WO1989000622A1

WO1989000622A1 - Drying apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1989000622A1
Application number: PCT/US1988/002368
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ivanhoe Chaput
Original assignee: Ivanhoe Chaput
Priority date: 1987-07-13
Filing date: 1988-07-13
Publication date: 1989-01-26
Also published as: AU2130388A

Abstract

In a drying device an enclosure (10, 111) has an interior and an exterior and forms an opening (15, 115) for receiving forced air. An air permeable portion with openings (25, 35, 132) allows forced air in the interior to pass to the exterior at the air permeable portion. The enclosure is collapsible in the absence of forced air in the interior and inflatable by forced air from a warm air blower (B) into the interior while air passes to the exterior through air permeable portion. In one embodiment the enclosure is conformed to engage the outlet tube (T) of the blower and includes a flexible elastomeric material perforated over its surface. Upper and lower membranes (12, 13) of the enclosure are bonded to each other at selected locations (22) to limit the internal volume of the enclosure and the peripheral surface of the enclosure includes notched perforations (35) which direct the air toward the center. A garment may then be placed on the upper membrane for drying. In an alternative embodiment, a labyrinth segmentation of the enclosure is made by seams (122) and the enclosure is conformed for attachment to the inside of a suitcase.

Description

Title

DRYING APPARATUS

Background of the Invention

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to drying devices, and more particularly to clothes drying adaptors conformed for attachment to a hair blower.

Cross-Reference to Related Application

The present invention is a continuation- in-part of my co-pending U.S. patent application entitled "Clothes Drying Attachment for a Hair Blower" filed July 13, 1987 and given the Serial Number 07/072,769.

Description of the Prior Art

In a typical household setting the drying of garments is most frequently effected by a tumbler dryer in which a large number of garments is dried at the same time. In consequence, the typical household dryer is conformed for substantial energy use, energy levels sufficient to heat a large quantity of wet clothing.

Occasionally, however, the personal needs of a user do not require a drying fixture conformed for a large load, particularly when only a single garment needs to be dried. Moreover, those travelling often find the need for washing, and then drying, a single garment in surroundings which do not offer the convenience of a conventional dryer.

A common item used both at home and in the course of travel is a conventional hair blower. Typically a blower of this type comprises an electrically driven fan conformed to direct air across heating filaments to the person of the user. In this form the blower includes an outlet nozzle by which the air flow may be confined and directed to the desired area. Since a device of this type includes few parts its cost and carrying convenience are both favorable and effective.

In the past, attachments have been devised for drying garments by way of such a hair dryer. Typical of such prior art attachments are the devices disclosed in the teachings of U.S. Patent 4,572,364, 4,406,071, 4,094,076 and 2,856,700. Each of these references, while suitable for their purposes, disclose either an attachment within which the garment is held while drying or a rigid attachment, such as a tube or bar, onto which the garment is hung. In the first instance, the confinement of the garment within the envelope of a container while drying will invariably produce wrinkles, particularly since the enclosure does not provide the necessary tumbling or other motion to the garment. In the second instance, the rigid aspects of the device result in cumbersome storage, an aspect which renders the device inconvenient in the course of travel. Accordingly attachments which both collapse for convenient storage and reduce the incidence of wrinkling are desired and it is one such attachment that is disclosed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the general purpose and object of the present invention to provide a flexible and foldable attachment useful with a hair blower onto which garments may be placed for drying.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a bag-like attachment structure conformed for insertion onto a hair blower, said bag-like structure including on one surface thereof a plurality of perforations through which drying air is emitted.

Yet further objects of the invention are to provide a drying attachment for use with the blower which is inexpensive, portable, and convenient in use.

Briefly, these and other objects are accomplished within the present invention by providing a substantially rectangular thin membrane bag having one surface thereof perforated with small openings and including a neck into which the outlet of a hair blower can be inserted. A wet garment can then be placed on the perforated surface of this bag-like structure and once the blower is turned on hot air is emitted through the perforations. This continual flow of hot air provides a lifting effect to the garment once most of the water trapped therein is evaporated, this lifting effect relieving any tendency to wrinkle in the garment. When not in use, this flat, flexible bag can be collapsed and rolled into a small, folded-over, configuration and is thus easily stored and transported. Of course a variety of inner-membrane connections or adhesions may be provided to control the inflated form and to limit the expansion of the bag and the unperforated lower surface may comprise a somewhat heavier membrane, both to protect the stored configuration and to provide the necessary weight bias in the course of use.

An alternative, more expedient implementation may be effected by sewing two tightly woven or air impermeable rectangular fabric sheets to each other to form a substantially rectangular enclosure provided with a string gathered opening along one edge. This opening then receives the nozzle of the hair dryer and is secured thereto by the gathering string. The fabric sheets, moreover, may be sewn to each other by way of seams arranged to form a labyrinth communicating with the nozzle. Preferrably the labyrinth is layed out in two symmetrical patterns each defining a closed segment at the lateral edges of the envelope. One sheet of the envelope may then be perforated with spaced openings along the labyrinth with the segments along the lateral edges perforated to a higher density. The other sheet may be bonded to hook and pile pathes at selected locations for attachment to the inside lining of a suitcase. In this manner, a portable, conveniently stored, drying attachment is formed which may be used with a variety of hair blowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the inventive attachment in its functional deployment;

FIG. 2 is a sectional detail, in side view, of the inventive attachment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the inventive attachment in its folded state;

FIG. 4 is a perspective detail of a shaped opening useful with the invention herein;

FIG. 5 is a sectional detail, in side view, of a nozzle structure useful with the invention herein;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the inventive attachment deployed for drying a garment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of yet another form of the inventive attachment; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a suitcase with the attachment at FIG. 7 stored therein.

FIGS. 9 to 11 are perspective views of another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 12 is a section 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the dryer as folded.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in Figures 1 - 6 the inventive drying attachment, generally shown at 10, comprises a substantially rectangular polymeric or elastomeric enclosure 11 defined by an upper membrane 12 and a somewhat thicker lower membrane 13, heat welded to bonded to each other around their common periphery at a peripheral seam 14. Adjacent one edge a nozzle assembly 15 is adhesively or heat bonded to membrane 12 to extend as a tapered elastomeric nozzle 16. This nozzle 16 may then be cut by the user as illustrated in Fig. 5, to a point along the taper at which the nozzle opening 17 mates by expansion with the outlet tube T of a conventional hair blower B.

An electrical cord C, found conventionally on such a hair blower, is then useful to provide the necessary electrical excitation form any electrical outlet (not shown).

Hair blowers of this form include one or more heating filaments and a fan and thus when turned on will expel a stream of heated air out of the end of tube T. This stream of air, shown by the arrows A, then passes through the interior of nozzle 16 into the cavity 20 formed by expanding membranes 12 and 13 away from each other. In order to limit the eventual volume of the cavity 20 and to control the inflated shape of enclosure 11 to a shape of a generally flat configuration, a plurality of spot adhesions or bonds are provided joining membranes 12 and 13. When inflated these spot adhesions result in depressions 22 in the membrane 12, arranged in a geometric pattern to define a central area 23 and a peripheral area 24 thereon. A plurality of openings or perforations 25 are formed through membrane 12 at the central area 23 while the peripheral area is perforated with notched or generally V-shaped perforations 35 aligned to present the apex thereof towards the central area.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that polymers or elastomers, like those from the vinyl chloride polymer group, will exhibit a reduction in stiffness when heated. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the apex 35a of the V-shaped perforation 35 will lift under heat and internal pressure to produce an air stream generally along the vector V towards the central area 23.

Preferably the planform dimensions of the elastomeric enclosure 11 are selected to a size larger than most garment articles G. In consequence the stream vectors V emerging from the peripheral area 24 will tend to maintain the garment centered over the openings 25 for efficient use of the energy provided by the blower B.

When not in use the foregoing enclosure 11 may be conveniently folded or rolled to a configuration like that shown in Fig. 3. Thereafter the plastic flow of the polymer permits further collapse to a convenient, transportable form.

Alternatively, an attachment generally designated by the numeral 110, and illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, may be conformed by sewing two rectangular sheets or membranes 112 and 113 to each other to form a closed envelope 111 having one portion of one edge thereof formed as a gathered opening 115. A gathering string 116 may then be useful to gather openin 115 around the outlet tube T of the hairblower B.

The sheets 112 and 113, moreover, may be sewn to each other by way of seams 21 aligned to define symmetrical labyrinths 122 and 123 commencing from an inlet cavity 120 formed separating expansion of the sheets 112 and 113 proximate the opening 115. Each of the labyrinths 122 and 123 then forms an end chamber 122a and 123a adjacent the lateral edges of the envelope 111. Sheet 112 is then perforated by perforations 132 over the portions thereof defining labyrinths 122 and 123, which are distributed to a higher density at the segments 122a and 123a. Sheet 113, in turn, may be adhesively bonded to a plurality of attachment patches 135 distributed for alignment with a corresponding plurality of mating patches 145 distributed over the interior of one surface S1 of a suitcase ST. Preferrably, such patches may comprise the elements of a hook and pile attachment material sold commercially under the mark "Velcro." In this latter form the enclosure 111 may be conveniently stored as a lining directly on one interior surface of a suitcase.

Accordingly, a convenient attachment is provided for a conventional hair blower which then renders the blower useful to dry wash garments.

Obviously, many modifications and changes may be made to the foregoing without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be determined solely on the claims appended hereto.

Another embodiment of the invention appears in Figs. 9 to 13. Here, an attachment or enclosure 210 is composed of two nylon sheets 212 and 213 sewn to each other along their respective peripheries to form a peripheral seam 214 up to an opening 215. An elastic insert 216 around the opening 215 gathers in the material 218 at the opening to a size smaller that the expected diameter of a tube T on a source of forced air such as a hair dryer or blower B. The gathered material and elastic allows a user to stretch the opening 215 over the tube T and secure the enclosure 210 about the blower B. An elastic strap 217 is sewn at its ends to opposite sides of the periphery of the opening 15. A user can stretch the strap over the hair dryer or blower B to prevent the blower from slipping out of the enclosure 210.

Three seams 220, 222, and 224, extend from an edge 226 opposite the opening 215 and continue toward the opening but end before reaching the opening. The seams 220, 222, and 224 secure the top and bottom sheets 212 and 213 to each other along the seam paths and form four separate longitudinal compartments 228, 230, 232, and 233 communicating with the volume adjacent the opening 215. The seams prevent the enclosure 210 from ballooning outwardly in response to forced warm air from the blower B.

The upper sheet 212, but not the lower sheet 213, contains longitudinal rows of perforations or holes 234. The latter extend from the edge 226 to an edge 236 containing the opening 215 and permit passage of air from the interior space between the sheets 212 and 213 when the blower B forces air into the enclosure 210. The rate of flow of forced air into the enclosure 210 through the opening 215 is large enough to inflate the enclosure and direct air out of the holes 234 while supporting a garment 238 on the sheet 212. At the same time the holes 234 are of a sufficient size to pass a continuous supply of drying air to the garment 238 without deflating the enclosure while the blower B supplies forced air.

A user may fold an approximately 80 cm by

70 cm enclosure 210 such shown Fig. 9 into a compact arrangement as shown in Fig. 13. Here a hand 250 holds the folded enclosure 210. The enclosure may thus be easily stored for travel.

In operation, a user unfolds the enclosure

210 from the stored condition such as shown in Fig. 13 to that shown in Fig. 9 with the sheet 212 having the holes 234 facing upwards. The user then inserts a hair dryer or blower B into the enclosure as shown in Fig. 10 and turns on the blower. When the enclosure 210 has inflated as in Fig. 12, the user places a wet garment such as the garment 238 on top of the enclosure over the holes 234 as shown in Fig. 11 and waits for the hot or warm forced air passing though the holes 234 from the dryer B to dry the garment. For quicker drying the user may turn the garment over on the sheet 212.

After the garment has dried, the user removes it and turns off the blower B. The air in the enclosure 210 then escapes through the holes 234 and the enclosure collapses. The enclosure can then be folded to the shape shown in Fig. 13 and again stored away.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS

1. An attachment conformed for connection to an electrically operated hair blower comprising;

an elastomeric, air impermeable enclosure defined by an upper membrane and a lower membrane joined to each other at the peripheries thereof;

a tubular neck, extending from said enclosure including an interior opening communicating into the interior of said enclosure and conformed to engage said blower for receiving forced air therefrom; and

a plurality of openings formed in said upper membrane for transmitting said forced air therethrough.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein;

said upper membrane is bonded to said lower membrane at a plurality of bonding locations, said bonding locations cooperatively defining a central surface and a peripheral surface in said upper membrane;

said openings include notched perforations formed in said peripheral surface aligned to direct said forced air towards said central surface.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein:

said openings include a plurality of vents in said central surface.

4. An attachment conformed for connection to an electrically operated hair blower comprising;

an elastomeric, air impermeable enclosure defined by an upper membrane and a lower membrane joined to each other at the peripheries thereof, said upper membrane being bonded to said lower membrane at a plurality of bonding seams, said bonding seams cooperatively defining central surfaces and peripheral surfaces in said upper, membrane;

a gathered neck extending from said enclosure including an interior opening communicating into the interior of said enclosure and conformed to engage said blower for receiving forced air thereform; and

a plurality of openings formed in said upper membrane for transmitting said forced air therethrough, said openings including notched perforations formed in said peripheral surface aligned to direct said forced air towards and over said central surface and a plurality of vents in said central surface.

5. A drying device, comprising: an enclosure having an interior and an exterior; said enclosure forming an opening for receiving forced air into the interior of said enclosure;

said enclosure having an air permeable portion for allowing forced air in the interior to pass to the exterior at the air permeable portion;

said enclosure being collapsible in the absence of forced air in the interior and being inflatable by forced air in the interior while air passes to the exterior through said air permeable portion so as to impart air to the exterior at the permeable portion.

6. A device as in claim 5, wherein said enclosure is sufficiently inflatable by forced air in the interior to shape the enclosure and support an object to be dried on the exterior at the permeable portion while air passes to the exterior at the air permeable portion.

7. A device as in claim 1 or 2, wherein the enclosure when inflated forms air paths to the air permeable portion so as to allow air to escape to the exterior substantially uniformly over the air permeable portion.

8. A device as in any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the air permeable portion includes a plurality of parts and the enclosure includes means for dividing the interior into passages to form separate paths to the separate parts.

9. A device as in any of claims 5 to 8, wherein said enclosure is composed of a flexible membrane like material for collapsing in the absence of forced air entering the enclosure and allowing forced air at the opening to inflate the enclosure while permitting forced air to flow through the material from the interior to the exterior at the air permeable portion.

10. A device as in any of claims 5 to 9, wherein the air permeable portion is structured to allow passage of air from the interior to the exterior.

11. A device as in any of claims 5 to 10, wherein the air permeable portion includes a plurality of holes in the enclosure for allowing passage of air from the interior to the exterior.

12. A device as in any of claims 5 to 11, wherein said enclosure includes an upper membrane and a lower membrane each having peripheries, said upper membrane and said lower membrane being joined at the peripheries.

13. A device as in any of claims 5 to 12, wherein the opening for engaging the source of forced air includes means for gripping a source of forced air.

14. A device as in any of claims 5 to 13, wherein the opening for engaging the source of forced air includes resilient means for gripping a source of forced air.

15. A device as in any of claims 5 to 14, wherein said enclosure includes an upper membrane and a lower membrane each having peripheries, said permeable portion being in one of said membranes and divided into a plurality of parts, said upper membrane and said lower membrane being joined at the peripheries as well as inside the peripheries to form separated air passages from the opening to the parts of the permeable portion.

16. A device as in any of claims 5 to 15, wherein said permeable portion is structured to allow passage of air from the interior to the exterior in a controlled manner at a given flow rate.

17. A device as in any of claims 5 to 16, wherein said enclosure includes an upper membrane and a lower membrane each having peripheries, said permeable portion being in one of said membranes and divided into a plurality of parts, said upper membrane and said lower membrane being joined at the peripheries, one of said membranes having said permeable portion, said permeable portion being structured to allow passage of air from the interior to the exterior in a controlled manner at a given flow rate.

18. A device as in any of claims 5 to 17, wherein said enclosure when inflated forms two substantially coplanar surfaces, one of said surfaces including said air permeable portion.

19. A device as in any of claims 5 to 18, wherein said enclosure includes an upper membrane and a lower membrane each having peripheries, said permeable portion being in one of said membranes and divided into a plurality of parts, said upper membrane and said lower membrane being joined at the peripheries, and wherein said membranes when the enclosure is inflated form two substantially coplanar surfaces, one of said membranes including said air permeable portion.

20. A device as in any of claims 5 to 19, wherein said permeable portion is perforated with separate openings distributed throughout the permeable portion and defining the extent of the permeable portion by the distribution of the openings.

21. A device as in any of claims 5 to 20, wherein said device further comprises a source of forced air securable and severable from the enclosure at the opening of the enclosure.

22. A device as in any of claims 5 to 21, wherein said source of forced air is a hair dryer.

23. A device as in any of claims 5 to 22, wherein said enclosure when uninflated is substantially flat having two flat surfaces, and said permeable portion extends on only one of said surfaces.

24. A device as in any of claims 5 to 18, wherein said permeable portion extends only over one of said membranes.