Patent Grant
10883763
The present invention generally relates to a drying system and apparatus that is useful in the restoration industry and that is particularly useful in dehumidifying areas and structural drying. The drying system and apparatus of the present invention can also be used to treat cabinets and interstitial spaces for termites and bedbugs. The drying system and apparatus includes a drying device having a housing with opposite open ends, at least one fan contained within the housing, and a cover member having a plurality of circular openings therethrough that covers one of the open ends of the housing. The drying system also has a number of other parts including components used to create openings into closed structures that need to be dried and components that direct air from the drying device into, or out of, the openings to facilitate drying.
Storms, flooding, and burst pipes can cause water damage in homes that require wall cavities, cabinets, and other interstitial small spaces to be dried as part of the restoration process. Moisture trapped within cabinets and wall cavities can cause structural damage as well as the growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria.
In order to dry wall cavities, holes are drilled into the wall to enable air to flow into the space between the walls studs. Baseboards are preferably removed first and holes are then drilled into the wall at floor level so that the holes can later be repaired and covered by the baseboards after drying the wall cavities.
When drying wall cavities, holes drilled into drywall can be easily patched. However, extra care must be taken when drying cabinets and vanities since holes drilled into cabinets and vanities can remain visible. In order to dry cabinets and vanities, holes are preferably drilled through the toe-kicks and toe-kick fascia (the cosmetic cover on the bottom portion of the cabinet or vanity) because they are usually removable and/or replaceable. If there is no toe-kick or access to the toe-kick then holes may be drilled into the wall behind the cabinet (if accessible) and through the back wall of the cabinet itself. Since these holes are located out of sight, they can be easily repaired without detracting from the look of the cabinet or vanity.
Existing air movers and drying systems used to dry wall cavities and cabinets utilize devices that produce either low pressure with high air flow or high pressure with low air flow. These systems and devices are inefficient in that they take longer to dry enclosed areas than a system and device that can produce high pressure and high air flow. Accordingly, there is a need for an efficient drying system and apparatus for enclosed spaces that produces high pressure combined with high air flow which reduces the time and cost for drying enclosed spaces.
The present invention is directed to a drying system and apparatus for drying wall cavities, cabinets and other interstitial small spaces. The drying system and apparatus of the present invention can also be used to treat cabinets and interstitial spaces for termites and bedbugs. The drying apparatus includes a housing having an open first end and an opposite open second end, at least three sequentially positioned fans contained within the housing, and a cover member for covering the first open end of the housing that has a plurality of circular shaped openings that are in communication with an interior of the housing. The plurality of circular shaped openings may have a diameter within a range of 1 to 1.5 inches. A plurality of cylindrical tube members may be connected to the plurality of circular shaped openings in the cover member so that the plurality of cylindrical tube members extend away from the interior of the housing. The plurality of cylindrical tube members may be formed contiguously with the plurality of circular shaped openings in the cover member such that the cover member and cylindrical tube members are formed or molded from a single piece.
The housing for the drying apparatus may have a hollow cylindrical shape and at least one wheel member may be connected to the hollow cylindrical shaped housing near the second end of the housing. In addition, a support member may be connected to the hollow circular shaped housing near the first open end of the housing for holding the first open end of the housing above a lowermost position of the wheel member. The plurality of circular shaped openings contained in the cover member that covers the first open end of the housing are therefore positioned at a height that is higher than the wheel member. The drying apparatus may also contain a control means for separately activating the three sequentially positioned fans. The drying apparatus may also include a filter member connected to the open second end of the housing for filtering air that is drawn into the housing and then pushed out of the housing by the three sequentially spaced fans.
The cover member that covers the first open end of the housing may be removable so that it can be connected to the opposite open second end of the housing to enable air to be suctioned from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing instead of air being forced out of the first end of the housing. The drying apparatus may also include a second cover member for covering the second end of the housing while the first end of the housing is covered with the cover member.
The present invention is also directed to a drying system kit that includes a drying apparatus having a housing with open first and second opposite ends, at least one fan contained within the housing, and a cover member having a plurality of circular shaped openings for covering one of the first and second open ends of the housing, at least one drilling rod, a drill bit and/or hole saw that is attachable to the drilling rod, a plurality of air flow rods, a kickstand guide through which the drilling rod and air flow rods can be inserted, a flexible hose that can be cut into varying lengths, and a plurality of end caps or plugs, internal or external, that can cover the plurality of circular shaped openings in the cover member of the drying apparatus, the open ends of the plurality of air flow rods, and/or the open ends of the flexible hose member that is cut into varying lengths. The drying system kit may also include a drill tool that can be connected to the drilling rod.
The drying system kit may also include one or more first connector members for coupling one or more of the varying lengths of hose members that have been cut form the flexible hose member. In addition, the drying system kit may include one or more second connector members for attaching the plurality of hose members cut from the flexible hose member to the plurality of circular shaped openings in the cover member of the drying apparatus.
The drying system kit may also include a carrying case for storing and retaining the drilling rod, the drill bit and/or hole saw, the plurality of flow rods, the kickstand guide, and the plurality of end caps/plugs. The drill tool and/or the flexible hose member that can be cut into varying lengths may also be stored and retained within the carrying case.
The present invention is also directed to a method for drying cabinetry that includes the steps of 1) attaching a drill bit or hole saw to a first end of a drilling rod and inserting the drilling rod through a kickstand guide, 2) attaching a drill to the second opposite end of the drilling rod and lining up the kickstand guide to the toe kick, side, or base of a cabinet, 3) drilling into the cabinet with the drilling rod and the drill bit or hole saw until the drill bit or hole saw has drilled a hole into the cabinet and/or a wall behind the cabinet, 4) moving the kickstand guide, the drilling rod and the drill bit or hole saw out of and away from the cabinet or wall behind the cabinet and inserting a first end of an air flow rod into the hole in the cabinet until it reaches a back of an inside of the cabinet and/or wall behind the cabinet, and 5) attaching s second opposite end of the air flow rod to a first end of a flexible hose member and attaching a second opposite end of the flexible hose member to an air mover or drying apparatus having at least one fan. The method for drying cabinetry may further include the step of attaching an end cap having a plurality of openings to the first end of the air flow rod before inserting it into the hole in the cabinet.
The step of attaching the second opposite end of the flexible hose member to an air mover or drying apparatus may include the step of attaching the second opposite end of the flexible hose member to one of a plurality of openings in a cover member that is connected to the air mover or drying apparatus. The air mover or drying apparatus that is used in the method for drying cabinetry may include an air mover or drying apparatus that contains at least three sequentially positioned fans.
The subject invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and
An exploded view of the drying apparatus 10 of the present invention is shown in
Drying apparatus 10 may also include at least one wheel member 26 connected to the housing 12 near the opposite second open end 16 of the housing 12 for facilitating movement and transport of the drying apparatus 10. Drying apparatus 10 may also include a support member 28 connected to the housing 12 near the first open end 14 of the housing 12 for supporting the first open end 14 of the housing 12 above the ground and positioning the plurality of circular shaped openings 22 in cover member 20 above the height of wheel member 26 to provide for easy connection of flexible tube members (discussed later) to the plurality of cylindrical tube members 24 of cover member 20. Support member 28 may also be used as a handle to move and transport drying apparatus 10. A filter member 30 may be attached to the opposite second open end 16 of housing 12 to filter the air being drawn in by the sequentially spaced fans 18 so that filtered air is forced out of the circular shaped openings 22 and cylindrical tube members 24 of cover member 20 for drying. A control means may be located on an outer surface of housing 12 for separately activating the sequentially spaced fans 18. In addition, drying apparatus 10 may include a separate handle 34 attached to the housing 12 near a midpoint on the housing 12 to facilitate picking up and hand carrying the drying apparatus 10.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that it may be possible to achieve high air pressure combined with high air flow for drying by including at least two sequentially positioned fans within housing 12 and configuring circular shaped openings 22 and cylindrical tube members 24 with inner diameters within a range of 1 to 1.5 inches. Cover member 20 may be removable so that it can be removed from the open first end 14 of housing 12 and moved to the opposite open second end 16 of housing 12 so that the air flow is reversed and a suction is created that draws air from the outside of housing 12 to the inside of housing 12. Flexible tube members that are connected to cylindrical tube members 24 in housing 12 can then be used to suction moisture from an enclosed area or structure that needs to be dried. The removable cover member 20 may be positioned over filter member 32 so that air that is suctioned into housing 12 is filtered before being expelled through the open first end 14 of housing 12.
The present invention is also directed to a drying system kit which utilizes and/or includes the air drying apparatus 10 described above with reference to
The present invention is also directed to a method for drying enclosed spaces and structures including cabinetry that includes the steps of attaching a drill bit or hole saw to a first end of a drilling rod and inserting the drilling rod through a kickstand guide, attaching a drill to the second opposite end of the drilling rod and lining up the kickstand guide to a toe kick, side, or base of a cabinet, drilling into the cabinet with the drilling rod and the drill bit or hole saw until the drill bit or hole saw has drilled a hole into the cabinet and/or a wall behind the cabinet, moving the kickstand guide, the drilling rod and the drill bit or hole saw out of and away from the cabinet and/or wall behind the cabinet and inserting a first end of an air flow rod having a plurality of openings along its length into the hole in the cabinet until it reaches a back of an inside of the cabinet or the wall behind the cabinet, and attaching a second opposite end of the air flow rod to a first end of a flexible hose member and attaching a second opposite end of the flexible hose member to an air mover having at least one fan.
A perspective view showing the drying apparatus 10 of the present invention and various components of the drying system kit of the present invention during use is shown in
The detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention herein shows various exemplary embodiments of the invention. These exemplary embodiments and modes are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following disclosure is intended to teach both the implementation of the exemplary embodiments and modes and any equivalent modes or embodiments that are known or obvious to those reasonably skilled in the art. Additionally, all included examples are non-limiting illustrations of the exemplary embodiments and modes, which similarly avail themselves to any equivalent modes or embodiments that are known or obvious to those reasonably skilled in the art.
Other combinations and/or modifications of structures, arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials, or components used in the practice of the instant invention, in addition to those not specifically recited, can be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters, or other operating requirements without departing from the scope of the instant invention and are intended to be included in this disclosure.
Unless specifically noted, it is the Applicant's intent that the words and phrases in the specification and the claims be given the commonly accepted generic meaning or an ordinary and accustomed meaning used by those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. In the instance where these meanings differ, the words and phrases in the specification and the claims should be given the broadest possible, generic meaning. If any other special meaning is intended for any word or phrase, the specification will clearly state and define the special meaning.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20190242649 A1 | Aug 2019 | US |
