Patent Publication Number: US-8112899-B1

Title: Wall-mounted body blow dryer

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/068,310 filed on Mar. 7, 2008, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a heated air blow dryer and, more particularly, to a heated air wall-mounted body blow dryer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     After bathing, one commonly uses one or more towels to dry their hair and body. These towels must be washed and dried, so as to keep fresh smelling, avoid mildew, and avoid piling up of dirty towels. Regularly washing and drying dirty towels consumes water, detergent, energy, and time. The price of energy and water has had an upward trend for decades and as people become more and more environmentally conscious, conservation of our natural resources has moved to the forefront of public awareness. 
     Heaters and blowers exist for area warming, hair drying, and hand drying although, these devices are commonly too large, too small, or too inefficient to adequately dry off a wet body after a bath, shower, being caught in the rain, or other water related activity. General heating devices are simply intended to warm a body or area and the drying effect is ancillary. Blow drying devices typically focus the force of the drying warm air stream to a particular part of the body and are cumbersome if used on larger areas. These devices have historically been used in industrial settings, public service areas, or the like and often require permanent installation methods, a large amount of space for set up and operation, and a high electrical power usage. Additionally, these types of devices have not been readily available or viable for an average consumer to obtain and utilize in a residential setting. 
     Various attempts have been made in the past to overcome these disadvantages and provide a means of drying a user&#39;s body. Among the relevant attempts to address these problems are several U.S. patents, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,269,071; 6,148,539; and, 6,962,005. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,577, issued in the name of Michaels et al., describes a body heater and dryer comprising a free standing tubular base unit having a plurality of air output openings of varying size and shape and a common type heating element and blower as used in a hand held hair dryer which provides a means of dispersing warm air to many areas of a user. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,484, issued in the name of Cohen, describes a body dryer comprising an elongated housing with a front mounted mirror and a plurality of internal heating coils. Air is heated within the internal periphery of the housing and a plurality of blowers is mounted to the front face of the housing blows out the internally heated air. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,650, issued in the name of Ross, describes a personal dryer comprising a cabinet style housing having an internal air conditioning apparatus which provides a means of expelling temperatured air uniformly or regionally through a front drying assembly. 
     Additionally, ornamental designs for hand held cutting and stripping tools exist, particularly, U.S. Pat. Nos. D 372,339 and D 382,950. However, none of these designs are similar to the present invention. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffers from one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which drying after a bath or shower can be accomplished without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention herein described substantially departs from the conventional disadvantages and fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and observed that there is a need for a full body blow dryer with a means of wall mounting and thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages. 
     To achieve the above objective, it is the object of the present invention to provide a wall-mounted body blow drying apparatus which provides a means for directing jets of heated air over a person&#39;s body for drying after a bath or a shower. The apparatus operates in a similar manner as a forced warm air hand dryer and comprises a plurality of circular air flow nozzles located along a front surface. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus comprising a center section, a left section, a right section, a plurality of internal ductwork, a plurality of nozzles, a blower, a heating element, a plenum, a blower speed and power dial, a temperature control dial, a display, a timer dial, a power cable, and a plug. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus comprising the left and right sections which are hingedly connected to the center section in such a manner as to enable the apparatus to deploy to a planar or partially planar state during use and fold to a compact and storable state when not in use. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of blower outputs on a front surface of the sections comprising individually adjustable air flow nozzles which provide a means of specifically directing forced heated air over a user&#39;s body. The nozzles are adjustable in an orbital manner and connect to the internal ductwork which supplies the heated air from the plenum. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a resistance heater, an electric blower, and a plurality of internal distributing ductwork which provides a means of producing and dispersing an amount of forced heated air. Air directed from the blower is heated within the plenum and is supplied to the nozzles as channeled through the ductwork. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide convenient controls including a temperature control dial, a blower speed dial, a settable timer, and a digital display which provide a means to variably control the temperature of the heated output air, the blower fan speed, and the timer. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a means of mounting the apparatus to a wall or similar planer surface comprising a plurality of mounting apertures on a back side of the center, left, and right sections. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a means of enabling the apparatus to be self standing comprising a plurality of leg units which removable connect to an underside of the center section and allow for use of the invention when a planer mounting surface is unavailable. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of powering the apparatus comprising a hard-wired connection to a standard household power circuit or by using a standard power cord. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of utilization of the wall-mounted body blow drying apparatus in which a person would stand in front of the dryer apparatus and slowly turn around, allowing the multiple heated forced air streams to dry their body in a similar fashion as a forced warm air hand dryer. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a wall-mounted body blow dryer  10 , in an open position according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a front perspective view of a wall-mounted body blow dryer  10  in a closed state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   b  is a rear perspective view of a wall-mounted body blow dryer  10  in an open state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a close-up view of a nozzle portion  27  of the wall-mounted body blow dryer  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an electrical block diagram of a wall-mounted body blow dryer  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5   a  is a front view of a wall-mounted body blow dryer  10  depicting an alternate floor standing configuration, according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5   b  is an upward-looking view of a wall-mounted body blow dryer  10  depicting an alternate floor standing configuration, according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  wall-mounted body blow dryer 
               20  center section 
               21  center section housing 
               22  control module 
               23  power/blower speed dial 
               24  temperature control dial 
               25  display 
               26  timer dial 
               27  nozzle 
               28  spherical member 
               29  socket 
               30  blower 
               31  heating element 
               32  plenum 
               33  power cable 
               34  plug 
               35  ductwork 
               36  temperature sensor 
               40  left section 
               41  left section housing 
               42  hinge 
               43  air aperture 
               50  right section 
               51  right section housing 
               60  mounting aperture 
               70  leg unit 
               72  leg post 
               74  leg aperture 
               80  heated air 
               90  floor surface 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 4 , and presented in terms of an alternate floor standing embodiment, herein depicted in  FIGS. 5   a - 5   b . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a wall-mounted body blow dryer (herein described as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides a means for directing jets of heated warm air  80  over a person&#39;s body to dry oneself after a bath or shower. The apparatus  10  operates in a similar manner as a forced warm air hand dryer and comprises a plurality of circular air flow nozzles  27  located along a front surface. Said nozzles  27  are orbitally adjustable and capable of specifically directing said heated air  80  over a person&#39;s body. Said heated air  80  is supplied by a resistance heater  31  and an electric blower  30 . The apparatus  10  comprises convenient controls including a temperature control dial  24 , a power/blower speed dial  23 , a settable timer  26 , and a digital display  25 . To use, a person would stand in front of the apparatus  10  and slowly turn around, thereby allowing the multiple heated forced air streams  80  to dry their body. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a front view of the apparatus  10  in an open state, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  comprises a center section  20 , a center section housing  21 , a power/blower speed dial  23 , a temperature control dial  24 , a display  25 , a timer dial  26 , a plurality of nozzles  27 , a blower  30 , a heating element  31 , a plenum  32 , a power cable  33 , a plug  34 , a plurality of internal ductwork  35 , a left section  40 , a left section housing  41 , a plurality of hinges  42 , a right section  50 , and a right section housing  51 . When fully deployed thereto a coplanar state, said center section  20 , left section  40 , and right section  50  form a panel approximately two (2) to three (3) feet wide and approximately three (3) feet high. 
     The air flow nozzles  27  are individually adjustable in an orbital manner allowing directing of heated air  80  in a custom fashion (see  FIG. 3 ). A flow of air is produced via the blower  30  which comprises a commercially available miniature fan or squirrel-cage type air communicating unit with an integral motor portion further comprising a tubular air outlet conduit which provides a tubular attachment means thereto the plenum  32 . Said air therefrom the blower  30  is heated therewithin the plenum  32  which comprises a sealed plastic or metal rectangular vessel comprising an internal volume of air sufficient to supply the apparatus  10 . The plenum  32  further comprises a heating element  31  to heat the incoming air to produce a flow of heated air  80  and a temperature sensor  36  to control an output temperature thereof. The temperature sensor  36  provides a controlling and safety means via a conducted signal thereto a control module  22  (see  FIG. 4 ). The plenum  32  provides a distribution means thereto the heated air  80  via a tubular attachment thereto a plurality of tubular ductwork members  35  affixed thereto and extending therefrom external surfaces of said plenum  32 . The ductwork  35  is made of molded plastic or metal tubing sections made using appropriately temperature-rated materials, so as to provide a conduit means thereto the heated air  80  being subsequently propelled thereto the center  20 , left  40 , and right  50  sections of the apparatus  10 . The center section  20  provides a vertical linear rotating attachment thereto said left  40  and right  50  sections via respective hinges  42 . The hinges  42  comprise stacked alternating and pivoting axial elements. Each hinge  42  also provides one (1) or more heated air apertures  43  which comprise integral round or rectangular openings, thereby allowing a flow of heated air  80  therefrom the previously described ductwork  35  to pass therethrough said hinges  42  thereinto the left  40  and right  50  sections. Although a single blower  30 , single heating element  31 , and a single plenum  32  are depicted here, it is understood that there may be multiple blowers  30 , heating elements  31 , and plenums  32  arranged therewithin the apparatus  10  based upon particular temperature and air volume requirements and as such, should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the apparatus  10 . 
     The center section housing  21 , left section housing  41 , right section housing  51 , air flow nozzles  27 , and the hinges  42 , are all envisioned to be made using molded temperature-rated plastic portions made using materials such as, but not limited to: acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polypropylene. 
     The apparatus  10  provides a plurality of operational user controls comprising a power/blower speed dial  23 , a temperature control dial  24 , a settable timer  26 , and a digital display  25 . The power/blower speed dial  23 , temperature control dial  24 , and timer dial  26  comprise common panel-mount rotary electronic selector switches located thereacross an upper forward facing portion of the center section  20 . The power/blower speed dial  23  provides a dual-function comprising an ON/OFF setting as well as a plurality of blower speed settings such as, for example, “L”-low, “M”-medium, and “H”-high. In like manner, the temperature control dial  24  provides a plurality of temperature settings such as, for example, “COOL” and “HOT”. In like manner, the timer dial  26  provides selection of incremental time intervals expressed in minutes such as, for example, “1”, “2”, and “3”. In use, the timer dial  26  is set thereat a desired amount of drying time according to a user&#39;s preference and automatically shutting off the apparatus  10  after a set period of time has expired. The power/blower speed dial  23 , temperature control dial  24 , timer dial  26 , and display  25 , are preferably combined thereinto a single electronic unit mounted thereto, and in mechanical communication therewith, a control module  22  located therebehind a front surface portion of the center section housing  21 , thereby providing a protective sealed enclosure thereto said controls  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26  and corresponding electrical and electronic components therewithin, being necessary for operation of the apparatus  10  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     Also located thereacross an upper forward facing portion of the center section  20  is the display  25 . The display  25  comprises a common light-emitting diode (LED) or liquid crystal diode (LCD) display panel providing one (1) or more illuminated lines of information such as, but not limited to: current running status, selected control parameters, remaining drying time, and the like. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , front and rear perspective views, respectively, of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The left section  40  and the right section  50  comprise a particular width being approximately one-half (½) the width of the center section  20  so as to fold inwardly thereupon said center section  20  forming a compact storage means as shown in  FIG. 2   a . During use, said left  40  and right  50  sections may be pivoted therearound the hinges  42 , thereby being angularly adjustable anywhere from a fully open position to a fully closed position based upon a user&#39;s preference. Said center  20 , left  40 , and right  50  sections each comprise two (2) or more molded-in keyhole-shaped mounting apertures  60  along respective rear surfaces, thereby providing convenient hanging attachment thereto a wall structure using common fasteners such as screws, nails, or the like. It is further understood that the apparatus  10  may be mounted thereto a wall using various means including methods such as, but not limited to: mating pairs of mounting brackets, multiple hook fixtures, various types of fasteners. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a close-up cut-away view of a nozzle portion  27  of the apparatus  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The air flow nozzles  27  comprise spherical members  28  which are rotatably mounted therewithin forward facing sockets  29  being integrally-molded therein front surfaces of the center  21 , left  41 , and right  51  section housing portions. Each nozzle  27  is individually manually adjustable in an orbital manner allowing a user to direct each nozzle  27  and corresponding jet of propelled heated air  80  in a custom direction. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an electrical block diagram of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  comprises a power/blower speed dial  23 , a temperature control dial  24 , a timer dial  26 , a display  25 , a blower  30 , a heating element  31 , a power cable  33 , a plug  34 , and a temperature sensor  36 . Electrical power is supplied thereto the apparatus  10  via a standard 110-volt power cable  33  and plug  34 ; however, it is understood that the apparatus  10  may be provided in both 110-volt and 220-volt models with corresponding plug fixtures  34 , thereby providing multi-voltage installations as well as European applications. Further, it is understood that the apparatus  10  may also be hard-wired directly into an existing home wiring system within a wall or similar structure without deviating from the concept and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the apparatus  10 . Said supply current is provided thereto the control module  22  which comprises a microprocessor-based operating system further comprising internal electrical and electronic components such as, but not limited to: one (1) or more microprocessors, one (1) or more printed circuit boards, embedded software, relays, and the like. The control module  22  receives conducted input signals therefrom the aforementioned power/blower speed dial  23 , temperature control dial  24 , and timer dial  26 , thereby configuring a subsequent drying cycle of the apparatus  10  based upon user preferred settings. Initiating of said drying cycle begins once the power/blower speed dial  23  is moved therefrom the “OFF” position thereto a particular blower speed as indicated thereupon the power/blower speed dial  23 . When the drying cycle is activated, the control module  22  provides various operational information thereto the display  25  as well as supplying an output current thereto the heating element  31  and the motor portion of the blower  30  per user selected parameters. The operation of the apparatus  10  continues until the amount of time selected thereupon the timer dial  26  expires. The temperature sensor  36  comprises a common thermocouple-type device which provides a continuous input analog signal thereto the control module  22 , thereby providing control of power thereto the heating element  31  resulting in a particular temperature of the heated air  80  therewithin the apparatus  10 . The temperature sensor  36  may also curtail the drying cycle for safety purposes in such an event as the heated air  80  therewithin the plenum  32  becomes excessively hot, thereby causing the control module  22  to cease output currents thereto the heating element  31  and blower  30 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , front and upward-looking views of the apparatus  10  depicting an alternate floor standing configuration, according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  is illustrated here being configured with a pair of leg units  70  comprising stabilizing “T”-shaped appendages extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom the center section housing  21  along a floor surface  90 , thereby allowing the apparatus  10  to be alternately placed upon said floor surface  90  in a secure manner. The leg units  70  comprise a pair of removably attachable fixtures providing attachment thereto the apparatus  10  via engagement of four (4) cylindrical leg posts  72  and four (4) corresponding leg apertures  74 . The leg posts  72  and leg apertures  74  comprise integral injection-molded features of the leg units  70  and center section housing  21 , respectively. The leg units  70  are envisioned being made using similar materials as the center section housing  21 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 , or alternately as depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
     The method of installing and utilizing the preferred embodiment of the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: mounting the apparatus  10  on a wall surface in proximity thereto a bathtub or shower using the mounting apertures  60  and appropriate mounting hardware; connecting the plug  34  thereto an electrical outlet or hard-wiring the apparatus  10  thereto an electrical circuit in accordance therewith applicable federal, state, and local codes; taking a shower or a bath in a normal manner; positioning oneself in front of the apparatus  10 ; pivoting and opening the left section  40  thereto a desired angle or flat to a wall surface; opening the right section  50  thereto a desired angle in like manner; selecting a desired air temperature using the temperature control dial  24 ; selecting a desired period of time using the timer dial  26 ; turning the power/blower speed dial  23  therefrom the “OFF” position thereto a desired blower speed, thereby setting a speed of the blower  30  and initiating the heating/drying cycle of the apparatus  10 ; adjusting the power/blower speed dial  23 , temperature control dial  24 , and timer dial  26  as desired to obtain desired drying results; adjusting a desired number of air flow nozzles  27  to direct a flow of heated air  80  thereto a portion, or portions of one&#39;s body; standing in front of the dryer and slowly turning to allow the multiple jets of heated air  80  to dry one&#39;s body in a similar fashion as a forced warm air hand dryer; resetting and/or shutting off the apparatus  10  by returning the power/blower speed dial  23  thereto the “OFF” position; repeating a drying cycle as described above as needed; turning off the apparatus  10  during a drying cycle, if desired, by rotating the power/blower speed dial  23  thereto the “OFF” position; and, compactly storing the apparatus  10  by closing the left  40  and right  50  sections thereagainst the center section  20  until the apparatus  10  is again needed. 
     The method of utilizing the alternate floor standing embodiment of the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following additional steps: lifting and removing the apparatus  10  therefrom a wall surface by disconnecting the mounting apertures  60  therefrom said wall, if previously installed thereto; inserting the leg post portions  72  of the leg units  70  thereinto the corresponding leg aperture portions  74  of the center section housing  21 ; placing the apparatus  10  thereupon a floor surface  90 ; utilizing the apparatus  10  as previously described to dry one&#39;s body after a bath or shower. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.