The present invention relates to dryer devices and, more particularly, to a device mountable to an outlet of a furnace when in use so as to dry out articles, and that dissembles into stackable elements when stored.
Gloves, mittens, shoes and other articles of clothing are difficult to dry on the inside when sweat and moisture from snow, rain and perspiration saturate them. As such, this moisture and sweat cause foul odor and wet and cold extremities. Drying such articles is a costly process when utilizing gas or electric dryers as gloves, mittens and outdoor articles are designed to keep water from entering, and so when saturated they can take enormous amounts of energy to dry using the current systems. Current dryer systems for such articles not only require lengthy dry time and added electricity costs, they are also not portable or easily storable, and may be fire hazards if too makeshift.
As can be seen, there is a need for a device mountable to an outlet of an already-running furnace when in use so as to safely and efficiently dry out articles, and that dissembles into stackable elements when stored. There is a continuing need in the art for a means of utilizing the sides of a sawhorse to provide a storage spaced. Desirably, the means permits for storage of many different types of tools and supplies.
In one aspect of the present invention, a glove dryer for use with a preexisting furnace comprises: a base forming a volumetric enclosure for substantially enclosing an outlet of the preexisting furnace; a plurality of base holes provided by the base; and a plurality of tubular detachable nozzles, each comprising: a connecting end, wherein the connecting end is configured to removably attach to any one of the plurality of base holes; an opposing distal end, wherein the distal end forms a exit hole; and a plurality of auxiliary holes disposed between the connecting end and the distal end.
In another aspect of the present invention, a glove dryer for use with a preexisting furnace comprises: a base forming a volumetric enclosure for substantially enclosing an outlet of the preexisting furnace, wherein the volumetric enclosure is defined in part by a planar periphery, and a plurality of base holes provided by the base, wherein the plurality of base holes are arranged in a non-normal orientation with respect to the planar periphery; and a plurality of tubular detachable nozzles, each comprising: a connecting end, wherein the connecting end is configured to removably attach to any one of the plurality of base holes; an opposing distal end, wherein the distal end forms a exit hole; and a plurality of auxiliary holes disposed between the connecting end and the distal end, wherein each detachable nozzle tapers toward the distal end, wherein the plurality of detachable nozzles are dimensioned and configured to stack in a nested configuration, and wherein the volumetric enclosure is dimensioned to receive at least one nested configuration therein.
In a further aspect of the present invention, a glove dryer for use with a preexisting furnace includes a base with a stepped shape and a plurality of tubular detachable nozzles. The base has a planar periphery and forms a volumetric enclosure configured to enclose an outlet of the preexisting furnace. In particular, the base has a first platform that is spaced apart from a second platform. A plurality of base holes are formed in the first platform and the second platform of the base. The plurality of tubular detachable nozzles are removably received by the base holes.
In yet another aspect, a kit for a glove dryer configured to be used with a preexisting furnace, includes a base, a plurality of tubular detachable nozzles, and a pair of wall clips. The base as a stepped shape and a planar periphery, and forms a volumetric enclosure configured to enclose an outlet of the preexisting furnace. The base has a first platform that is spaced apart from a second platform. A plurality of base holes are provided by the first platform and the second platform of the base. The plurality of tubular detachable nozzles are configured to be removably received by the base holes. The pair of wall clips are configured to removably hold the base over an air register disposed on a wall of a building.
In an additional aspect, a glove dryer for use with a preexisting furnace includes a base, and a plurality of frustoconical tubular detachable nozzles. The base has at least one wall and a planar periphery forming a volumetric enclosure configured to enclose an outlet of the preexisting furnace. A plurality of base holes are formed in the at least one wall of the base. Each of the holes has opposing planar surfaces. Each of the plurality of frustoconical tubular detachable nozzles has a connecting end, an opposing distal end, a plurality of auxiliary holes a stop rim, at least two guide rims, and at least two set-back clip portions. The connecting end is configured to removably attach to one of the plurality of base holes. Each nozzle tapers from the connecting end toward the distal end. The plurality of auxiliary holes are disposed between the connecting end and the distal end. The stop rim is disposed along a periphery of the nozzle axially inwardly from the connecting end. The stop rim is defined by a continuous ring disposed around the periphery. The at least two guide rims and at least two set-back clip portions are spaced apart and alternating in an annular arrangement radially inwardly from the stop rim, and disposed between the stop rim and the connecting end. A wall-receiving gap is defined by a distance between an underside of the stop rim and the planar surface of each of the nozzle lock portions. The distance is equal to a thickness of the wall of the base adjacent to the one of the plurality of base holes. The wall-receiving gap is configured to securely receive the wall of the base to removably lock the connecting end to the one of the plurality of base holes. Advantageously, the opposing planar surfaces of the base hole cooperate with the set-back clip portions to permit an insertion of the one of the plurality of base holes.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a drying system embodying a method and glove dryer mountable to an outlet of an already-running furnace when in use so as to safely and efficiently dry out articles, and that dissembles into stackable elements when stored. The glove dryer may include a base providing a plurality of detachable nozzles. The base may form a volumetric enclosure for both safely mounting the outlet of an already-running furnace as well as for storage purposes. The plurality of detachable nozzles may be stacked in a nest configuration when removed from the base for storing in the volumetric enclosure. When in use, the plurality of detachable nozzles each provide a plurality of holes through which heated air from the outlet reaches to tops of articles of clothing slidably received thereon.
Referring to
The base 10 may be substantially half-cylindrical shaped or may be configured in any volumetric shape so long as the base 10 function in accordance with the present invention as described herein. The half-cylindrical shape may be adapted to form a volumetric enclosure over an air register 28 so that the base 10 is not substantially resting directly on the air register 28 so as to mitigate overheating of the base 10 or otherwise stifling of the air register 28. In certain embodiments, the volumetric enclosure may be defined in part by a planar periphery 40 for circumscribing the air register 28. The air register 28 may be a vent, a collection of vanes or the like that act to control the output of an outlet of a furnace. The volumetric shape of the base 10 may also facilitate sufficient spacing of the plurality of detachable nozzles 14, as illustrated in
The base 10 may have a plurality of base holes 12 arranged so as to facilitate sufficient spacing of the plurality of detachable nozzles 14. Each base hole 12 may be adapted to removably attach to a connecting end 34 of each detachable nozzle 14.
The detachable nozzle 14 may be a tapered tube that extends from the connecting end 34 to an opposing distal end terminating in an exit hole 16. The tapering shape of the detachable nozzle 14 facilitates slidably securing articles 30 onto the distal end thereof, as illustrate in
Each connecting end 34 may be dimensioned and adapted to be removably attached to a base hole 12. Each connecting end 34 may provide a stop rim 20 along a periphery of and inward from the connecting end 34. Each connecting end 34 may provide at least one guide rim 22 and at least one nozzle lock portion 24. Each nozzle locking portion 24 may provide a set-back clip portion 26 for removably locking the connecting end 22 to a periphery of a cooperating base hole 12, as illustrated in
Each detachable nozzle 14 is stackable because of its tapered shape. In certain embodiments, the entire plurality of the detachable nozzle 14 may be stacked into at least one nested configuration 36 capable of being received by the volumetric enclosure of the base 10 for storage.
A method of using the present invention may include the following. The glove dryer 50 disclosed above may be provided. A user may operably mount the base 10 over the air register 28, as illustrated in
Subsequent use, the user may remove the plurality of detachable nozzles 14 and stack them into at least one nested configuration 36 for storing in the volumetric enclosure of the base 10 for later use.
A further embodiment of the drying system of the present invention is shown in
The base 110 may have a substantially stepped shape, or may be configured in any volumetric shape so long as the base 110 functions in accordance with the present invention as described herein. The stepped shape may be adapted to form a volumetric enclosure over the wall-based air register 128 so that the base 110.
In certain embodiments, the volumetric enclosure may be defined in part by a planar periphery 140 for circumscribing the wall-based air register 128. The air register 128 may be a vent, a collection of vanes or the like that act to control the output of an outlet of a furnace. The volumetric shape of the base 110 may also facilitate sufficient spacing of the plurality of detachable nozzles 114, as illustrated in
In particular embodiments, as shown in
As shown in
With reference to
As shown in
With further reference to
Upon twisting of the nozzles 114 following insertion, for example, as shown in
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/846,632, filed on Dec. 19, 2017, which in turn is continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/590,791, filed on Jan. 6, 2015, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,856,597 on Jan. 2, 2018, which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/057,891, filed on Sep. 30, 2014. The entire disclosures of the above applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
208070 | Buxton | Sep 1878 | A |
1450033 | Gowan | Mar 1923 | A |
2465362 | Elliott | Mar 1949 | A |
2912741 | Bennett | Nov 1959 | A |
3413021 | Potts | Nov 1968 | A |
4085519 | Masika | Apr 1978 | A |
4132047 | Gerigk | Jan 1979 | A |
4136464 | Hay | Jan 1979 | A |
4200993 | Blanc | May 1980 | A |
4398633 | Weinstein | Aug 1983 | A |
4435031 | Black | Mar 1984 | A |
4596078 | McCartney | Jun 1986 | A |
D293021 | McCartney | Dec 1987 | S |
4981651 | Horng | Jan 1991 | A |
5117565 | Willenbacher, Jr. | Jun 1992 | A |
5178280 | Ohlsson | Jan 1993 | A |
5199188 | Franz | Apr 1993 | A |
D347094 | Christensen, Jr. | May 1994 | S |
5394619 | Kaplan | Mar 1995 | A |
5406717 | Dofka | Apr 1995 | A |
5412928 | Reithel | May 1995 | A |
D372346 | Marks | Jul 1996 | S |
5592750 | Eichten | Jan 1997 | A |
5604993 | Auckerman | Feb 1997 | A |
5632099 | Seifert | May 1997 | A |
5634429 | Loomis | Jun 1997 | A |
5692316 | Antal | Dec 1997 | A |
5946814 | Farrant | Sep 1999 | A |
6216359 | Peet | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6327792 | Hebert | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6722011 | Bacon | Apr 2004 | B1 |
6880711 | Collier | Apr 2005 | B2 |
D541493 | Peet | Apr 2007 | S |
7430816 | Lozenski | Oct 2008 | B1 |
D616537 | Gosko-Sadowski | May 2010 | S |
D648091 | Southwick | Nov 2011 | S |
D665549 | Kropf | Aug 2012 | S |
8857072 | Cocker | Oct 2014 | B1 |
20040052575 | Draggoo | Mar 2004 | A1 |
20040181963 | Morris | Sep 2004 | A1 |
20050047850 | Wright | Mar 2005 | A1 |
20050050754 | Deblois | Mar 2005 | A1 |
20060130997 | Marshall | Jun 2006 | A1 |
20060180566 | Mataya | Aug 2006 | A1 |
20070199852 | Rutledge | Aug 2007 | A1 |
20080149007 | MacLean | Jun 2008 | A1 |
20100031526 | Tuckett | Feb 2010 | A1 |
20130160317 | Stumpo | Jun 2013 | A1 |
20130212900 | Stewart | Aug 2013 | A1 |
20140338212 | Williams | Nov 2014 | A1 |
20180105972 | Smoots | Apr 2018 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20190078253 A1 | Mar 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62057891 | Sep 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 15846632 | Dec 2017 | US |
Child | 16185449 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 14590791 | Jan 2015 | US |
Child | 15846632 | US |