GB2108253A

GB2108253A - Dish dryer

Info

Publication number: GB2108253A
Application number: GB08129991A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter King
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-10-05
Filing date: 1981-10-05
Publication date: 1983-05-11

Abstract

A dish dryer comprises a generally horizontal surface (1) for receiving domestic utensils thereon, said surface having a plurality of apertures (2) therethrough, and means for supplying a current of heated air through said apertures for drying said utensils. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dish dryer This invention relates to a dish dryer. It should be understood that the term "dish dryer", as used herein, refers to an apparatus for drying domestic utensils such as crockery, cutlery, glasses and cooking vessels.

It is well known that the use of a cloth for drying domestic utensils results in the transfer to the utensils of dirt and bacteria from the cloth. On the other hand, leaving the utensils to drain, for example in a rack, is unsightly and occupies space which may well be required for other purposes.

According to the invention, there is provided a dish dryer comprising a generally horizontal surface for receiving domestic utensils thereon, said surface having a plurality of apertures therethrough, and means for supplying a current of heated air through said apertures for drying said utensils.

The dish dryer according to the invention thus enables domestic utensils to be rapidly dried without coming into contact with any source of possible contamination.

The heating means may comprise a heating element, preferably insulated, below said horizontal surface, but in a preferred embodiment, a motor driven fan and one or more heating elements for supplying a curent of heated air are arranged in a housing extending above the level of said surface. In this way, the possibility of water from the domestic utensils coming into contact with the motor driven fan or the heating elements is avoided. The surface is preferably the upper side of a hollow housing to which heated air is supplied.

In one preferred embodiment, the motor driven fan and the electric heating elements are controlled by a timer which switches them off a predetermined time, for example ten minutes, after they are switched on. Alternatively, the swiching on and off of the fan and heating elements could be carried out manually. The manual or automatic controls may be adapted to supply heated air for a time and then to supply unheated air to cool the articles being dried so that they can be more readily handled.

The surface for receiving the domestic utensils may be configured to receive the articles directly or to receive another part, e.g. a nice basket, for carrying the articles.

In the attached drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred exemplary embodiment of a dish dryer according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a section through the dish dryer shown in Figure 1.

As shown in the drawings, a dish dryer comprises a surface 1 for receiving domestic utensils thereon. A plurality of apertures 2 are provided through the surface. The surface 1 includes a first region in which is provided a rack 3 for supporting plates in a substantially upright position. Apertures 2 (not shown) are provided between each of the elements of the rack. A second region of the surface 1 is surrounded by walls 4 for supporting cutlery in a substantially upright position. A third region of the surface 1 has a plurality of ridges 5 extending the length thereof, so that the surface forms a zig-zag in cross-section. Along each of the troughs 6 between the ridges 5 are provided a plurality of the apertures 2. Thus, utensils such as cups, glasses and cooking vessels stacked in the third region of the surface 1 rest on the ridges 5.

At one end of the surface 1, there is provided a housing 7 containing a fan 8 driven by an electric motor (not shown) and an electric heating element 9.

A louvred grille 10 in the rear face of the housing 7 permits fresh air to be drawn in by the fan 8. The grille may be removable for servicing access. The fan 8 is enclosed by a casing 11 which channels the air from the fan past the heating element 9 and into the region 12 below the surface 1. The region 12 is defined by a hollow housing 13 which is coextensive with the surface 1. An aperture 14 is provided in the lower side of the housing 13 to permit water to drain therefrom. Aperture 14 should be of the smallest practicable size so as to minimize the amount of heated air escaping therethrough. Feet 15 are provided on the underside of the housings 7, 13 to enable the dryer to be stood on a work surface such as a draining board.If desired the aperture 14 may be directly coupled to a drain outlet, e.g. via a hose, to enable the dryer to be used remote from the drain outlet.

A timing device 16 whose operation is initiated by an on-switch 17 is mounted on the upper side of the housing 7 for controlling the fan 8 and heating element 9. Also provided on the upper side of the housing 7 are a first light 18 which is illuminated when the heating element 9 is on and a second light 19 which is illuminated when the motor driving the fan is working.

The dryer is operated as follows. Firstly, washed domestic utensils are stacked as desired on the surface 1. The switch 17 is then switched on, whereafter the timer 16 allows the motor driven fan and the heater to operate for a predetermined length of time, during which heated air is delivered to the region 12 beneath the draining surface 1 from where the heated air passes upwardly through the apertures 2 to dry the utensils stacked thereon. Water draining from the utensils passes through the apertures 2 to the region 12 from where it drains through the aperture 14.

To assist in the drainage of region 12, the under- side of the housing 13 may be arranged to be at a small angle to the horizontal when the feet 15 are stood on a horizontal surface.

The present invention thus provides, at least in its preferred embodiment, a dish dryer which is capable of drying domestic utensils rapidly and without any possibility of contamination, and which occupies little more space than a conventional crockery drainer.

If desired, the dryer may be used to warm plates, etc., before use and a vented cover may be provided for the dryer to facilitate this.

Claims

CLAIMS---(Filed on 5.10.82)

1. A dish dryer comprising a generally horizontal surface for receiving domestic utensils thereon, said surface having a plurality of apertures therethrough, and means for supplying a current of heated air through said apertures for drying said utensils.

2. A dryer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surface is the upper side of a hollow housing to which heated air is supplied in use.

3. A dish dryer as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a motor driven fan and one or more heating elements for supplying a current of heated air are arranged in a housing extending above the level of said surface.

4. A dish dryer as claimed in claim 3, wherein the motor driven fan and the electric heating elements are controlled by a timer which switches them off a predetermined time after they are switched on.

5. A dish dryer as claimed in any preceding claim, adapted to supply heated air for a predetermined time and then to supply unheated air to cool the utensils being dried.

6. A dish dryer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the surface for receiving the domestic utensils is configured to receive the utensils directly.

7. A dish dryer as-claimed in claim 6, wherein said surface includes a first region in which is provided a rack for supporting plates in a substantially upright position, a second region surrounded by walls for supporting cutlery in a substantially upright position, and a third, substantially planar region.

8. A dish dryer as claimed in claim 7, wherein said substantially planar region has a plurality of ridges for supporting utensils thereon.

9. A dish dryer substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.