Portable garment dryer with carrying case

• US 5,996,249 A
• Filed: 09/22/1998
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Synergist Limited
• Original Assignee: Synergist Limited
• Inventors: Manning, Roberta J
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, PAMELA ANNE
• Application Number:
  US09/155,240
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 34/618, 34/619, 34/621, 34/622, 34/202, 34/218, 34/233, 34/235, 34/91
• US Class Current: 34/621
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/14 Collapsible drying cabinets; Wall mounted collapsible hoods
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 95/004 Bags; Supports therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 25/14 Chambers, containers, receptacles of simple construction
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 9/006 Removable covering devices, e.g. pliable or flexible

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a portable garment dryer having a support member (10, 14, 60) with a centrally located opening (26) on a top surface thereof. A light but durable, air permeable garment bag (18) is secured about the opening (26) on a bottom surface of the support member (10, 14, 60). An elastic member (28) circumscribes the opening (26) on the other side of the support member (10, 14, 60) and snugly receives a barrel of a hair dryer (22) in an air tight relationship. A pair of adjustable straps (20) are secured to the sides of the support member (10, 14, 60) and supports the support member (10, 14, 60) so that the garment bag hangs freely beneath the support member (10, 14, 60). A damp garment can be hung in the interior of the bag (18) and the hair dryer unit turned on. In a preferred embodiment, foldable flaps (16, 17) extend from the support member (14) to enclose the garment bag (18) folded tightly against the bottom surface of the support member (14) when the garment dryer is not in use.

Claims

1. A portable garment dryer comprising:

a support member (10, 14,

     60) defining an opening (26) therethrough adapted to receive and mount a hair dryer unit (22) adjacent a top surface thereof;

a garment enclosing bag (18) having one open end that is secured to a bottom surface of said support member (10,60) about said opening (26), said garment bag (18) being selectable openable (24) along one side thereof;

a pair of dryer support straps (20), including means for securing the ends thereof together (39) and means for altering the length of said straps (40), adapted to be secured to a support structure (12) and permit said garment enclosing bag (18) to hang free beneath the bottom surface of said support member (10, 14,

     60); and

means attached to said support member for releasably enclosing said garment bag when not in use (16, 17,

     64), said garment bag (18) being made of material sufficiently flexible to permit said garment bag (18) to be folded into a flat configuration against said bottom surface of said support member (10, 14,

     60) and enclosed by said enclosing means (16, 17,

     64);

wherein the support member is a container (60) having a top wall (61) defining said top and bottom surfaces, said garment bag (18) being folded within said container when not in use.

2. The dryer of claim 1 in which said straps (20) are removable from said container (60) and stored within said container (60) when not in use.

3. The dryer of claim 1 in which said enclosing means is a packaging bag (70) attached to said bottom surface about said opening (26) for receiving and containing said garment bag (18) within said container (60) when not in use.

4. The dryer of claim 1 in which said support member is flat and rigid platen (14) against which said garment bag (18) is folded when not is use.

5. The dryer of claim 4 in which said enclosing means are a plurality of flaps (16, 17) attached to said bottom surface for enclosing said garment bag (18) and said bottom surface when said dryer is not in use.