This invention relates to recreational vehicles, and more particularly to a clothes dryer used with a recreational vehicle or the like.
When traveling, it is sometimes difficult to find an easy way to dry wet clothes. A new and easy manner of drying wet clothes is therefore desired.
One or more embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example and should not be construed as being limited to the specific embodiments depicted in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements.
The specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “top,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as orientated in
The illustrated dryer body 16 (
In the illustrated embodiment, the body bottom half 20 of the dryer body 16 is rigidly connected to the body top half 22 and supports the dryer arms 18 thereon. The body bottom half 20 includes a support platform 26 and a rear wall 28 connected to the support platform 26. The support platform 26 and the rear wall 28 can be an integral part (as illustrated) or can be formed of separate, but connected parts. Furthermore, the support platform 26 and the rear wall 28 can be made of any material (e.g., metal or plastic). The illustrated support platform 26 includes a support floor surface 30 having an arcuate front edge 32 and a rear edge 34. The rear edge 34 includes a left portion free edge area 36 and a wall connection portion 38 to the right of the left portion free edge area 36 as illustrated in
The illustrated rear wall 28 of the body bottom half 20 connects to the body top half 22 to form the dryer body 16. The rear wall 28 of the body bottom half 20 is connected to the wall connection portion 38 of the rear edge 34 of the support floor surface 30. The rear wall 28 includes a left side area 52 extending upwardly perpendicularly from the left side edge area 40 of the rear edge 34, a central angled area 54 extending upwardly perpendicularly from the central angled area 42 of the rear edge 34, a right side area 56 extending upwardly perpendicularly from the right side edge area 44 of the rear edge 34, a right side end wall area 58 extending rearwardly from the right side edge area 44, a back wall area 60 extending laterally from a rear edge of the right side end wall area 58 and substantially parallel to the left side area 52 and the right side area 56, and a trapezoidal section 62 connected to the back wall area 60 and the left side area 52. The trapezoidal section 62 includes a long rear panel 64, an outside plate 68 connected to the long rear panel 64 and the left side area 52 and an inside plate 70 connected to the long rear panel 64 and the back wall area 60. The outside plate 68 and the inside plate 70 converge in a direction toward each other from a largest distance at the long rear panel 64 to a smallest distance at the left side area 52 and the back wall area 60, respectively.
In the illustrated example, the rear wall 28 accommodates a portion of the rotating gripping arm assembly 24 therein. The right side area 56 of the rear wall 28 includes a front U-shaped slot 72 opening at a top of the right side area 56. A bottom of the front U-shaped slot 72 defines a gripping arm assembly support surface 74. The back wall area 60 includes a rear U-shaped slot 76 opening at a top of the back wall area 60. The rear U-shaped slot 76 is substantially aligned with the front U-shaped slot 72, although the rear U-shaped slot 76 is slightly wider. The rear U-shaped slot 76 also has a bottom at the gripping arm assembly support surface 74. A connection wall portion 78 extends between an inside edge 80 of the front U-shaped slot 72 and an inside edge 82 of the rear U-shaped slot 76. The connection wall portion 78 includes a front angled panel 84 connected to the inside edge 80 of the front U-shaped slot 72 and extending rearwardly and inwardly therefrom, a rear wall panel 86 extending toward the right side area 56 of the rear wall 28, and a U-shaped panel 88 (as viewed from above) that extends between the front angled panel 84 and the rear wall panel 86. A top edge of the right side end wall area 58 includes a first slot 90 and a top edge of the curved portion of the U-shaped panel 88 includes a second slot 92 aligned with the first slot 90. As discussed in more detail below, the first slot 90 and the second slot 92 are configured to accept a pivot rod 94 of the rotating gripping arm assembly 24. Moreover, a pivot arm 96 of the rotating gripping arm assembly 24 rests on the gripping arm assembly support surface 74. Furthermore, a pull member 98 of the rotating gripping arm assembly 24 rests on the gripping arm assembly support surface 74 within the U-shaped panel 88 of the connection wall portion 78.
The illustrated rear wall 28 connects the body bottom half 20 to the body top half 22. As illustrated in
In the illustrated example, the body top half 22 and the body bottom half 20 capture the dryer arms 18 therebetween. The body top half 22 is substantially a mirror image of the body bottom half 20, except that the body top half 22 does not include any tabs 50 (although the body top half 22 could include tabs 50). Furthermore, the ledge of the rear wall 28a of the body top half 22 is on the inside instead of on the outside as in the body bottom half 20 as described above to allow the rear wall of the body top half 22 to be received within the body bottom half 20. Therefore, a bottom edge 116 of the rear wall 28a of the body top half 22 envelopes a top of the rear wall 28 of the body bottom half 20. Moreover, the body top half 22 does not include the first slot 90 in the right side end wall area or the second slot in the curved portion of the U-shaped panel as the pivot rod 94 of the rotating gripping arm assembly 24 fully rests within the body bottom half 20. Furthermore, the top surface of the body top half 22 is flat and support struts are located under the top flat surface.
The illustrated rotating gripping arm assembly 24 includes the pivot rod 94, the pivot arm 96 and the pull member 98. The pivot arm 96 is curved as viewed from above and includes a first end 120 receiving the fastener 112 extending through the third fastener tube 110. The pivot arm 96 pivots about the fastener 112 extending through the third fastener tube 110. A concave face 122 of the pivot arm 96 is used to grip the ladder 12 as discussed below. The pivot rod 94 includes a threaded post 124 and a grip 126 connected to an end of the threaded post 124. The threaded post 124 of the pivot rod 94 extends through the first slot 90 in the rear wall 28, through a lateral opening 128 in the pivot arm 96 adjacent the first end 120 but rear of the third fastener tube 110, through the pull member 98 of the rotating gripping arm assembly 24 into a first nut 131, through the second slot 92 in the rear wall 28, and into a second nut 132. The pull member 98 includes a block 134 and a T-shaped projection 136, with an opening 130 extending through the block 134 and the T-shaped projection 136. The pull member 98 is located in the U-shaped panel 88 of the connection wall portion 78. The T-shaped projection 136 is received in a recess 138 in a convex face 140 of the pivot arm 96. The threaded post 124 of the pivot rod 94 extends through the opening 130 in the pull member 98. As the grip 126 of the pivot rod 94 is rotated, the threaded post 124 also rotates. Rotation of the threaded post 124 moves the pivot rod 124 into and out of the second nut 132 (which is prevented from rotating), thereby moving the grip 126 toward and away from the second nut 132 (as the threaded post 124 is “screwed” and “unscrewed”). The threaded post 124 of the pivot rod 94 extends through the opening 130 in the pull member 98. The first nut 131 rotates with the threaded post 124 of the pivot rod 94 and thereby pulls on the pull member 98 when the grip 126 moves away from the second nut 132. As the grip 126 moves away from the second nut 132, the T-shaped projection 136 of the pull member 98 forces the pivot arm 96 to pivot.
In the illustrated example, the rotating gripping arm assembly 24 secures the clothes dryer 14 to the ladder 12. The ladder 12 includes a pair of parallel vertical support beams 150 having a plurality of steps 152 extending therebetween. As illustrated in
The illustrated clothes dryer 14 can also be connected to a vertical surface 200 using a wall mount assembly 202 (see
In the illustrated example, the wall mount assembly 202 is connected to the vertical surface 200. The clothes dryer 14 can then be connected to the wall mount assembly 202 by sliding the wall mount bracket 204 into the recess 250 in the dryer body 16 from the open first side 252 of the recess 250. As the wall mount bracket 204 is slid into the recess 250, the inverted J-shaped panel 222 of the top projection 212 of the wall mount bracket 204 slides into the top groove 258 of the recess 250 and the J-shaped panel 226 of the bottom projection 216 slides into the bottom groove 256 of the recess 250. The wall mount assembly 202 allows the clothes dryer 14 to be stored (e.g., for travel) and brought out and easily connected to the vertical surface 200 for use. Once the wall mount assembly 200 is connected to the vertical surface 200, no tools are required to connect and disconnect the clothes dryer 14 thereto.
The illustrated dryer arms 18 are configured to be moved between a storage position as shown in
Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention. For example, the clothes dryer 14 can be connected to any surface using the wall mount assembly 202 (in an RV or anywhere else).
The above description is considered that of the one embodiment only. Modification of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiment shown in the drawings and described above is merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/118 026, filed Feb. 19, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20160244906 A1 | Aug 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62118026 | Feb 2015 | US |