Arch-Mounted Air Drying System to Replace Towel-Based Body Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional towel-based drying methods consume water, energy, and time, and can be challenging for elderly or disabled individuals, especially in a busy morning routine.
Innovation Solution
A body drying device with a frame, electrical power source, fan mechanism, and resistance heating mechanism that uses ambient air to provide conditioned air for drying, featuring adjustable exhaust ports, lockable suction cups, and control panels for temperature, speed, and timing, allowing for efficient and accessible drying without towels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If towel-based drying method is used, then body drying can be accomplished, but water and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical action of towels (physical wiping) with a pneumatic system consisting of fans and nozzles that deliver pressurized air streams to achieve body drying, thereby eliminating the need for towels and reducing energy consumption associated with towel production and washing
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic principles by employing fans to generate pressurized air streams delivered through nozzles directly to the user's body, creating an air-based drying system that eliminates water and energy consumption associated with traditional towel drying
2Productivity
If towel-based drying method is used, then body drying can be accomplished, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous drying action through multiple fans operating simultaneously to deliver pressurized air streams across different body areas, eliminating the sequential wiping motion required with towels and significantly reducing drying time
Solution Approach 2:
The drying system is segmented into multiple independent fans and nozzles that can simultaneously target different body regions, allowing parallel processing of drying tasks across various body parts, thereby increasing overall drying speed and productivity
3Ease of operation
If towel-based drying method is used, then body drying can be accomplished, but difficulty increases for elderly or disabled individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service drying by directing pressurized air streams onto the user's body, allowing individuals to dry themselves without requiring manual manipulation of towels, which is particularly beneficial for elderly or disabled persons with limited mobility or dexterity
Solution Approach 2:
The drying system is designed to be universally applicable to various users including elderly and disabled individuals by providing automated pressurized air delivery that requires minimal user effort, making the drying function accessible to a broad range of people regardless of physical capability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables quick, energy-efficient, and accessible body drying without the need for towels, reducing water and energy consumption, and accommodating users of all abilities by providing controlled and directed airflow.
Implementation Method 1
a fan mechanism which receives and places the ambient room air in the first plenum area under pressurization to move through the body drying device
Implementation Method 2
into a second plenum area where it exits through a resistance heating mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
An after-shower drying system is fashioned as an arched-shaped device having a plurality of air-drying assemblies and at least one (1) handle disposed along an interior face of the device. The arch is sized sufficiently to permit a human being to walk beneath the arch. Each blower is movable. The outside face of the device comprises a plurality of suction cups.