With Suspension Means And Bottom Retainer Patents (Class 34/106)
  • Patent number: 11952708
    Abstract: A portable glove drying apparatus having a housing defining an inner chamber containing a fan and power source, as well as a sized outlet for receiving a golf glove. A flexible but resilient loop is disposed across the sized outlet and can be inserted in a golf glove to support and expand the golf glove from its inside. The fan can generate air flow that is directed into a base opening of the glove and out of ventilation holes of the golf glove. The air flow acts to improve evaporation of moisture contained on or in the golf glove and thereby promotes rapid drying of the golf glove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventor: Barry J. Henry
  • Patent number: 11835293
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for drying a hydration system comprises an airflow apparatus comprising a case, a heating element, a fan, a cap for a hydration bladder cap comprising a fluidic connection to bladder and air flow apparatus, a conduit connected to cap and airflow apparatus, conduit further comprising an exhaust vent, a clip connected to a mouthpiece associated with bladder wherein airflow apparatus produces airflow through bladder and mouthpiece, and a rack configured to hold hydration bladder while airflow flow through bladder and mouthpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TRL-9, LLC
    Inventor: Steven Alderete
  • Patent number: 11439293
    Abstract: A shoe support and attachment device including a base that has a pair of sidewalls rising therefrom. The sidewalls are angled inward such that they are closer together at a topside thereof. The base and the sidewalls frictionally engage a shoe therebetween. The base has a telescopic adjustment that is controlled by an adjustment screw. At least one fastener is placed on a bottom side of the base opposite the sidewalls. The fastener attaches the device to the interior of a drier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventor: Jeffrey Taylor
  • Patent number: 11384477
    Abstract: A garment treatment device includes a base, a water reservoir received on the base, a steam generator housed in the base and in fluid communication with the water reservoir, an air delivery system housed in the base, a pole extending from the base, and a garment bag having an interior space sized to receive a garment, the garment bag being receivable on the pole. The air delivery system is configured to provide air to the interior space to dry the garment in a drying mode of operation, and to inflate the garment bag so that an exterior, front face of the garment bag forms a cushioned support surface for supporting the garment on the exterior, front face in an ironing mode of operation. The steam generator is configured to convert water from the water reservoir into steam for passage into the garment bag in a steaming mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Conair LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Kit Lun Leung, Kin Man Lai
  • Patent number: 11371778
    Abstract: A shoulder pad dryer and hanger is shown and described. The shoulder pad dryer and hanger includes a central support. The central support has a pair of cross supports connected opposite each other. The central support and the pair of cross supports are hollow such that air flows through the interior of the device. The central support and the pair of cross supports have apertures therein to allow air to pass therethrough. There is a hook located at the top of the central support. At the bottom of the central support there is a fan to force air through the device. There is a shoulder pad support system attached to each of the cross supports that will keep shoulder pads suspended from the device allowing air to flow beneath the pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventor: Christopher Vandamia
  • Patent number: 11313620
    Abstract: An intelligent drying method and an ultraviolet sterilization container are applied to an ultraviolet sterilization container for drying a sterilized article, the method comprising: that the sterilization container sequentially executes the following steps after receiving a drying instruction: releasing hot air to an article storage cavity; when an initial drying time is reached, collecting the intracavity temperature of the article storage cavity; automatically obtaining an extended drying time corresponding to the intracavity temperature of the article storage cavity; and continuously releasing hot air to the article storage cavity until the extended drying time is reached. The ultraviolet sterilization container includes: an article storage cavity, a heating air duct, a microprocessor, and a memory storing a computer readable program executable by the microprocessor. When the computer readable program is executed by the microprocessor, the sterilization container performs the above steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: SHENZHEN UVLED OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chenyi Ou Yang
  • Patent number: 10151059
    Abstract: Provided is a clothes drier including a drying device, a base, a support rod, and a drying jacket. The base is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet. The drying device is disposed inside the base. The support rod has a first end disposed on the base and a second end extending in a direction away from the base. The support rod can be a telescopic rod. The drying jacket is suspended from the second end of the support rod and further arranged to enclose the base. The drying jacket is used for being sheathed in clothes. According to the clothes drier the drying device is disposed inside the base and the telescopic support rod is fixedly disposed on the base so as to facilitate the drying of the clothes hung on the support rod by the drying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: KE M.O. HOUSE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mo-Tsan Tsai
  • Patent number: 10086103
    Abstract: A clothes deodorizing apparatus includes: a bag body for accommodating clothes; an ozone supply apparatus to supply air with the ozone into the bag body; a throwing inlet arranged on the bag body and opened and closed through a zipper; and a locking detection unit configured to detect that the throwing inlet is locked by the zipper. The locking detection unit includes: a detection lock connected with a slider of the zipper; and a lock detection part arranged on the ozone supply apparatus and configured to detect a lock inserting concave part that accepts the detection lock and the detection lock. The detection lock does not reach the lock inserting concave part in a state that the zipper is completely opened, and reaches the lock inserting concave part in a state that the zipper is completely closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Aqua Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeharu Nakamoto, Hazime Suzuki, Takayuki Nagai, Tomohiro Yamauchi, Osamu Tanikoshi, Katsuji Onishi
  • Patent number: 8857072
    Abstract: The mitten and boot dryer for use with a residential furnace includes a vent plate made of a ferrous material, which is mounted either one a forced air residential furnace or down line therefrom. The vent plate features a plurality of holes upon which a vent may be attached via an angled base support. The angled base support features a magnet embedded therein, which attaches itself onto the hole of the vent plate, and can rotate there about. Alternatively, the angled base support may feature a winged end that slides into a winged hole on the vent plate, and is rotated therein so as to lock into the vent plate. The vent has a cap on a farthest distal end and features a plurality of holes along the length. The angled base support includes a friction hinge to enable rotation of the vent with respect to the vent plate. The vents are ideally oriented at angles to enable a boot or mitten to rest thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventors: Mark Cocker, Cathy Cocker
  • Patent number: 8365431
    Abstract: A glove holder is disclosed for coupling a glove to an air vent. The air vent discharges an air flow over a fan shroud. The glove holder comprises a cylinder having an interior surface. The interior surface defines an interior bore. The cylinder is inserted into the glove. A support arm extends from a first end to a second end. The first end of the support arm is secured to the interior surface of the cylinder. The second end of the support arm is positioned within the interior bore. A key receiver is secured to the second end of the support arm. A clamp extends between a key and a conical backing. The key slidably engages the key receiver and the conical backing frictionally engages the air vent. The air flow is displaced from the air vent, through the interior bore of the cylinder and through the body of the glove for drying the glove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventor: Jarrett P. Parish
  • Publication number: 20120324752
    Abstract: A bag drying and storage device includes a base member and a plurality of arched upward protrusions secured thereto. A bag or similar item is placed on a pair of the protrusions and the arched shape allows air to circulate within each bag and decrease a drying time. Additionally, the protrusions can be independently rotated to adjust to the size of the bag secured thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventor: WALLS JON
  • Patent number: 8322541
    Abstract: A method of assembling a towel rail having vertically extending, elongate, tubular supports opposed and spaced apart from each other, and spaced apart, horizontally extending, tubular beams, the method including: a) threading an elongate flexible heating element through a respective support; b) looping an appropriate length of the element through each hole of the support to form a plurality of looped sections; c) threading each looped section through a respective beam from the second end; d) inserting the second end of each beam through a respective hole of the respective support to bring an abutment surface of the second end into contact with an inner surface of the support; and e) locking the second end of each beam to the support by passing a fastener at least partially through the support to engage with a recess formed in the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Andrew Keith Maclaren-Taylor
  • Patent number: 8186075
    Abstract: A small, portable electric shoe dryer that includes an elongated, narrow outer housing with three longitudinally aligned heating elements and a fan and motor assembly mounted on one end. Formed on the outer housing and around the fan and motor assembly is a fan vent opening. Formed on the opposite, distal end of the outer housing is a plurality of front and side body vent openings. In one embodiment, a three pole manual switch is mounted inside the outer housing that connects to the fan and motor assembly which draws dry air into the shoe from the top opening or forces moist air out of the shoe. In another embodiment, a pair of longitudinally aligned, upward extending wing elements are formed on the top surface which maintains air space when the inside of the shoe is adjacent to the top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventor: Joel Beckett
  • Patent number: 7886459
    Abstract: A device and method for assisting in the removal of fluid, such as water, and related moisture from a bladder of a fluid storage device, such as a personal hydration pack or reservoir, is disclosed. The device has a three-dimensional structure or profile so that, when inserted within the bladder, the bladder is held in an open configuration or position, which allows any water or fluid to drain out and allows evaporation to the atmosphere of moisture to occur through the port of the bladder used to fill the device. In one form, the device has an insertion section having portions of elongated structure having a smaller size than the opening so that the insertion section can be fed into the bladder, and the overall insertion section has a profile larger than the opening so that the bladder is held open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventor: John Robert Ruess
  • Patent number: 7716849
    Abstract: A portable, free-standing dryer device with generally tapered portions formed about a generally central axis facilitating insertion into clothing items to be dried from inside, for example gloves, mittens, socks and other substantially tubular items. The device has a connector temporarily fastening it to a forced air vent. The dryer device comprises at least first and second drier portions joined by an intermediate shoulder portion, each of which defines multiple air passages widening from inner to outer surfaces of the portions to define an expansion volume fostering air flow. A larger substantially open end in the first portion receives air from the vent. The air flows from within the drier outwardly through the passages. An angular relationship of outer surfaces of the first, second and intermediate portions relative to the device central axis ensures that the second drier portion has an extended, narrowing configuration facilitating its insertion into clothing items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Inventor: Neil Hicks
  • Publication number: 20090300934
    Abstract: A shoe drying frame (1) having a securing means, such as magnets (8), located on an underside (9) of the frame and at least one strap (6), which is preferably elastic, attached to a first and second side wall (2) and (3)of the frame so as to hold at least one athletic shoe (11) within the frame (1). At least one adjustable strap (6) may be located on the first and second side walls (2) and (3) of the frame so as to accommodate athletic shoes (11) of a greater height. To use the present invention, a user first positions the shoe drying frame (1) against a dryer drum (14) such that the magnets are adjacent to the dryer drum (14). Then, the user places at least one athletic shoe (11) within the perimeter of frame (1) such that the sole of the athletic shoe (12) is adjacent to the dryer drum (14) and positions the toe of the athletic shoe (11) underneath the straps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Yuri A. Hesse, Claudia L. Hesse
  • Publication number: 20090193676
    Abstract: In the shoe drying apparatus according to the present invention, the ozone-containing air or the mixed air generated and heated by the sanitizing assembly is taken in through intake duct and moves through the main conduit and the auxiliary conduit into the shoe-holding member to sanitize inside of a shoe. After sanitizing, the mixed air moves from inside of the shoe to the interior of the housing, and comes back through return air duct to the anion generator where it is purified and deodorized. The purified air is subsequently sent to a motorized fan contained within the sanitizing assembly. During such circulation, shoes can be sanitized. Moreover, an ultraviolet lamp is installed on the shoe-holding member to sanitize inside of the shoe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Guo Shengguang, Guo Shengyan
  • Publication number: 20090100699
    Abstract: A golf glove drying apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a selectively expandable and contractible sleeve having an airflow path therethrough. A mounting device is provided for mounting the sleeve to a golf cart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventor: William E. Hasler
  • Patent number: 7389596
    Abstract: A shoe drying rack to fit a dryer's drum, comprised of an open container divided into two mirror imaged halves joined together by an adjustable connector arm. In one embodiment, the adjustable connector arm is a telescopic arm, allowing for the sizing of the shoe drying rack to fit different size drums of a clothes dryer. A strap and holding posts located in each of the half cylinders keep one or more shoes in place during drying. A shoe drying rack in which the two containers are mirror-imaged half cylinders fits best within the round dryer drums, allowing for a large surface area of contact for stability and balance during drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Inventor: Todd Parks
  • Patent number: 7235109
    Abstract: A garment processing apparatus is disclosed. The garment processing apparatus may include a manifold having a plurality of arms. Each of the arms may be configured to discharge air. A cabinet may be configured to support a plurality of garments with each of the garments positioned between a different pair of adjacent arms. A closed loop air system may include a condenser to remove water from the air discharged from the manifold, and/or a steam generator to inject steam into the air discharged from the manifold. A chemical agent may also be injected into the air discharged from the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Inventor: Richard G. Kleker
  • Patent number: 7146748
    Abstract: The system for drying shopping carts dries a large number of wet shopping carts. The carts are loaded onto a conveyor belt. Side dryers located on either side of the conveyor belt initially dry the carts. The carts are passed under a freestanding arch having support columns situated on either side of the conveyor belt. The arch includes a number of overhead dryers. When the carts move under the arch, they are dried from above by the overhead dryers. Water dispelled from the shopping carts runs into a drainage system situated on the floor. Once the shopping carts are dried, the carts are unloaded from the conveyor belt and are removed from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Inventor: Dorla J. Swisher
  • Patent number: 6857199
    Abstract: A drying mold 1 for a pulp molded article has a first mold member 10, a second mold member 20, and a third mold member 30. The first mold member 10 has a drying portion 12 and first passageways 13a and 13b connecting the drying portion 12 to an exterior surface of the first mold member 10. The second mold member 20 has a prescribed heating means and is disposed in contact with the exterior surface of the third mold member 30. The third mold member 30 is disposed in contact with the exterior surface of the first mold member 10. The drying mold 1 is designed to form second passageways 2a and 2b between the first and the third mold members when the first and the third mold members are disposed in contact with each other. The passageways 2a and 2b connect the first passageways 13a and 13b to the outside of the drying mold 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Otani, Shingo Odajima, Tokihito Sono
  • Patent number: 6845569
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new and improved shoe drying apparatus that can dry washed and/or unwashed shoes in a short period of time by circulating ozone-containing air in the airtight interior of the apparatus and also deodorize and sanitize shoes by removing odor and bacteria from the shoes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Inventor: Soo Kil Kim
  • Patent number: 6766591
    Abstract: A garment drying apparatus includes a housing forming a base. A heater is mounted in the base for warming ambient air drawn into the base via a fan through openings formed in the base. A pair of air ducting walls are mounted in the base to direct a portion of the warm air in a first flow path and the remaining portion of the warm air in a second flow path. The flow paths are disposed in substantially diametrically opposed directions within the base. The housing further includes a top wall for covering the base. The top wall includes vent openings aligned with distal ends of the first and second flow paths. Garment support members are mounted on the top surface of the top wall and are pivotable between a first position where support is aligned substantially horizontally in a stowed position on the top wall and a second position where the support is substantially upright relative to the top wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: HP Intellectual Corp.
    Inventors: Larry Todd McKinney, Keith C. Bernard, Joseph J. Laskowski
  • Patent number: 6742276
    Abstract: A plastic suit drying system comprises a drying chamber with an air warmer, and a mobile dryer rack. The mobile rack has a wheeled air plenum base, a number of drying positions (each comprising three perforated air pipes protruding up from the base), and a flanged air inlet in the back of the base that mates with a connection flange in the drying chamber. Through this flanged connection hot air is forced into the base/plenum and then into the perforated pipes. For use, wet plastic suits are placed upside down on the drying positions. Then, the mobile rack is rolled into the drying chamber so that the rack's flange mates with the drying cabinet's connection flange. Next, the drying chamber doors are closed, and the drying cycle started, during which heated air is blown into the mobile rack plenum and up into the air pipes extending into the suits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: UniFirst Corporation
    Inventors: Kent D. Anderson, Les Case, Michael R. Fuller, David K. Welcher, II, Richard F. Tardy
  • Patent number: 6732447
    Abstract: A shoe drying device having two arms and an airflow channel extending therethrough. A spring exerts an outward force on the arms. Each arm includes a member for holding a shoe at an end thereof. During a drying cycle, convection air enters through an air inlet towards the center of the device, flows through the airflow channel, and exits through air outlets in the members for holding a shoe at the ends of the arms. This facilitates more even drying of shoes held in the members for holding shoes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Mark Tomasi, James I. Czech, Michael R. MacKay
  • Patent number: 6688019
    Abstract: A baby bottle dryer and organizer is herein described. The bottle dryer has hollow posts onto which baby bottles are placed and a blower/fan that blows drying air up into the posts, thus drying the interior of the baby bottles. The bottle dryer further has a removable tray for drying baby bottle nipples and rings/caps into which are from the blower/fan flows. The bottle dryer also has a lid and a front door to protect the baby bottles, nipples, rings/caps from dust and debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventor: Hope R. Buchweitz
  • Publication number: 20030173478
    Abstract: A glove stand and method of holding gloves is disclosed. In one embodiment, the glove stand comprises a base having a support for mounting to a support surface and an arm mount. First and second arm generally “L”-shaped are movably mounted to the arm mount. The arms extend outwardly from the arm mount and then upwardly to define a portion for accepting a glove. In one embodiment, a projection mount is connected to the free end of the upwardly extending portion of each arm, and between two and four projections extend from each projection mount for engaging at least two portions of the inside of a glove placed thereon. The glove mount may be mounted to a horizontal or vertical surface and the arms moved to ensure that gloves placed thereon are stored upright. The projection mounts and projections may be formed as ornamental elements, permitting the user to customize the glove stand to their taste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Juanita C. Williams, Donna Pacileo
  • Patent number: 6604298
    Abstract: A drying apparatus for use in a drying device, having a surface and a first mechanism to at least partially hold an article relative to the surface. A second mechanism associated with the surface is operable to cooperatively engage with an air exit in the drying device, and is in air communication with an interior of the first mechanism. An airflow channel is formed between a portion of the drying device, the article, the interior of the first mechanism, the second mechanism, and an air exit in the drying device, facilitating more even drying of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Mark Tomasi, James I. Czech, David E. Scott, Brooke Lindsay-Steel Lau
  • Patent number: 6591514
    Abstract: A centrifuge for draining washed egg trays comprises a centrifuge chamber in a housing (9). A bottom (8) for receiving a washed stack (7) of egg trays in a feeding position is displaceable with respect to said housing (9) between the feeding position and a centrifuging position. The stack (7) of egg trays is centred on the bottom in the centrifuging position, and in this position the bottom is in engagement with a rotational drive (22, 23), which is vertically non-displaceable with respect to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Sanovo Engineering A/S
    Inventor: Jens Kristian Sønderby Kristensen
  • Patent number: 6591517
    Abstract: The present invention is a shoe dryer and deodorizer that can be hung on the back of a door or mounted on a wall. It is comprised of an upper housing support member that is attached to a flat shoe rack with mesh pockets with which to hold shoes. The upper housing support member contains a motorized fan assembly, an air intake screen, a deodorizing filter, and an air discharge duct. The motorized fan assembly is comprised of a fan intake duct, a blower, a baffle, and a fan discharge duct. Air is taken into the unit through the intake screen and passes through the deodorizing filter and the fan intake duct on its way to the fan blower. The fan blower pushes this air through the baffle and the fan discharge duct and out to the air discharge duct where the air is dispersed over the shoes that are placed in the mesh pockets. The unit can have a manual power switch or can be programmed by a timer mechanism to turn on and off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Inventor: Burt T. Moore
  • Patent number: 6516536
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying “dry suits”, HAZ MAT suits, cleanroom suits and the like utilizes a blower and heating elements mounted through a neck, wrist or ankle seal of the suit. The heated and compressed air is discharged into the suit to absorb moisture from the internal suit surfaces, then is discharged through the suit seals, rapidly drying the suit. Inserts for establishing a desired discharge rate from the suit seals are described. The inserts also serve to stretch the neck and arm seals to the proper diameter for maintaining comfortable wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Inventor: Michael V. Ryden
  • Publication number: 20030009902
    Abstract: This invention is a compact, portable apparel drying apparatus that comprises a base having two ends with a cross-member midway between these ends. An apparel holding frame is pivotally connected to each end of the base. Two support arms are provided, one end of each is removably connected to one of the apparel holding frames. The other ends of the support arms are pivotally connected to the base cross-member. When connected, the support arms securely position the apparel holding frames at an inward angle of approximately 75 degrees with respect to the base. When the support arms are disconnected from the holding frames, they fold compactly to lie flush with the base. The base, the apparel holding frames and the support arms may be formed from any durable material such as stainless steel rod or high temperature plastics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventor: Ronald E. Kirk
  • Patent number: 6499227
    Abstract: Sports glove drying devices. In one embodiment, an accessory allows attachment of gloves to a vehicle. The aerodynamic drag of the wind against the vehicle during the vehicle's movement speeds up the drying of the gloves. In a further embodiment, an accessory for adhering to a vehicle, existing tags or so forth, allowing any surface to be utilized for drying the gloves. In further embodiments, the accessory includes a receptacle for interchanging promotional material therein. In a preferred embodiment, the accessories are used with golf gloves and can be attached to a golf cart. In alternate embodiments, the accessories can be used with any other sporting activity using gloves, such as bicycling, baseball, or so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventor: Leon Jacobson
  • Patent number: 6385862
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in drying articles defining internal cavities within a conventional clothes dryer includes a manifold and a plurality of tubes extending therefrom. Each of the tubes is provided with various, circumferentially spaced and longitudinally extending ribs. The apparatus is adapted to be mounted within the clothes dryer, with the manifold being seated about an exhaust outlet of the dryer and a shoe, glove or the like to be dried being placed over a respective tube. Air flow into the dryer is caused to flow along the tubes, between adjacent ribs, into an internal cavity of the article, then into the manifold through the tube, and finally out of the dryer through the exhaust outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Evan R. Vande Haar
  • Patent number: 6374509
    Abstract: A shoe holder for attaching a shoe to a dryer for preventing the tennis shoes from banging in the drum of the dryer while being dried. The shoe holder for attaching a shoe to a dryer includes a piece of material being adapted to fasten about a sole of a shoe; and also includes fastening members for fastening the piece of material about the sole of the shoe; and further includes dryer attachment members securely attached to the piece of material and being adapted to detachably attach to a drum of a dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Inventors: Richard W. Jackson, Sr., Glenda M. Jackson
  • Patent number: 6363627
    Abstract: A clothes dryer includes a housing and a hollow tube connected to a first end of the housing. The housing has plural lengthwise narrow air inlets formed in a bottom, a wind leaves wheel rotated by a motor and a heater in its interior, and a wind outlet formed in the first end connected to a hollow tube extensible and shrinkable. The hollow tube has a lengthwise L-shaped rail for hanging plural J-shaped hooks for hooking washed wet clothes and two lengthwise lines of wind exhaust holes at two sides of the rail. Thus, outer cool air flows through the air inlet holes in the housing and heated up by the heater and then blown by the wind leaves wheel into the hollow tubes and then flows out of the wind exhaust holes to dry clothes hung on the hooks under the hollow tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Inventor: A-Chu Lai
  • Patent number: 6351894
    Abstract: An attachment for a clothes dryer includes an air valve with a positionable spherical member for directing heated air to a wall vent or to a flexible conduit serving an article holder for drying various articles. A tee of the holder diverts air into rotationally positionable elbows and air tubes therein. A bracket holds the article holder stowed in compact abutment against a room wall. The holder is also removable from the bracket for floor placement and with the addition of tubular extensions for the drying of large items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Inventors: Steven M. Lund, Kenneth A. Niemi
  • Patent number: 6289604
    Abstract: An environmental protection compliant, higher productivity footwear vacuum dryer and conveyance apparatus having a conveyor belt on which is disposed a plurality of footwear placement rod support and footwear placement tray units that convey the footwear sole and upper covering. The conveyor belt moves past one or more heating boxes and vacuum activation boxes and is accessible at intervals between the adjoining heating box and vacuum activation box. Inside the vacuum activation boxes, moisture content is evacuated and footwear of different materials are warmed by radiated heat, preventing damage to the footwear, while also activating the adhesive applied on the footwear to facilitate adhesion between the sole and upper covering of the footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Inventor: Liang-Tsuen Chang
  • Patent number: 6263591
    Abstract: The portable sports equipment drying container comprised: a box shaped body; a cover for the body; the body having opposed side walls and opposed end walls; an input fan mounted in one of the walls; an output fan mounted in a another one of the walls; a heating pad in the box shaped body; perforated or porous insulating structure between the heating pad and clothing or equipment placed in the box shaped body; and electrical circuitry for energizing the fans and the heating pad for drying moist or wet clothing or equipment placed in said container and for circulating air through the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventor: Victor M. La Porte
  • Patent number: 6243967
    Abstract: A bag dryer comprising a pair of identical members, each having a central portion, and integral faucet-engaging portion, and an integral bag-engaging portion. The two members are pivotally connected and spring-biased so that the faucet-engaging portions tend to be rotated toward one another. The dryer is intended to be mounted upon a faucet over a sink so that dripping from a bag inverted over the bag-engaging portions may drip into the sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Dean J. Dovolas
  • Patent number: 6216359
    Abstract: A gas fired garment drier is described in which a base is provided with an air conduit including an internal air passageway leading from a bottom end to a top end. A gas burner is positioned adjacent the bottom end of the conduit. A heat exchanger is situated adjacent the gas burner and leads into the air conduit and the air passageway. The heat exchanger includes a convection air duct extending into the air conduit within the air passageway. A garment support is provided adjacent the top end of the air conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Peet Shoe Dryer, Inc.
    Inventor: Gene W. Peet
  • Patent number: 6212793
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are presented for drying and storing laboratory containers which significantly reduce the introduction of contaminants into the containers. A laboratory container system includes one or more containers and a rack for holding the containers in an inverted position. Each container has a base portion, a column portion, and a receptacle portion. A lateral dimension of the base portion is greater than that of the column portion. During use, a container is inverted, and the column portion is inserted between sides of a slot in a flat member of the rack. The spacing between the sides of the slot is sufficient to allow the column portion to pass therebetween, but not the base portion. As a result, the base portion of the container contacts an upper portion of both sides of the slot, and the container is suspended from the rack by the base portion in an inverted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Allison L. Goad
  • Patent number: 6209221
    Abstract: Wafer rack consisting of a carrier frame provided with accommodations for at least two wafers. To provide uniform distribution of gas over said wafers a gas distribution device is fitted at least above each wafer, which gas distribution device is connected to the gas supply for the reactor in which the wafer rack is placed. Connection to such a gas supply can be via coupling of the wafer rack to a part of said reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: ASM International N.V.
    Inventor: Sjaak Jacobus Johannes Beulens
  • Patent number: 6115937
    Abstract: With the object of removing moisture from a system of N.gtoreq.2 elongated hollow guiding members (20) for cable-like elements (27), in the system a gas flow (G) is maintained. The gas flow is supplied to the system by way of a gas-supply opening (29) of a coupling-in number (23) coupled to first ends (21) of a number of K hollow guiding members (20) and discharged from the system by way of a gas-discharge opening (30) of a coupling-out member (23) coupled to first ends (21) of the L=N-K remaining hollow guiding members. A coupling-through member (26) coupled to second ends (24) of the N hollow guiding members (20) provides a gastight coupling-through between the second ends (24) of the K hollow guiding members and the L second ends of the L remaining hollow guiding members. Preferably K=N-1, and the N-1 hollow guiding members are located within the Nth hollow guiding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Koninklijke PTT Nederland N.V.
    Inventor: Willem Griffioen
  • Patent number: 6115936
    Abstract: The device consisting of a hollow body made of foam rubber or other shock absorbing material defining an enclosed chamber and having a plurality of holes therein. A closeable opening is provided that is of adequate size to allow wet tennis shoes or other objects in need of drying to be placed inside said enclosed chamber. The unit with the articles to be dried within are inserted into a rotary drum clothes dryer and the loud thumping and banging noise normally associated with drying heavy shoes in a rotating metal drum are significantly reduced or eliminated. Further, the padding and shock absorbing shape of the envelope prevents the dryer's door from being knocked open from the inside as often happens when hard shoes hit the back of the door during the tumbling and drying process. Furthermore, shoes and delicate fabrics may safely be dried in the same load as they are effectively separated by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventor: Daniel Arlie
  • Patent number: 6085436
    Abstract: A glove dryer attachment for a boot dryer includes a boot dryer attachment flange that is configured to mount on a boot dryer. A panel on the boot dryer attachment is provided with ribs projecting from the panel and defining air duct passages, including air inlet passages along one side of the panel and air discharge passages along the other side of the panel. The ribs and panel define open airway connections joining the air inlet passages and air discharge passages. The boot dryer attachment flange includes a baffle arranged to guide air into the intake passages and outwardly from the discharge passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Peet Shoe Dryer, Inc.
    Inventor: Blair G. Peet
  • Patent number: 6067723
    Abstract: A hanging feature is provided for a clothes dryer. The hanging feature is included on the door, or on the cabinet adjacent the door opening so that shoes or other objects can be hung from the hanging feature and suspended in a position exposed to the hot air within the rotating drum while at the same time being held free from rotation with the rotating drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Michael D. Lafrenz
  • Patent number: 6058620
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a machine for the rapid drying of crockery, cutlery, glasses, and similar objects using the passage of a drying material. Inside of a body or housing there is included a loading plate (11) for the objects to be dried; a tank (13) of drying material; and some ducting (14) for the conveying and blowing of the drying material from the tank to the objects on the said loading plate from different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Hyppocampus S.r.l.
    Inventor: Emilio Rolfi
  • Patent number: 6052916
    Abstract: An automatic plant (20) for pressing and unloading trousers (26, 27) using a plurality of machines (22, 23, 24, 25) for pressing said trousers by means of steam and/or hot air, each of which machines being provided with first means (10, 11) for blocking and unblocking an upper end of an article of clothing, and second means (12, 13) for blocking and unblocking lower ends of a same article of clothing, as well as with third means (15) for expelling and directing steam and/or hot air internally of said trousers when they are blocked by said first and second means. Said machines (22, 23, 24, 25) are mounted on a movable carousel continuously moving along a predetermined route, in such a way that said trousers (26, 27) are subjected to a pressing operation by means of steam and/or hot air for the whole period of time comprised from loading to the unloading operations of said trousers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventor: Sandro Tasoniero