The present invention pertains to a towel dryer and warming device that is free standing, simple in construction, simple to operate and suitable for use in the commercial market or individual homes. The simplicity of the device gives it a competitive edge. The device utilizes a commercially available portable hair dryer which dries and warms the towel in a relative short period of time. It is another important object of the present invention to provide a towel dryer and warming device which is adaptable to various models of hair dryers and can support and stabilize the hair dryer unit in operation without continuous attendance of the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,076 describes a fixture serving as a storage holster for a portable hair dryer and also functioning as a rack for drying towels.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,117,309 describes an electric towel warmer including an inverted, U-shaped rack which extends upwardly from the bottom of the cabinet or housing and is adapted to support a towel to be warmed. An electric heating element is mounted within the perforated rack.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,446 shows a towel warmer which comprises an enclosure with a support in the form of a perforated divider shelf arranged in the interior of the enclosure, dividing the enclosure into an upper volume and a lower volume. A towel is supported on the divider shelf and heated air is introduced into the lower volume and passes upwardly through the towel supported on the perforated divider shelf, with the air being vented through openings in the lid of the enclosure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,640 describes a towel warmer in which a hollow rack is mounted within the upper portion of the cabinet and the towel is draped over the rack. Heated air is supplied through a standard electric hair dryer connected to an end of the rack by a locking mechanism. Heated air is directed over and through the rack then discharged downwardly and through the lower end of the cabinet.
The invention is directed to an improved towel warmer which is simple in construction and operation and thus has particular application in hones.
In accordance with the invention, the towel warmer includes a cabinet or housing having an open top. A removable bar mounted across the top end of the cabinet and a towel to be heated is draped over the bar and introduced into the interior of the cabinet. Heated air is introduced through an opening through the lower end of one of the end walls of the cabinet and passes over the towel disposed in the air flow path and the towel is thereby heated by the air circulating therethrough and discharged through the open top of the cabinet. With the towel being loosely suspended in the air flow path, both the inner and outer surfaces of the towel is exposed to the heated air.
In a preferred form of the invention, the heated air is supplied by a standard portable electric hair dryer.
Due to the use of the heated air and the towel draped over the bar suspended loosely in the cabinet, both the inner and outer surfaces of the towel are heated, thereby increasing the efficiency of the heating operation and enabling a towel to be warmed is a short period of time.
The invention is simple in construction and is economical to produce making it affordable for individual home owner use. The towel warmer can be designed to be either free standing or wall mounted. The cabinet can be rectangular in shape or for aesthetic purposes can be oval or of some other configuration.
As a further feature of the invention, the hair dryer is held in place by a strap around the handle of the hair dryer with the ends of the strap removably secured to the side walls of the cabinet, allowing for easy replacement of the hair dryer.
Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description.
The drawing illustrates the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the Invention.
In the drawing:
As shown in
Enclosure 1, as shown in
In the upper ends of walls 6 and 7 are vertical slots 9 and 10 configured to support, locate and retain rod 3.
A towel 13 shown in phantom in
Heating device 2 includes a nozzle 14 which extends through an opening 15 formed in the lower end of wall 6 of enclosure 1, through which heated air is discharged in response to operation of heating device 2.