Shower Enclosure Partition With Integrated Heated Body Dryer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing body dryer devices are not easily installable in existing bathrooms or shower stalls without significant modifications and pose health and safety risks due to electrical components that can come into contact with water, and they often cannot dry users immediately after bathing or showering.
Innovation Solution
A body dryer assembly and bathtub/shower stall enclosure partition assembly that includes a planar panel, air drive assembly with a columnar support, and a dryer manifold for providing a heated air flow, designed for simpler installation, aesthetic customization, and safety features like electrical insulation to prevent water contact with electrical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If body dryer devices are installed in existing bathrooms or shower stalls, then drying function is provided, but installation requires significant reconfigurations and modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The body dryer device is divided into separate modular components including a shower stall enclosure assembly and a body dryer assembly that can be installed independently. The dryer assembly includes separate housing, heating element, and air flow components that can be configured in different arrangements within the shower stall without requiring complete reconfiguration of the existing bathroom infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The device integrates multiple functions into a single system including shower enclosure, body drying, and hair drying capabilities. The air flow system can be configured to provide different flow patterns for different drying needs, and the housing serves both as structural enclosure and as air distribution manifold, reducing the number of separate installations required.
2Productivity
If electrical components are positioned for effective drying operation, then drying performance is improved, but electrical components may come into contact with water posing health and safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical heating components are extracted from the direct water exposure zone and positioned within the dryer housing that is separated from the shower water area. The heating element is located in a protected compartment where it can effectively heat the air flow without being in direct contact with shower water, eliminating the electrical shock hazard while maintaining drying efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Air acts as an intermediary medium to transfer thermal energy from the heating element to the user's body. The heating element heats the air in the enclosed dryer housing, and this heated air is then directed through controlled air flow paths to dry the user's body and hair, eliminating the need for direct contact between electrical components and water.
3Reliability
If body dryer devices are located away from bathtub or shower stall, then electrical safety is improved, but user cannot be dried shortly after bathing or showering
Solution Approach 1:
The body dryer function is merged with the shower stall enclosure itself, with the dryer housing integrated into the shower stall structure. The air flow system is positioned to directly reach the user's body and hair immediately after they exit the water, eliminating the time delay between showering and drying while maintaining electrical safety through proper component placement and insulation.
4Ease of operation
If standard air distribution panels are used, then air flow is provided, but velocity uniformity requires complex components like baffles, dampers, throttles or valves
Solution Approach 1:
The air distribution system uses locally optimized outlet geometries and positioning to achieve uniform velocity distribution across different zones of the shower stall. Each air outlet is designed with specific directional characteristics appropriate for its location, providing effective air flow to different body areas without requiring global control mechanisms like baffles or dampers.
Solution Approach 2:
The air flow system incorporates adjustable components that allow users to dynamically control air flow velocity and direction based on their drying needs. The system can adapt air flow patterns in real-time without requiring complex mechanical control devices, providing ease of operation while maintaining simplicity.
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 convenient and rapid drying of the body and hair after bathing or showering, reduces installation complexity, and minimizes health risks by keeping electrical components safe from water and moisture.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element assembly selectively operable for providing a heated air flow from the air inlet to the air supply interface
Implementation Method 2
a fan for moving an air flow from the air inlet and through the heating element assembly to the air outlet
Data Source
AI summary
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.