fungus, such as athlete's foot.
 While such devices may have been satisfactory for some applications, having
 a new and improved foot dryer which dries one's foot safely and
 effectively and then dispenses a desired amount of fungus inhibiting agent
 efficiently and conveniently is highly desirable.
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,746 describes one attempt to dispense a desired amount
 of fungus inhibiting agent. In particular, a foot dryer is described
 having a raised housing with a perforated top plate for receiving the foot
 of the user. A series of conduits within the housing is in fluid
 communication with a blower/heater and powder dispensing unit that dry and
 dispense respectively. More particularly, the device dispenses a metered
 amount of powder into one of the conduits. Air under pressure then carries
 the powder onto the bottom of the toes and foot via the perforation in the
 top plate.
 Though such a device could dry the user's foot and dispense a fungus
 inhibiting agent, such a device could not be readily and effectively used
 repeatedly as the dispensed powder could easily and readily accumulate in
 the apertures of the top plate of the foot dryer. Also, the dispensed
 powder would be blown into the air causing the surrounding areas around
 the dryer to be coated with the dispensed powder. Thus, not only would the
 apertures become easily blocked after repeated use of the dryer, but use
 of the device would also result in unnecessary and unwanted clean up
 activities after each use. Moreover, if one used the device straight from
 a shower or bath, excess fluids would accumulate in the apertures and form
 an undesirable paste with the powder that may inhibit effective use of the
 device and promote unwanted clean up.
 Therefore, having a new and improved foot dryer that dries feet safely and
 effectively and can dispense a fungus inhibiting agent without causing
 unnecessary and undesired cleaning maintenance is highly desirable.
 Moreover, such a new and improved drying device should be able to be used
 repeatedly over long periods without contaminating the areas around the
 device with dispensed powder.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 Therefore, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a
 new and improved foot dryer to dispense a fungus inhibiting agent in a
 safe and effective manner.
 Another object of the present invention is to provide such a new and
 improved foot dryer that may distribute heated air under pressure over the
 entire upper and lower portions of the foot of the user safely and
 effectively.
 Briefly, the above and further objects of the present invention are
 realized by providing a foot dryer having a dryer housing comprised of a
 front unit and a rear unit that defines a foot receiving cavity with the
 dryer housing. A blower mounts within the dryer housing for delivering air
 under pressure onto the top and bottom portions of the foot of the user in
 a safe and effective manner.
 A container or mist dispenser for dispensing a powder downwardly onto one's
 toes is supported by the rear unit of the dryer housing. The dispenser may
 include an agitator and control mechanism for selectively dispensing an
 amount of moisture inhibiting or fungus inhibiting powder directly onto
 the foot of the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a foot dryer 10 according to a preferred embodiment.
 The foot dryer 10 is adapted to distribute warm air over the foot 16 or
 feet of a user for drying purposes. Moreover, in order to help prevent the
 formation of foot fungus, the foot dryer may bathe the user's feet with a
 fine mist of a moisture inhibiting or fungus inhibiting powder or agent
 11.
 The dryer 10 comprises a dryer housing 12 having a base plate 13 for
 supporting a front unit 14 and a rear unit 15. The front and rear units 14
 and 15 may be removably secured together to facilitate cleaning and
 repair. The front and rear units 14 and 15 define a foot receiving cavity
 or space 20 having an entrance way 21. A partition or stop 26 may be
 disposed within the cavity 20 for helping one to position his or her toes
 properly within the cavity 20. The foot receiving cavity 20 may be adapted
 to receive one foot or both feet of the user. The cavity 20 shown in FIG.
 3 is sufficiently large to receive both feet of the user.
 In order to bathe the user's feet with a flow of warm or heated air under
 pressure, the dryer 10 may include a blower 30 and a heater 40. The blower
 30 and heater 40 may be disposed above the base plate 13 within the rear
 unit 15. As best seen in FIG. 2, the blower 30 and the heater 40 are in
 fluid communication with one another and in fluid communication with the
 cavity 20. A thermostat (not shown) may optionally be coupled to the
 heater 40 for controlling the temperature of the air under pressure. In
 this manner, the user can adjust the thermostat to cause the temperature
 of the air delivered under pressure to the cavity 20 to change between an
 off or ambient room temperature and a fully on or maximum temperature
 depending on the amount of moisture to be evaporated from the user's feet.
 An electrical cord with an electrical socket male plug (not shown) plugs
 into a source of electrical power for supplying the blower 30 and the
 heater 40 with electrical energy. The electric cord may be connected to a
 rechargeable battery pack (not shown) housed within the dryer 10. When not
 in use, the electric cord may recharge the battery pack allowing the dryer
 10 to have all the advantages of a portable, battery-powered device.
 The dryer 10 includes a holder or container, such as holder 18 shown in
 FIG. 3. Holder 18 is disposed above the user's foot for distributing a
 powder thereon. As shown in FIG. 3, holder 18 is supported within the rear
 unit 15 above the base plate 13 and the blower 30. In particular, the
 holder 18 is preferably disposed above an elongated footrest or frame
 member 23 supported by the base plate 13. Blower 30 is disposed adjacent
 one end of the frame member 23. The footrest allows a user to rest his or
 feet within the cavity 20 beneath the holder 18. Such a configuration
 advantageously allows a user to distribute powder directly onto the user's
 foot without the aid of the blower 30. By using gravity instead of forced
 air, the preferred embodiments disclosed herein allow for controlled
 powder dispensing. The powder which is dispensed is preferably a moisture
 inhibiting or fungus that inhibits the growth of foot fungus, such as
 athlete's foot.
 Holder or mist dispenser 18 may include a rate control knob 19 for
 selectively bathing the foot of the user with a fine mist of airborne
 particles 17 of the moisture or fungi inhibiting agent 11. After the user
 has dried his or her feet in the dryer 10, the user may select, via the
 control knob 19 a desired amount of the mist particles 17 to be dispensed
 from the dispenser 18. The dispenser 18 may be adapted to dispense the
 agent 11 within the cavity 20 in a short period of time between about one
 second and about one minute depending upon the amount of agent 11 the user
 desires to have his or her feet bathed with for moisture or fungus
 inhibiting purposes.
 As illustrated in FIG. 3, footrest 23 may be an elongated switch plate 23
 disposed above the base plate 13 for supporting the user's foot. Plate 23
 may include small perforations or apertures such as perforations P.
 Perforations P are preferably sufficiently large to allow air under
 pressure to flow upward through them, but small enough to help prevent
 moisture flowing down through them. Thus, any residual moisture that flows
 from the feet into a perforation P may be substantially held within the
 perforation P due to its small size. The air under pressure may then
 quickly evaporate the moisture.
 Switch plate 23 may be adapted to allow the user to activate and deactivate
 the dryer 10 easily during use. As shown in FIG. 3, the enlarged
 perforated switch plate 23 may be rockably mounted within the dryer
 housing 12 between the front and rear units 14 and 15. A waterproof
 micro-switch 24 having a depending spring member 25 may be mounted between
 the switch plate 23 and a lower portion of a bottom air baffle unit 27
 that is supported by the base plate 13.
 When a sufficient amount of force is applied downwardly on the switch plate
 23, the switch plate 23 moves pivotally downwardly to cause the spring
 member 25 to become fully compressed in engagement with an actuator 42
 forming part of the micro-switch 24. The complete compression of the
 spring member 25 permits the micro-switch 24 to be actuated, which in turn
 establishes an electrical signal path between the source of electrical
 power (via the electrical cord or rechargeable battery pack) and the
 blower 30 and the heater 40. The blower 30 and the heater 40 may respond
 to the electrical power signal to supply the cavity 20 with air under
 pressure to facilitate the drying of the user's feet in a fast and
 efficient manner.
 The lower air baffle unit 27 may be in fluid communication with the blower
 30 and heater 40. The lower air baffle unit 27 may include a curved ribbed
 frame member 28, which may have a plurality of evenly spaced apart louvers
 or ribs 31-33. The louvers 31-33 may be of different widths and sizes, and
 cooperate with the frame 28 and a back rib 34 to cause air passing into
 the frame member 28 to be evenly distributed into the cavity 20 as it is
 blown against the perforated switch plate 23. Air under pressure may then
 flow uniformly into contact and across the bottom portion of the feet and
 toes of the user when the user is depressing the switch plate 23
 downwardly with a sufficient force to activate the switch 24.
 In operation, the user places one or both of his or her feet into the
 cavity space 20 of the dryer 10 a sufficient distance to allow the toes of
 the user to engage the partition 26. The user then moves his or her foot
 backward to slightly space the toes from the partition bringing the bottom
 of the foot into engagement with the switch plate 23.
 The user then presses the heel of his or her foot or feet downwardly
 against the switch plate 23 with a sufficient amount of force to cause the
 switch plate 23 to move rockably downwardly to activate the micro-switch
 24. When the micro-switch 24 is activated, the blower 30 supplies the
 cavity space 20 with a uniform flow of air under pressure via the upper
 and lower air baffle units 14 and 27, respectively.
 If the user desires the drying process to be expedited, the user may
 increase the temperature of the air under pressure by adjusting the
 thermostat to a desired temperature. When the foot or feet of the user are
 dry, the user removes his or her foot or feet from the cavity space 20,
 which in turn causes the micro-switch 24 to move to its normally open
 position thereby removing the electrical signal from the blower 30 and the
 heater 40.
 In another embodiment of the present invention, the thermostat 40 may be a
 smart thermostat that automatically controls the temperature of the air
 under pressure. In this regard, ambient temperature air is delivered to
 the cavity during a first period of time. During a second period of time
 the temperature of the air under pressure is increased from the ambient
 temperature level to a maximum temperature level. Finally, during a third
 period of time, the temperature of the air under pressure is decreased
 from the maximum temperature level to the ambient temperature level. In
 this controlled manner, the temperature of the air under pressure may not
 be maintained at a sufficiently high level to cause the feet and toes or
 the user to be overly heated. Thus, the feet do not sweat which in turn
 allows the feet to remain dry for preventing the growth of fungi.
 In still yet another embodiment of the present invention, the activation of
 the micro-switch 24 may cause the dispenser 18 to create a fine mist of
 moisture inhibiting particles 17 after the drying cycle of the dryer has
 been completed. Such particles 17 remain in the dispenser 18 until the
 user activates the control knob 19 after the drying cycle has been
 completed. In this regard, at the end of the above-disclosed drying
 process, the user removes the pressure from the switch plate 23 causing
 the blower 30 and the heater 40 to be deactivated. At about the same time
 or simultaneously, the user rotates the control knob 19 to a desired
 dispensing rate allowing the particles 17 to enter into the cavity space
 20. The dispenser 18 operates for a sufficient amount of time of between
 about 0.5 seconds and about 5 seconds to permit bathing of the foot or
 feet of the user.
 In the event the user desires an additional amount of bathing to take place
 after the dispenser 18 has ceased operation, the user may press and
 release the control knob 19 which in turn will cause the dispenser to
 manually produce an additional amount of mist particles 17. This manual
 procedure may be repeated as often as desired to allow the appropriate
 amount of particle bathing to be accomplished in accordance with the
 desires of the user. Thus, the foot or feet of the user are advantageously
 dried in a fast and efficient manner for prompting healthy feet and if so
 desired the foot or feet of the user are further bathed with fine mist
 particles 17 of fungi inhibiting or moisture inhibiting agents to further
 promote healthy, fungi-free feet.
 As the particles 17 are dispensed within the cavity 20 at about the rear
 containment unit 15, the particles 17 remain in the cavity 20 and do not
 leave the dryer 10. Thus, the area surrounding the dryer 10 is not coated
 with the powder before, during or after the dispensing cycle.
 Considering now the construction of the dryer 10 in greater detail with
 reference to FIGS. 1-5, the mist dispenser 18 may include an outer powder
 pan or box 102 having a pair of side wall members 104 and 106, each with a
 set of integrally connected hollow support legs, such as support legs 108
 and 109. The support legs on the side wall members 104 and 106 may be
 slidably received and supported on a corresponding set of upright support
 post members (not shown) that are integrally connected to and extend
 perpendicularly upward from the base plate 13.
 As best seen in FIG. 3, the outer powder pan 102 may also include a pair of
 end wall members 113 and 115, respectively. The end wall members 113 and
 115 may be integrally connected to the side wall members 104 and 106 to
 form a generally rectangularly shaped open box-like configuration with a
 stair-step shaped base or bottom member 116.
 The integrally connected base member 116 may include an upper or forward
 floor member 117 and a lower or rear floor portion 118. The upper member
 117 may be rectangularly shaped and include a pair of centrally disposed
 generally overlapping circular shaped cutouts 121 and 122 that face the
 footrest 23 to help facilitate the dispensing of the inhibiting agent 11
 into the cavity 20. In this regard, the cutouts 121 and 122 may provide a
 direct passageway P from the dispenser 18 into the cavity 20.
 The lower portion 118 may be generally rectangularly shaped and support a
 vibrator 140. The vibrator 140 is preferably coupled by a cam member 149
 to a pair of agitator members 150 and 151 that respond to the vibrator 140
 by moving rapidly up and down in a rectilinear path of travel in the
 inhibiting agent 11. As the agitators 150 and 151 move up and down in the
 inhibiting agent 11, particles 17 may fall under the force of gravity into
 the cavity 20.
 The mist dispenser 18 may also include an inner powder pan or box 130 for
 holding a reservoir of the inhibiting agent 11. The inner powder box 130
 may be configured to be received within the outer powder box 102. The
 inner powder box 130 may have a pair of side wall members 134 and 136 that
 are integrally connected together at one of the terminal ends by a
 generally rectangularly shaped end wall member 132.
 A base or floor member 138 may be integrally connected between the bottom
 lips of the end wall member 132 and the sidewall members 134 and 136,
 respectively, to form an open container for receiving the inhibiting agent
 11. The other terminal ends of the side wall members 134 and 136 may be
 integrally connected to another end wall member 133 that flares outwardly
 and upwardly at an angle from the base 138. The other terminal ends of the
 side wall members 134 and 136 are preferably triangularly shaped and
 extend upwardly and away from the floor 130 to joining the end wall 133.
 As FIG. 4 shows, the end wall member 133 may have a centrally disposed
 hollow boss 159 having a smooth flat front face 191 and a smooth rounded
 top 192. The boss 159 may be sufficiently large to receive a portion of
 the vibrator 140 when the inner powder box 130 is received within the
 outer powder box 102.
 Floor member 138 may include a pair of spaced apart upright agitator
 support members 170 and 171. Each support member may be surrounded by a
 set of cutouts or slits, such as slits 174-176. Each of the agitators 150
 and 151 may include hollow spools or spindles 152 and 153, respectively,
 that may be slidably received on the respective support member 170 and 171
 to facilitate up and down movement in the inner powder box 130.
 The agitators 150 and 151 may include powder discs 156 and 157 at their
 respective distal ends. Each powder disc may include a corresponding sets
 of slots, such as slots 177-179. The rotation of the agitators 150 and 151
 permit one set of corresponding slits and slots, such as slit 174 and slot
 177, to be aligned to facilitate dispensing the inhibiting agent 11 at a
 given rate that is adjustable between a nominal flow rate when there is no
 alignment between slits and slots and a maximum flow rate when the largest
 slits and slots are aligned, such as slit 176 and slot 179.
 Holder or mist dispenser 18 may include a gear box 160 that is coupled
 between the control knob 19 and the agitators 150 and 151, respectively.
 The gear box 160 may be supported by a pair of spaced-apart gear box
 support members 172 and 173 that extend perpendicularly upwardly from the
 inner powder box floor 138. The gear box 160 may include a right gear
 member 161 and a left gear member 162 which are received onto end portions
 154 and 155 of the agitators spindles 152 and 153, respectively. The gear
 members 161 and 162 may be spaced apart and interconnected to one another
 by a central gear member 163, which is in turn coupled to the control knob
 19 by a center gear spindle 193.
 As the user rotates the control knob 19, the central gear member 163
 rotates the respective right and left gear members 161 and 162. As gear
 members 161 and 162 rotate, agitators 150 and 151 rotate about their
 respective support posts 170 and 171. The rotation of agitators 150 and
 151 allows their associated slots to be positioned relative to the
 respective slits disposed within the floor member 138, such as slits
 174-176, for aiding a user to dispense a fine mist of powder over the
 user's feet. Considering now the gear box 160 in greater detail with
 reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the gear box 160 may generally include an
 upper gear cabinet member 165 and a lower cabinet member 166 spaced apart
 from one another by a central gear member 163. The central gear member 163
 and the right and left gear members 161 and 162 are respectively disposed
 in the gear box 160 between the upper cabinet and the lower cabinet
 members 165 and 166.
 The lower cabinet member 166 may include an upright outer wall member 167
 for receiving gears 161-163. The upper cabinet member 165 may be disposed
 on the outer wall member 167 to form an enclosed space 190 with the gear
 box 160.
 The gear box 160 may also include a lower support plate 169 for supporting
 the low gear cabinet 166 relative to the inner powder box 130 via post
 members 172 and 173. Plate 169 may include a pair of holes, such as hole
 189, for receiving the inner powder box posts, such as post 172.
 In order to facilitate the free rotational movement of the gears 161-163
 relative to the agitators 150 and 151, the upper cabinet member 165 may
 include a set of spaced apart spindle holes 182 and 183, respectively.
 Spindle holes 182 and 183 are preferably configured to respectively
 receive the agitator spindles 152 and 153 so that the spindles rotate with
 little or no friction.
 A central gear hole 181 may be disposed between the spindle holes 182 and
 183 for receiving the central gear member 163 with relatively friction
 free rotational and up and down movement. The central gear member 163 may
 include upper and lower circular stops 184. A circular gear 185 may be
 disposed between the stops 184. The circular gear 185 preferably includes
 an outer set of teeth (T) that intermesh with like sets of teeth (T) on
 the right and left gears 161 and 162.
 As shown in FIG. 4, hollow post or spool member 193 may be centrally
 disposed and integrally connected to the stops 184, as. well as with the
 gear 185. The spool member 193 may be generally box shaped having an open
 terminal end 188 for frictionally engaging a corresponding central post
 124 forming part of the central knob 19.
 To further facilitate free rotational movement of gears 161-163 relative to
 agitators 150 and 151, lower cabinet member 166 may include another set of
 spaced apart spindle holes 190 and 195, respectively. Spindle holes 190
 and 195 are adapted to respectively receive agitator spindles 152 and 153
 with relatively friction free rotational movement.
 Another central gear hole 181 may be disposed between the spindle holes 190
 and 195 and may be dimensioned for receiving the central gear member 163
 for relatively friction free rotational and up and down movement. A
 control knob spring 197 mounts around the control knob post 124 and is
 held in a fixed position between a control knob flange 125 and the upper
 stop 184 of the central gear member 163.
 As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, vibrator 140 may include a vibrator motor 141
 and a vibrator gear housing 142. The motor 141 may be mounted to the floor
 of the outer powder box 102 and coupled to the cam member 149 for rotation
 about its longitudinal axis. As the cam rotates about its axis with a
 sufficient amount of force to cause inner powder box 130 to move up and
 down, agitators 150 and 151 move up and down in a rectilinear path of
 travel through the powder agent 11.
 FIGS. 1 and 2 show the front unit 14 in great detail. Front unit 14 may
 include a molded plastic construction having a right leg member 51 and a
 left leg member 52 which interconnect at one of their respective ends
 through an intermediate member 53.
 The rear unit 15, which FIGS. 1 and 3 show in detail, may include a right
 side wall member 61, a left side wall member 62, a rear wall member 63 and
 a top 64, having a front portion 65, a rear removable cover 66. The rear
 unit 15 may include a molded plastic construction except for the removable
 cover 67.
 Referring to the right and left side wall members 61, 62 in greater detail,
 each side wall member (such as side wall member 62) may have a set of
 spaced apart air vents 70-72 that permit atmospheric ambient air to be
 drawn into the blower 30 for distribution to the cavity 20. The side wall
 members 61 and 62 may be integrally connected at the rear periphery to the
 rear wall 63 to form an aesthetically pleasing, smooth rounded edge joint.
 The base or bottom edge of the rear air baffle unit 27 may be configured
 to interlock with the base plate 13 to form a substantially air tight
 seal. The interlock allows one to remove the air baffle unit 27 from the
 base plate 13.
 Turning in detail to FIG. 5, the base plate 13 may include a centrally
 disposed hole 90. Hole 90 is adapted to receive a cleaning tray 91. When
 seated in hole 90, tray 91 is disposed below the switch plate 23 for
 advantageously collecting and holding any residual powder particles, e.g.,
 particles 17, that may fall from one's feet through the perforations P.
 Once full, a user lifts or rotates plate 23 in order to remove tray 91 and
 empty it of its contents.
 While preferred embodiments are disclosed herein, many variations are
 possible which remain within the concept and scope of the invention. Such
 variations would become clear to one of ordinary skill in the art after
 inspection of the specification and drawings herein. The invention
 therefore is not to be restricted except within the spirit and scope of
 any appended claims.