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US4871900A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Body air dryer

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-08-26
•
Granted: 1989-10-03
•
Expires: 2008-08-26
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Abstract

Abstract A hot air dryer suspended from the ceiling which may be raised or lowered from the ceiling to surround the user a blow dryer with a drying current of warm air utilizing a flexible skirt which forms a cylinder surrounding the user when lowered, the skirt having interior chambers with one or more interior slots allowing air to escape into the interior of the cylinder.

Inventors

  • 👤 O'Neal Hickman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 09:42
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47K; A47K10/00; A47K10/48; F; F26; F26B; F26B9/00; F26B9/006

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim 114 words
A drying apparatus receiving hot air from a fan and heating element suspended from a ceiling comprising: (a) a mooring means suspended from the ceiling; (b) a header with a top cavity for receiving the exhaust of the fan suspended from the mooring means and defining at least one bottom cavity; (c) a flexible skirt having a top and a bottom, defining at least one flexible chamber which chamber defines a top opening and at least one side opening which skirt is suspended from the header and having the chamber top opening fitting over and around the bottom cavity; (d) a nozzle fitting over the side opening and directing the flow of air therefrom;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 114 words
A drying apparatus receiving hot air from a fan and heating element suspended from a ceiling comprising: (a) a mooring means suspended from the ceiling; (b) a header with a top cavity for receiving the exhaust of the fan suspended from the mooring means and defining at least one bottom cavity; (c) a flexible skirt having a top and a bottom, defining at least one flexible chamber which chamber defines a top opening and at least one side opening which skirt is suspended from the header and having the chamber top opening fitting over and around the bottom cavity; (d) a nozzle fitting over the side opening and directing the flow of air therefrom;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 121 words
A drying apparatus receiving hot air from a fan and heating element suspended from a ceiling comprising: (a) a mooring means suspended from the ceiling; (b) a header with a top cavity for receiving the exhaust of the fan suspended from the mooring means and define at least one bottom cavity; (c) a skirt having a top and a bottom, defining at least one chamber which chamber defines a top opening and at least one side opening which skirt is suspended from the header and having the chamber top opening fitting over and around the bottom cavity; (d) a nozzle fitting over the side opening and directing the flow of air therefrom; (e) a means for raising and lowering the skirt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 121 words
A drying apparatus receiving hot air from a fan and heating element suspended from a ceiling comprising: (a) a mooring means suspended from the ceiling; (b) a header with a top cavity for receiving the exhaust of the fan suspended from the mooring means and define at least one bottom cavity; (c) a skirt having a top and a bottom, defining at least one chamber which chamber defines a top opening and at least one side opening which skirt is suspended from the header and having the chamber top opening fitting over and around the bottom cavity; (d) a nozzle fitting over the side opening and directing the flow of air therefrom; (e) a means for raising and lowering the skirt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 56 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means for raising and lowering the skirt bottom comprises: (a) a line connected to the bottom of the skirt; (b) a pulley attached to the ceiling; (c) and wherein the said line runs through the pulley and downward so that by pulling on the line the skirt is raised.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: (a) a means for regulating the flow of air from the fan to the discharge of the nozzle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means for regulating further comprises a one-way valve inserted between the chamber and the header within the bottom cavity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 57 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising: (a) a hole defined by the header, (b) an air pocket defining a top opening connected to the skirt along the length of the skirt, the circumference of the top opening being in contact the header around the hole defined by the header. (c) a reversing switch for the fan.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 29 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a holding means for keeping the skirt in the raised position after it is lifted using the means for raising and lowering;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 64 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the holding means further comprises; (a) magnetic plates attached to the ceiling; (b) a stand connected to the bottom of the skirt; (c) a magnetically attachable plate attached to the top of said stand so that when the skirt is fully raised the metallically attachable plate contacts the magnetic plate to hold the skirt in the raised position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 45 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the invention further comprises: (a) a hose opening wherein the header further defines a hose opening; (b) a hose connected to the header and enclosing the hose opening; (c) an on/off valve fitted along then lenth of the hose.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the skirt forms an enclosure having an interior and an exterior and where in the nozzles open into the interior.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 23 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein there are four equally spaced chambers each having 4 equally spaced side openings equipped with a nozzel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 25 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the diameter of the enclosure formed by the skirt is greater than two feet and less than four feet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the temperature of the heating element is controlled by an adjustable thermostat.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 138 words
A drying apparatus receiving hot air from a fan and heating element suspended from a ceiling comprising: (a) a mooring means suspended from the ceiling; (b) a found header with a top cavity for receiving the exhaust of the fan suspended from the mooring means and defining at least one bottom cavity; (c) a cylindrical collapsable skirt having a top and a bottom, defining at least one chamber which chamber defines a top opening and at least one side opening which skirt is suspended from the header and having the chamber top opening fitting over and around the bottom cavity. (d) a nozzle fitting over the side opening and directing the flow of air therefrom; (e) a means for raising and lowering the skirt towards the ceiling. (f) a means for holding the skirt in the raised position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 138 words
A drying apparatus receiving hot air from a fan and heating element suspended from a ceiling comprising: (a) a mooring means suspended from the ceiling; (b) a found header with a top cavity for receiving the exhaust of the fan suspended from the mooring means and defining at least one bottom cavity; (c) a cylindrical collapsable skirt having a top and a bottom, defining at least one chamber which chamber defines a top opening and at least one side opening which skirt is suspended from the header and having the chamber top opening fitting over and around the bottom cavity. (d) a nozzle fitting over the side opening and directing the flow of air therefrom; (e) a means for raising and lowering the skirt towards the ceiling. (f) a means for holding the skirt in the raised position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 23 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein there are four equally spaced chambers each having 4 equally spaced side openings equipped with a nozzel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising: (a) a water proof operator switch having a thermostat attached to the fan and heating element running within the cylinder formed by the skirt.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

FR976332A Cited
US3115645A Cited
US3128161A Cited
US3419915A Cited
US4370543A Cited
US4747408A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-10-02 1993-04-03 1993-10-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-10-02 1997-04-03 1997-10-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-10-02 2001-04-03 2001-10-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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