Integrated Lavatory Hand Dryer to Contain Water Drips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lavatory systems require users to move away from hand washing stations to use hand drying stations, leading to increased likelihood of water dripping onto the floor due to the separate design of hand drying systems.
Innovation Solution
Integration of an electric hand dryer within the lavatory system, where the hand dryer is positioned adjacent to the hand washing station, allowing users to dry their hands without leaving the washing station, with a housing that defines a cavity for hand insertion and includes a motor to generate blown air, and a reservoir to collect water that is in fluid communication with the main drain line.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hand drying stations are provided separately from hand washing stations, then hand drying function is available, but users must move away from the washing station increasing likelihood of water dripping onto the floor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hand drying station with the hand washing station by integrating a hand dryer into the lavatory system. The hand dryer is positioned adjacent to the basin and supported by the countertop, allowing users to dry their hands without moving away from the washing station, thereby preventing water from dripping onto the floor.
2Ease of operation
If hand drying stations are integrated at the washing station, then users can dry hands without moving, but water is likely to drip and/or be blown onto the user, adjacent washing stations and/or the floor due to the transition to and the design of the hand drying system
Solution Approach 1:
The hand dryer is designed with a housing that defines a cavity, positioning the air outlet specifically to direct air toward the user's hands within the confined space. This localized air delivery prevents water from being blown onto the user's body, adjacent washing stations, or the floor, while still effectively drying hands.
3Ease of operation
If hand dryer is positioned adjacent to the basin, then users can use both faucet and hand dryer without leaving the washing station, but the hand dryer requires integration into the existing lavatory structure
Solution Approach 1:
The hand dryer is designed to be supported by the countertop and integrated into the existing lavatory structure. The housing is configured to be mounted on the countertop surface, allowing the hand dryer to utilize the existing structural support while providing an additional hand drying function to the lavatory system.
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
This configuration reduces the likelihood of water dripping onto the floor by allowing users to dry their hands without moving, containing water within the system, and efficiently directs water into the drainage, maintaining a cleaner environment.
Implementation Method 1
a motor configured to generate blown air which is supplied to the cavity
Implementation Method 2
The reservoir is in fluid communication with a main drain line that services the basin
Data Source
AI summary
A lavatory system including a countertop and a first hand washing station is provided. The first hand washing station includes a basin supported by the 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 which is supplied to 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.