Body dryer assembly and bathtub or shower stall enclosure partition assembly

Abstract

There is provided in a preferred embodiment a bathtub or shower stall enclosure partition assembly. The partition assembly has an enclosure panel which includes interior and exterior facing major surfaces. The partition assembly also includes a dryer manifold assembly having a manifold array with at least one air exhaust conduit provided with an air receiving end and an air dispensing outlet. The partition assembly further includes an air drive assembly comprising an air transfer duct extending from an air inlet to an air supply interface, and a heating element assembly selectively operable to provide a heated air flow. The supply interface is for fluid communication with the air receiving end whereby actuation of the heating element assembly provides the heated air flow through the air exhaust conduit and outwardly therefrom via the air dispensing outlet as the drying air flow.

Claims

1. A bathtub or shower stall enclosure partition assembly comprising: a generally planar enclosure panel positionable in an erected position at least partially enclosing a bathtub or shower stall, the enclosure panel comprising interior and exterior facing major surfaces; a dryer manifold assembly for providing a body or hair drying air flow, the dryer manifold assembly comprising a manifold array positionable adjacent to the interior facing major surface, wherein the manifold array comprises at least one air exhaust conduit having an air receiving end and an air dispensing outlet; and an air drive assembly comprising an air transfer duct extending from an air inlet to an air supply interface, and a heating element assembly selectively operable to provide a heated air flow from the inlet to the supply interface, the supply interface being provided for fluid communication with the air receiving end whereby actuation of the heating element assembly provides the heated air flow through the at least one air exhaust conduit and outwardly therefrom via the air dispensing outlet as the drying air flow, wherein the air drive assembly further comprises a columnar support for securing the enclosure panel in the erected position, the columnar support defining a substantially vertical channel sized for receiving a lateral edge of the enclosure panel in the securement of the enclosure panel thereto, and wherein the air transfer duct and the heating element assembly are coupled to or disposed in the columnar support.

2. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 1, wherein the columnar support defines generally parallel wet and dry elongated chambers fluidically joined by a transverse duct, the chambers being spaced apart from each other to define the vertical channel therebetween whereby the wet chamber is positionable adjacent to the interior facing major surface and the dry chamber is positionable adjacent to the exterior facing major surface, and wherein the heating element assembly is coupled to or disposed in the dry chamber.

3. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 1, wherein the columnar support further comprises a bottommost anchoring surface for securing the enclosure partition assembly to a top surface of a bathtub sidewall.

4. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 1, wherein the columnar support further comprises a lateral attachment surface for securing the enclosure partition assembly to the shower stall, or a wall adjacent to the bathtub or shower stall.

5. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 1, wherein the enclosure panel is a shower stall door or wall.

6. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 1, wherein the enclosure panel is a hinged shower stall door, and the columnar support comprises an enclosure hinge for hingedly coupling the shower stall door to the shower stall.

7. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 1, wherein the dryer manifold assembly is mountable to the columnar support or the air transfer duct in a cantilevered arrangement thereto.

8. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 1, wherein the air supply interface comprises an air venting surface defining an array of air vents, and wherein the manifold array includes a plurality of said air exhaust conduits selectively connectable in fluid communication with the air vents.

9. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 1, wherein the manifold array comprises a plurality of said air exhaust conduits, each said conduit being an elongated conduit having a plurality of said air dispensing outlets, wherein the elongated conduit is positionable in a generally parallel orientation to the interior major surface with the air dispensing outlets oriented substantially normal to the interior major surface.

10. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 1, wherein the air exhaust conduit comprises a plurality of modular interconnectable conduits, each said modular conduit being fluidically coupleable to one or more of other said modular conduits, and wherein the modular conduits are selectively positionable in and demountable from a geometric configuration.

11. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 1, wherein the dryer manifold assembly further includes an air distribution multiplier connectable in fluid communication with the air supply interface and the air receiving end.

12. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 1, wherein the enclosure panel comprises a semi-transparent or transparent panel.

13. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 1, wherein the enclosure panel is a glass panel.

14. A body dryer assembly for providing a body or hair drying air flow in a bathtub or shower stall, the dryer assembly comprising: a generally planar panel positionable in an erected position on or adjacent to the bathtub or shower stall, the panel comprising interior and exterior facing major surfaces; an air drive assembly comprising: a columnar support for securing the panel in the erected position, the columnar support defining a substantially vertical channel sized for receiving a lateral edge of the panel in the securement of the panel thereto; an air transfer duct extending from an air inlet to an air supply interface, the air transfer duct being disposed in or coupled to the columnar support; and a heating element assembly selectively operable for providing a heated air flow from the air inlet to the air supply interface, the heating element assembly being disposed in or coupled to the columnar support; and a dryer manifold assembly for dispensing the drying air flow, the dryer manifold assembly being mountable to the columnar support or the air transfer duct in a cantilevered arrangement thereto, wherein the dryer manifold assembly comprises a manifold array positionable adjacent to the interior facing major surface, the manifold array comprising at least one air exhaust conduit having an air receiving end and an air dispensing outlet; wherein the air supply interface is provided for fluid communication with the air receiving end whereby actuation of the heating element assembly provides the heated air flow through the at least one air exhaust conduit and outwardly therefrom via the air dispensing outlet as the drying air flow.

15. The body dryer assembly of claim 14, wherein the columnar support defines generally parallel wet and dry elongated chambers fluidically joined by a transverse duct, the chambers being spaced apart from each other to define the vertical channel therebetween whereby the wet elongated chamber is positionable adjacent to the interior facing major surface and the dry elongated chamber is positionable adjacent to the exterior facing major surface, and wherein the heating element assembly is coupled to or disposed in the dry elongated chamber.

16. The body dryer assembly of claim 14, wherein the columnar support further comprises a bottommost anchoring surface for securing the body dryer assembly to a top surface of a bathtub sidewall.

17. The body dryer assembly of claim 14, wherein the columnar support further comprises a lateral attachment surface for securing the body dryer assembly to the shower stall, or a wall adjacent to the bathtub or shower stall.

18. The body dryer assembly of claim 14, wherein the air supply interface comprises an air venting surface defining an array of air vents, and wherein the manifold array includes a plurality of said air exhaust conduits selectively connectable in fluid communication with the air vents.

19. The body dryer assembly of claim 14, wherein the manifold array comprises a plurality of said air exhaust conduits, each said conduit being an elongated conduit having a plurality of said air dispensing outlets, wherein the elongated conduit is positionable in a generally parallel orientation to the interior major surface with the air dispensing outlets oriented substantially normal to the interior major surface.

20. The body dryer assembly of claim 14, wherein the air exhaust conduit comprises a plurality of modular interconnectable conduits, each said modular conduit being fluidically coupleable to one or more of other said modular conduits, and wherein the modular conduits are selectively positionable in and demountable from a geometric configuration.

21. The body dryer assembly of claim 14, wherein the dryer manifold assembly further includes an air distribution multiplier connectable in fluid communication with the air supply interface and the air receiving end.

22. The body dryer assembly of claim 14, wherein the panel is a glass enclosure panel for at least partially enclosing the bathtub or shower stall.

23. A bathtub or shower stall enclosure partition assembly comprising: a generally planar enclosure panel positionable in an erected position at least partially enclosing a bathtub or shower stall, the enclosure panel comprising interior and exterior facing major surfaces; a dryer manifold assembly for providing a body or hair drying air flow, the dryer manifold assembly comprising a manifold array positionable adjacent to the interior facing major surface, wherein the manifold array comprises at least one air exhaust conduit having an air receiving end and an air dispensing outlet; and an air drive assembly comprising an air transfer duct extending from an air inlet to an air supply interface, and a heating element assembly selectively operable to provide a heated air flow from the inlet to the supply interface, the supply interface being provided for fluid communication with the air receiving end whereby actuation of the heating element assembly provides the heated air flow through the at least one air exhaust conduit and outwardly therefrom via the air dispensing outlet as the drying air flow, wherein the air supply interface comprises an air venting surface defining an array of air vents, and wherein the manifold array includes a plurality of said air exhaust conduits selectively connectable in fluid communication with the air vents, wherein the air drive assembly further comprises a columnar support for securing the enclosure panel in the erected position, the columnar support defining a substantially vertical channel sized for receiving a lateral edge of the enclosure panel in the securement of the enclosure panel thereto, and wherein the air transfer duct and the heating element assembly are coupled to or disposed in the columnar support, and wherein the columnar support defines generally parallel wet and dry elongated chambers fluidically joined by a transverse duct, the chambers being spaced apart from each other to define the vertical channel therebetween whereby the wet chamber is positionable adjacent to the interior facing major surface and the dry chamber is positionable adjacent to the exterior facing major surface, and wherein the heating element assembly is coupled to or disposed in the dry chamber.

24. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 23, wherein the columnar support further comprises a bottommost anchoring surface for securing the enclosure partition assembly to a top surface of a bathtub sidewall.

25. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 23, wherein the columnar support further comprises a lateral attachment surface for securing the enclosure partition assembly to the shower stall, or a wall adjacent to the bathtub or shower stall.

26. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 23, wherein the enclosure panel is a shower stall door or wall.

27. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 23, wherein the enclosure panel is a hinged shower stall door, and the columnar support comprises an enclosure hinge for hingedly coupling the shower stall door to the shower stall.

28. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 23, wherein the dryer manifold assembly is mountable to the columnar support or the air transfer duct in a cantilevered arrangement thereto.

29. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 23, wherein the manifold array comprises a plurality of said air exhaust conduits, each said conduit being an elongated conduit having a plurality of said air dispensing outlets, wherein the elongated conduit is positionable in a generally parallel orientation to the interior major surface with the air dispensing outlets oriented substantially normal to the interior major surface.

30. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 23, wherein the air exhaust conduit comprises a plurality of modular interconnectable conduits, each said modular conduit being fluidically coupleable to one or more of other said modular conduits, and wherein the modular conduits are selectively positionable in and demountable from a geometric configuration.

31. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 23, wherein the dryer manifold assembly further includes an air distribution multiplier connectable in fluid communication with the air supply interface and the air receiving end.

32. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 23, wherein the enclosure panel comprises a semi-transparent or transparent panel.

33. The enclosure partition assembly of claim 23, wherein the enclosure panel is a glass panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Reference may now be had to the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an exterior elevation view of a bathtub enclosure partition assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an interior elevation view of the bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a lateral elevation view of a drying air flow supply assembly of the bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is an exterior elevation view of the drying air flow supply assembly shown in FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is an interior elevation view of the drying air flow supply assembly shown in FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the drying air flow supply assembly shown in FIG. 4, and which is taken along the line a-a;

(8) FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the drying air flow supply assembly shown in FIG. 3, and which is taken along the line b-b;

(9) FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a drying air flow dispensing assembly of the bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 1;

(10) FIG. 9 is a lateral elevation view of the drying air flow dispensing assembly shown in FIG. 8;

(11) FIG. 10 is an exterior elevation view of the bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 1, and which is installed on a bathtub;

(12) FIG. 11 is an interior elevation view of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 10;

(13) FIG. 12 is an exterior elevation view of a bathtub enclosure partition assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention installed on a bathtub, and which is provided with a honeycomb patterned drying air flow dispensing assembly;

(14) FIG. 13 is an interior elevation view of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 12;

(15) FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 12;

(16) FIG. 15 is a computer generated photographic image of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 12;

(17) FIG. 16 is a computer generated photographic image of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 12;

(18) FIG. 17 is a computer generated photographic image of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 12;

(19) FIG. 18 is an exterior elevation view of a bathtub enclosure partition assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention installed on a bathtub, and which is provided with a drying air flow dispensing assembly having a drying air distribution multiplier fluidically coupled to vertical slab air dispensing units;

(20) FIG. 19 is an interior elevation view of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 18;

(21) FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 18;

(22) FIG. 21 is a computer generated photographic image of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 18;

(23) FIG. 22 is a computer generated photographic image of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 18;

(24) FIG. 23 is a computer generated photographic image of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 18;

(25) FIG. 24 is an exterior elevation view of a bathtub enclosure partition assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention installed on a bathtub, and which is provided with a drying air flow dispensing assembly having horizontally elongated drying air dispensing units;

(26) FIG. 25 is an interior elevation view of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 24;

(27) FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 24;

(28) FIG. 27 is a computer generated photographic image of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 24;

(29) FIG. 28 is a computer generated photographic image of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 24;

(30) FIG. 29 is a computer generated photographic image of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 24;

(31) FIG. 30 is an exterior elevation view of a bathtub enclosure partition assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention installed on a bathtub, and which is provided with a drying air flow dispensing assembly having interconnectable modular air dispensing units;

(32) FIG. 31 is an interior elevation view of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 30;

(33) FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 30;

(34) FIG. 33 is a computer generated photographic image of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 30;

(35) FIG. 34 is a computer generated photographic image of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 30; and

(36) FIG. 35 is a computer generated photographic image of the installed bathtub enclosure partition assembly shown in FIG. 30.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(37) Reference is made to FIG. 1 which shows an exterior elevation view of a bathtub enclosure partition assembly 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As will be described, the bathtub enclosure partition assembly 10 includes a drying air flow supply assembly 30, an enclosure panel, planar panel or enclosure glass pane 80, and a drying air flow dispensing assembly or manifold array 100. FIG. 2 illustrates an interior elevation view of the enclosure partition assembly 10.

(38) Reference is made to FIGS. 3 to 5 which show lateral, exterior and interior elevation views of the drying air flow supply assembly 30. The supply assembly 30 has a columnar support or vertically extended support housing 32 which includes an exterior facing surface 34, an interior facing surface 36, and a lateral glass pane supporting surface 38 and a lateral wall attachment surface opposed to the glass pane supporting surface 38 (not shown). As seen in FIG. 3, the support housing 32 is formed with bifurcated exterior and interior housing portions 40, 42 laterally spaced apart from each other to define a glass pane engagement cannel 44 therebetween, and are integrally joined at respective upper portions to form a single support housing unit.

(39) Provided on the lateral wall attachment surface in a generally co-planar orientation therewith are wall attachment bracket plates 39 each defining a pair of screw holes for receiving attachment screws in the securement of the support housing 32 to an adjacent wall. As seen in FIG. 3, the glass pane supporting surface 38 defines an air vent or air flow supply port 43 which opens to the interior housing portion 42.

(40) Although not strictly limited, the support housing 32 preferably extends between about 500 mm to about 1500 mm in height, and more preferably between about 700 mm and about 1200 mm. Furthermore, the support housing 32 preferably extends between about 50 mm and about 200 mm between the exterior and interior facing surfaces 34, 36, and between about 40 mm and about 100 mm between the supporting surface 38 and the wall attachment surface. The engagement channel 44 preferably extends upwardly between about 400 mm to about 1400 mm from a bottommost surface of the support housing 32.

(41) As seen in FIG. 4, the exterior facing surface 34 defines on an upper portion an air inlet 46 for permitting a constant flow of ambient air into an interior chamber of the support housing 32. Provided over the air inlet 46 are a number of vertical bars or strips laterally spaced apart from each other to prevent larger solid objects from entering through the air inlet 46, and without significantly affecting or reducing air flow therethrough. The exterior facing surface 34 furthermore defines on a lower portion a power supply retention slot 48 which extends into the exterior housing portion 40 (as shown in FIG. 6), and which is sized for removably retaining a removable rechargeable battery 50. It is to be appreciated that while the retention slot 48 is shown with the removable battery 50 disposed therein, the retention slot 48 may be configured to receive other power supply components, such as an electrical power converter connected to an electrical plug.

(42) As seen in FIG. 5, the interior facing surface 36 includes a body dryer power switch 52 for activating a tangential air flow fan 54 and a resistance heating coiled wire 56 as will be described below.

(43) As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the tangential air flow fan 54 is fixedly encased within an uppermost portion of the support housing 32, and above the air inlet 46. The air flow fan 54 includes an open-ended fan housing opening to the exterior housing portion 40 on one end and the interior housing portion 42 on the other, and which is provided with a selectively activatable impeller rotatably secured in the fan housing (not shown). The impeller is oriented within the fan housing to drawn in ambient air through the air inlet 46, and propel the drawn air outwardly through a fan nozzle 55 towards the interior housing portion 42. Disposed in the interior housing portion 42 and below the fan nozzle 55 in the direction of the air flow is the resistance heating coiled wire 56 selectively operable for heating the air flow. Both the air flow fan 54 and the coiled wire 56 are electrically coupled to and powered by the battery 50, and operated by the power switch 52.

(44) Reference is made to FIGS. 8 and 9 which illustrate the drying air flow dispensing assembly 100. The dispensing assembly 100 has a cantilevered manifold body 102 which defines an enclosed chamber 104, and which includes a lateral air receiving portion 106 extending horizontally from the manifold body 102. The air receiving portion 106 has external dimensions sized for engagable insertion into the air flow supply port 43 of the support housing 32 when fully assembled as will be described below. Extending laterally from the air receiving portion 106 and into the interior chamber 104 are air exhaust conduits or air conduit channels 108 which include an air receiving end 109 cooperatively defined with the air receiving portion 106, and which open to a plurality of air dispensing outlets 110 at various distances from the air receiving portion 106. Each of the dispensing outlets 110 are oriented at a substantially orthogonal orientation to the plane of the manifold body 102. To provide for increased air velocity at the dispensing outlets 110, the conduit channels 108 includes a tapered conduit section 112 proximal to the air receiving portion 106, and which decreases in diameter as it extends away from the air receiving portion 106.

(45) Although not strictly limited, the manifold body 102 measures between about 300 mm and 1200 mm in height, between about 300 mm and 1200 mm in width, and between about 30 mm and about 100 mm in depth. Furthermore, the glass pane 80 measures between about 400 mm and about 1400 mm in height, between about 400 mm and 1800 mm in width and between about 2 mm and 10 mm in thickness.

(46) As seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, for assembly and installation the support housing 32 is secured to an abutting bathroom wall 200 located adjacent to an alcove bathtub 300, such that a bottommost surface or bottommost anchoring surface 33 of the support housing 32 is rested on an exterior sidewall 310 of the bathtub 300. A lateral edge of the enclosure glass pane 80 is slidably inserted into the engagement channel 44 over the bathtub sidewall, preferably until the lateral edge of the glass pane 80 is in abutting contact with the bathroom wall 200. The lateral air receiving portion 106 of the manifold body 102 is inserted into the air flow supply port 43 of the support housing 32 in a cantilevered arrangement.

(47) It is to be appreciated that the air flow fan 54 and the coiled wire 56 are not limited to the specific placement within the support housing 32 as described above. In a most preferred embodiment, for improved safety and to reduce the risk of an electric shock which may be caused by contact with water, moisture or steam during operation, both the air flow fan 54 and the coiled wire 56 are disposed in the exterior housing portion 40, such that all electrical components of the supply assembly 30 are located in the exterior housing portion 40, and separated from the interior of the bathtub 300 with the glass pane 80 therebetween. The glass pane 80 is preferably sealingly inserted in the engagement channel 44 to further reduce any moisture from the bathtub coming into contact with the exterior housing portion 40.

(48) It is to be further appreciated that the dispensing assembly 100 is not limited to the specific configurations and arrangements as described above. Particularly, depending on the specific designs and appearance as may be desired by a user, the bathtub enclosure partition assembly may for example be provided with a honeycomb patterned drying air flow dispensing assembly 400 as shown in FIGS. 12 to 17. For fluid communication with the dispensing assembly 400, a vertically extended support housing 432 forming part of the bathtub enclosure partition assembly defines on a lateral surface upper and lower air flow supply ports 443, 444 for complementary engagement with associated upper and lower air receiving portions extending from the dispensing assembly 400.

(49) In another embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 18 to 23, the bathtub enclosure partition assembly is provided with a drying air flow dispensing assembly 500 having a drying air distribution multiplier 510 fluidically coupled to a plurality of vertical slab air dispensing units 520. In yet another embodiment shown in FIGS. 24 to 29, the bathtub enclosure partition assembly has a vertically extended support housing 610 having an air venting surface 612 defining a plurality of vertically spaced air flow supply ports sized to slidably receive associated horizontally elongated drying air dispensing units 620. In yet another embodiment depicted in FIGS. 30 to 35, the bathtub enclosure partition assembly includes a plurality of interconnectable modular air dispensing units 700. Each of the modular air dispensing units 700 are fluidically coupled to one or more other modular air dispending units in a user selectable geometric arrangement.

(50) As seen in FIGS. 17, 23, 29 and 35, it is to be appreciated that the bathtub enclosure partition assembly may be installed on a bathtub other than the alcove bathtub 300 with three-walled enclosure, such as a free standing bathtub located away from any bathroom walls. For installation on the free standing bathtub, the support housing 32 is preferably provided without the wall attachment bracket plates 39, and rather includes on a bottommost surface a bathtub sidewall attachment bracket. Alternatively, a bathtub sidewall could be provided with a vertically elongated coupling rod, and the bottommost surface of the support housing 32 defines a vertically extended bore sized to receive the coupling rod to effect engagement with the bathtub sidewall.

(51) While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, the invention is not or intended by the applicant to be so limited. A person skilled in the art would readily recognize and incorporate various modifications, additional elements and/or different combinations of the described components consistent with the scope of the invention as described herein.