JPH08164088A - Foot dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Without any special switch operation
It is easy to use, has a simple structure, is an inexpensive product, and is used in a wide range of places such as public baths, leisure centers, nursing homes, hotels, golf courses, etc. Provide a high foot dryer. [Structure] A plurality of blowout holes 1 that are airflow outlets on the upper surface
1, a housing 10 mounted in the housing 10, an air flow generating means 30 for generating a predetermined air flow by a motor 31 and a fan 32, and an air flow generated by the air flow generating means 30 for the housing. A duct 13, which is a ventilation passage for blowing air to the blow-out hole 11 on the upper surface of the housing 10, and a sensor such as a pressure-sensitive sensor 21 which detects that a person is placed at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the housing 10 to detect the air flow generating means 30. And switching means for actuating.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a foot dryer, and more particularly, it detects an occupant sitting on a predetermined position on the upper surface of a housing to generate an air flow, and the air flow is generated on the upper surface of the housing. The present invention relates to a foot drying device that dries a foot by blowing it out from an outlet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a foot dryer has existed as a product, but it is also expensive and has hardly been on the market.
It wasn't so popular at all. These foot dryers are those which sit on a chair or the like at the office or at home, put the feet on the chair, and operate a predetermined switch to blow an air flow to dry the feet.

[0003]

However, in the conventional foot dryer for blowing the air flow to dry the feet, it is necessary to perform a predetermined switch operation each time when using it, and this switch operation is required. Due to the annoyance, the use was sometimes sparse. Moreover, the conventional foot dryer is not suitable for expanding sales because it has a strong image as a health appliance rather than a necessity.

Further, in order to gently wipe a wet foot after taking a bath, it is necessary to bend over and the hip tends to be neglected due to the relatively troublesome operation. Moreover, even if I wiped my feet with a towel, my feet were still damp, and I couldn't completely dry them after a while.
In particular, in recent years, the morning sun has become prevalent, and it has been difficult to take a shower or the like and quickly dry the toes even during busy morning hours. Under such circumstances, although there is a potential demand for a foot dryer, it has not been widely used because of its strong image as a special product and high price.

Therefore, the present invention is an inexpensive product having a simple structure that can be easily used without any special switch operation, and is used not only in general households but also in general households.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a foot dryer that is easy to use and has a widespread use in a wide range of public baths, leisure centers, nursing homes, hotels, golf courses, and the like.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a foot drying apparatus, which has a housing having an air flow outlet on an upper surface thereof, and an air flow generator which is mounted in the housing to generate a predetermined air flow. Means, an air flow path for blowing the air flow generated by the air flow generation means to the air outlet on the upper surface of the housing, and a sensor for detecting that a person is placed at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the housing, and the air flow And a switching means for operating the generating means. Here, the sensor includes, for example, a pressure sensor, a sensor using a strain gauge, a sensor using static electricity, a temperature sensor, a sensor for detecting a weak current, a magnetic sensor, an optical sensor, a sound wave sensor, and the like.

In the foot drying apparatus according to the invention of claim 2, the air flow generating means of claim 1 has a heater to generate warm air.

[0008]

According to the foot drying apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the air flow generating means is activated by detecting that a person is placed at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the housing, and the air flow generating means operates. The generated air flow passes through the air passage and blows out from the air outlet on the upper surface of the housing.

According to the foot drying apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, the air flow generating means having the heater is operated by detecting the presence of a person at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the housing by the sensor, and the air flow is generated. The warm air generated by the generation means passes through the air passage and is blown out from the air outlet on the upper surface of the housing.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a foot drying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing an AA cross section of the foot drying apparatus of FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this foot drying apparatus, an air flow generating means and an air flow path are incorporated inside a housing 10 forming an outer shell.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of blowout holes 11 are formed in the upper surface of the housing 10, and an airflow for drying a foot is blown out from each blowout hole 11. There is. These blow-out holes 11 have a bead-shaped protruding portion 1 so that the holes are not blocked by the soles of the feet even when the feet are placed on them.
The holes are formed in the depressions between the two. The housing 10 may be manufactured by press molding using a steel plate or the like, or may be manufactured by injection molding using a synthetic resin.

A blow-out hole 1 is provided on the rear surface of the upper portion of the housing 10.
The ducts 13 communicating with the No. 1 are respectively arranged, and the air flow generating means 30 are attached to the ends of the ducts 13. The duct 13 functions as an air passage, and may be formed of a soft synthetic resin having a degree of freedom of deformation, or a steel plate or a hard synthetic resin. Support legs 14 are provided at four corners of the bottom surface of the housing 10, and an air intake 1 for introducing outside air into the housing 10 is provided on the rear surface of the housing 10.
5 is formed.

The air flow generating means 30 has a heater 33 around it.
A fan 32 is driven by a motor 31 in which is arranged to generate warm air. Specifically, the fan 32 is fixed to a rotation shaft of the motor 31, and a predetermined space is provided around the motor 31. Heater 3 consisting of heating wire
3 are provided. If a rectifying plate (not shown) or the like is incorporated in the heater 33, the warm air around the motor 31 is heated by the heater 33.
The parts flow more smoothly. An intake section 34 is formed on the end side of the fan 32. Therefore, when the motor 31 is driven and the fan 32 rotates, an air flow is generated by the air sucked from the air intake section 10, and this air flow is warmed when passing through the heater 33 and functions as a hot air blowing path. Warm air for drying the feet blows out from each of the blowout holes 11 through the duct 13. When the heater 33 is not used, that is, when the heater 33 is not in the heating state, the motor 3
The air flow generated by the fan 1 and the fan 32 is not heated and is blown out from each of the blowout holes 11 in the same temperature state.

A pressure sensitive sensor 21 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 10 to detect that a person is placed on or off the upper surface of the housing 10. The pressure sensor 21 functions as a switching unit of the foot dryer, and the motor 31 and the heater 33 of the air flow generating unit 30.
ON / OFF control.

In the foot dryer having the above-described structure, when a person is placed on the upper surface of the housing 10, the pressure sensor 21 senses the person and the air flow generating means 30 is turned on. As a result, the motor 31 of the airflow generating means 30 is driven, the fan 32 is rotated, the heater 33 is heated, and the hot air generated by the airflow generating means 30 is blown from the blowout holes 11 of the housing 10. put out.

When a person descends from the housing 10,
The pressure sensor 21 senses this, and the air flow generating means 30 is turned off. As a result, the motor 31 of the air flow generating means 30 is stopped and the power supply to the heater 33 is stopped.

Therefore, in the foot drying apparatus of the present embodiment, the air flow generating means 30 operates only when a person is placed on the housing 10, and the hot air for drying feet is blown out from each of the blowout holes 11 of the housing 10. Therefore, the wet bare feet can be dried while being mounted on the housing 10. And
The airflow generating means 30 is stopped only by getting off the housing 10.

Here, a schematic structure of an electric circuit of the foot drying apparatus will be described. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of a foot drying apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, two motors 54, 55 are connected in parallel via a power switch 52 and a relay switch 53 to a commercial power source 51 which is a 100 V AC power source. The motors 54 and 55 are DC motors and are connected to the commercial power supply 51 via a rectifier circuit (not shown). In a normal use state, the power switch 52 is in an on state, and when a person gets on and off the foot dryer, the relay switch 53 is turned on and off through the pressure sensor 21, and the motor is turned off. 54, 55
Drive is controlled. The motors 54 and 55 correspond to the motor 31 of the airflow generating means 30 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Further, the heater 5 is attached to each motor 54, 55.
6, 57 series bodies are connected in parallel, and each heater 5
The motors 6 and 57 are arranged around the motors 54 and 55 at predetermined intervals. By turning on the heater switch 58, these heaters 56 and 57 can be heated. Therefore, when the heater switch 58 is in the ON state, when a person gets on and off the foot dryer, the relay switch 53 is turned on and off via the pressure sensor 21, and the heaters 56 and 57 are also turned on and off. To be done. The heaters 56 and 57 correspond to the heater 33 described above. The heaters 56 and 57 may be connected in parallel to the motors 54 and 55, respectively, and if the heater switch 58 is always turned on, the motor 31 and the heater 33 are always connected according to the operation of the limit switch 53. Work at the same time. A bimetal 59 for preventing heating is inserted in the heaters 56 and 57 to ensure safety. In addition, a fuse 60 is inserted to ensure the safety of the entire circuit. Furthermore, although the commercial power supply 51 is used in this circuit configuration, the motors 54, 5 are replaced by batteries or the like instead of the commercial power supply 51.
It is also possible to drive 5 and activate the air flow generating means 30.

In this foot dryer, the pressure sensor 2
Although it is configured to control the drive of the motors 54 and 55 by the on / off operation of the relay switch 53 via 1, as a sensor that detects that a person is getting on and off at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the housing 10. Are not necessarily limited to the pressure sensor 21.

For example, a sensor using a strain gauge may be used. By disposing the sensor using the strain gauge on the upper surface of the housing 10, a pressure-electric conversion element mounted on the pressure receiving plate of the strain gauge. Through housing 1
It is also possible to electrically output the amount of strain caused by a person getting on and off the 0 upper surface, operate the relay switch 53, and control the air flow generating means 30 to be turned on and off. Thus, the sensor using the strain gauge detects that a person is placed on the upper surface of the housing 10 at a predetermined position, and the pressure-sensitive sensor 21 detects that a person is placed on the upper surface of the housing 10 at a predetermined position. Similarly to the case, the airflow generating means 30 operates, and the airflow generated by the airflow generating means 30 passes through the duct 13 and blows out from the blowout hole 11 on the upper surface of the housing 10.

Further, it may be a sensor using static electricity used for a switch of an elevator or the like. By disposing the sensor using static electricity on the upper surface of the housing 10, a person can be placed on the upper surface of the housing 10. It is also possible to electrically output the change in the amount of static electricity due to the descending, operate the relay switch 53, and control the air flow generating means 30 to be turned on and off.

Further, a temperature sensor for detecting the body temperature of a person who gets on and off the upper surface of the housing 10, a sensor for detecting a weak current, a magnetic sensor, etc. can be used in the same manner as above. In addition to this, an optical sensor, a sound wave sensor, or the like, which senses that the foot of a person who gets on and off the housing 10 approaches, may be provided on the upper surface of the housing 10. Some optical sensors utilize infrared rays, some utilize photocells, and some acoustic wave sensors utilize ultrasonic waves.

As described above, in the foot drying apparatus of this embodiment, the housing 10 having the plurality of air outlets 11 which are the air outlets on the upper surface, and the motor 10 and the fan 32 which are mounted in the housing 10 are used. Air flow generating means 30 for generating a predetermined air flow, and the air flow generated by the air flow generating means 30 for blowing out the air flow 11 on the upper surface of the housing 10.
The duct 13 which is a ventilation passage for blowing air to the pressure sensor 2 and the presence of a person sitting at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the housing 10.
1 and other sensors to operate the air flow generating means 30 and a switching means having a circuit configuration as shown in FIG.

When the pressure sensor 21 senses that a person is placed at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the housing 10, the air flow generating means 30 operates and the air flow generated by this air flow generating means 30. Passes through the duct 13 (air passage) and blows out from the blowout hole 11 on the upper surface of the housing 10. That is, the airflow generating means 30 automatically operates when a person is placed on the housing 10, and the airflow generating means 30 automatically stops only by getting off the housing 10. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform a troublesome switch operation as in the conventional foot dryer, and it can be used easily and is convenient. As a result, not only general households but also public baths, leisure centers, nursing homes, hotels, golf courses, and the like are widely used, and the degree of popularization increases. In addition, since it can be installed in few places, space saving can be promoted and it is easy to use.

In particular, in this embodiment, the air flow generating means 30
Has a heater 33 around the motor 31, and the wind generated by the rotation of the fan 32 is heated when passing through the motor 31 portion to become warm air, which passes through the duct 13 and the housing 10. Since the air can be blown out from the blowout holes 11 on the upper surface, the airflow generating means 30 can efficiently generate the warm air.

If the heater 33 is operated simultaneously with the motor 31, the blowout hole 11 of the housing 10
Since hot air is constantly blown from the feet to dry the wet feet in a shorter time, the drying efficiency is improved, and the time for drying the feet can be shortened even when the user is busy. Moreover, in cold winter months, the warm air will keep your feet cool, which will increase the utility value.

By the way, in the above embodiment, the housing 1
Although the foot drying device in which the air flow such as warm air for drying the foot is simply blown out from the blowout hole 11 of 0, the ozone generator is provided in the duct 13 or the like so that the air flow mixed with ozone is blown out. By doing so, there is a bactericidal effect and a deodorizing effect, and the bare feet can be dried cleanly. Further, if an ultraviolet ray generator is provided below the blowout hole 11 and the foottip is irradiated with the ultraviolet ray from the blowout hole 11, the germicidal action of the ultraviolet ray also has the effect of preventing athlete's foot.

In addition to this, in the above embodiment, the housing 10
The foot drying device in which a plurality of air outlets 11 are provided on the upper surface of the housing and the air stream for foot drying is blown upward has been described. However, a protrusion is provided in the front of the housing 10, and the air outlet is provided in the protrusion. An air stream for foot drying may be blown out horizontally along the upper surface of 10. Further, by providing a cover or the like in front of the housing 10 and providing blow-out holes in the cover so that the air flow for drying the feet may be blown out, the toes may be thrust into the cover so that the toes may be lowered. It can also be dried more effectively.

In the above embodiment, the two motors 31
The foot drying device having a structure in which an air flow generating means 30 including a heater 33 and the like is used to generate and blow an air flow such as warm air for drying the foot has been described. The air flow generating means 30 may be used to generate and blow the air flow for drying the feet.

[0033]

As described above, in the foot drying apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the air flow generating means is activated by detecting the presence of a person at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the housing by the sensor. Since the air flow generated by the air flow generating means passes through the air blowing path and blows out from the air outlet on the upper surface of the housing, it can be easily used without any special switch operation,
Easy to use.

In the foot drying apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the air flow generating means having the heater is operated by detecting that a person is placed on a predetermined position on the upper surface of the housing, and the air flow generating means is operated. Since the hot air generated in step 2 passes through the air passage and blows out from the outlet on the top surface of the housing, it can be used easily without any special switch operation, and the hot air can be efficiently generated by the air flow generation means. , Drying efficiency of wet feet is improved, and the feet do not get cold even in winter.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a foot dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an AA cross section of the foot drying apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of a foot dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Housing 11 Blow-out hole 13 Duct 15 Air intake 21 Pressure sensitive sensor 30 Air flow generation means 31 Motor 32 Fan 33 Heater

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A housing having an air flow outlet on an upper surface, an air flow generating unit that is mounted in the housing to generate a predetermined air flow, and an air flow generated by the air flow generating unit. An air blowing path for blowing air to the air outlet on the upper surface of the housing, and a switching means for activating the air flow generating means by detecting with a sensor that a person is placed at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the housing. Foot dryer. 2. The foot drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air flow generating means has a heater to generate warm air.