U.S. patent number RE32,616 [Application Number 06/892,305] was granted by the patent office on 1988-03-01 for towel warmer and holder.
Invention is credited to Joe Graham.
United States Patent |
RE32,616 |
Graham |
March 1, 1988 |
Towel warmer and holder
Abstract
.[.This invention relates to electric warming of towels, with.].
.Iadd.An electric warmer of towels has .Iaddend.a vertical member
providing support to a series of spaced parallel horizontal members
which receive, store and warm the towels. The heating element,
being a line type heater, is enclosed within the vertical support
member and is connected to any appropriate standard A.C. power
source.
Inventors: |
Graham; Joe (Milo, IA) |
Family
ID: |
27053547 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/892,305 |
Filed: |
August 4, 1986 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
500524 |
Jun 2, 1983 |
04559442 |
Dec 17, 1985 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
219/385; 219/201;
219/521; 219/540 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K
10/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47K
10/06 (20060101); A47K 10/00 (20060101); H05B
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;34/243R,239
;219/385,386,387,200,521,342,201,214,540,541 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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390293 |
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Apr 1933 |
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GB |
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638203 |
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Jun 1950 |
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GB |
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1109363 |
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Apr 1968 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Goldberg; E. A.
Assistant Examiner: Walberg; Teresa J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Herink; Kent A. Pingel; G.
Brian
Claims
That which is claimed is:
1. A device for warming and holding towels comprising in
combination:
a single, solid vertical support means, attached thereto, by
bonding means, a single hollow vertical support means;
attached to the hollow vertical support means, by bonding means, a
plurality of horizontal, spaced apart holding means;
contained within the hollow vertical support means, a heating means
for the purpose of heating the hollow vertical support means and
the plurality of horizontal spaced apart holding means;
the horizontal holding means are spaced apart a sufficient vertical
distance to receive and store a folded towel;
attached to each horizontal holding means is a flap, of sufficient
size to reach the next lower horizontal holding means. .Iadd.2. A
rack assembly for simultaneously holding and warming a plurality of
towels, said assembly comprising:
(a) a heater support member at the rear of the rack assembly that
is vertically aligned and is formed from a material having a high
coefficient of thermal conductivity;
(b) at least two vertically spaced apart plates formed from a
material having a high coefficient of thermal conductivity and
attached to said heater support member to extend outwardly
therefrom for forming an open front pocket into which a towel may
be positioned for being heated by surface-to-surface contact with
said plates;
(c) means for attaching said plates to said support member as to
permit thermal conductivity therebetween; and
(d) an electrical heating means mounted in fixed position adjacent
said heater support member along substantially all of the vertical
height of said support member for conductive heating of said
support member and said
plates attached thereto..Iaddend. .Iadd.3. A rack assembly as
recited in claim 2, wherein said assembly further comprises:
(a) a thermal insulating barrier having one side attached to said
heater support member and an opposite side; and
(b) a rear support member attached to the opposite side of said
insulating barrier..Iaddend. .Iadd.4. A rack assembly as recited in
claim 2, wherein said rack assembly is adapted for installation in
a recessed portion of a wall of a room..Iaddend.
Description
.Iadd.This is an application for Reissue of U.S. Pat. No.
4,559,442. .Iaddend.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to warming of towels which provide the user
a soothing and warming experience when leaving the shower. Various
forms of this device have been made with the majority being heated
by light bulbs; see U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,629 by electric plates; see
U.S. Pat. No. 3,457,389 or by vertical heating elements; see U.S.
Pat. No. 4,117,309. The intent of all of these units were for use
in motels or hotels to provide a desired and needed service to
attract customers for these businesses. Such intent is most
desirable but has not been achieved for various reasons. The
present invention is designed with these intentions in mind and
incorporates several features to overcome deficiencies of prior
versions to achieve the aim of being commercially acceptable.
One object of the present invention is to provide a simple
electrically heated towel warmer to be installed or to replace
existing towel holders used in motels and hotels.
Another object of this invention is to provide an alternative
heater for towels designed to hold towels and to be used primarily
in new construction and be recessed into the bathroom wall.
Another object of this invention is to provide a unit which is
simple to operate with no elaborate control system to control the
heat applied to the towels.
Another object of this invention is to provide an alternative
version for use in the home so the same comforts obtained from the
commercial units are available in the home.
These and other objects, features and advantages of this invention
will become more easily understood by reference to the drawings and
detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of an electrically heated holder
for towels.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an electrically heated holder for
towels.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the electrically heated holder
taken substantially along line 3--3 FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line
4--4 FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the heater element insert in
the vertical member.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative design of the
invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view with portions missing to show another
alternative design of the invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative installation of the
invention.
FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line
9--9 of FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line
10--10 FIG. 8.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative design of the
invention for use in a home.
FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line
12--12 FIG. 11.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, this improved towel warmer and
holder is shown in FIG. 1 and is designed to be mounted on the wall
in the bathroom area of a motel or hotel facility by common wood
screws (12) of sufficient length and strength to support the
vertical support member (11); attached to this member by welding
means is a vertical tube (15) containing a heating element (22 in
FIG. 2), affixed to the vertical support tube (15) are a series of
horizontal spaced apart plates (13) and (16); plates (13) are of a
size to accommodate wash cloths and by means of separation in the
vertical support member (15) are not heated; plates (16) are of a
size sufficient to accommodate bath towels (not shown) when folded
in the customary manner. A resistance line heater wire (22) FIG. 2,
when connected to a standard 110 a.c. volt outlet heats the
vertical support tube (15) which transmits the heat by conduction
to the horizontal plates (16) thereby warming the towels. The
vertical support tube (15) and horizontal plates (16) are made of a
highly conductive material such as aluminum. The vertical support
tube (15) is insulated by insulation barriers (14) from the
vertical support member (11) thereby preventing heat transfer to
the wall of the bathroom. A soft plug (20) in FIG. 4, is used to
seal the bottom of the vertical support tube (15) to prevent heat
from escaping. Line heater wires (22) exit the support tube (15)
thru holes (21) in the soft plug (20) and have sufficient length to
be connected to a common electrical outlet as previously described.
Under normal operating conditions the heat generated by the line
heater (22) and transmitted to the horizontal plates (16) is
sufficient to warm towels to a comfortable degree yet not present a
danger to the user by touching the plates (16).
FIGS. 6 and 7 present alternative designs of the same basic concept
except that horizontal circular tubes (31) in FIG. 6 and
rectangular shaped tubes (41) in FIG. 7 are filled with a liquid
which is warmed by a resistance line heater (as in the preferred
embodiment) which heats a vertical support tube (15) which in turn
heats, by conduction means, the liquid contained in the horizontal
tubes (31) and (41) respectfully.
Thus far the preferred embodiment, FIG. 1, of the device and the
alternative versions, FIGS. 6 and 7 have been designed to be
mounted on the interior wall of a bathroom as replacements of the
standard towel holders now used in motels and hotels. FIGS. 8, 9,
and 10 provide for an alternative installation of the invention for
use primarily in new construction. These views portray the device
installed by recessing it into the bathroom wall. Standard studding
(55) FIG. 10 is shown with a recessed opening (50) being shaped to
accommodate the device. The device is mounted to the rear wall (56)
by the same method described previously. In this version flaps (27)
are mounted on the exterior of the plates (13) and (16) to provide
a smooth and decorative appearance in the room. Each opening for
towels has an individual flap.
A home version of the device is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. In this
version two vertically mounted sheets of aluminum (61) contain a
shaped tube (67) which in turn contains a line resistance heater
wire (65). The heater wire (65), when connected to a standard 110
volt a.c. outlet, common to all households, heats the shaped tube
(67) which heats, by conduction, the sheets (61) in turn heating
the towel which is draped over the sheets. Support chains (63)
removably affix the device to a standard home towel rack (69).
In describing the preferred embodiment, certain terms and
specifications have been used; these are used in a generic sense
and not for purposes of limitation.
Having thus fully described the preferred embodiment of the
invention and the alternative designs of the same:
* * * * *