Shoe Drying Rack

Abstract

A drying rack for shoes for use in a clothes dryer is disclosed. The rack has two pieces, a bracket for holding the shoes and a strip for supporting the bracket inside the dryer compartment. Shoes are supported against the dryer door. The strip fastens to the bracket and slips between the door and frame of the dryer when the dryer door is closed. A block on the strip abuts the door and frame of the dryer and prevents the rack from falling off of the door.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims priority on prior filed U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/049,063, filed Sep. 11, 2014 and incorporates the same by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of household appliances and more particularly relates to a rack for use in domestic or industrial clothes dryers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shoes get wet. Drying them traditionally takes time as the complex structure of today's shoes presents various layers and permeability issues for proper air flow. One way to accelerate the drying of shoes, in particular but not exclusively athletic shoes, is to put them in a dryer. However, when doing so, the shoes are jostled about the interior drum of the machine, often causing damage to the shoes or machine and also risking the shoes contacting and opening the door of the dryer, disrupting the drying cycle. To this end, many different approaches have been developed to contain shoes within the confines of a dryer drum without the jostling of free falling shoes. One common method was to secure individual shoes on a holder that was secured within the drum, usually by magnetic attraction. Other ways included racks and bags secured to the drum or door of the dryer, all used to securely hold shoes to avoid the jostling of the shoes freefalling gin the dryer. However, the utilization of each method thus far is time intensive, non-universal and complex—the assembly must be secured in some way to the dryer and must be done in a manner that does not hinder the rotation of the dryer drum. A simpler and more easily actuated system is needed to efficiently dry shoes in a dryer.

The present invention is a rack that suspends on a strip and holds a pair of shoes, like athletic shoes, against the door of a dryer during a drying cycle. As the shoes are suspended, air is more efficiently allowed to flow around the shoes and they are not subject to the jostling of being free in a dryer drum. The rack is secured by placing a securement block located upon the strip on the outside of the dryer door while the strip passes around the door, between the gasket and dryer, and suspends the rack while the block is nestled against the door crack.

The present invention represents a departure from the prior art in that the drying of the present invention allows for easy installation and removal of the rack while simultaneously allowing free airflow about shoes suspended in the dryer compartment, without the jostling of shoes that accompanies free fall of the same in the dryer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of drying racks, this invention provides a suspended drying rack for shoes. As such, the present invention's general purpose is to provide a new and improved drying rack that is easily installed and removed from a dryer while also promoting free airflow about shoes being dried.

To accomplish these objectives, the drying rack may comprise a bracket and a strip. The bracket may be a split structure with two branches that hold one shoe each. The strip may connect adjustably to the rack portion and then slip between the door and frame of the dryer. A stabilizing block on the end of the strip then is positioned exterior of the door proximate the crack between the frame and dryer door. Between the weight of the shoes and the stabilizing block, the rack and associated shoes are suspended against the dryer door throughout a drying cycle. The adjustable strip may also be fixedly connected to the bracket and the stabilizing block may be adjustably connected to the strip, thereby affording the same adjustability as previously described with an alternate structure.

The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow.

Many objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a rack according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the rack of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective of a bracket used in the rack of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the bracket of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the bracket of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the bracket of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the bracket of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation of the bracket of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the bracket of FIG. 4, taken along line A-A.

FIG. 10 is a front elevation of the strip utilized in the rack of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of the strip of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the strip of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a close-up view of the strip of FIG. 10, taken in circle B.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an alternate rack also embodying the present invention

FIG. 15 is a close-up view of the stabilizing block used in the rack of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a front elevation of the bracket used with the rack of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the bracket of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention, installed in a dryer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, the most preferred embodiments of the drying rack is herein described. It should be noted that the articles “a,” “an,” and “the,” as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

With reference to FIG. 18, the rack 100 has two components: a bracket 110 and a strip 120. The bracket 110 is the portion which holds the shoes while strip 120 secures the rack 100 to the dryer 200.

One embodiment of a bracket 10, in FIGS. 1-9, is a trident-shaped construction with two lateral prongs 12 and a central support prong 14. Lateral prongs 12 extend outward from base 13, preferably with some element of a curve to them, and each supports one shoe when the rack 100 is in use. The support prong 14 extends vertically between the lateral prongs 12 and is generally trough-shaped. Two bulbous nubs 18 extend into support prong 14. Base 13 presents a transverse slot 16 directly in line with support prong 14.

One embodiment of a strap 20, as is shown in FIGS. 10-13, has a thin, elongated tongue 22 with a thick block 26. Block 26 ideally has some form of handle, like ring 28, for ease of manipulation. Tongue 22 features a plurality of keyed slots 24, each with a wide head 23 and a narrow neck 25. Between the head 23 and neck 25 is a throat 27. In use, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, strap 20 is inserted into support arm 14 and threaded through the slot 16. Keyed slots 24 are positioned over nubs 18 and nubs 18 are positioned therein. The head 23 of the keyed slots 24 fit over the bulbous head of each nub 18. The bracket 10 is then pulled downward so that throats 27 of the keyed slots 24 abut the bulbous nubs 18 and, with some force, allow passage of the nubs 18 into the neck portions of the keyed slots 24. In so doing, the bulbous nubs 18 are held in place against jostling that may occur while the dryer is running.

Another embodiment of the rack is shown in FIGS. 14-17. The bracket 30 of this embodiment is identical to the first except that it features a cross-piece 38 in the central support prong 34 in place of nubs (FIGS. 16, 1 7). Strap 40 is secured about this cross-piece 38 (FIG. 14). Support block 46 may then be adjustable upon the strap 40 to provide length adjustability to fit different dryer models. Any block structure which will allow for a releasably secure hold may be used, such as the depicted buckle in FIG. 15.

In use then, as shown in FIG. 18, rack 100 is positioned so that it will reside generally and centrally against the dryer door 210 and a pair of shoes is positioned on the two lateral prongs of the bracket 110. The strap 120 is threaded around the door of the dryer 200 such that the block 126 is abutting the door 210 of the dryer and its frame 220. For the first disclosed embodiment, once the dryer door 210 is shut, block 126 co-operates with the shoes to maintain a tension between the bracket 110 and strap 120 and keep the two pieces assembled. With the second disclosed embodiment, the strap 120 is held in position while the block 126 is tightened against the dryer 200

Construction of the rack may be of any suitably heat resistant material Metals and other materials may be used; however, heat resistant polymers are preferred. Polymers may, of course be blended with stabilizers and other additives to obtain optimum performance. In the first disclosed embodiment, the use of the same polymer for both the bracket 10 and strip 20 is sensible for simplicity, but it is not necessary and may be abandoned for cost-effectiveness and material performance. An ideal polymer for use in both the bracket 10 and strip 20 would be heat resistant up to 300° F. and still maintain resiliency and durability while resisting deformation, though heat resistance to only 250° F. would suffice for most modern, non-malfunctioning, dryers. The bracket would need to hold the weight of at least one pair of wet shoes while in the dryer environment. Such a polymer would also need to resist wear, cracking and degradation. Ideal polymers for this embodiment would include, but not be limited to: Hydrolytic stabilized polyamide 6,6; Polybutylene Terephthalate; Polyphthal Amide; and silicone elastomers. If different materials are chosen, as is in the second disclosed embodiment, the materials list of options greatly expands. The strap 40 may be made of any flexible and heat resistant material, such as a polymer or a fabric, while the bracket 30 may be made of any of the above disclosed polymers or more rigid ones, like ABS plastic, as the ductility of the strap need not be considered in material choice.

The bracket 10, 30 may be constructed in any means known in the art to increase durability while reducing weight. As can be seen in FIG. 8, structural ribs are provided. Likewise, a brace 19 may also be added to the bracket 10, as is shown in FIG. 9. With proper material selection, the bracket 10 may be made thinner than is depicted in the figures, even to the point of being almost flat.

Dimensions for one example of a bracket and strap for use with the invention is described herein. It should be noted that these dimensions are merely an example of one manner to manufacture a bracket according to the present invention. Other dimensions are possible and will be dependent upon desired look, size and material of construction. A bracket may have a length of approximately 6 inches and a maximum width of 4.5 inches, with a base of about 2 inches width and 0.75 inches in length. Thickness of the bracket would range from 0.375 to 0.625 inches, with the central prong being tapered from the minimum to maximum thickness. Lateral prongs would branch off of the base in a slightly curved fashion, having an R of about 12.0 inches. The strap may be about 12 to 18 inches long with a thickness and width determined by the material f construction.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.

Claims

1. A shoe drying rack for a dryer having a frame and a door providing access to a dryer chamber, the rack comprising:

a. a shoe holding bracket; and

b. a support strip, capable of slipping between the door and a frame of the dryer and further comprising a block on an exterior end;

wherein the block resides proximate a joint between the door and frame of the dryer when the rack is properly installed and prevents the rack from sliding off of the dryer door and further into the dryer chamber.

2. The shoe drying rack of claim 1, the support strip being removable from the shoe holding bracket.

3. The shoe drying rack of claim 2, the support strip being manufactured from a polymer.

4. The shoe drying rack of claim 1, the bracket being manufactured from a polymer.

5. The shoe drying rack of claim 4, the bracket further comprising a reinforcing insert within the polymer.

6. The shoe drying rack of claim 1, the strap further comprising a plurality of keyed slots and the rack further comprising a plurality of bulbous nubs, such that the bulbous nubs fit in an equal number of keyed slots, thereby securing the rack and the strap together.

7. The shoe drying rack of claim 6, the keyed slots further comprising a narrow throat such that force is required to pass the bulbous nubs from one area of the keyed slots to another area thereof.

8. The shoe drying rack of claim 1, the block being adjustable in its position on the support strap and the support strap being fixedly mounted to the bracket.

9. The shoe drying rack of claim 8, the strip being manufactured from at least one material from the set of materials consisting of fabric and polymer.

10. The shoe drying rack of claim 8, the block being an adjustable buckle fastened to the support strap.

11. The shoe drying rack of claim 8, the bracket being manufactured from a polymer.

12. The shoe drying rack of claim 11, the shoe holding bracket further comprising a reinforcing insert within the polymer.

13. The shoe drying rack of claim 1, the shoe holding bracket comprising three prongs extending from a common base, a central prong being a connection structure for the strap.