PORTABLE SKATE/BOOT/GLOVE DRYER

• US 20130086811A1
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Williams Boot & Glove Dryers Inc.
• Original Assignee: Williams Boot & Glove Dryers Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 8,978,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/104
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/13 made of tubes or wire assemblies of elements of the same kind, e.g. stackable, A47B87/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/08 for shoes shoe hangers A47G25/005; shoe hangers with anti-theft means E05B69/003
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 23/205 with heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/12 Electrically powered or heated
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/44 Storage or transportation means for ice or roller skates
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 3/00 Accessories for skates
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/006 the gas supply or exhaust being effected through hollow spaces or cores in the materials or objects, e.g. tubes, pipes, bottles F26B9/003 and F26B9/103 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 9/003 Small self-contained devices, e.g. portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A portable dryer for in situ drying multiple pairs of relatively small articles of apparel having a blower and heater for forcing air into a pair of attached oppositely directed manifolds, each with discharge ports and adjacent support members for the articles to be dried. One of the manifolds is attached by a quick-release slotted connection for assembly and removal without tools. In preparation for transport, the user removes, inverts and stacks the one manifold on the opposite manifold reducing the volume of bag or enclosure required for one person transport.

Claims

1. A portable dryer assembly for drying a multiplicity of relatively small articles of apparel comprising:

(a) a source of forced air including a housing having disposed therein a blower with a first and second discrete forced air outlet and operable upon connection to a source of power to provide forced air through the outlets;

(b) a first and second air distribution manifold each having an inlet disposed for receiving forced air from one of said first and second forced air outlets and a plurality of spaced air discharge ports and an article drying support member associated with each discharge port;

(c) attachment means operative to secure the first and second manifold in place on the housing, wherein one of said first and second manifolds is secured with a quick-release connection including means operable to urge the manifold inlet into contact with one of the forced air outlets; and

,

(d) wherein, upon quick-release, the one manifold is removable and capable of being stacked inverted on the other of the first and second manifold for minimizing the volume of the assembly in preparation for transport.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the means operable to urge the manifold inlet in contact with one of the housing outlets includes a lug on the housing and a bracket on the manifold with a slot engaging the lug.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the slot includes a cam surface for urging the manifold against the housing.

4. The assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the drying article support member has an inverted generally U-shaped configuration.

5. The assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second air outlets are disposed to discharge air in opposing directions.

6. The assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the one quick-release removable manifold is capable of being stacked inverted on the other of the first and second manifold.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the source of forced air includes a heater.

8. A method of assembling and preparing for transport a portable dryer for drying a multiplicity of relatively small articles of apparel for transporting comprising:

(a) providing a housing with a first and second air outlet port and disposing a blower and heater in the housing;

(b) providing a first and second manifold, each with an inlet port and a plurality of discharge ports and an article support member associated with each discharge port;

(c) attaching one of the first and second manifold inlet over one of the first and second air outlet port and releasably attaching the other manifold to the other outlet port; and

,

(d) releasing the other manifold and stacking it upon the one manifold in preparation for transport of the assembly.

9. The method defined in claim 8, wherein the stacking includes inverting.