Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a body dryer, and, more particularly, to a body dryer for use in a shower. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A shower is a place in which a person bathes under a spray of, typically warm water. Showers may have adjustable temperature, spray pressure and showerhead nozzle settings. The simplest showers have a swiveling nozzle generally aimed down on the user. More complex showers have a showerhead connected to a hose, which has a mounting bracket, and allows the user to spray the water at different parts of their body. A shower can be installed in a shower stall or be associated with a bathtub. 
         [0005]    Showering is common in western cultures generally due to the efficiency of using it when compared to a bath. A shower typically uses less water on average than a bath with 80 liters used for a shower as compared to 150 liters for a bath. 
         [0006]    After a shower the process of drying off is typically accomplished using a towel. However the drying off experience can be a difficult and strenuous for those who are physically challenged. If the arms or hands are disabled, even a task as simple as drying the body after a shower can be very challenging and embarrassing, since many times, a caregiver much provide help. 
         [0007]    Body dryers work somewhat on the same principal as hand dryers found in many public restrooms. However, the air dryers in public restrooms are only used for drying the hands and a full body dryer system can dry the whole body in minutes while a person remains in the handicap shower stall or bath area. The systems typically work by releasing warm air into the area, and drying the body by enhanced evaporation. 
         [0008]    Even though body dryers are especially helpful to the handicapped, it is also a feature that can be useful in traditional bathrooms. There are different types of body dryer systems and each has it&#39;s own installation instructions. Some are made to mount outside the shower area, which can be an inconvenience to users by having to move from one area to the other while still wet from bathing. These may also make it necessary for the disabled to require a certain amount of help, depending on mobility issues. These types generally blow warm air in one direction and make it difficult to dry easily all over without turning or moving. 
         [0009]    Another type is exemplified as the “Tornado Gentle Air Body Dryer” which is designed to be mounted directly inside the shower or near the handicap bathtub area. It has a body length air tube that may be installed in a corner of the shower to distribute air around the body to dry a person before exiting the shower or bath area. When the unit has been turned on, a person must stand or sit in the shower for drying. 
         [0010]    Issues with body dryers installed in the shower are the need for installation and the need to ensure that the electrical wiring is properly done. Another issue is how the unit is activated to ensure that there is not a shock hazard 
         [0011]    Other body dryers are configured to be used after a person leaves the shower. One type is typically installed on the wall having a hose that is used by the person to direct the heated air. Another type is one on which a person stands and the air is blown upward and around the body. Each of these take place after a person leaves the shower and may be a chilling experience at least until the drying unit can provide enough heat to offset any chill in the room. 
         [0012]    What is needed in the art is a. body dryer that can be used in the shower, and is controlled by electrical systems separated from the shower enclosure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The present invention provides a body dryer having a hand-held portion configured for use in a shower. 
         [0014]    The invention in one form is directed to a body drying system for use in a shower including a power unit configured to supply heated air, an airflow transitional part configured to be supported by part of a shower closure, and a hand-held air delivery nozzle. The hand-held air delivery nozzle is fluidly coupled to the power unit by way of the airflow transitional part. The hand-held air delivery nozzle is configured to expel the heated air. 
         [0015]    The invention in another form is directed to a method of drying off while in a shower, including the steps of: supplying heated air from a power unit; supporting an airflow transitional part upon a part of a shower closure; and delivering the heated air to a person in the shower from a hand-held air delivery nozzle fluidly coupled to the power unit by way of the airflow transitional part. 
         [0016]    An advantage of the present invention is that the drying air can be directed by the user while in the shower. 
         [0017]    Another advantage is that the non-electrical controls can be used in the shower to activate and deactivate the unit. 
         [0018]    Yet another advantage is that the unit is easily moved since nothing is attached to the shower. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tub/shower with an embodiment of a body dryer of the present invention partially draped of a shower curtain rod; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the body dryer of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a schematical representation of the systems of the body dryer of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a view with a close up of an interface of the air delivery nozzle with a hanger portion of the body dryer of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is another view of the interface between the hand-held air delivery nozzle and the hanger portion of the body dryer of  FIGS. 1 and 2   
       
    
    
       [0025]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an embodiment of a body drying system  10  for use in a shower  12 . The word “shower” is meant to broadly include what is traditionally referred to as a shower/tub arrangement as well as a stand-alone shower. 
         [0027]    Body drying system  10  including a power unit  14 , a hose  16 , an airflow transitional part  18 , a hose  20  and a hand-held nozzle  22 . Power unit  14  has a heating element and a fan that are electrically powered and may be electrically connected to a household electrical outlet. Hose  16  couples power unit  14  and airflow transitional part  18  so that warmed air can flow therethrough. 
         [0028]    Now, additionally referring to  FIG. 2 , airflow transitional part  18  serves several functions, among them the transfer of warmed air from hose  16  to hose  20 . Airflow transitional part  18  includes a sensor system  24  that allows for one of the ways in which body drying system  10  can be activated and deactivated. Airflow transitional part  18  additionally is shaped so as to be set across a shower closure, such as a doorframe, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or to be hung by an integral hook arrangement, which is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The hook may be used when a shower rod and curtain is part of shower  12 . 
         [0029]    Now, additionally referring to  FIG. 3 , power unit  14  may additionally be controlled by way of a timer  26  and generically a controller  28 . Controller  28  can control heater  44  and receives a signal from sensor  24  by way of a fiber optic circuit  46 . Timer  26  has a turn on and off function. For example, timer  26  and controller  28  can be set by the user to allow a delayed start and then a subsequent stop of power unit  14 . This may be embodied by the user setting timer  26  for a selected time, for example, to a three minute delayed start. The user then enters shower  12  and takes a shower, after three minutes have passed power unit  14  starts, thereby reminding the user to turn off the shower and dry off using hand-held nozzle  22 . After a predetermined time period, which may be fixed or programmed into controller  28 , power unit  14  deactivates. This arrangement has the advantages in that it times the shower experience, particularly for those in water shortage areas, and hurries those along that want to enjoy the warmed air from body dryer  10 . 
         [0030]    Now, additionally referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , hand-held nozzle  22  is shaped to deliver the warmed air in an accelerated manner so that the combination of warmed air and the velocity of the air removes water from the skin and hair. Hand-held nozzle  22  includes a magnetically influenced part  30 , fixed therein, that interacts with a magnetically influenced part  32  in airflow transitional part  18 , the interaction thereof having a dual purpose. Magnetically influenced parts  30  and  32  may consist of one of them being a magnet and the other being a ferrous item, or both of them may be magnets. For the ease of discussion hereafter they will be referred to as magnets  30  and  32 . The first purpose of magnets  30  and  32  are to help secure hand-held nozzle  22  to airflow transitional part  18  by way of the respective magnetic attraction. This purpose may work in coordination with an otherwise mechanical coupling or interaction between hand-held nozzle  22  and airflow transitional part  18 . The second purpose of magnets  30  and  32  are that magnet  32  is free to move to some extent in airflow transitional part  18 , with the movement being detected by sensor  24 . As hand-held nozzle  22  approaches a nesting arrangement with airflow transitional part  18 , then magnet  30  causes magnet  32  to move, which can interrupt an optical path  34 , and magnets  30  and  32  interact to help hold hand-held nozzle  22  in a nested arrangement with airflow transitional part  18 . 
         [0031]    Hose  18  has attached to it, or imbedded within it fiber optic circuit  46  that conveys an optical signal from sensor  24  to controller  28 . The sense of sensor  24  illustrated herein involves the braking of optical pathway  34 , but it is also contemplated that other sensor senses and types may be used, such as Hall sensors. In the best embodiment the inclusion of an entirely optical sensor  24  and fiber optics  46  eliminates an electrical circuit that is not needed close to shower  12 . The signal generated by the interaction of magnets  30  and  32  along with the interruption or completion of optical pathway  34  allows controller  28  to then turn on heater/fan  44  to start and stop the flow of warmed air to hand-held nozzle  22 . 
         [0032]    It is also contemplated that timer  26  may emit a sound rather than turning on/off power unit  14  to alert the user of the passage of time and the entire activation of power unit  14  may take place by the location of hand-held nozzle  22 . As hand-held nozzle  22  moves in a disengaging direction  36  magnet  32  moves in a direction  38  allowing light to travel along optical pathway  34 , which sends a signal down fiber optic circuit  46  to controller  28  to thereby turn power unit  14  on for the delivery of warmed air to hand-held nozzle  22 . Conversely, when hand held nozzle  22  is moved in an engaging or nesting direction  40  then the attraction between magnets  30  and  32  cause magnet  32  to move in direction  42  causing an interruption in optical pathway  34  and the information of this event is sent to controller  28  by way of fiber optic circuit  46 , which turns off power unit  14 . 
         [0033]    The present invention eliminates the need for towels, thereby saving money on the cost of them and the continual use of resources in keeping the towels clean. The present invention also is usable in the shower, without the need for leaving the enclosure to dry off. Also, the present invention introduces warmed air into the shower enclosure resulting in a quick dissipation of the humidity that might otherwise cause issues in the enclosure. Yet further, the present invention allows the user to direct the flow of air as desired to effectively dry the skin and hair. 
         [0034]    While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Technology Category: 1