GB2249263A

GB2249263A - Body drier

Info

Publication number: GB2249263A
Application number: GB9123371A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Godwin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-11-03
Filing date: 1991-11-04
Publication date: 1992-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 2011-11-04
Also published as: GB9123371D0; GB2249263B

Abstract

A body drier (10) comprises a duct (26) which may be fitted in the corner of a shower unit (12). Warm gas is urged through the duct (26) by an electric motor and out of the duct (26) via outlets (36) provided along the length of the duct (26). The drier (10) provides a-uniform curtain of gas e.g. air for drying purposes. In use the pressure of the gas flowing through the gas outlet provided nearest one end of the duct should be within 50% of the pressure of the gas flowing through the gas outlet provided nearest the opposite end of the duct. <IMAGE>

Description

BODY DRIER This invention relates to a body drier.

After taking a shower it is usual to dry oneself with a towel.

Prior art patent specifications have suggested the use of an apparatus for channeling air towards the body so as to dry the body when wet. However, these known types of apparatus are expensive to manufacture and operate and also offer very poor performance.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of this problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a body drier comprising a duct, means operative to urge at least one gas to flow through the duct and gas outlets provided in the duct for said gas to flow therethrough, wherein in use the pressure of the gas flowing through the gas outlet provided nearest one end of the duct is within 50% of the pressure of the gas flowing through the gas outlet provided nearest the opposite end of the duct.

By maintaining a similar gas flow through each of the gas outlets a uniform curtain of gas passes out of the duct so as to provide satisfactory drying of the full length of the body at any one time.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the pressure of gas flowing through the gas outlet provided nearest one end of the duct is within 40%, preferably 30%, more preferably 20%, still more preferably 10% and ideally within substantially 8.5% of the pressure of the gas flowing through the gas outlet provided nearest the opposite end of the tube. The majority of the duct is preferably straight so as to prevent a reduction in gas pressure.

Preferably outlets are provided along the length of the duct. The outlets are preferably uniformly spaced apart. The length of the duct may be in the range from 1.5m to 2.5m or more preferably from 1.8m to 2.2m. The cross sectional area of the duct is preferably in the range from 4000 to 4800.

The number and shape of the outlets may be varied as required. However, preferably between 10 and 30 outlets are provided. The total area of all of the outlets is preferably less than the area of the exhaust part of the fan. Preferably the total outlet area is 10% or less or more preferably within 5% less than the area of the exhaust part of the fan.

The outlets preferably comprise a central aperture arranged within a pattern of second apertures.

The second apertures are preferably smaller than the central aperture and are more preferably about half the size of the central aperture. The outlet area towards the top of the duct is preferably larger than the outlet area towards the base of the duct per unit length. The area of the outlets towards the top of the duct is preferably substantially 0.3313 square inches and the area of the outlets towards the base is preferably substantially 0.2761 square inches. No valves are needed to aid the gas flow. The outlet area preferably decreases gradually down the length of the duct. This may be achieved, for example, by decreasing the number of apertures.

Preferably the means operative to urge the gas to flow comprises a fan that may be driven by an electric motor such as a 110 v motor. The gas driven by the fan may be heated by a heater prior to entering the duct. The temperature of the heated gas may be in the range from 50"C to 60"C. The power of the heater may be in the range from 2kw to 2.5kw. The electrically powered components of the body drier such as the heater and the fan may be located in a waterproof container located within the shower unit.

The container may be located at or near one end of the duct. This may comprise plastics material. An air inlet is provided in the base of the container.

The drier is advantageously provided in combination with a shower. The duct may extend upwardly within the shower. Alternatively the duct may be provided above a bath. The duct preferably extends vertically.

It is advantageous to provide switch means for activating and deactivating the drier within the shower such that the drier is operable from within the shower.

The drier may be provided with means to ensure that the drier will not operate while the shower is operating.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one body drier in accordance with the present invention when fitted to a shower; Fig. 2 is a side view partly in cross section of the body drier of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front view partly in cross section of the body drier of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the fan container of the body drier of Figs. 1 to 3; Fig. 5 is an underplan view of the fan container of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 shows the base of the container of Figs. 4 and 5; Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the duct of the body drier of Figs. 1 to 3; and Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the duct of a second body drier in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 7 a body drier 10 is fitted into a conventional domestic shower 12. The body drier 10 comprises a container 14 which is substantially triangular in plan view and is designed to be fitted into the corner of the shower 12 by, for example, passing fixing screws through apertures provided in the walls 16,18 of the container 14 into the adjacent shower walls. The container 14 is made from waterproof material such as plastics material and preferably ABS plastics material. A heater and fan 20 are secured in the container 14. Air is drawn into the container 14 by the fan 20 through an inlet 22 provided at the base of the container 14. The air is then heated and forced out by the fan 20 down a coupling 24 into the main air duct 26. It is important that the air stream is not bent through large angles as this will result in a loss in pressure.

Any angle through which the air stream passes must therefore be minimal.

The warm air stream flows down the main air duct 26. The main air duct 26 comprises two plastics pipes 28,30 which are square in cross section and which are joined to each other and the conducting conduit by plastics connectors 32,34 in the manner shown in Fig.

3. The bores through the pipes are of substantially uniform cross section. Air passes out through outlets 36.

If the pressure of the air flowing out through each of the air outlets 36 is not exactly uniform then more air will tend to flow from the lowermost outlet 36b than the uppermost outlet 36a. The body drier 10 compensates for this by providing a larger area of air outlets towards the top of the duct than towards the base.

It can be seen in Fig. 7 that the uppermost outlet 36a comprises a relatively large central aperture 38 surrounded by eight smaller peripheral apertures 40. The central aperture has a diameter of substantially 0.375" and each peripheral aperture has a diameter of substantially 0.1875" giving a total outlet area of 0.3313 square inches. Seven such outlets are provided in staggered fashion in the upper part of the duct.

The outlets provided towards the base of the duct comprise a relatively large central aperture 42 surrounded by six smaller peripheral apertures 44. The central aperture has a diameter of substantially 0.375" and each peripheral aperture has a diameter of substantially 0.1875" Eleven such outlets are provided in staggered fashion.

The outlets 36 are uniformly spaced along the length of the duct 26. The arrangement of the outlets 36 provides a uniform curtain of warm air to the human body so as to provide an efficient drier for the whole body.

Referring to Figure 8 the duct 50 of a second body drier otherwise similar to the first body drier comprises two plastics pipes 52,54 the lower end 56 of the top pipe 52 being received in the top 58 of the bottom pipe 54 when the duct 50 is in use. Both pipes 52,54 are tapered towards their respective bases. The upper section of the top pipe 52 is adapted to receive the coupling from the fan with a snug fit. A number of air outlets 60 are provided down the length of the pipes. Each outlet comprises a number of apertures arranged in a pear shaped fashion. The outlets are evenly spaced apart, but the uppermost outlets comprise a larger number of apertures than the lowermost outlets so as to gradually reduce the outlet area of the respective outlets down the length of the duct.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiments are described by way of illustration only.

Many modifications and variations are possible. For example the body drier may be fitted on the side wall of the shower or above a bath. The duct may be of any size or shape. The number and arrangement of outlets and apertures within each outlet may be varied as required. The outlets need not necessarily be evenly spaced apart.

Claims

1. A body drier comprising a duct, means operative to urge at least one gas to flow through the duct and gas outlets provided in the duct for said gas to flow therethrough, wherein in use the pressure of the gas flowing through the gas outlet provided nearest one end of the duct is within 50% of the pressure of the gas flowing through the gas outlet provided nearest the opposite end of the duct.

2. A body drier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure of thE gas flowing out through the gas outlet provided nearest one end of the duct is within 40% of the pressure of the gas flowing through the gas outlet provided nearest the opposite end of the duct.

3. A body drier as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pressure of the gas flowing out through the gas outlet provided nearest one end of the duct is within 30% of the pressure of the gas flowing through the gas outlet provided nearest the opposite end of the duct.

4. A body drier as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the pressure of the gas flowing out through the gas outlet provided nearest one end of the duct is within 20% of the pressure of the gas flowing through the gas outlet provided nearest the opposite end of the duct.

5. A body drier as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pressure of the gas flowing out through the gas outlet provided nearest one end of the duct is within 8.5% of the pressure of the gas flowing through the gas outlet provided nearest the opposite end of the duct.

6. A body drier as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least three outlets are provided and the distance be'tween adjacent outlets is uniform.

7. A body drier as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the duct is elongate and the length of the duct is in the range from 1.5m to 2.5m.

8. A body drier as claimed in claim 7, wherein the length of the duct is in the range from 1.8m to 2.2m.

9. A body drier as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cross-sectional area of the duct is in the range from 4000 to 4800.

10. A body drier as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the number of outlets is in the range from 10 to 30.

11. A body drier as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the outlets comprise a first central aperture arranged within a pattern of second apertures.

12. A body drier as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second apertures are smaller than said first apertures.

13. A body drier as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the outlet area towards the top of the duct is larger than the outlet area towards the base of the duct.

14. A body drier as claimed in claim 13, wherein the outlet area decreases gradually down the length of the duct.

15. A body drier as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least some outlets comprise a different number of apertures to other outlets.

16. A body drier as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means operative to urge the gas to flow comprises an electric motor.

17. A body drier as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a heater for heating the gas.

18. A body drier as claimed in claim 17, wherein the heater is operative to heat the gas prior to the gas entering the duct.

19. A body drier as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the temperature of the gas is in the range from 50"C to 60"C.

20. A body drier as substantially described herein, with reference to and accompanied by Figs. 1 to 7 and Fig. 8.