Abstract:
A shower drying system directs air downwardly onto the walls, surfaces and/or shower curtain of a shower enclosure. In one embodiment, the air is heated. The movement of the air in the downward direction helps urge droplets of water on the shower surface towards a drain at the lower level of the shower enclosure. Remaining water on the surfaces is evaporated into water vapor that is exhausted from above the shower enclosure, thereby reducing mold and mildew.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/858,127, filed Aug. 17, 2010, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This invention relates to the field of bathroom fixtures and more particularly to a system for drying a shower area. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many homes have showers consisting of a shower head that directs water on a person who seeks to wash themselves. Many showers have at least three walls and either a shower door or a shower curtain, preventing water either directly from the shower head or indirectly from the walls or person from wetting areas outside of the shower stall. Even though the primary purpose of the shower head is to apply water to the person&#39;s body for wetting before soaping and for rinsing, it is difficult to prevent water from wetting the walls of the shower and, if present, the shower curtain. The water that wets the walls is of concern, in that, in many environments, the water accumulating, especially in corners, causes mold, mildew, fungus, etc. Furthermore, as water on the walls evaporates, it leaves behind any impurities such as iron, calcium, soap residue, etc, as deposits on the walls and, if present, shower curtain. This residue makes the shower look dirty, covering the shine of wall materials such as tile, glass, etc. Furthermore, the residue provides additional resistance to water flow downward towards the shower drain. During subsequent showers, the residue from previous showers leads to additional retention of water on the walls, thereby leading to additional buildup of deposits, until the walls are later cleaned using cleaning fluids that break down the deposits and rinse them away, often requiring the use of a bristle brush to free the deposits from the wall surfaces. 
     Early attempt for correct this problem and/or warm a person who is within the shower are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,128,161 to Marie Antoinette Hudon and U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,005 to Michael Khosropeur. Both provide warm air directed at the occupant of a shower/shower stall from the shower walls. It is unclear that moving air, even heated air, across a wet object (person) will indeed warm the wet object, but perhaps the air is heated to a very high temperature. As for the cleaning aspects, the heated air will increase the rate of drying of the water which was deposited on the walls of the shower during bathing. This may reduce mold and mildew, but has limited effect on reducing build-up of residue and may even increase the build-up due to faster drying not allowing the water to flow down the walls and out the drain. Excessive humidity caused by the rapid evaporation of the water from the walls of the shower may, lead to mold and mildew buildup in other locations in the bathroom and/or house. 
     What is needed is a system that will dry a shower area, reducing accumulations on the shower walls, floor and/or shower curtain while reducing humidity increases to other areas of the, for example, home. 
     SUMMARY 
     A shower drying system directs air downwardly onto the walls, surfaces and shower curtain of a shower enclosure. In one embodiment, the air is heated. The movement of the air in the downward direction helps urge droplets of water on the shower surface towards a drain at the lower level of the shower enclosure. Remaining water on the surfaces is evaporated into water vapor that is exhausted from above the shower enclosure, thereby reducing mold and mildew. 
     In one embodiment, a shower area drying system is disclosed including a first blower and a second blower. The first blower forces air downward into the shower enclosure from a ceiling above through an aiming device (e.g. louvers or nozzles) and onto surfaces of the shower enclosure, pushing water downwardly along the surfaces of the shower enclosure. The air also creates water vapor from evaporation of some of the water. 
     In another embodiment, a method of drying a shower is disclosed including providing a shower drying system that has a first blower, a device for aiming air from the first blower, and a timer switch. The first blower forces air downward into a shower enclosure from a ceiling above the shower enclosure through the device for aiming the air (e.g. louvers or nozzles). The air pushes water downwardly along the surfaces of the shower enclosure and also creates water vapor from some of the water evaporating. The second blower exhausts the air and the water vapor from an area above the shower enclosure. The method includes starting the first blower. The timer operates the first blower for a predetermined period of time. 
     In another embodiment, a shower drier is disclosed including a first blower and a second blower. The first blower receives air from a location external to the shower enclosure and forces the air through a heating element, through input ducting and through a device for aiming (e.g. louver or nozzle). The air is directed downward onto walls of the shower enclosure, pushing water downward along the walls and also evaporating some of the water into water vapor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a system of the prior art. 
         FIGS. 2 and 2A  illustrates a perspective view of a system a shower drying system. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a cross sectional view of a system a shower drying system. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a second cross sectional view of a system a shower drying system. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a plan view of a typical, integrated shower drying system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a system of the prior art is shown. A typical shower enclosure  10  is shown with a drying system  20  of the prior art. In general, a valve  16  is operated to control the flow of water from the shower head  14  in the direction of a person (not shown) who desires to become cleaner. Ideally, a stream of water flows from the shower head  14 , soaking the person, and then exiting the shower enclosure  10  through a drain  18  in the floor area. In reality, the water is often, at least partially, directed at one of the walls  12  of the shower enclosure  10 . Additionally, the water often reflects off of the person and onto the walls  12 , carrying with it mineral and soap that is dissolved in the water. 
     The drying system  20  of the prior art blows heated air during cleaning (to “warm” the person) and after the person leaves the shower enclosure  10 . Since the warm air is directed towards the central local of the shower enclosure  10 , air flow reaching distal sides of the shower enclosure  10  is minimal and results in a gradual drying of the walls  12  by evaporation. The evaporated water, instead of going down the drain  18 , enters the air around the shower enclosure  10  as humidity and, potentially, creates a mold and mildew issue in other parts of the containing structure (e.g. home). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 2A , a perspective view of a system a shower drying system is shown. A typical shower enclosure  40  is shown with a drying system  41  is shown. In general, a valve  16  is operated to control the flow of water from the shower head  14  in the direction of a person (not shown) who desires to become cleaner. Ideally, a stream of water flows from the shower head  14 , soaking the person, and then exiting the shower enclosure  10  through a drain  18  in the floor area. In reality, the water is often, at least partially, directed at one of the walls  12  of the shower enclosure  10 . Additionally, the water often reflects off of the person and onto the walls  12 , carrying with it mineral and soap that is dissolved in the water. 
     The drying system  41  blows heated air during cleaning, preferably after the person leaves the shower enclosure  40 , from an input ducting system  52  through adjustable louvers  42 . The louvers  42  direct warm air downwardly, pushing water droplets  13  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) in a generally downward direction towards the drain. The result is an improved drying of the walls  12  by both channeling the water into the drain  18  and through evaporation. Some of the water, instead of going down the drain  18 , evaporates and enters the air around the shower enclosure  10  as humidity. The humid air is evacuated from the central area of the shower enclosure  40  through a grill  44  and exhaust plumbing  54 . 
     The exhaust grill  44  is located in a place where it will receive the most humid air rising from the shower enclosure  40 . Likewise, the louvers  42  are located where air or heated air from the louvers  42  is effectively directed onto at least one wall  12  of the shower enclosure (or the shower curtain) to channel water from the walls  12  to the drain  18 . Any number of louvers  42  and exhaust grills  44  are anticipated, including one louver  42  and one exhaust grill  44 . in embodiments having exactly one louver  42  and one exhaust grill  44 , it is preferred that the louver  42  be positioned for aiming air at the wall  12  that receives the most deflected water (e.g., the water that is likely to contain dissolved soap, dirt, dander, etc. from the person using the shower). This is sometimes the wall in which the shower head  14  is located. 
     In some embodiments, the louvers  42  and/or exhaust grills  44  are mounted in a ceiling of the shower enclosure  40 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . It is anticipated that the louvers  42  and/or exhaust grills  44  are either integrated into the ceiling of the shower enclosure  40  when the shower enclosure  40  is manufactured or added later by the shower installer or, even after the shower is installed, for example by a home owner. 
     In some embodiments, the louvers  42  and/or exhaust grills  44  are mounted in a ceiling  59  of the bathroom above the shower enclosure  40 , as shown in  FIG. 2A . It is anticipated that the louvers  42  and/or exhaust grills  44  are installed into the ceiling  59  above the shower enclosure  40  when the bathroom is constructed or added later, for example by a home owner. 
     It is anticipated that the drying system  41  is controlled in any way known, including a simple on/off control switch (not shown), variable speed controls, push buttons for start/stop, separate controls for each blowers, etc. as known in the industry. In some embodiments, a humidity sensor  62  is integrated into the exhaust plumbing  54 . The humidity sensor  62  measures the amount of humidity in the exhausted air. In some embodiments, the blowers  56 / 58  and/or heaters  60  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) of the drying system  41  are started and operate until the humidity sensor  62  measures a specific level of humidity or a specific decrease in humidity. In some embodiments, there is a minimum running time to allow for evaporation to begin. For example, the blowers  56 / 58  and/or heaters  60  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) of the drying system  41  operate until the humidity sensor  62  measures humidity less than 50%. As another example, the blowers  56 / 58  and/or heaters  60  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) of the drying system  41  start, the humidity sensor  62  measures the humidity a few seconds after starting and the blowers  56 / 58  and/or heaters  60  operate until the humidity sensor  62  measures a decrease in humidity of 8%. 
     In another embodiment, a room humidity sensor  64  measures the humidity outside of the shower enclosure  40  in, for example, the bathroom. In this, the blowers  56 / 58  and/or heaters  60  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) of the drying system  41  run until a humidity that is within a specific range of the humidity measured by the outside sensor  64  is measured by the humidity sensor  62 . In this embodiment, the drying system  41  is started, then operated until the humidity within or about the shower enclosure  40  approaches the humidity outside of the shower enclosure  40 . This accommodates operation in a building that is not climate controlled, in which it is possible that the normal humidity level becomes very high at times. Humidity sensors  62 / 64  are well known in the industry. There are many ways to control the operation of the shower drying system  41 , these being examples of such. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , cross sectional views of a system a shower drying system are shown. For brevity, the shower head  14  and valve  16  are not shown. Although shown in a closed loop, fully enclosed shower enclosure  40 , an equivalent system is anticipated for mounting in a ceiling  59  above an open-top shower enclosure as in  FIG. 2A . 
     The shower drying system  41  blows air or heated air downwardly over the shower walls  12 , urging the water droplets  13  towards the drain  18 . It is anticipated that, as air flows downwardly, the upper water droplets  13  will move downward and meet lower droplets, becoming heavier and eventually migrating downward to meet even more droplets  13 , until reaching the floor of the shower stall  40  and eventually the drain  18 . It is anticipated that some droplets  13  or moisture on the walls will not flow down the walls  12 , but that moisture or droplets  13  will dry faster due to the air flow and/or heated air flow. 
     In both  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a first fan or blower  58  blows outside air onto the walls. In preferred embodiments, the air is heated by heating elements  60  (as known in the industry) before reaching the walls  12 . Although it is preferred that the air be heated downstream of the first fan  58 , it is also anticipated that the heating element  60  is located upstream of the first fan  58 , although it is preferred to have the heating element  60  as close to the louvers  42  and/or nozzles  72  as possible. Furthermore, it is anticipated that in some embodiments, the first fan  58  and/or heater  60  is part of a home forced air heating system. 
     In both  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a second fan or blower  56  blows humid air from the shower enclosure to an exhaust vent (not shown), preferably outside of the building which houses the shower stall  40 . The first fan  58  forces air (or heated air from the heating element  60 ) through either louvers  42  ( FIG. 3 ) or nozzles  72  ( FIG. 4 ) over the walls  12 . The air, now laden with humidity from evaporating water droplets, then circulates upwardly though the center core area of the shower enclosure  40  and is drawn out through the exhaust grill  44  by the second fan/blower  56 . In embodiments in which the operation is automated by humidity sensors  62 / 64 , an exhaust humidity sensor  62  is interfaced to the exhaust plumbing  54  for detecting the humidity of the exiting air flow and, optionally, a room humidity sensor  64  is mounted outside of the shower stall  40 , for example on an outside surface of the shower stall wall  12  or on another wall of the, for example, bathroom. 
     There are many ways to aim/direct the forced air coming from the first fan/blower  58  onto the shower walls  12 .  FIG. 3  shows a first example of aiming/directing the forced air coming from the first fan/blower  58  onto the shower walls  12 . In this, the air is directed by blades  43  of the louver  42  as known in the air conditioning industry. It is anticipated that the blades  43  are adjustable at various angles, either together or independently, providing for directing the air over the desired area of the shower stall  40  (or shower curtain, etc).  FIG. 4  shows a second example of aiming/directing the forced air coming from the first fan/blower  58  onto the shower walls  12 . In this, the air is directed by nozzles  72 . In some embodiments, the nozzles are fixed in position while in other embodiments, the nozzles rotate or swivel on the nozzle base  71 , providing for aiming and directing the air over the desired area of the shower stall  40  (or shower curtain, etc). In some embodiments, the rate of flow through each of the nozzles  72  is controlled by a valve or baffle  70 . In this, each nozzle  72  is provided with a different percentage of the forced air from the first fan/blower  58 . The adjustable nozzles  72  are useful when there are restrictions on locating of the shower drying system  41  in the ceiling  59 , making some nozzles  72  closer to the walls  12  and some nozzles  72  further away from the walls  72 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a plan view of a typical, integrated shower drying system  49  is shown. The air (preferably heated by heating elements  60 ) is directed at the walls of the shower enclosure  10  by the louvers  42  or in some embodiments by nozzles  72  (not shown). Humid air from within the shower enclosure  10  is evacuated out the exhaust vent  44 . Although it is anticipated that the humidity sensor  62  is mounted at any location in the exhaust pipes  54 , in this example, the humidity sensor  62  is mounted just above the exhaust vent  62 . In this embodiment, optional lighting  47  is shown, for example, four sets of LED lights  47  or any known light emitting devices. 
     Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
     It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.