Dryer rack

• US 8,015,727 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2004
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Tae Woo, Han, Il Tak, Lee, Dong Geun
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/958,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20050102854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,533 Days
• Field of Search: 34 6- 1, 346/02, 346/03, 346/20, 342/10, 342/18, 705/14, 414/788.2, 414/788, 227/48, 227/76, 73/38, 731/60, D32/209
• US Class Current: 34/601
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/04 Details controlling or regulating devices D06F34/00

Abstract

A dryer rack for use with an apparatus for drying an object inside a drum is disclosed, wherein the dryer rack includes a platform for having an upper surface for supporting the object. The platform may include at least one grip for loading and unloading the dryer rack into an interior space of the drum. The at least one grip is flush with the upper surface of the platform. The at least one grip is formed in a forward portion of the platform, to be near an access point of the drum.

Claims

1. A dryer rack for use with an apparatus for drying an object inside a drum, wherein the dryer rack supports the object being dried, the dryer rack comprising a platform having an upper surface and at least one grip having a pair of openings formed in the upper surface of the platform and a gripping structure positioned between the two openings, wherein the platform comprises the at least one grip and a second grip, symmetrically arranged about a central axis of the platform, for loading and unloading the dryer rack into an interior space of the drum.

2. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gripping structure has a textured gripping surface.

3. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one grip is flush with the upper surface of the platform.

4. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one grip is formed in a front portion of the platform, to be near an access point of the drum.

5. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the textured gripping surface is formed on inner side surfaces on each opening.

6. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grips are flush with the upper surface of the platform.

7. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 5, wherein the gripping surface comprises a set of curved recesses corresponding to digits of a human hand.

8. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 5, wherein the gripping surfaces of the opposing pair of openings are symmetrically arranged with respect to a centrally disposed handle.

9. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 5, wherein the gripping surfaces of the opposing pair of openings are asymmetrically arranged with respect to a centrally disposed handle.

10. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 9, wherein the asymmetrical arrangement of the gripping surfaces provides for a thumb and four fingers, respectively.

11. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grips are formed in a front portion of the platform, to be near an access point of the drum.

12. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grips are arranged at opposing angles for facilitating a two-handed grip when loading and unloading the dryer rack.

13. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 12, wherein the opposing angles are between 10°

and 20°

.

14. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the platform comprises:

a tray forming the upper surface between a front end and a rear end of the tray;

a front support connected to the front end of the tray which is supported by a first structure; and

a rear support connected to the rear end of the tray which is supported by a second structure,

wherein the first and second structures respectively provide rotatable support to opposite ends of the drum.

15. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at least one grip is flush with the upper surface of the platform.

16. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 14, wherein the front and rear supports have lower surfaces for seating the dryer rack on the first and second structures.

17. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 16, wherein the lower surfaces of front and rear supports are shaped to avoid interference with the drum if the drum is rotated while the dryer rack is loaded into an interior space of the drum.

18. A dryer rack for use with an apparatus for drying an object inside a drum, wherein the dryer rack supports the object being dried, the dryer rack comprising:

a platform having an upper surface between a front end and a rear end of a tray, the upper surface having a lattice structure;

a front support connected to the front end of the platform having a first lower surface for receiving a first structure providing rotatable support to the drum; and

at least one leg connected to the rear end of the platform having a second lower structure for receiving a second structure providing rotatable support to the drum; and

at least one handle provided with an opposing pair of openings formed in the upper surface, each opening having a textured gripping surface formed on an inner side surface, wherein the at least one handle is flush with the upper surface of the platform.

19. A dryer rack for use with an apparatus for drying an object inside a drum, wherein the dryer rack supports the object being dried, the dryer rack comprising a platform having an upper surface and at least one grip having a pair of openings formed in the upper surface of the platform and a gripping structure positioned between the two openings, wherein the platform has a lattice structure.

20. A dryer rack for use with an apparatus for drying an object inside a drum, wherein the dryer rack supports an object being dried, the dryer rack comprising:

a tray having an upper surface between a front end and a rear end of the tray;

a front support connected to the front end of the tray having a first lower surface for receiving a first structure;

a rear support connected to the rear end of the tray having a second lower surface for receiving a second structure,

wherein the first and second structures respectively provide rotatable support to opposite ends of the drum; and

at least one grip having a pair of openings formed in the upper surface of the tray and a gripping structure positioned between the two openings.

21. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 20, wherein the front support rests on a filter installed in front of the drum, for filtering air expelled from the drum.

22. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 21, the front support comprising:

a pair of side extensions connected to the front end of the tray for supporting the dryer rack on the filter; and

an arch stretching between the side extensions and extending downward for being seated on an upper surface of the filter having a centrally formed recess, the arch having an arch projection for insertion into the recess of the filter.

23. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 22, wherein the side extensions are disposed in front of the tray.

24. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 20, wherein the rear support comprises at least one leg connected to the rear end of the tray for supporting the dryer rack on the second structure.

25. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 24, wherein the second structure is a semicircle.

26. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 25, wherein the at least one leg has a curved lower surface for being seated on the semicircle of the second structure.

27. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 20, wherein the rear support comprises at least two legs connected to the rear end of the tray for supporting the dryer rack on the second structure, the at least two legs have opposingly curved surfaces for being respectively seated on a semicircle of the second structure.

28. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 20, wherein the at least one grip is formed in the upper surface of the tray for loading and unloading the dryer rack into an interior space of the drum.

29. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 20, wherein the gripping structure has a textured gripping surface.

30. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 29, wherein the textured gripping surface is formed on inner side surfaces on each opening.

31. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 29, wherein the gripping surface comprises a set of curved recesses corresponding to digits of a human hand.

32. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 30, wherein the gripping surfaces of the opposing pair of openings are symmetrically arranged with respect to a centrally disposed handle.

33. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 30, wherein the gripping surfaces of the opposing pair of openings are asymmetrically arranged with respect to a centrally disposed handle.

34. The dryer rack as claimed in claim 33, wherein the asymmetrical arrangement of the gripping surfaces provides for a thumb and four fingers, respectively.