Portable forced air apparel and equipment drying,...

Details Portable forced air apparel and equipment drying,... Portable forced air apparel and equipment drying,...

2003-09-16

2004-09-28

Lu, Jiping (Department: 3749)

Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids

Apparatus

For hollow article

C034S090000, C034S239000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06796053

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention deals with the field of devices for generally drying of articles which are normally hung such as on a drying rack or line after excessive use or after washing thereof. The present device provides a unique air flow configuration including a blower connected through a plurality of conduits which can provide various capabilities. As such, the present invention provides a uniquely improved configuration for a drying rack which includes the possibility for scenting thereof, deodorizing thereof and wherein the drying rack includes a plurality of holes in uniquely defined zones for dispensing air therefrom to enhance drying of articles such as clothing or the like hung in these hanging conduit sections. Furthermore the present invention provides a means for varying the configuration of the drying fixtures in an almost infinite number of ways since each drying fixture is itself separately attachable with respect to each manifold attachment device positioned at each manifold outlet of the air distributing manifold defined here within.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various devices have been patented for the purpose of causing air flow to facilitate drying of articles in various manners which are positioned upon various implements to enhance drying thereof such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,464 patented Jan. 30, 1979 to A. Hay on a “Boot Drying Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,724 patented Oct. 6, 1987 to B. Pitcher on a “Resilient Glove Tree”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,289 patented Oct. 22, 1991 to A. Guindon on a “Garment Drying Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,565 patented Jun. 2, 1992 to T. H. Willenbacher on a “Glove Drying Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,169 patented Jun. 30, 1992 to M. F. Bader and assigned to Protonaut, Inc. on a “Glove Drying Apparatus And Method”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,188 patented Apr. 6, 1993 to D. Franz on a “Method And Apparatus For Drying Footwear And Handwear”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,369 patented Oct. 5, 1993 to M. Mallet on a “Method And Apparatus For Drying The Interior Surfaces of Hollow Articles Such As Air Rebreathing Or Resuscitator Bags”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,636 patented Feb. 22, 1994 to A. Lafleur et al and assigned to Colette Laferriere and Lise Laferriere on a “Tubular Drying Apparatus For Footwear Or Handwear”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,525 patented Jan. 10, 1995 to G. T. Taynor on a “Drying Stand For Ski Boots, Gloves And The Like”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,619 patented Mar. 7, 1995 to B. E. Kaplan on a “Portable Clothes Dryer And Room Humidifier”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,717 patented Apr. 18, 1995 to C. M. Dofka on a “Drying Rack For Utility Gloves”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,928 patented May 9, 1995 to F. Reithel on a “Dehydration Device”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,750 patented Jan. 14, 1997 to G. Eichten on a “Portable Clothing And Equipment Drier”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,993 patented Feb. 25, 1997 to I. G. Auckerman on “Glove Drying Devices And Methods”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,606 patented Jan. 26, 1999 to H. Jannach on a “Device For Drying, Washing And/Or Disinfecting Protective Suits”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,924 patented Jan. 26, 1999 to G. Dumont on a “Rack For Sports Equipment”; and U.S. Design Pat. No. Des.355,288 patented Feb. 7, 1995 to F. Mallen and assigned to Dalenger Inc. on a “Rack For Hanging/Drying Sports Equipment”; and U.S. Design Pat. No. Des.394,926 patented Jun. 2, 1998 to S. Lindsay on a “Hockey Equipment Dryer”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,830 patented Sep. 21, 1999 to H, Jannach and assigned to Helmut Jannach on an “Apparatus For Drying Clothing, Jackets Or The Like”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,227 patented Dec. 21, 1999 to S. Pappas on a “Towel Warmer Console Cabinet”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,887 patented Apr. 17, 2001 to M. Soo on a “Detachable Hanger For Sport Pads”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,792 patented Dec. 11, 2001 to D. L. Hebert on a “Portable And Collapsible Sports Dryer”.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the improved portable apparatus for drying articles of the present invention a blower is preferably included which can optionally include a heating means therewithin to facilitate supplying of air which may be heated for drying of the articles. The blower is attached directly with respect to a main conduit. This main conduit defines a main duct extending therewithin which is capable of carrying air flow. The main conduit also defines a main conduit inlet to which the blower is attached for supplying of air thereto. The main conduit inlet is in fluid flow communication with respect to the main duct to facilitate air flowing into the main duct through the main duct inlet. Furthermore a main duct outlet is defined within the main duct which is also in fluid flow communication with the main duct to allow air supplied into the main conduit to exit therefrom. The main conduit can further define a scenting chamber therewithin for selectively holding of a scenting material for applying an aroma to the drying air as it passes through the main duct if desired.
A distributing manifold is also included which may define a manifold duct extending throughout the interior thereof. This distributing manifold preferably defines a manifold inlet in fluid flow communication with respect to the manifold duct for facilitating air flow therebetween. The manifold inlet is preferably operatively attached with respect to the main conduit outlet to receive air exiting therefrom. The distributing manifold will define a plurality of manifold outlets at one or more locations therein. A plurality of manifold attachment devices will be included with one mounted within each of the manifold outlets to facilitate detachable securement thereto of one of the drying fixtures.
The present invention further defines a plurality of drying fixtures with each being detachably secured with respect to any single manifold outlet for receiving air flow therefrom. Each of these drying fixtures provide a contour for holding of drying articles of various specific pre-defined shapes.
There are many common aspects among the drying fixtures such as the inclusion of a connecting conduit section. Each drying section will include such a connecting conduit section which will define a connecting section duct extending therethrough for carrying air. The connecting conduit section will not define any apertures therein since it is designed to support the drying fixture and connect it to the distributing manifold while conveying air through the connecting section duct to the portion of the drying fixture which does include holes for drying. The connecting conduit section further defines a drying fixture opening therewithin in fluid flow communication with respect to the connecting section duct.
A fixture attachment device is mounted on each of the connecting conduit sections adjacent to the drying fixture opening such that it is selectively securable with respect to any one of the manifold attachment devices to detachably mount one of the drying fixtures with respect to the distributing manifold at one of a variety of choosable locations in order to allow fluid flow communication between the distributing manifold outlet and the drying fixture opening to facilitate air flow into the connecting section duct of the drying fixture for facilitating drying therewith.
A hanging conduit section will be included within each drying fixture which defines a hanging section duct extending therewithin. The hanging section duct is positioned in fluid flow communication with respect to the connecting section duct in order to receive air flow therefrom. The hanging conduit section itself will define a plurality of drying holes therewithin which are in fluid flow communication with respect to the hanging section duct for the dispensing of air outwardly therefrom for drying of an article positioned thereadjacent. The hanging conduit section is adapted to receive an article detachably held thereadjacent in order to facilitate drying thereof as air flow outwardly therefrom through the drying holes. The hanging co

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Portable forced air apparel and equipment drying,... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Portable forced air apparel and equipment drying,..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Portable forced air apparel and equipment drying,... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3252641