The present invention relates to racks for drying garments. More specifically, the present invention provides a drying device adapted to dry the gel liners of prosthetic devices.
Many people use prosthetic devices with gel liners. It is important to regularly clean a prosthetic gel liner, as over time it accumulates bacteria and dead skin from use. Failing to clean a gel liner can lead to an increased risk of infection due to the unsanitary conditions. While it is important to clean the gel liner, it is also important to handle it carefully as any mishandling could result in the liner hardening or stretching. After cleaning, it must be fully dried before being used again. Therefore, a device that can dry the gel liners without causing persistent damage is provided.
In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing garment drying devices. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of drying devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a drying device wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when drying a garment such as the gel lining of a prosthetic device.
The present system comprises a first panel having a first head and a first base and a second panel having a second head and a second base. The first and second heads include a first and second plurality of protrusions, respectively. The first and second panels are configured to interlock perpendicularly with each other along a first and second mid-line of the first and second panels, respectively. In some embodiments, a first slot extends downward from the first head of the first panel at the first mid-line, and a second slot extends upward from the second base of the second panel at the second mid-line. In some embodiments, a first and second cutout are disposed along the first and second bases respectively and are configured to fit a fan within. In other embodiments, the drying device further comprises a fastener to removably secure the gel liner to the drying device.
Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.
Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the drying device. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
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The second panel 13 comprises a second head 15 and a second base 17. The second head 15 includes a second plurality of protrusions 27 disposed equiangularly from a second mid-line 26. In some embodiments, the second plurality of protrusions 27 comprise a rounded shape. In yet other embodiments, the second plurality of protrusions 27 extend at various angles from the second mid-line 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the second panel 13 further includes a second slot 20 extending upwards from the second base 17 at the second mid-line 26.
The first panel 12 and the second panel 13 are adapted to interlock perpendicularly creating an X shape when viewed from overhead. In the illustrated embodiment, the second panel 13 is aligned perpendicularly to the first panel 12 and lowered along the first and second mid-lines 25, 26. The first slot 19 engages with the second panel 13 and the second slot 20 engages with the first panel 12 forming the drying device 11. In the illustrated embodiment, a fan 21 is rested against the first and second panels 12, 13 at the first and second mid-lines 25, 26 such that the air circulated by the fan 21 extends upwards towards the first and second heads 14, 15. A liner 22 is draped over the first and second heads 14, 15 to rest on the first and second plurality of protrusions 18, 27. The air circulated by the fan 21 enters the liner 22 to create ventilation.
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In use, the first and second panels 12, 13 are interlocked perpendicularly by aligning the first and second mid-lines 25, 26 and lowering the second panel 13 over the first panel 12. Once perpendicularly interlocked, the cap 31 is lowered onto the first and second heads 14, 15 in order to removably secure the first and second panels 12, 13 together. The liner 22 is lowered over the first and second heads 14, 15 to rest on the first and second plurality of protrusions 18, 27. The fan 21 is placed under the liner 22 supported by the first and second panels 12, 13, such that the air circulated by the fan 21 moves upward to ventilate the liner 22. In some embodiments, a fastening device such as a cylindrical bolt 41 can be used to removably secure the liner 22 to the drying device 11.
It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.