LAVATORY WASH STATION WITH INTEGRATED SINK AND SANITIZING HAND DRYER

Abstract

A lavatory wash station includes a wash station housing, a sink basin connected to a front of the housing, wherein the sink basin has a rim, and a sanitizing hand dryer assembly having an air intake and an exit nozzle at the front of the housing. The air intake and the exit nozzle are connected by a dryer flow path and the exit nozzle is disposed at the front of the housing above the rim, where the exit nozzle provides air flow in a substantially downward vertical direction into the sink basin and the sanitizing hand dryer includes an ion generator that treats the air passing through the hand dryer.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from the provisional application designated Ser. No. 61/470,364 filed Mar. 31, 2011 and entitled “Lavatory Wash Station With Integrated Sink and Sanitizing Hand Dryer” and provisional application designated Ser. No. 61/472,972 filed Apr. 7, 2011 and entitled “Sanitizing Hand Dryer”. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of bathroom wash stations, and in particular to a wash station comprising a sanitizing hand dryer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,118 entitled “Hand Wash Station” discloses a hand sanitizing wash station that includes a sink, soap dispenser located above the sink, a water faucet located above the sink and a hot air hand dryer also located above the sink. A first sensor detects the presence of a hand of a user in the area of the faucet and causes the soap dispenser to provide soap and the faucet to provide water. A second sensor detects when the user has moved his hands adjacent to the hot air dryer causing the hand dryer to turn on. A problem with this design is that because of the separation of the dryer and the sink, the air striking the wet hands of the user allows water to be spread outside the sink. In addition, the dryer is not a sanitizing hand dryer.

U.S. Patent Application Publication 2011/0271441 entitled “Lavatory System with Hand Dryer” discloses a lavatory system that includes a countertop and a first hand washing station. The first hand washing station includes a basin supported by a countertop and a faucet supported by the countertop. The lavatory system also includes a hand dryer including a housing supported by the countertop. The housing defines a cavity in which a user's hands are inserted during drying, and a motor configured to generate blown air in the direction of the cavity. The housing is located such that the user's hands may be inserted into the cavity without the user leaving the first hand washing station.

There is a need for an improved hand sanitizing wash station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, according to an aspect of the present invention, a lavatory wash station comprises a wash station housing, a sink basin connected to a front of the housing, wherein the sink basin has a rim; the wash station also includes a sanitizing hand dryer assembly having an air intake and an exit nozzle at the front of the housing, where the air intake is disposed at the front of the housing and the exit nozzle is disposed at the front of the housing above the rim, where the exit nozzle provides air flow in a substantially downward direction in the direction of the sink basin and the sanitizing hand dryer includes an ion generator that adds ions to the air passing through the hand dryer.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a lavatory wash station includes a wash station housing, a sink basin connected to a front of the housing, wherein the sink basin has a rim, and a faucet connected to the rim; the wash station also includes a sanitizing hand dryer assembly having an exit nozzle disposed at the front of the housing above the rim, and an ion generator that treats the air passing through the hand dryer; a dryer cover covers the nozzle and a section of the basin, wherein the cover is disposed a lateral distance from the faucet.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a lavatory wash station includes a wash station housing; a sink basin connected to a front of the housing, wherein the sink basin has a washing section surface and a drying section surface wherein the drying section surface is sloped towards the washing section surface and a countertop surface; a sidewall that extends upwardly from the drying section surface and a transition surface from the sidewall to the drying surface section has a relatively smooth contour, wherein the wash station housing, sink basin and sidewall are a unitary formed component; an automatic faucet that directs water into the washing section; an automatic hand dryer assembly having an exit nozzle that directs forced air towards the drying section surface; and a system that sanitizes one or more surfaces of the wash station proximate to the drying section surface.

The sanitizing hand dryer may include an input filter that comprises a prefilter and a HEPA filter. The filtered air is then passed through an ion generator to further sanitize the air prior to discharge via the exit nozzle.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a single wash station;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial illustration of a plurality of wash stations mounted in a bathroom;

FIG. 3 is a perspective pictorial view of a plurality of wash stations and a trash module;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional illustration of the sink basin;

FIG. 5 is a pictorial illustration of an alternative embodiment wash station;

FIG. 6 is a perspective pictorial view of a plurality of alternative embodiment wash stations and a trash module;

FIG. 7 is a perspective pictorial illustration of the alternative embodiment wash station of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a side view pictorial illustration of the alternative embodiment wash station of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a pictorial illustration of yet another alternative embodiment wash station;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of an ion generator that includes an ion generator assembly and drive electronics.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a lavatory wash station 10. The wash station 10 includes a wash station housing 12, a sink basin 14, a hand washing assembly 16, and an automatic sanitizing hand dryer assembly 18.

The housing 12 has a housing front 20 that extends from a housing bottom end 22 to a housing top end 24, and between a housing first side 26 and a housing second side 28. A back surface of the housing preferably abuts a wall.

The sink basin 14 is connected to the housing front 20, between the bottom and the top ends 22 and 24. The sink basin 14 has a basin rim/countertop 30, a sink hand washing section 32 and a sink hand drying section 34. The hand drying section 34 is disposed adjacent to the housing second side 28.

The hand washing assembly 16 includes an automatic faucet 36, an automatic soap dispenser 38, and a power source 40 (e.g., photovoltaic). As known, the automatic faucet 36 includes a faucet, an electronically actuated valve (not shown), and a faucet sensor (not shown). The faucet has a faucet neck 39 and a faucet spout 41. The faucet neck 39 is connected to the basin rim 30, and extends from the basin rim 30 to the faucet spout 41. The faucet spout 41 directs water into the sink hand washing section 32. The faucet sensor (e.g., a motion or proximity detector) may be disposed with the faucet, and is configured to provide flow when, for example, a hand is detected proximate/below the faucet.

The soap dispenser 38 has a dispenser neck 43 and a dispenser spout 45. The dispenser neck 43 is connected to the basin rim 30, between the automatic faucet 36 and the housing first side 26. The dispenser neck 43 extends from the basin rim 30 to the dispenser spout 45. The dispenser spout 45 is configured to direct soap (e.g., liquid or foam soap) into the sink hand washing section 32.

The power source 40 is disposed on the housing top end 24. The power source 40 may include a plurality of photovoltaic cells that convert light, for example from a light fixture 42 in a bathroom (see FIG. 2), into electricity in order to power for example the automatic faucet 36 and/or the soap dispenser 38.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the dryer assembly 18 includes an air circulation system, a sidewall 44, a dryer cover 46, a purification light 48 and a dryer sensor (not shown). The circulation system includes a blower and an air purification system within the housing 12, an air intake 50 (see FIG. 3), a filter (not shown) and a nozzle 52.

The air purification system of the dryer may include combinations of an ion generator, UV, filters and other techniques for providing sanitized air via the nozzle 52. In a preferred embodiment the dryer achieves Log 3 air purification. In one embodiment the dryer may be an XLERATOR® hand dryer available from the assignee of the present invention, Excel Dryer, Inc. (www.exceldryer.com), who is also the assignee of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,038,786 and 7,039,301 both hereby incorporated by reference. In another embodiment the dryer may be based upon the proven reliability of the XLERATOR® hand dryer, but modified to include an input filter assembly and an ion generator. For example, the filter assembly may include a coarse filter and HEPA filter, which are arranged such that the coarse filter is located upstream of the HEPA filter in the dryer airflow path. The filter assembly is preferably located upstream of the dryer blower, while the ion generator may be located downstream of the dryer blower and the heating coil, but upstream of the nozzle 52.

While the power source 40 may provide sufficient power for the relatively low power drawing items such as the automatic faucet, the automatic soap dispenser, et cetera, the dryer will generally require line power (e.g., 120 VAC, 208 VAC, 220 VAC, 277 VAC, et cetera) to power the relatively high power drawing items, such as for example, the dryer blower, dryer heater coil and ion generator.

The blower and air purification system are disposed within the housing 12, and includes an air flow conduit between the air intake 50 and the nozzle 52. The air intake 50 may be disposed below the basin rim 30, for example, at a corner region of the housing front 20 adjacent to the housing bottom end 22 and the housing second side 28. The filter is configured to filter air provided by the air intake 50 to the downstream air purification system and blower. The nozzle 52 is disposed above the basin rim 30 and the faucet spout 41, at a corner region of the housing front 20 adjacent to the housing top end 24 and the housing second side 28. The nozzle 52 directs air substantially vertically downward towards the sink hand drying section 34. This ensures that air from the dryer, which strikes the hand(s), flows primarily along the interior of the hand drying section inwardly towards the sink hand washing section 32. The surface of the hand drying section 34 preferably slopes inwardly so water runs into the hand washing section, which contains the drain.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the sidewall 44 extends from the basin rim 30 to the dryer cover 46. This provides separation for adjacent wash stations, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The dryer cover 46 is disposed a lateral distance from the automatic faucet 36, such that the faucet remains uncovered. Significantly, the air flow from the nozzle flows vertically downward towards the sink basin, so water removed from the hands of a user by the airflow is contained within the sink basin rather than falling onto the floor, onto another surface of the wash station, or over to an adjacent wash station.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional illustration of the sink basin, including the hand washing section 32 and the hand drying section 34. The primary airflow path from the nozzle (not shown) is illustrated by arrow 80. As shown in FIG. 4, the contours of the sections 32, 34 ensure that airflow moves along surfaces of the sink hand drying section 34 towards the sink hand washing section 32, taking water on the surfaces along with it.

Referring yet again to FIG. 1, the purification light 48 (e.g., a blue purification light) may be disposed on a bottom of the dryer cover 46. The purification light 48 may illuminate and/or sanitize surfaces of the sidewall 44, the housing front 20 and/or the sink basin 14 in a region between the sink hand drying section 34 and the dryer cover 46. If the light merely illuminates, then the light may turn on when the dryer is discharging drying air, and turn off when the user has completed drying his hands. In addition to providing visual light, it is contemplated that the light 48 may also purify surfaces of the wash station struck by the light using visible and invisible wavelengths of light, including for example UV light. In this case the light may remain on for a period of time after the blower has stopped, in order to provide the desired purification/sanitizing.

The dryer sensor may be disposed proximate the nozzle 52. The dryer sensor is configured to provide an “on” signal to the blower, the air purification system and/or the purification light when, for example, a hand is proximate the nozzle 52.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in some embodiments, the wash station 10 may be configured as a modular unit 54 such that a plurality of the wash stations 10 can be connected together for use, for example, in a public restroom. Each modular unit 54 may also include a trash receptacle 56, a tissue dispenser 58, et cetera disposed on the housing front 20.

The wash station may include a display 60 that turns on when the dryer assembly 18 is operating. The display 60 may be configured, for example, as a backlit sign that relays information regarding the manufacturer of the wash station 10, et cetera, or it may be a display presenting scores at an event, or any other information that a user may find of interest.

FIG. 5 is a pictorial illustration of an alternative embodiment wash station 70. This embodiment is substantially the same as the embodiment in FIG. 1 with the principal exception that the embodiment of FIG. 5 includes a dryer cover 72 that is substantially on plane with faucet 74 (i.e., at about the same height). In contrast, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 the dryer cover 46 is located at a height above the faucet 36. One of ordinary skill will appreciate that the dryer cover may also be located at a height below the faucet.

FIG. 6 is a perspective pictorial view of a plurality of the alternative embodiment wash stations 70 configured as a modular unit 90 such that a plurality of the wash stations 70 are connected together for use, for example, in a public restroom. Each modular unit 70 may also include a trash receptacle 92 having an opening 94 and a tissue dispenser 96.

In some embodiments, each wash station 70 may include a display/logo 98 that illuminates when the dryer is discharging air. For example, the display 98 may be configured, for example, as a backlit sign that relays information regarding the manufacturer of the wash station 90, et cetera, or it may be a display presenting scores at an event, or any other information that a user may find of interest. The wash station may also include a photovoltaic cell 100 to convert light to electricity. In one embodiment is may simply be an illuminated logo. The wash station includes a sanitizing hand dryer that preferably provides Log 3 purified air 102 via an exit nozzle 103 with sufficient kinetic energy to rapidly dry the hands of a user, as discussed above with respect to an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. Soffit 104 covers the plumbing and line power connections that operably connect the wash station, and each wash station may include an air intake 106 that provides air to the sanitizing hand dryer located within the wash station housing.

FIG. 7 is a perspective pictorial illustration of the alternative embodiment wash station 70 of FIG. 5. The wash station includes a sink basin 108 that includes a hand washing section surface 110 and a hand drying section surface 112. The surface 112 is slightly above and canted (e.g., sloped) towards the hand washing section surface 110 such that water falling on the surface 112 (e.g., from the hands of a user using the dryer) runs down to the surface 110 and into a drain. The wash station also includes a sidewall 114 that extends upwardly from the hand drying surface 112 towards the dryer. The transition from the vertical sidewall 114 to the hand drying surface 112 has a relatively smooth contour that facilitates a relatively smooth (e.g., laminar) flow of air to move water along the hand drying surface 112 towards the hand washing section surface 110 and the drain. The wash station 70 may also include a countertop surface 115 substantially planar with a top surface of the dryer cover 72.

FIG. 8 is a side view pictorial illustration of the alternative embodiment wash station of FIG. 5 with a user moving into an operable position.

FIG. 9 is a pictorial illustration of yet another alternative embodiment wash station 120. This embodiment include a first sink 122 and a second sink 124 (e.g., preferably a unitary piece) each having hand washing base surfaces. The wash station 120 also includes a hand dryer exit nozzle 126, such as for example the sanitizing hand dryer as discussed herein above, that discharges air in a substantially downward vertical direction towards a hand drying surface generally located between the hand washing base surfaces associated with the first and second sinks 122, 124. In this embodiment, the hand drying section of the sink preferably slopes off towards the adjacent handing washing sections of the first and second sinks 122, 124. The wash station 120 may also include a light source 128 that provides light 129 that illuminates the area generally below the hand dryer nozzle 126 when the hand dryer is operating. As discussed above, the light source 128 may be configured to sanitize surfaces of the sink, including for example, hand drying surface of the sink, and/or provide light that sanitizes surfaces of the sink. The wash station 120 may also include a photovoltaic cell 130 to convert light to electricity to power the low power devices such as for example the faucet and the soap dispenser. A dryer air inlet 132 may be provided along a lower surface of the wash station, and a soffit 134 may cover plumbing and line power connections that operably connect the wash station 120. The wash station 120 may also include a display or backlit placard 136.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of an ion generator 130 that includes an ion generator assembly 132 and drive electronics 134. The ion generator assembly includes an insulating frame 136 and a grid of wires comprising a plurality of ground wires 138-143 and a plurality of corona wires 144-150 (e.g., 0.002 diameter tungsten wire) that provide a negative electrode. The air passes substantially perpendicularly through the grid picking up ions on the way. The ground grid is positioned just after the heater in the air path with the high voltage grid positioned approximately 0.3″ from the ground grid. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various ion generator configurations may be used to assist in providing sanitized air, such as for example Log 3 sanitized air.

Although the hand dryer has been discussed in the context of a single exit nozzle that provides the forced air to dry the hands of a user, it is contemplated that the dryer may have a plurality of exit nozzles. The plurality of nozzles may be spaced apart and arranged so as to provide forced hot air to dry both hands of a user simultaneously. In addition, it is contemplated that the sidewalls (e.g., 44 and 114) may be non-unitary components with respect to the sink basin. While the faucet and hand dryer have been discussed in the context of preferred embodiments of an automatic faucet and automatic hand dryer that sense the proximate hands of a user and turn on, it is of course contemplated that embodiments may include faucets and hand dryers that are turned on manually by the user.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A lavatory wash station, comprising:

a wash station housing;

a sink basin connected to a front of the housing, wherein the sink basin has a rim; and

a sanitizing hand dryer assembly having an air intake and an exit nozzle at the front of the housing, where the air intake and the exit nozzle are connected by a dryer flow path and the exit nozzle is disposed at the front of the housing above the rim, where the exit nozzle provides air flow in a substantially downward vertical direction into the sink basin and the sanitizing hand dryer includes an ion generator that treats the air passing through the hand dryer.

2. The lavatory wash station of claim 1, wherein the sanitizing hand dryer further comprises an inlet air filter assembly that includes a coarse filter and HEPA filter, wherein the coarse filter is located upstream of the HEPA filter in the dryer flow path.

3. The lavatory wash station of claim 2, wherein the ion generator includes a grid of wires through which discharge air in the dryer flow path passes, wherein an electrical potential is applied across the grid.

4. A lavatory wash station, comprising:

a wash station housing;

a sink basin connected to a front of the housing, wherein the sink basin has a rim;

a first faucet connected to the rim;

a sanitizing hand dryer assembly having an exit nozzle disposed at the front of the housing above the rim, and comprising ion generator that treats the air passing through the hand dryer; and

a dryer cover that is located above a section of the sink basin, wherein the cover is disposed a lateral distance from the first faucet.

5. The lavatory wash station of claim 4, wherein the sanitizing hand dryer further comprises an inlet air filter assembly that includes a coarse filter and HEPA filter, wherein the coarse filter is located upstream of the HEPA filter in the dryer flow path.

6. The lavatory wash station of claim 5, wherein the dryer cover includes a light source that one of illuminates and sanitizes the sink basin immediately below the dryer cover.

7. The lavatory wash station of claim 6, wherein the light source comprises a UV light source.

8. The lavatory wash station of claim 7, wherein the ion generator includes a grid of wires through which discharge air in the dryer flow path passes, wherein an electrical potential is applied across the grid.

9. The lavatory wash station of claim 5, wherein the sink basin is a unitary assembly that comprises a hand washing section and the hand drying section, wherein the hand drying section is substantially below the exit nozzle and the hand washing section is substantially below the first faucet and the hand washing section is connected to the handing drying section by a surface that slopes downwardly from the handing drying section to the hand washing section.

10. The lavatory wash station of claim 5, wherein the sink basin is a unitary assembly that comprises a first hand washing section, a second hand washing section and the hand drying section and the wash station includes a second faucet, wherein the hand drying section is substantially below the exit nozzle and the first hand washing section is substantially below the faucet and the second hand washing section is substantially below the second faucet, and the first and second hand washing sections are separated by the hand drying section.

11. The lavatory wash station of claim 10, wherein the first hand washing section is connected to the handing drying section by a first surface that slopes downwardly from the handing drying section to the first washing section, the second hand washing section is connected to the handing drying section by a second surface that slopes downwardly from the handing drying section to the section hand washing section.

12. The lavatory wash station of claim 11, wherein the dryer cover includes a light source that one of illuminates and sanitizes the sink basin immediately below the dryer cover.

13. The lavatory wash station of claim 4, wherein the sink basin is a unitary assembly that comprises a first hand washing section, a second hand washing section and the hand drying section and the wash station includes a second faucet, wherein the hand drying section is substantially below the exit nozzle and the first hand washing section is substantially below the faucet and the second hand washing section is substantially below the second faucet, and the first and second hand washing sections are separated by the hand drying section.

14. The lavatory wash station of claim 13, further comprising a photovoltaic sensor that converts ambient light to electrical energy that is stored in a battery within the lavatory wash station.

15. The lavatory wash station of claim 9, further comprising a sidewall that extends upwardly from the hand drying section surface and a transition surface having a relatively smooth contour that extends from the sidewall to the hand drying surface section, wherein the sink basin, sidewall and transition surface are a unitary formed component.

16. A lavatory wash station, comprising:

a wash station housing;

a sink basin connected to a front of the housing, wherein the sink basin has a washing section surface and a drying section surface wherein the drying section surface is sloped towards the washing section surface and a countertop surface;

a sidewall that extends upwardly from the drying section surface and a transition surface from the sidewall to the drying surface section has a relatively smooth contour, wherein the wash station housing, sink basin and sidewall are a unitary formed component;

an automatic faucet that directs water into the washing section;

an automatic hand dryer assembly having an exit nozzle that directs forced air towards the drying section surface; and

a system that sanitizes one or more surfaces of the wash station proximate to the drying section surface.

17. The lavatory wash station of claim 16, where the hand dryer comprises (i) an ion generator that treats the air passing through the hand dryer and is located downstream of a blower motor of the hand dryer, and (ii) a HEPA filter element located upstream of a blower motor.

18. The lavatory wash station of claim 16, wherein the sink basin is a unitary assembly that comprises a hand washing section and the hand drying section, wherein the hand drying section is substantially below the exit nozzle and the hand washing section is substantially below the faucet, and the hand washing section is connected to the handing drying section by a surface that slopes downwardly from the handing drying section to the hand washing section which includes a drain.

19. The lavatory wash station of claim 18, wherein the hand dryer assembly includes a dryer cover comprising a light source that one of illuminates and sanitizes the sink basin below the dryer cover.

20. The lavatory wash station of claim 19, wherein the countertop surface substantially planar with the dryer cover.