HAND DRYER DEVICE

Abstract

A hand dryer device includes a casing, a drying chamber superiorly open formed in the upper portion of the same casing for placing the hands of the user, aeration means provided for orienting an air flow rate towards an outlet located in the area of the drying chamber, and detection means for detecting the presence of the hands of the user in the drying chamber. The drying chamber runs transversely from the front region to the rear region of the casing, the drying chamber being laterally delimited by two arms facing each other, which extend vertically from the corresponding lateral regions, the drying chamber having dimensions configured for the insertion of the two hands of the user from the front area of the casing. The air outlet is located on the internal face of the two arms; the air flow rate is laterally oriented towards the hands of a user.

Claims

1. A hand dryer device comprising: a casing defined by a front, rear region and two lateral regions, a drying chamber superiorly open formed in the upper portion of the same casing configured for the insertion of the hands of a user from the front region of the same, aeration means provided for orienting an air flow rate towards an outlet located in the area of the drying chamber, and detection means for detecting the presence of the hands of the user in the drying chamber, wherein the drying chamber runs transversely from the front region to the rear region of the casing, said drying chamber presenting a U-shaped general geometry and the same drying chamber being laterally delimited by two arms facing each other, which extend vertically from the corresponding lateral regions, the drying chamber having dimensions configured for the insertion of the two hands of the user from the front area of the casing, wherein the air outlet is located on the internal face of the two arms that extend in such a way that the air flow rate is laterally oriented towards the hands of a user.

2. The hand dryer device according to claim 1, further comprising a water evacuation means intended for evacuating water from the hands of the user.

3. The hand dryer device according to claim 2, wherein the water evacuation means comprise a cage located on the rear face of the casing, which has a sunken section having at its bottom at least one drainage outlet linked to a water evacuation conduit.

4. The hand dryer device according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet is defined by two outlet holes facing each other, each of the outlet holes being in a respective arm.

5. The hand dryer device according to claim 1, wherein the aeration means comprise a body that forms two nozzles that extend from a lower portion that can be coupled to air propulsion means, each of which having a final ending that is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, such that the outlet flow exiting through the air outlets is oriented downwards.

6. The hand dryer device according to claim 1, wherein the aeration means comprise a body that forms two nozzles that extend from a lower portion that can be coupled to air propulsion means, each of which having a final ending that is inclined with respect to a horizontal and vertical plane, such that the outlet flow exiting through the air outlets is oriented downwards and towards the rear side of the casing.

7. The hand dryer device according to claim 1, wherein the detection means comprise at least one infrared sensor located on the internal face of one of the arms.

8. The hand dryer device according to claim 1, wherein it is enabled for its installation and positioning on a wall.

9. The hand dryer device according to claim 8, wherein it is enabled for its installation and positioning on a wall in the rear region of the casing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 is a frontal elevated view of a first embodiment of the hand dryer device according to the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the drying device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of an upper portion of the device of the invention;

[0029] FIG. 5 is an additional perspective detail view of the upper portion of the device of the invention;

[0030] FIG. 6 is a schematic front view where a portion of the inside of the casing of the device can be seen where the aeration means are shown;

[0031] FIG. 7 is a detailed perspective view of the internal portion of the dryer device of the invention; and

[0032] FIG. 8 is a schematic front elevation and plan view of the hand dryer device where the direction of positioning of the hands of a user is indicated by means of arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0033] In light of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the adopted numbering, one may observe therein a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, which comprises the parts and elements indicated and described in detail below.

[0034] One embodiment of the hand dryer device essentially comprises a casing (1), made for example of an injection mouldable plastic material, which is defined by a front region (11), a rear region (12) and two lateral regions (13), a drying chamber (2) superiorly open that is formed in the upper portion of the casing itself (1) configured for the insertion of the hands of a user, aeration means provided for orienting an air flow rate towards an outlet located in the area of the drying chamber (2), and detection means for detecting the presence of the hands of the user in the drying chamber (2).

[0035] With particular reference to the drying chamber (2), the same runs transversely from the front region to the rear region of the casing, the drying chamber (2) being laterally delimited by two arms (14) facing each other, and presenting a U-shaped general geometry as can be seen in the figures.

[0036] According to this, the two arms (14) extend vertically from the corresponding lateral regions, the drying chamber having dimensions for the insertion of the two hands from the front area of the casing (1), wherein the air outlet is located on the internal face of the two arms (14) that extend parallel to each other, internally defining a curvature area, in such a way that the air flow rate is laterally oriented towards the hands of a user.

[0037] As can be seen in this particular embodiment, the air outlet of the drying device is defined by two outlet holes (3) facing each other, each of the outlet holes (3) being in a respective arm (14).

[0038] Advantageously, the device includes water evacuation means for removing water coming from the hands of the user. These water evacuation means comprise a cage (4) located on the rear region (12) of the casing (1), which has a sunken section (5) superiorly with a curved-concave shape having at its bottom at least one drainage outlet (6) (a through hole) linked with a water evacuation conduit (not shown).

[0039] Now, with particular reference to the aeration means, they comprise a body that forms two nozzles (7) that extend from a lower portion (8) that can be coupled to air propulsion means, each of which having a final ending that is inclined with respect to a horizontal and vertical plane, such that the outlet flow exiting through the outlets is projected downwards and slightly towards the rear portion of the casing (1) where the water evacuation means are located, as shown represented by means of arrows in FIG. 6.

[0040] Thus, the orientation of the air outlet can also be towards a wall area on which the drying device is mounted in order to minimise water splashes. The aeration means may include a thermal resistor that provides a heated air flow.

[0041] The detection means comprise a pair of infrared sensors (9) located on the internal face of each of the arms (14) or extensions of the lateral regions (13), so that when they detect the presence of hands on the area of the drying chamber, the aeration means are automatically activated. It should be mentioned that the sensors (9), together with the aeration means, are linked to each other through a control unit that governs the operation of the dryer device.

[0042] As can be seen in FIG. 8, the distance (d) between the two arms is such that the hands of the user can be inserted frontally side by side, as represented with the arrows (f).

[0043] Next, the operation of the drying device described above is explained. When users introduce their hands into the drying chamber (2) from the front portion of the device (so that they can see the position of the hands inside the drying chamber at all times), the sensors (9) detect their presence and activate an electric motor that drives a fan. By activating the fan, an air flow rate captured by an air intake (10) is introduced at a previously determined speed in the equipment that makes up the aeration means, so that it passes through the inside of the two nozzles (7) in the direction of the outlet holes (3).

[0044] The details, shapes, dimensions and other accessory elements, used to manufacture the drying device of the invention, may be suitably substituted for others which do not depart from the scope defined by the claims which are included below.