Apparatus comprising straps with end attachments for removably fastening objects to be dried within dryer drum
First Claim
1. An apparatus for facilitating the drying of a solid object, within a dryer of the type having a rotating drum which has an inside surface defining a working chamber within said drum, said apparatus comprising:
- an elongated, flexible holding member having a pair of opposite ends,said holding member containing adjustment means for enabling its length between said opposite ends to be adjusted so that said member can extend across any object within a predetermined size range, anda pair of attachment means affixed to said opposite ends of said holding member, respectively, each of said attachment means being arranged to attach its respective end of said holding member to a location on said inside surface of said drum in a manner such that said respective end of said holding member can be repeatedly attached and removed form said location on said inside surface of said drum,whereby said holding member and said attachment means can be used to attach said object easily, securely, and removably to said inside surface of said drums so as to enable said object to be dried within said drum, without tumbling said object within said drum, by extending said holding member over said object and using said attachment means to attach said opposite ends of said holding member to a pair of spaced-apart locations on said inside surface of said-drum and on opposite sides of said object.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for drying shoes, soft toys, or similar objects in a commercial dryer with a rotating drum (116) comprises a pair of strong nylon straps (20) and (22) with hook-and-loop fasteners to interconnect both straps. On their respective free ends the straps have respective suction cups (32 and 34). For securing a shoe or a pair of shoes (118 and 120) directly to the surface of the drying drum (116), the suction cups are attached to this surface, and free ends of the straps are tightened over the shoes (110 and 120) and fixed to each other. In other embodiments the suction cups are replaced by adhesive pads (56 and 58), permanent magnets (86 and 88), metal hooks (102 and 104), and a pair of rings (37 and 39) attached to one suction cup (33) and a smooth strap (35) attached to the other suction cup (31). The method comprises the steps of providing flexible straps with elements for removably attaching the straps to the surface of the rotating drum, attaching the above-mentioned elements to the surface of the drum on both sides of an object to be dried, and securing the object in place by stretching the straps, guiding one of them or both around the object, and connecting the free ends of the straps to each other, while maintaining the straps under tension, and thus attaching the object directly to the inner surface of the drum.
53 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for facilitating the drying of a solid object, within a dryer of the type having a rotating drum which has an inside surface defining a working chamber within said drum, said apparatus comprising:
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an elongated, flexible holding member having a pair of opposite ends, said holding member containing adjustment means for enabling its length between said opposite ends to be adjusted so that said member can extend across any object within a predetermined size range, and a pair of attachment means affixed to said opposite ends of said holding member, respectively, each of said attachment means being arranged to attach its respective end of said holding member to a location on said inside surface of said drum in a manner such that said respective end of said holding member can be repeatedly attached and removed form said location on said inside surface of said drum, whereby said holding member and said attachment means can be used to attach said object easily, securely, and removably to said inside surface of said drums so as to enable said object to be dried within said drum, without tumbling said object within said drum, by extending said holding member over said object and using said attachment means to attach said opposite ends of said holding member to a pair of spaced-apart locations on said inside surface of said-drum and on opposite sides of said object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for facilitating the drying of a solid object, within a dryer of the type having a rotating drum which has an inside surface defining a working chamber within said drum, said method comprising:
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providing an elongated, flexible holding member having a pair of opposite ends, said holding member containing adjustment means for enabling its length between said opposite ends to be adjusted so as to be able to extend over any object within a range of sizes, providing a pair of attachment means affixed to said opposite ends of said holding members, respectively, each of said attachment means being arranged to attach its respective end of said holding member to a location on said inside surface of said drum in a manner such that each of said respective ends of said holding member can be repeatedly attached and removed from said location on said inside surface of said drum, securing said object directly against said inside surface of said drum by extending said holding member over said object so that said pair of attachment means are positioned on opposite sides of said object, and affixing said attachment means to a pair of spaced-apart locations on said inside surface of said drum and on opposite sides of said object, whereby said object can be easily, securely, and removably attached to said inside surface of said drum for drying said object within said drum without tumbling said object within said drum. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for facilitating the drying of a solid object, within a dryer of the type having a rotating drum which has an inside surface defining a working chamber within said drum, said apparatus comprising:
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an elongated, flexible holding member having a pair of opposite ends, said holding member comprising a pair of straps and containing adjustment means for enabling the length of said straps between said opposite ends to be adjusted so that said member can extend over any object within a predetermined size range, and a pair of attachment means affixed to said opposite ends of said holding member, respectively, each of said attachment means being arranged to attach its respective end of said holding member to a location on said inside surface of said drum in a manner such that said respective end of said holding member can be repeatedly attached and removed form said location on said inside surface of said drum, whereby said holding member and said attachment means can be used to attach said object easily, securely, and removably to said inside surface of said drum, so as to engageable said object to be dried within said drum, without tumbling said object within said drum, by extending said holding member over said object an using said attachment means to attach said opposite ends of said holding member to a pair of spaced-apart locations on said inside surface of said drum and on opposite sides of said object. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for facilitating the drying of a solid object, within a dryer of the type having a rotating drum which has an inside surface defining a working chamber within said drum, said apparatus comprising:
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an elongated, flexible holding member having a pair of opposite ends, said holding member containing adjustment means for enabling its length between said opposite ends to be adjusted so that said member can extend over nay object within a predestined size range, and a pair of attachment means affixed to said opposite ends of said holding member, respectively, each of said attachment means comprising a suction cup and being arranged to a attach its respectable end of said holding member to a location on said inside surface of said drum in a manner such that said respective ends of said holding member can be repeatedly attached and removed form said location on said inside surface of said drum, whereby said holding member and said attachment means can be used to attach said object easily, securely, and removably to said inside surface of is drum, so as to enable said object to be dried within said drum, within tumbling said object within said drum, by extending said holding member over said object and using said attachment means to attach said opposite ends of said holding member to a par of spaced-apart location son said inside surface of said drum and on opposite sides of said object. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification