Air dispensing and heating floor drying apparatus

• US 6,202,322 B1
• Filed: 09/08/1999
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William Turner IV
• Original Assignee: William Turner IV
• Inventors: Turner, William IV
• Primary Examiner(s): DOERRLER, WILLIAM CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US09/391,848
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 346/18, 346/21, 346/22, 346/14
• US Class Current: 34/618
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/001 Drying-air generating units, e.g. movable, independent of drying enclosure

Abstract

An apparatus for drying damp carpet and flooring materials in either a heated or non-heated manner is disclosed. A blower is provided which incorporates coils located near or at the air flow entrance. A fan is included to produce the air. Designed for commercial carpet cleaning, the invention sits at floor level. The invention forces warm-to-hot air across the floor surface. A control is incorporated in the design to regulate the temperature of the forced air. A handle is designed with the housing of the blower on the top portion for carrying ease. The present invention rotates about a base to dry larger areas of flooring.

Claims

1. An air dispensing and heating floor drying apparatus comprising:

a multi-speed, blower motor is housed within a blower housing of insulated, plastic material, said blower motor being of an otherwise conventional squirrel cage type, and is capable of drawing ambient air and delivering it in a projected fashion;

a discharge nozzle in fluid communication with said blower motor through which said drawn ambient air is projected, and wherein said discharge nozzle forms a flat upper surface and further includes a slightly flared configuration for allowing an outward dispersement of airflow discharged from the nozzle;

a spring clip opposed to said flat upper surface, said spring clip including a clamp arm and tension means for generating a downward clamping force upon said clamp arm such that the outer edge of a rug or carpet can be clamped between the clamp arm and the upper surface;

air heating means enclosed within the discharge nozzle;

a protective guard covering the discharge nozzle outlet and the heating means in order to prevent accident or injury that could occur by contact directly with the heating means;

a base, said blower housing designed to rotate about said base in the horizontal plane in an arc of 360 degrees;

and wherein rotation about said base may be achieved via a turning carousel, said carousel located on the exterior top surface of said base, and slightly raised from said base, so that the bottom surface of said blower housing rests on said carousel.

2. The air dispensing and heating floor drying apparatus of claim 1, wherein said heating means comprises heating coils mounted within the annular space of the discharge nozzle.

3. The air dispensing and heating floor drying apparatus of claim 1, wherein said heating coils is a controllable heating coil having multiple temperature settings capable of producing a thermal discharge in the ranges of between 20,000 BTU and 50,000 BTU.

4. The air dispensing and heating floor drying apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of adjustable leg stands mounted along the bottom of the blower housing.

5. The air dispensing and heating floor drying apparatus of claim 4, wherein said leg stands comprise a threaded rod threadingly received within the housing and terminated by a foot.

6. The air dispensing and heating floor drying apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a cord wrap incorporated directly into the design of the housing; and

a handle incorporated directly into the design of the housing.

7. The air dispensing and heating floor drying apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

directional discharge attachment means for affixing to the discharge nozzle and providing a customized redirection of heated airflow.

8. The air dispensing and heating floor drying apparatus of claim 1, further comprising rotation control means, said rotation control means designed to control the speed of rotation of said blower housing about said base.