Sterilising Filter Arrangement Apparatus & Method

Abstract

A sterilizing hand-drying apparatus is used to produce a stream of sterilized, heated air for drying hands. The apparatus is provided with an electric control circuit that supplies electrical power to the apparatus. The electric control circuit has a cut-off mechanism that disables the supply of electrical power when the housing is opened. This minimizes the risk of the user being electrocuted when opening the housing.

1 - 122 . (canceled) 
   
   
       123 . A sterilizing hand-drying apparatus adapted to produce a stream of substantially sterilized, heated air for drying hands, the apparatus including:
 a housing;   heating-means positioned in the housing for heating of air useable for drying hands;   inlet-means through which the air, in use, enters the housing and travels to reach the heating-means;   outlet-means through which the air, in use, after being heated by the heating-means, is emitted as heated air useable for drying hands; and   airflow-generation-means adapted to move the air swiftly as an airflow from the inlet-means via the heating-means to the outlet-means;   wherein the apparatus is provided with an electric control circuit that supplies electrical power to the apparatus,   and wherein the electric control circuit is provided with a cut-off mechanism that disables the supply of electrical power when the housing is opened so as to minimize risk of the user being electrocuted when opening the housing.   
   
   
       124 . Apparatus of  claim 123  wherein the cut-off mechanism includes a two-state switch which enables the supply of electrical power only when in the first state, and wherein an actuator is provided within the housing that maintains the switch in the first state when the housing is closed, and which activates the switch into the second state when the housing is opened to thereby disable the supply of electrical power to the apparatus when the housing is opened. 
   
   
       125 . Apparatus of  claim 123  wherein the cut-off mechanism includes a resiliently-mounted switch which enables the supply of electrical power only when activated, and wherein a cut-off-mechanism-activator is provided within the housing and arranged so as to activate the switch when the housing is closed, and to deactivate the switch when the housing is opened thereby to disable the supply of electrical power to the apparatus when the housing is opened. 
   
   
       126 . Apparatus of  claim 125  wherein the resiliently-mounted switch is mounted on a base-mounting to which a hood of the housing is removably attachable, and the cut-off-mechanism-activator is mounted on an interior surface of the hood. 
   
   
       127 . Apparatus of  claims 125  wherein the cut-off-mechanism-activator is mounted on a base-mounting to which a hood of the housing is removably attachable, and the resiliently-mounted switch is mounted on an interior surface of the hood. 
   
   
       128 . Apparatus of  claims 126  wherein the cut-off-mechanism-activator is in the form of a depressor that activates the cut-off mechanism when in contact therewith. 
   
   
       129 . Apparatus of  claim 127  wherein the cut-off-mechanism-activator is in the form of a depressor that activates the cut-off mechanism when in contact therewith. 
   
   
       130 . Apparatus of  claim 126  wherein the base-mounting is adapted to be fastened to an upright mounting surface, such that the hand-drying apparatus is able to be installed onto the upright mounting surface by attaching the housing to the base-mounting. 
   
   
       131 . Apparatus of  claim 127  wherein the base-mounting is adapted to be fastened to an upright mounting surface, such that the hand-drying apparatus is able to be installed onto the upright mounting surface by attaching the housing to the base-mounting. 
   
   
       132 . A baseplate to which a hood of a housing of a sterilising hand-drying apparatus is adapted to be removably attached,
 wherein the hand-drying apparatus is provided with an electric control circuit that supplies electrical power to the apparatus,   and wherein the baseplate is provided with a cut-off mechanism that disables the supply of electrical power to the electric control circuit when, in use with the hood attached to the baseplate, the housing is opened so as to minimise risk of the user being electrocuted when opening the housing.   
   
   
       133 . A baseplate to which a hood of a housing of a sterilising hand-drying apparatus is adapted to be removably attached,
 wherein the hand-drying apparatus is provided with an electric control circuit that supplies electrical power to the apparatus,   and wherein the baseplate is provided with a cut-off mechanism that disables the supply of electrical power to the electric control circuit when, in use with the hood attached to the baseplate, the housing is opened so as to minimise risk of the user being electrocuted when opening the housing, and   wherein the sterilising hand-drying apparatus includes:   a housing;   heating-means positioned in the housing for heating of air useable for drying hands;   inlet-means through which the air, in use, enters the housing and travels to reach the heating-means;   outlet-means through which the air, in use, after being heated by the heating-means, is emitted as heated air useable for drying hands; and   airflow-generation-means adapted to move the air swiftly as an airflow from the inlet-means via the heating-means to the outlet-means.   
   
   
       134 . A sterilising hand-drying apparatus adapted to produce a stream of substantially sterilised, heated air for drying hands, the apparatus including:
 a housing;   heating-means positioned in the housing for heating of air useable for drying hands;   inlet-means through which the air, in use, enters the housing and travels to reach the heating-means;   outlet-means through which the air, in use, after being heated by the heating-means, is emitted as heated air useable for drying hands;   airflow-generation-means adapted to move the air swiftly as an airflow from the inlet-means via the heating-means to the outlet-means; and   filter material adapted to filter the airflow;   wherein the apparatus includes a filter-replacement mechanism that is able to automatically replace the filter material in use with replacement filter material.   
   
   
       135 . Apparatus of  claim 134  wherein the filter-replacement mechanism replaces the filter material in use with replacement filter material periodically after a period of time. 
   
   
       136 . Apparatus of  claim 134  wherein the filter-replacement mechanism replaces the filter material in use with replacement filter material progressively in a continuous or intermittent manner. 
   
   
       137 . Apparatus of  claim 136  wherein the filter material is in the form of a sheet-like strip. 
   
   
       138 . Apparatus of  claim 137  wherein the filter material is conveyed by a motorized reel-mechanism. 
   
   
       139 . Apparatus of  claim 134  wherein the filter material includes bacteria-entrapment-filter-means through which, in use, the airflow passes, and
 wherein the bacteria-entrapment-filter-means, in use, is adapted to trap and retain therein a substantial portion of bacteria in the airflow, such that the airflow leaving the bacteria-entrapment-filter-means is more sterile than when entering the bacteria-entrapment-filter-means.   
   
   
       140 . An auto filter-replacement mechanism to change filter material of a sterilizing hand-drying apparatus, said hand drying apparatus including:
 a housing;   heating-means positioned in the housing for heating of air useable for drying hands;   inlet-means through which the air, in use, enters the housing and travels to reach the heating-means;   outlet-means through which the air, in use, after being heated by the heating-means, is emitted as heated air useable for drying hands;   airflow-generation-means adapted to move the air swiftly as an airflow from the inlet-means via the heating-means to the outlet-means; and   filter material adapted to filter the airflow,   said auto filter-replacement mechanism providing automatic replacement of the filter material in use with replacement filter material.