Body Dryer Apparatus

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/391,711, filed Aug. 2, 2021, titled “BODY DRYER APPARATUS,” which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/118,178, filed Nov. 25, 2020, titled “BODY DRYER,” the entire contents of both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Typically, individuals use a towel to dry themselves after taking a bath or shower, swimming in a swimming pool, or finishing an exercise workout. Used towels are often placed in a locker, bag, or other laundry bin. Used towels may appear untidy if not properly stored. Additionally, it is typically necessary to launder used towels so they can be used again.

The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a body dryer apparatus that can be used to dry various portions of the human body. Oftentimes, individuals use a towel to dry themselves off in variety of different settings, such as after taking a shower, leaving a swimming pool, or finishing an exercise workout or a sports game. Afterwards, the used towel needs to be laundered for the next use. However, in many cases, used towels can be neglected and left in locker rooms, pool areas, gym bags, and other areas. As such, the neglected towels can make an area appear to be untidy and can be a source of odor in some cases.

The embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a body dryer apparatus that offers many advantages, as compared to using a towel or in addition to using a towel. The body dryer offers forced, heated air over a relatively large area, suitable to dry the body of an individual. The body dryer can be wall-mounted in locker rooms, swimming pool areas, shower enclosures, and other suitable areas where an individual may need to dry off. The body dryer is extended in length, vertically, and can be used to dry the entire body of an individual. The body dryer also offers a number of different settings to control the volume and rate of forced air, the temperature of the forced air, and the amount of time the body dryer runs before turning off.

The body dryer can be used along with (e.g., before, after, or during) towel drying, or as a substitute for towel drying. The body dryer can also be used for other purposes, such as warming shower enclosures, helping to dry shower enclosures that are wet, or even warming individuals and certain spaces in some cases.

The embodiments can be constructed in a number of different formats or form factors, including modular assembly formats. The modular assembly format of the body dryer simplifies the installation process. Relatively less time is required to install the modular assembly of the body dryer. In one example, the modular assembly can be manufactured and shipped to the installation site in a complete module, between and including 16-inch on-center wooden or metal studs. The modular assembly can be positioned into a section of unfinished wall and secured in place. An electrician can provide electrical connections to the body dryer before the drywall or other wall covering is installed over the modular assembly, and one or more vent louvers of the modular assembly can be installed over the drywall to finish installation of the body dryer.

In the context outlined above, various embodiments of a modular dryer assembly that integrates into a wall structure are described herein. In one embodiment, the modular dryer assembly includes parallel structural members having first and second ends. An air blower is secured between the parallel structural members, for directing an air flow toward the second end of the structural members. A heating chamber receives the air flow from the air blower and exposes the air flow to a heating element. An air duct chamber extends from the heating chamber toward the second end of the structural member. A vent louver structure is attached to the air duct chamber. The vent louver structure is configured to direct the air flow from the air duct chamber to an exterior area.

Turning to the drawings,illustrates a block diagram of various components of an example dryer apparatus.is provided as a representative example of the concepts and embodiments described herein, an example installation of the embodiments, and an example of certain components of the embodiments.is not an exhaustive illustration of all components of the body dryers described herein, as many components are obscured from view. Also, one or more of the components illustrated inand described below can be omitted in some cases. Additionally, particular examples of the dryer apparatusare also described below with reference toand the remaining drawings.

As shown, the dryer apparatusis installed behind a wall, which can be formed using drywall, wallboard, cement board, or other suitable sheet material used to form walls, with or without tile, glass, or other covering materials installed over the sheet material. The dryer apparatuscan be installed in a number of different locations, including in a shower enclosure, in a larger bathroom, in a locker room, in a garage, or in any other area where drying, and particularly body drying, would be helpful to individuals.

Among other components, the dryer apparatusincludes a vent louvreinstalled over the walland a number of control buttonsto control the operation of the dryer apparatus. The remaining components of the dryer apparatusare installed and hidden behind (and within) the wall. A block diagram representative of the remaining components of the dryer apparatusis provided at the bottom of. As shown, the dryer apparatusincludes a controller, which is electrically coupled to a blower, a heating element, a control panel, and sensors, among other components. Examples of other components of the dryer apparatusinclude relays or contacts for controlling the flow of power to the blowerand the heating element, fuses, venting or ducting, thermal, vibration, and sound dampeners, air intakes and intake covers, air filters, fasteners, structural members, and other components.

The dryer apparatuscan be designed to any suitable size and dimensions. As compared to other dryers, such as hand dryers and hair dryers, the dryer apparatusis generally designed to provide forced airover a relatively larger area, such as over the extent or substantial extent of the body of an individual. In that context, the vent louvrecan be between about 2-18 inches in width (i.e., from right to left on the page) and between 2-6 feet in height (i.e., from top to bottom on the page), such as 3 feet, 2.5 feet, 3 feet, 3.5 feet, 4 feet, 4.5 feet, 5 feet, 5.5 feet, or 6 feet in height. Thus, when an individual is standing in proximity to the vent louvre, the forced airis ejected from the dryer apparatusalong the length of the vent louvre, to blow against a substantial extent of the body of the individual.

The controllercan include an embedded controller, processor, or processing circuit, including memory. The controllercan control and direct the overall operation of the dryer apparatus, including the operations of the blowerand the heating elements, based on feedback or control signals from the control panels, the sensors, and other elements. The controllercan be directed by firmware, the execution of computer-readable instructions (i.e., software), or other suitable logic (e.g., including state machine or embedded logic), and be configured through the logic to direct the operation of the dryer apparatusas described herein. In some cases, the dryer apparatuscan include a network interface controller, such as a wired or wireless (e.g., WI-FI®, BLUETOOTH®, etc.) interface for data communications. The network interface controller can also be coupled to the controllerto control operations of the dryer apparatus, to communicate data on the operations or operating status of the dryer apparatus, or for other purposes.

The blowercan be embodied as one or more blower motors and fan blades or assemblies suitable for driving the forced airthough the venting and ducting of the dryer apparatusand, ultimately, through the vent louvre. The volume and velocity of the forced aircan be directed by the controller, based on user input provided at the control panelusing the buttons. The blowercan include one or more single-speed or variable-speed motors, of any suitable type for the application and purpose. The blowercan be arranged along with the heating element, with intermediary venting and ducting, to direct forced air generated by the blowerover the heating elementand through the vent louvreas described herein.

The heating elementcan be embodied as one or more heating elements that convert electrical energy into heat through the process of Joule heating. Electric current, which can be turned on and off through a relay, for example, can flow through the heating element, which converts the electric energy into heat. The heating elementcan include one or more wires, ribbons, fins, or other elements to distribute the current and generation of heat, and can be formed from metal (e.g., nicrhome, kanthal, cupronickel, etc.), ceramic, semiconductor, polymer, or other materials.

The control panelcan include the buttons, among other interface elements that permit a user of the dryer apparatusto control its operation. The control panelcan be designed for both wet and dry operating environments. As examples, the buttonscan be capacitive or thin, push-button style buttons under a single, continuous surface of the control panel, for easy cleaning and maintenance. The control panelcan include buttons to separately control power (i.e., on/off operation), heat (i.e., temperature of the forced air), volume of the forced air, and time, although other controls are within the scope of the embodiments. The control panelcan also include one or more indicator lights, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) or other lights, to present visual indicators of the current operating state and status of the dryer apparatus.

The sensorscan include temperature sensors, current sensors, proximity sensors, and other sensors to direct the operation of the dryer apparatus. Feedback signals from the sensorscan be electrically coupled to the controller. As examples, the sensorscan include a temperature sensor to provide a temperature feedback signal to the controller, to control the temperature of the forced air. The sensors can also include current or power draw sensors to provide a power feedback signal to the controller, which can be relied upon to monitor the operation of the heating element. The dryer apparatuscan also include a proximity sensor, in one example, as a type of interlock to control the operation of the dryer apparatus. In that case, the dryer apparatusmay be operable only if an individual is standing within a certain proximity to the dryer apparatus. Other sensorscan be incorporated into the control panel to detect fingers manipulating buttons.

Turning to more particular examples,is a perspective view of a dryer apparatusfor drying an individual according to an example embodiment described herein.illustrate cross-sectional views of the dryer apparatusshown in. The dryer apparatusis a more particular example of the dryer apparatusshown in. In, the wall material (e.g., drywall, cement board, etc.) is omitted from view. The wall material can be used to conceal various components of the dryer apparatusand provide a consistent visual appearance with the surround wall areas.

The dryer apparatuscan be constructed as a modular apparatus or assembly and delivered as a single unit to a job site. During installation, the dryer apparatuscan be attached to a wall frame, such as between the header and the footer of the framing for a new wall. As examples, the dryer apparatuscan be installed in various indoor and outdoor residential and commercial settings, such as in shower enclosures, locker rooms, gym areas, swimming pool areas, spa areas, and other suitable areas.

Referring among, the dryer apparatusincludes a first structural member, a second structural member, a blower compartment, a heating chamber, an air duct chamber, a spacer ring, spacing structures-, a vent louver structure, a control panel, and other components. In the modular assembly format shown in, the first structural member, the second structural member(collectively referred to as “the structural members”), and the spacing structures-are used as framing and support members for other components of the dryer apparatus. Thus, the other components of the dryer apparatus, including the blower compartment, heating chamber, air duct chamber, etc., are mechanically fastened and supported by the framing and support members.

The structural membershave a first endand a second end. The structural memberscan be arranged and positioned in parallel to each other, as shown. The structural membersmay be spaced apart in a range between 8 inches and 32 inches apart. As one example, the structural memberscan be about 16 inches apart, similar to typical spacing for wall studs. In some embodiments, the structural memberscan be embodied as two by four dimensional wood or metal framing. However, the size and relative positioning of the structural memberscan vary. Further, although the structural membersare substantially straight in the illustrated embodiments, the shape of the structural memberscan also vary. Additionally, the number of structural membersused in the dryer apparatuscan vary. When installed in a home or other setting, the structural memberscan be attached to a wall frame of a building structure. For example, the structural memberscan be secured in place between a top or header frame member, a bottom or footer frame member, and other structural components of a building (see). In other examples, however, the structural membersand the spacing structures-can be omitted, and the dryer apparatuscan be manufactured and shipped to customers without them.

The blower compartmentcan be embodied as an area for housing certain components of the dryer apparatus, including the components for air intake, generating forced air flow, and heating the forced air flow. In that context, the blower compartmentprovides an area for mechanical and electrical components of the dryer apparatus, such as a blower motor, a controller compartment(see), and other components. In the example shown, the blower compartmentresides between the structural membersand exists largely behind or within the wall when the dryer apparatusis installed.

The dryer apparatusalso includes an access panelfor installation over the blower compartment. The access panelencloses the blower compartmentto some extent, particularly to the outside of the wall in which the dryer apparatusis installed. The access panelcan be formed from metal, plastic, or other suitable materials and forms an enclosure with air intake vents. The access panelcan be a removable component of the dryer apparatusthat provides access to the mechanical components in the blower compartment. In one example, the access panelcan include magnetic latchesA andB (see), among others, for securing a front panel of the access panelover the blower compartment. The magnetic latchesA andB can be secured or otherwise embedded in flanges that extend inward from a periphery of the access panel, as shown in FIG.B. The front panel of the access panelcan be formed from metal and adhere to the magnetic latchesA andB. When the front panel of the access panelis removed, an operator has access to the mechanical and electrical components in the blower compartmentand the heating chamber, for easy servicing of the dryer apparatus.

As shown, the blower compartmentis positioned in between the structural membersand at the first endof the structural members. The first endof the structural membersis raised relative to the ground or floor when the dryer apparatusis installed. Thus, the blower compartmentis positioned to avoid water from reaching the air intake ventsat the sides of the access panel. As such, the blower compartmentwill typically be positioned at a relatively high position along the wall, such as near the ceiling. The height of the structural memberscan be adjusted in order to fit the dimension of the wall frame.

The blowershown inandis one example of the blowershown in. A cross-sectional view of the bloweris shown in, with the motor of the bloweromitted from view. The blowercan include a blower motor (not shown in) and the fan blades shown in, among other components for generating the forced air flowthough the venting and ducting of the dryer apparatus. The blowercan include a single-speed or variable-speed motor, of any suitable type for the application and purpose. As shown, the bloweris arranged along with intermediary venting and ducting, to direct the forced air flowfrom the blowerover the heating element. In other examples, the blowercan be embodied as any suitable type of blower with a motor and fan blades to create the forced air flow

The controller compartmentcan include an enclosure for housing certain electrical, mechanical, and electro-mechanical components of the dryer apparatus, including the controller, a power converter for the controller, and the power relays or power semiconductor switches, fuses, and other components. Among other components, the controllercan be secured within the controller compartment(see). As noted above, the controllercan be electrically coupled to other components of the dryer apparatus, including the blower motorand the heating element, through power relays or power semiconductor switches in some cases. The controller compartmentcan be a junction box, as shown in, among other suitable enclosures. In other examples, the controller compartmentcan be larger or smaller than that shown in, and the controller compartmentcan be positioned at other locations between the structural members.

The dryer apparatuscan be electrically connected to power, such as 110V or 220V electric power service at any suitable wattage, and the power converter for the controllercan convert this power source to a low voltage (e.g., 12V, 10V, 5V, etc.) power source for the controller. The 110V or 220V service can also be regulated (i.e., connected or switched on, disconnected or switched off, or ramped) by power relays or power semiconductor switches electrically coupled between the power service and the blower motorand the heating element. The controllercan direct the power relays or power semiconductor switches to control the flow of power to the blower motorand the heating elementbased on user control provided at the control paneland other logic implemented by the controller.

The heating chamberof the dryer apparatuscan be embodied as a compartment for securing and housing the heating elementand for receiving the air flowfrom the blower motor, exposing the air flowto the heating element(see), and providing the heated air flowto the air duct chamber. As shown in, the heating chambercan have a tapered shape to funnel the air flowinto the air duct chamber. The heating chambercan be constructed of sheet metal in one example, although other suitable materials can be relied upon.

The air duct chamberprovides a fluid passageway for the air flowto travel from the heating chamberto the vent louver structure. Although the air duct chamberis shown as having a rectangular shape in, the shape can vary. The air duct chamberhas a region which includes openings () that enable the air flowto travel to the vent louver structure.

The spacer ringcan be embodied as a ring of compressible foam or other material that provides a buffer between the air duct chamberand the vent louver structure. The spacer ringcan provide a buffer for the reduction of noise, the exclusion of water, maintaining the separation of heat, and for other purposes. The spacer ringcan be formed in any suitable dimensions and be positioned at any suitable location on the front surface of the air duct chamber. In one example, the spacer ringis larger in peripheral dimensions than the vent louver structure.

The spacing structures-(collectively “the spacing structures”) are support structures that are attached and secured between one or more of the structural members. The spacing structurescan be oriented laterally, at an angle, and in other suitable orientations.illustrates that multiple spacing structuresare oriented laterally and are attached between the first structural memberand the second structural member. The spacing structuressupport the air duct chamber. For example,illustrates that the spacing structureshave a cut-out or recessed region in which the air duct chambercan be positioned for structural support.

The vent louver structurecan be one or more vent structures for the air flowto travel from the air duct chamberto an exterior area beyond the dyer apparatus. The vent louver structurecan be secured and attached to the air duct chamber, as described in further detail below. The vent louver structurehas mechanical structures (e.g., fins or blades) for directing the air flow. The mechanical structures of the vent louver structurecan direct the air flowfrom openings of the air duct chamberthrough the vent louver structure. As such, the air flowfirst travels downward though the air duct chamber. Then, the air flowcan travel laterally through the openings (e.g., see air duct openingsinand) in the air duct chamberand through the vent louver structure. The air flowpassing through the vent louver structurecan be directed onto a nearby individual for drying. As examples, the vent louver structurecan be constructed from stainless steel, galvanized steel, plastic, or combinations thereof, and other suitable materials can be used.

The vent louver structurecan be embodied as a single structure or multiple segments. The segments of the vent louver structurecan be connected to each other and also attached to the air duct chamber, as described in further detail below. The vent louver structurecan include a number of baffle slots or fins. The vent louver structurealso includes a cover plateas shown in. The cover platecan conceal fasteners and other structural components of the vent louver structure, which are described below with reference to. In some embodiments, the cover platecan be formed from metal and magnetically latch or adhere to the vent louver structure. The cover platecan be constructed from various types of metals or types of plastic.

The control panelcan include one or more buttons to control the operations of the dryer apparatus. The control panelcan include a button for adjusting the temperature of the air flow, a button for adjusting the speed of the air flow, a button for powering on/off the dryer apparatus, a button for setting a timer for the dryer apparatus, and other suitable buttons. In some embodiments, the buttons include touch push-button style buttons under a single, continuous surface in order to enable wet fingers to activate the controls. In some embodiments, the control panelcan include a display and other visual indicators to indicate the state of various operations related to the dryer apparatus.

The heating elementcan be secured to the interior walls of an upper regionof the heating chamber. The heating elementcan be secured in place within the heating chamberusing intermediary heat insulators or dampers, vibration dampers, or other offsets to centrally position and separate the heating elementfrom the heating chamber. The upper region of the heating chamberhas a rectangular shape, and a lower regionof the heating chamberhas a tapered shape. The width “W” and the depth “D” of the lower regiondecrease in order to compress the air flow, as it is provided to the air duct chamber. As such, the upper area of the lower regionhas a larger width “W” and depth “D” than the bottom area of the lower region. Additionally, the shapes of the various regions of the heating chambercan vary.

also illustrates an upper region of the air duct chamber. The upper region of the air duct chambercan funnel the air flowfrom the heating chamberdown to a lower region of the air duct chamber(). The air duct chambercan be attached to the spacing structurewith a fastener. The air duct chambercan be positioned in a recessed regionof the spacing structure. The depth of the recessed regioncan be greater than the depth of the air duct chamber, in one example.

With the access panelremoved, an operator can access the various components that may require service through an access panel opening. For example, the blower motoris accessible through the access panel. When the blower motoris removed, the heating elementcan also be accessed.

Accordingly, when the dryer apparatusis installed in a finished wall structure, a service operator does not have to tear into the wall in order to service the components of the dryer apparatus.

illustrates a cross-sectional view of the middle region of the air duct chamber, the control panel, portions of the vent louvre structure, and other suitable components. The air duct chamberis attached to the vent louvre structureby one or more fasteners,(collectively “the fasteners”). The fastenerscan be used to adjust the surface of the vent louvre structure correspond to a thickness of a substrate material for the surrounding wall. For example, the thickness of drywall can differ from the thickness of cement board, and the wall can also vary in thickness depending upon the type of tile or other covering used. The fastenercan be inserted through the vent louvre structureto such a degree in order for the surface of the vent louvre structureto set and rest upon the wall. For example, the fastenercan be screwed into the vent louvre structureuntil the surface corresponds to the surrounding wall. Each segment of the vent louvre structurecan have one or more fastenersfor attaching the segment to the air duct chamber. Further, two adjacent segments of the vent louvre structurecan form a segment connection. The structural components forming the segment connectionwill be described in.

As shown in, the top segment of the vent louvre structureis secured, in part, behind the control panel. The attachment comprises the top segment of the vent louvre structureand the control panelhaving extension structures that interlock. Two buttons are displayed on the control paneland two additional buttons are omitted from view in. The control panelis also secured by a spring, which fits behind the drywall, cement board, or other wall substrate.

Additionally, the air duct chamberhas multiple air duct openings. Although only one is visible in, several other air duct openings are spaced throughout the lower region of the air duct chamber. The air duct openingis a passageway for the air flowto travel from the air duct chamberthrough the vent louvre structure, as indicated by the arrows for the air flow. In some embodiments, the air duct openingcan have a perimeter that is curved and extends toward the vent louvre structure. The curved perimeter can reduce the resistance of the air flowand prevent air noise (e.g., whistling).

With reference to, shown are different views of a portion of the vent louvre structure. The vent louver structureshown in, andA-C is one example of the vent louvreshown in, and other shapes, sizes, types, and styles of vent louvres can be relied upon.illustrates a front perspective view of the vent louvre structure, andillustrates a back perspective view of the vent louvre structure. The vent louvre structurecan be comprised of one or more segments-(collectively “the segments”). The segmentsinclude one or more bafflesthat are positioned at an angle. The bafflesare used to direct the air flow

As shown in, the segmentsinterlock together to form the vent louvre structure. Each segmentcan also include a wedgethat recedes away from the bafflesand toward the air duct chamberwhen attached to the dryer apparatus.illustrates a rear view of the wedge. As such, the wedgeforms a recessed area from a front view of the wedge. The wedgecan be constructed to direct the air flowtoward the baffles. Within the wedge, each segmentcan include a wedge opening. The wedge openingcan be used to receive fastener. An operator can adjust the segmentto match the thickness of a wall substrate by a degree in which the fasteneris inserted (e.g., by screwing the fastener) into the wedge opening.

illustrate that the segmentscan vary in their configuration. For example, segmenthas a different baffle arrangement than segments,. Segmentis constructed to be situated in a top portion or a bottom position of an arrangement for the vent louvre structure. Segmentalso includes an extension tab. The extension tabcan interlock with a portion of the control panel. The extension tabhas a lateral recessed area. Additionally,illustrate the segment connectionsbetween two adjacent segments.

illustrates a perspective view of the segmentof the vent louvre structure.illustrates that the segmenthas a protrusionon a top portion of the segment. The segmenthas a segment openingon a bottom portion of the segment. The protrusionand the segment openingare used to interlock as shown into form the segment connection. Additionally, the segmenthas a flangealong its perimeter.

illustrates a middle portion of the dryer apparatus. In, portions of the dryer apparatusare omitted in order to view other aspects of the dryer apparatus.illustrates a number of the air duct openingsin the air duct chamber. The air duct chamberincludes additional air duct openings behind the vent louver structure, which are obscured from view. The air duct openingsare evenly spaced through the lower region of the air duct chamber. The spacing, the size, and the arrangement of the air duct openingscan vary in order to generate different types of air flowsexiting the vent louvre structure. For example, in some embodiments, a greater number of air duct openingsmay be positioned closer to bottom of the vent louvre structure. In other another embodiments, the air duct openingscan have a smaller diameter near the control paneland the diameter of the air duct openingscan increase for ones closer to the bottom of the vent louvre structure.

The control panelincludes four buttons-as shown in. Control signals from the control panelare electrically coupled back to the controller, to direct operation of the controller. Although the control panelis illustrated as having four buttons-(collectively “the buttons”), the number and functions of the buttonscan vary. In, the control panelhas a temperature buttonfor adjusting the temperature of the air flow, a speed buttonfor adjusting the speed of the air flow, a power buttonfor powering on/off the dryer apparatus, a timer buttonfor setting a timer for the dryer apparatus, and other suitable buttons. In one example, the buttonscan be thin, push-button style buttons under a single, continuous surface of the control panel. In another example, the buttonscan comprise sensors for identifying a touch of a finger even with water on the control panel. The sensors can include touch capacitance sensors, proximity sensors, and other suitable sensors for identifying manipulation of the buttons.

Additionally, buttons,, andhave a circle of light emitting diodes (LED) surrounding a respective button. One or more of the LEDs can activate or deactivate to provide a visual indicator of the present setting for the buttons,, and. For example, four LEDs may surround the temperature button. If one LED is activated, it may light up a quarter of a circle around the button. It may represent a first or lowest temperature setting for the dryer apparatus. After the user selects the temperature buttonagain, a second LED may be activated and the dryer apparatuscan cause the heating elementto increase in temperature. The second LED and the first LED may cause a half of the circle to be lit. The two LEDs can represent a second temperature setting for the dryer apparatus.

The buttoncan incrementally increase or decrease the temperature of the air flow. The buttoncan control or facilitate the regulation of the heating element. By way of the heating element, the dryer apparatuscan regulate a temperature of the air flowin a suitable range for body drying. The buttoncan incrementally increase or decrease the speed of the air flow. The speed can be adjusted by controlling the blower motor. The buttoncan be used to set an amount of time for the dryer apparatusto be powered on or for the blower motorto generate the air flow. After the set time has expired, the blower motorcan stop the air flowor the dryer apparatuscan power off.

illustrates a rear view of a top portion of the dryer apparatus. The back panel of the heating chamberis omitted from view.illustrates how the controller compartmentis positioned at the first endof the structural members, and the controller compartmentis positioned adjacent to the blower motor.

Next, a general description of some example operations of the various components of the dryer apparatusis provided. An individual that is wet can approach the dryer apparatus. The individual can access the control paneland touch the power buttonfor powering the dryer apparatus. The activation of the power buttoncan send a control signal to the controllerto power on the dryer apparatus. In some embodiments, touching the power buttoncauses the blower motorto power on and initiate an air flowbefore the heating elementis activated. Touching the power buttonagain causes the heating elementto turn off for a period of time before the blower motoris turned off. In other embodiments, after selecting the power button, a user may have to select the speed buttonto start an air flow