US3766397A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sterilizing hand dryer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-04-12
•
Granted: 1973-10-16
•
Expires: 1992-04-12
Abstract
Abstract An electric hand dryer comprising a cabinet having a pair of circular openings provided in the front surface thereof for receiving the user''s arms and hands, a sterilizing air bath chamber into which the arms and hands of the user are inserted, and through which sterilized, heated air is circulated for drying the hands of the user, a sterilization chamber in which a plurality of horizontally-disposed air baffles and germicidal lamps are disposed for sterilizing the air, and a pair of air blowers for forcing air into and out of the sterilization chamber and into the air bath chamber for drying the user''s hands with the sterilized air. An air filter is provided for filtering the air drawn into the sterilizing chamber from outside the cabinet.
Inventors
- 👤 T Rockson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:31
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47K; A47K10/00; A47K10/48; A61; A61L; A61L2/00; A61L2/02; A61L2/08; A61L2/10; A61L9/00; A61L9/16; A61L9/18; A61L9/20; A61L2103/00; A61L2103/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A sterilizing, hand dryer, comprising: a housing, including a first hand-receiving compartment having at least one aperture provided therein for receiving a body limb, and an air sterilization compartment, coupled to and disposed adjacent said hand-receiving compartment for sterilizing air; air blower means, disposed within said housing for circulating air from outside said housing through said air sterilization compartment; a plurality of horizontally-disposed, vertically spaced-apart baffle members, disposed in said aIr sterilization compartment, for providing a horizontal and vertical path through said sterilization compartment; a plurality of sterilizing lamps, disposed adjacent said baffle members in said sterilization compartment, for sterilizing the air circulating through said sterilization compartment; at least one additional sterilizing lamp, disposed within said hand-receiving compartment, for sterilizing air flowing through said compartment; and heater means, disposed between said sterilization compartment and said hand-receiving compartment, for heating air circulating from said sterilization compartment to said handreceiving compartment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A sterilizing, hand dryer, comprising: a housing, including a first hand-receiving compartment having at least one aperture provided therein for receiving a body limb, and an air sterilization compartment, coupled to and disposed adjacent said hand-receiving compartment for sterilizing air; air blower means, disposed within said housing for circulating air from outside said housing through said air sterilization compartment; a plurality of horizontally-disposed, vertically spaced-apart baffle members, disposed in said aIr sterilization compartment, for providing a horizontal and vertical path through said sterilization compartment; a plurality of sterilizing lamps, disposed adjacent said baffle members in said sterilization compartment, for sterilizing the air circulating through said sterilization compartment; at least one additional sterilizing lamp, disposed within said hand-receiving compartment, for sterilizing air flowing through said compartment; and heater means, disposed between said sterilization compartment and said hand-receiving compartment, for heating air circulating from said sterilization compartment to said handreceiving compartment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
106 words
The sterilizing hand dryer as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises an air inlet opening, disposed adjacent and coupled to said sterilization compartment, a first air outlet opening coupled to said sterilization compartment, and a second air outlet opening disposed adjacent and coupled to said hand-receiving compartment, and wherein said blower means comprises a first air blower disposed adjacent said air intake opening for drawing air in through said opening and forcing the air into said sterilization compartment, and a second air blower, disposed between said sterilization compartment and said hand-receiving compartment for forcing air from said sterilization compartment into said hand-receiving compartment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The sterilizing hand dryer as recited in claim 2, further comprising heating means, disposed adjacent said second air blower between said sterilizing compartment and said hand-receiving compartment, for heating the air forced from said sterilization compartment to said hand-receiving compartment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The sterilizing hand dryer as recited in claim 3, further comprising filter means, disposed between said first air blower and said sterilizing compartment, for filtering air drawn from outside said housing into said sterilization compartment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The sterilizing hand dryer as recited in claim 4, further comprising switch means, coupled to said air blowers and said sterilizing lamps, for activating said lamps and said blowers when the user places his arms and hands in said hand-receiving compartment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The sterilizing hand dryer as recited in claim 5, wherein said switch means is a proximity sensor switch, disposed within said hand-receiving compartment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
The sterilizing hand dryer as recited in claim 5, wherein said switch means is a foot switch, comprising a planar member pivoted at one end, an electro-mechanical switch coupled to said sterilizing lamps and said blowers, and a spring member, disposed between said housing and said planar member, for coupling an electrical power source to said blowers and said sterilizing lamps when said planar member is depressed by the foot of the user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The sterilizing hand dryer as recited in claim 5, wherein said housing further comprises a transparent window, disposed adjacent said pair of apertures, for providing visual access to the interior of said hand-receiving compartment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The sterilizing hand dryer as recited in claim 5, further comprising a first air blower storage compartment, coupled to said sterilization compartment and said air intake opening, and a second air blower storage compartment and said hand-receiving compartment, for housing said first and second air blowers and separating said blowers from said sterilization and hand-receiving compartments of said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sterilizing hand dryer as recited in claim 5, wherein said air intake openings and said air exit openings in said housing are louvered.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2248618A
Cited
US3667134A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |