Abstract:
Manual drying device and method uses motion applied to a foot pedal to operate an air handler. The air handler propels air toward a user&#39;s hands for drying.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to drying devices, and more specifically, to manually powered hand dryers.  
         [0003]     2. Background of the Invention  
         [0004]     Commonly employed methods of drying hands include using electric hand dryers, cloth towels, paper towels, and wiping wet hands on one&#39;s clothing. Although each of these methods is capable of achieving the primary function of drying wet hands, each of these methods also suffers problems that reduce its desirability.  
         [0005]     Electric hand dryers typically consist of an air handler mounted on a wall in a restroom. The air handler uses a fan to draw air through inlets and propel the air out toward a user&#39;s hands through an outlet. Electric hand dryers often also include a heating element in the path of the blown air to assist in the evaporation of water from the user&#39;s hands. However, the fan and heating element are usually powered via a connection to an AC power supply. With the environmental problems associated with the generation and consumption of electrical power, such as pollution, global warming, depletion of natural resources, and nuclear waste, as well as political-economic factors arising from increased dependence on foreign fossil fuel supplies, the use of natural resources to dry hands appears wasteful and irresponsible.  
         [0006]     Furthermore, often an electrical power supply is unavailable. For example, public parks or temporary facilities may not have available power to operate an electric fan and heating element. Additionally, power blackouts and brownouts have become increasingly common, making even an available electrical distribution infrastructure not always reliable.  
         [0007]     The use of cloth towels to dry hands presents other drawbacks. Labor must be devoted to maintaining a supply of clean towels, removing of soiled towels, and cleaning soiled towels for reuse. Cleaning towels for reuse typically requires the use of toxic or environmentally-damaging cleaning chemicals. Also, electrical washers and dryers are typically used in the cleaning process, again introducing the problems associated with the generation of electrical power using fossil or nuclear fuels. In addition, there is an ever-present possibility that the cleaning process failed to eliminate harmful bacteria or viruses left by a previous user, introducing the risk of infection through the reuse of a cloth towel.  
         [0008]     Paper towels, which are typically used once and discarded, also require labor to maintain a supply of new towels and the removal of soiled towels, and introduce other disadvantages related to the use of paper products. These disadvantages include the problems associated with the production of paper, including deforestation with its resulting reduction of oxygen production and carbon monoxide absorption, as well as socio-environmental problems arising from irresponsible logging among indigenous populations and communities. Additionally, the disposal of paper towels contributes to the challenges associated with landfills, including the nationwide dwindling capacity and environmental repercussions.  
         [0009]     Although paper towels are available using recycled materials, these products tend to be more expensive, and further require the use of energy and chemicals in the recycling process.  
         [0010]     Finally, simply wiping one&#39;s hands on clothing creates wet patches on the clothing. Wet clothing is both aesthetically displeasing and uncomfortable. Also, this technique introduces the possibility of transferring harmful germs from clothing onto freshly-cleaned hands.  
         [0011]     Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a device and method that provides all of the benefits of present drying devices with none of the drawbacks.  
         [0012]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and method for drying hands that does not rely on commercial electrical power generation.  
         [0013]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a device and method for drying hands without requiring continual maintenance.  
         [0014]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a device and method for drying hands with less negative environmental impact than prior devices and methods.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     The above objectives are achieved in a manual drying device and method.  
         [0016]     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a manual hand drying device is disclosed. It includes an air handler having an inlet, an outlet, and at least one blowing surface for moving air from the inlet to the outlet. It also includes at least one foot pedal coupled to the air handler so that a motion of the at least one foot pedal operates the air handler, whereby a positioning of the hands of an operator of the device at the outlet during a movement of the at least one foot pedal generates a flow of air onto the hands.  
         [0017]     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of hand drying is disclosed. It includes the steps of providing at least one air handler for blowing air from an outlet of the air handler, providing at least one foot pedal coupled to the air handler so that a movement of the foot pedal operates the air handler, moving the foot pedal by alternately positioning bodyweight upon the foot pedal and removing bodyweight from the foot pedal, whereby the air handler blows air from the outlet in response to moving the foot pedal, and positioning at least one hand proximate the outlet so that the blown air contacts the hand.  
         [0018]     The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a manual drying device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of components of a manual drying device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing components of a manual drying device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of components of a manual drying device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of components of a manual drying device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of components of a manual drying device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]     Referring now to the figures and in particular to  FIG. 1 , a manual hand drying device  10  is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. An air handler  12  blows air outward from an outlet  14 . A base  16  houses two foot pedals  18  that are coupled to air handler  12  so that the motion of pedals  18  operate air handler  18 . Pedals  18  are preferably spaced to allow an operator of device  10  to stand with one foot on each pedal  18  and connected so that a downward motion of one pedal  18  results in an upward motion of the other pedal  18  and the operation of air handler  12 .  
         [0026]     An operator may use device  10  by standing with one foot on each pedal  18  and positioning at least one hand near outlet  14 . Positioning bodyweight over one pedal  18  causes the pedal  18  to lower while the other pedal  18  rises, and thus a substantially continual movement of pedals  18  is achievable by engaging in a side-to-side rocking motion. Movement of pedals  18  drives air handler  12 , causing an air flow out of outlet  14  onto to operator&#39;s hand.  
         [0027]     Turning to  FIG. 2 , components of device  10 A are depicted in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Air handler  12 A blows air using the movement of blowing surfaces  22 , depicted as the blades of an electric fan  24 . Fan  24  is enclosed by a shroud  30  defining an inlet  20  and outlet  14 A.  
         [0028]     A shaft  26  is coupled to pedals  18 A and shaped so that a downward motion of one pedal  18 A causes an upward motion of the other pedal  18 A. In the present embodiment, it is preferred that pedals  18 A are constrained to substantially vertical motion, and that each pedal  18 A is coupled to shaft  26  via a connecting rod  30  pivotally connected to pedal  18 A at one end and rotatably connected to shaft  26  at the other end.  
         [0029]     Shaft  26  is coupled to a generator  28  via a pulley and belt assembly. Generator  28  is electrically coupled to electric fan  24  and also to a heating element  32 . Heating element  32  is positioned within the airflow of air handler  12 A to warm the air blown out outlet  14 A.  
         [0030]     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , components of manual hand drying device  10 B are depicted in a block diagram in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Pedal  18 B is mechanically coupled to generator  28 A so that a motion of pedal  18 B results in a generation of electrical power. A regulator  34  transforms the incoming electrical power as needed to drive fan  24 A and heating element  32 A as selected by control switches  36 .  
         [0031]     A 200 pound man may expect to generate approximately 100 watts by performing a rocking motion once per second on pedals  18 B each traveling 10 cm vertically per stroke. Commercially available electric fans typically operate using a fraction of this; however, heating elements such as for hair dryers and space heaters typically consume 1 kW or more. Although sufficient power may be generated by the operator&#39;s motion to warm the air to the operator&#39;s satisfaction, it may also be desirable to only operate fan  24 A until a sufficient electrical reserve is obtained to operate heating element  32 A at a preferred capacity.  
         [0032]     A battery  38  is coupled to regulator  34  to store unused electrical energy. When battery  38  is detected to store sufficient energy for a preferred operation of heating element  32 A, such as, for example, at 1 kW for 5 seconds, regulator  34  may couple battery  38  to heating element  32 A automatically, or in response to the operator&#39;s selection via a control switch  36 . An indicator  42  provides battery charge information to the operator to assist the decision of using heating element  32 A.  
         [0033]     For operators that are physically unable to operate pedals  18 B or simply choose not to, an external power supply  40  may provide power for fan  24 A and heating element  32 A. External power supply  40  may be solar, wind-turbine, commercial AC power, or the like. Battery  38  may also store energy provided by external power supply  40 , such as if external power supply  40  is a solar panel.  
         [0034]     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, components of manual hand drying device  10 C are depicted in  FIG. 4 . Air handler  12 B includes two pumps  44  coupled to pedals  18 C. Each pump  44  defines a chamber, and has a first valve  46  to prevent an egress of air out of pump  44  through inlet  20 A and a second valve  48  to prevent an ingress of air into pump  44  through outlet  14 B. Blowing surfaces  22 A of air handler  12 B define the top portion of each pump  44  and are connected to pedals  18 C so that a downward motion of pedal  18 C compresses the chamber of connected pump  44  and an upward motion of pedal  18 C expands the chamber.  
         [0035]     A traverse member  50  attaches to one pedal  18 C at one end and the other pedal  18 C at the other end. A pivoting member  52  is coupled to the center of traverse member  50  and supported by the base (not shown) of device  10 C so that a downward motion of one pedal  18 C compresses the chamber of one pump  44  and results in an upward motion of the other pedal  18 C which expands the chamber of the other pump  44 . An operator standing with one foot on each pedal  18 C and engaging in a side-to-side rocking motion would thus generate a substantially continuous exhaust of air from outlet  14 B.  
         [0036]     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , components of a manual hand drying device  10 D using a single foot pedal  18 D are depicted in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Generator  28  converts the rotational motion of shaft  26 A to electrical power to operate systems such as depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Pedal  18 D is coupled to shaft  26 A via sprague clutch  56  so that shaft  26 A only rotates in response to a downward motion of pedal  18 D. A spring  54  biases pedal  18 D in an upward position.  
         [0037]     An operator may use device  10 D by placing his foot on pedal  18 D and applying sufficient bodyweight to press pedal  18 D down, rotating shaft  26 A and operating generator  28 B. When sufficient bodyweight is removed from pedal  18 D, spring  54  returns pedal  18 D to an upward position.  
         [0038]     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , components of a manual hand drying device  10 E using a single foot pedal  18 E are depicted in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Foot pedal  18 E is rigidly coupled to shaft  26 B. Spring  56 A biases pedal  18 E in an upward position. Pump  44 A is connected to pedal  18 E and defines a chamber that expands and compresses in response to movement of pedal  18 E. The flow of air into and out of pump  44 A is controlled by valves (not shown) to ensure that an operation of pump  44 A results in air blown from the outlet (not shown) of device  10 E for drying an operator&#39;s hands.  
         [0039]     An operator may use device  10 E by placing his foot on pedal  18 E and applying sufficient bodyweight to press pedal  18 E down, compressing pump  44 A and causing the exhaust of air from pump  44 A. When sufficient bodyweight is removed from pedal  18 E, spring  54 A returns pedal  18 D to an upward position.  
         [0040]     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form, and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.