TWI910235B - Portable clothes drying device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided herein is a portable clothes drying device, which includes a base unit and an air outlet unit; wherein the base unit is configured to not only enable the portable clothes drying device to be used in various kinds of use spaces, but also provide the portable clothes drying device with the functions of heating, drying, disinfecting, etc.; and wherein the air outlet unit is configured to correspond to various kinds of clothes with different geometric shapes.

Description

Portable clothes dryer

This invention relates primarily to the field of drying devices, and more specifically to a portable clothing drying device.

Drying devices have become an essential household appliance in modern society, indispensable not only in relatively humid climates but also in high-latitude regions where snowfall is possible in winter. For example, in snowy areas, people often wear heavy outerwear, gloves, and snow boots when outdoors. However, these clothes easily become damp due to melting snow or the need to clear snow from car windows before driving. To prevent these clothes from losing their insulating properties or developing bacteria and mold, they need to be repeatedly dried. However, most conventional drying devices are not portable, and their designs are often unsuitable for drying complex shapes such as gloves or snow boots.

The drying devices commonly used in this field are quite diverse, including many improved products. For example, Chinese Invention Patent Publication No. CN111426164A discloses a deodorizing dryer equipped with a support frame and a plurality of support rods distributed on the support frame, thereby achieving the purpose of drying multiple boxing gloves simultaneously. However, the types of clothing suitable for the above-mentioned deodorizing dryer are too limited, and it is quite inconvenient to carry.

The present invention is intended to provide a simplified summary of the invention so that the reader may have a basic understanding of the invention. This present invention is not a complete overview of the invention, and is not intended to identify important or key elements of the embodiments of the invention or to define the scope of the invention.

In view of the aforementioned needs and limitations, this invention aims to provide a portable drying device applicable to various types of clothing. The drying device of this invention is not only suitable for various car cup holders, but its air intake channel is not blocked by the cup holder's wall. Besides automotive use, the drying device of this invention is also convenient to carry for use in various locations (such as offices, campsites, and various spaces within a home), and it is not easily tipped over due to the weight of the clothing when placed in use. The drying device may further include a disinfection unit to prevent the possibility of bacterial growth on clothing in humid environments.

In view of this, the present invention provides a portable clothes drying device, which includes a base unit and an air outlet unit; the base unit further includes: an air inlet disposed at the bottom of the base unit; a plurality of legs disposed around the air inlet at the bottom of the base unit, and the plurality of legs extending from the surface of the bottom of the base unit; a heating unit disposed inside the base unit; and an exhaust unit disposed inside the base unit. The air outlet unit is connected to the base unit, and the surface of the air outlet unit is provided with at least one air outlet hole; wherein, the exhaust unit draws in external air through the air inlet and sends it into the air outlet unit, and then sends it to the outside through the air outlet hole.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the bottom surface of the plurality of feet is parallel to and not coplanar with the surface of the bottom of the base unit.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of legs is further provided with a support element, which is hinged to one end of each of the plurality of legs. Furthermore, the support element is a support plate, and an elastic structure is provided between the support element and each of the legs to provide an elastic restoring force, causing the support element and each of the plurality of legs to open.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the base unit is further provided with a battery module and a power input unit, wherein the power input unit is electrically connected to an external power source, and the power energy of the base unit is provided by the battery module or the power input unit.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the base unit further includes a heat insulation layer disposed on the outer surface of the base unit.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the base unit further includes a disinfection unit disposed inside the base unit or inside the air outlet unit.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the air outlet unit further includes a plurality of extensions, which are respectively extended in a direction away from the base unit, and the surface of the plurality of extensions is provided with a plurality of air outlet holes.

Furthermore, each of the plurality of extension portions is provided with a plurality of extension ends, the plurality of extension ends are provided at intervals, and at least one of the plurality of extension ends is provided with an interval adjustment element to adjust the interval between the plurality of extension ends; or, according to another embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of extension portions and/or the plurality of extension ends is provided with a telescopic element to adjust the length.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the base unit is used to accommodate a car cup holder.

The advantages of the portable clothes dryer provided by this invention are as follows: Due to its unique foot structure, the portable clothes dryer can be stably installed in various spaces, ensuring that its air intake channel is not blocked; furthermore, the portable clothes dryer can simultaneously provide heating, drying, and sterilization functions. In addition, the extension of the portable clothes dryer has adjustable or retractable elements, allowing it to be adjusted to accommodate various types of clothing.

To make the description of this invention more detailed and complete, the following illustrative descriptions of embodiments and specific examples of this invention are provided, but these are not the only forms of implementing or applying specific examples of this invention. In this specification and the appended claims, unless the context otherwise requires, "a" and "the" are also to be interpreted as plural. Furthermore, in this specification and the appended claims, unless otherwise stated, "placed on something" is considered as direct or indirect contact with the surface of something by attachment or other means, the definition of which surface should be determined based on the context/paragraph semantics of the specification and ordinary knowledge in the field to which this specification pertains.

Although the numerical ranges and parameters used to define this invention are approximate values, the relevant values in specific embodiments have been presented as precisely as possible. However, any numerical value inevitably contains standard deviations due to individual testing methods. Here, "approximately" generally means that the actual value is within plus or minus 10%, 5%, 1%, or 0.5% of a particular value or range. Alternatively, the term "approximately" may mean that the actual value falls within the acceptable standard error of the mean, as is the opinion of someone skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. Therefore, unless otherwise stated, the numerical parameters disclosed in this specification and the appended claims are approximate values and are subject to change as needed. At a minimum, these numerical parameters should be understood as the indicated significant digits and values obtained by applying general rounding.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable clothes drying device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 1, the portable clothes drying device 10 includes a base unit 100 and an air outlet unit 200, wherein the base unit 100 is disposed below the air outlet unit 200, and the two are connected to each other through a connecting part 300.

In a preferred embodiment, the base unit 100 is a hollow cylindrical shell, and the bottom of the base unit 100 is provided with a plurality of feet 110; preferably, the plurality of feet 110 are arranged at equal intervals around the bottom surface of the base unit 100. On the other hand, one end of each plurality of feet 110 is connected to each of the plurality of support elements 112, and an elastic structure 114 is provided between the two. A power input section 120 is provided on the side of the base unit 100, and a power switch 130 and at least one indicator light 140 are provided on its surface near the air outlet unit 200.

The air outlet unit 200 is provided with at least one extension 210, which is connected to the connecting portion 300, and its surface is provided with at least one air outlet 212. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the air outlet unit 200 is provided with a plurality of extensions 210, and the surfaces of the plurality of extensions 210 are respectively provided with a plurality of air outlets 212.

Figures 3A and 3B are cross-sectional and bottom views of the base unit 100, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figures 1 to 3B, the foot 110 extends substantially from the bottom surface of the base unit 100; preferably, the bottom surface of the foot 110 is parallel to but not coplanar with the bottom surface of the base unit 100; in other words, the gaps between the plurality of feet 110 and the distance between the bottom surface of the foot 110 and the bottom surface of the base unit 100 together construct a gap that allows air to circulate. Next, the elastic structure 114 disposed between the foot 110 and the support element 112 provides an elastic restoring force, causing the support element 112 and the foot 110 to open. In other words, unless a counterforce corresponding to the elastic restoring force is applied to the elastic structure 114, the support element 112 and the foot 110 tend to open naturally. However, the angle between the foot 110 and the support element 112 when open can be adjusted as needed, and the invention does not limit its actual value. In addition, the form of the elastic structure 114 can be slightly adjusted without departing from the concept of the invention; for example, according to some embodiments of the invention, the elastic structure 114 (e.g., a spring) can be connected to the two corresponding surfaces of the support element 112 and the foot 110 respectively, and its exterior can be covered by a folding fan-shaped structure to protect the elastic structure 114, so that it presents an accordion-like structure in appearance, as shown in Figure 2; and according to other embodiments of the invention, the elastic structure 114 is arranged parallel to the joint surface between the support element 112 and the foot 110, and the support element 112 and the foot 110 rotate around it when they are opened. In addition, a locking structure (not shown) can be provided as needed to allow the plurality of support elements 112 to be retracted into the plurality of feet 110.

Continuing from the above, the base unit 100 can be a hollow cylindrical shell. The upper end of the base unit 100 has a connection interface 160A for communicating and engaging with the connection part 300; the lower end of the base unit 100 has an air inlet 160B, through which air can enter the interior space of the base unit from the outside. The internal space of the base unit 100 includes a heating section 152, an exhaust section 154, and a disinfection section 156. Preferably, the heating section 152, the exhaust section 154, and the disinfection section 156 are arranged sequentially from top to bottom between the connection interface 160A and the air inlet 160B, so that after the exhaust section 154 draws air from the outside into the internal space of the base unit 100 through the air inlet 160B, it can sequentially pass through the disinfection section 156 and the heating section 152, and enter the connection section 300 and the air outlet unit 200 through the connection interface 160A. Specifically, the heating unit 152 includes at least one conventional heating element for converting electrical energy into heat energy and heating air; the conventional heating element may include, but is not limited to, a heating coil. The exhaust unit 154 includes at least one conventional fan for driving airflow by rotating fan blades. In some embodiments of the present invention, the disinfection unit 156 includes at least one ultraviolet light source and/or a negative ion disinfectant (not shown in the figures). Specifically, the ultraviolet light source is directed toward the connection interface 160A, and the negative ion disinfectant may exist in the form of droplets or gas and may be transmitted to the air outlet unit 200 by the airflow through the disinfection unit 156. In some embodiments, the disinfection unit may also be located inside the air outlet unit (not shown in the figure). For example, the disinfection unit is an ultraviolet light source, and the air outlet unit is a light-transmitting form (such as transparent, perforated, or mesh). This allows clothing worn outside the air outlet unit to receive heated air and be disinfected by ultraviolet light at the same time.

The base unit 100 is equipped with a battery 158, which is electrically connected to the power input unit 120, the heating unit 152, the exhaust unit 154, and the sterilization unit 156. The battery 158 is used to obtain power from an external power source through the power input unit 120 and further supply the power to the heating unit 152, the exhaust unit 154, and the sterilization unit 156. Preferably, the base unit 100 may be further equipped with a control unit (not shown in the figure) as needed, which is used to connect the power switch 130 to the heating unit 152, the exhaust unit 154, and the sterilization unit 156 respectively, so as to facilitate the user to adjust the switch of the corresponding component according to their functional needs. In another preferred embodiment, the base unit is provided with a battery module (e.g., battery 158), which may be rechargeable, and the power of the base unit can be independently provided by the battery module so that the user can carry it with them when going out.

The outer surface of the base unit 100 is provided with a heat insulation layer 150; the heat insulation layer 150 includes conventional heat insulation material to prevent heat energy from escaping from the heating part 152 when the user holds the base unit. In addition, to facilitate the use of the invention in general vehicles, it is preferable to design the base unit 100 to be placed in the storage space of general vehicles, such as in a car cup holder, etc. The base unit 100 can be cylindrical; preferably, the bottom surface of the base unit 100 defines a radius R, which is between 3 and 6 cm; more preferably, the length of the radius R is between 4 and 5 cm; and even more preferably, the length of the radius R is between 4 and 4.5 cm. Technical personnel in this field can change the shape and size of the base unit 100 as needed.

Figures 4A and 4B are partial schematic diagrams of a portable clothes drying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figures 1, 4A and 4B, the connecting part 300 connects the base unit 100 and the air outlet unit 200; preferably, the connecting part 300 is disposed between the base unit 100 and the extension 210, and both the connecting part 300 and the extension 210 are hollow shells to allow air to pass through. Furthermore, the extension 210 is provided with at least one telescopic element 214 to adjust the length of the extension 210; according to some embodiments of the present invention, at least one telescopic element 214 is also provided between the connecting portion 300 and the base unit 100 to adjust the distance between the connecting portion 300 and the base unit 100. More specifically, a plurality of telescopic elements 214 are provided between the extension 210, or between the connecting portion 300 and the base unit 100. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of telescopic elements 214 are stacked concentrically by a plurality of hollow cylindrical shells with diameters ranging from large to small, thereby achieving the function of adjusting the spacing or length; in fact, any two of the plurality of hollow cylinders are fixed or moved relative to each other through a joint groove, however, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Continuing with the above, the extension 210 further includes a plurality of extension ends 218, which are spaced apart from each other. Preferably, the plurality of extension ends 218 are spaced apart to correspond to the geometry of a specific garment. For example, if the specific garment is gloves, the plurality of extension ends 218 are spaced apart to correspond to the shape of a hand; if the specific garment is socks, shoes, or boots, the plurality of extension ends 218 are spaced apart to correspond to the shape of a foot (not shown). Furthermore, at least one of the plurality of extension ends 218 may be provided with a spacing adjustment element 216 to adjust the spacing between the plurality of extension ends 218 as needed. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the interval adjustment element 216 is disposed at one end of the extension end 218 near the connection portion 300; preferably, the interval adjustment element 216 may be a rotating shaft, thereby allowing the extension end 218 to rotate along its partial separation from the extension portion 210, thereby adjusting the interval distance between the plurality of extension ends 218.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the portable clothes dryer 10 in use according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 5, in use, the user can cover the extension 210 with a garment G; according to some embodiments of the present invention, the garment G can be a glove. The portable clothes dryer 10 can obtain power from an external power source (not shown) through the power input section 120 (e.g., a USB port) to supply power to the various components it contains. The user can start and/or control the portable clothes dryer 10 through the power switch 130; preferably, the user can start all or part of the functions of the portable clothes dryer 10 as needed, and know the current functional status of the portable clothes dryer 10 through the signal displayed by the indicator light 140.

The drying device of this invention is portable and can be used in various places. As shown in Figure 5, the plurality of feet 110 and the plurality of support elements 112 are in an open state due to the elastic recovery force provided by the plurality of elastic structures 114, thereby allowing the portable clothing drying device 10 to stand stably on a flat surface, suitable for use in places such as offices, campsites, and various spaces in the home. On the other hand, when the user places the portable clothes dryer 10 into a receiving space (e.g., a car cup holder) that partially or entirely covers the plurality of feet 110 and the plurality of support elements 112, the receiving space will cause the plurality of elastic structures 114 to be squeezed by a reverse force relative to the elastic recovery force. That is, there is an outward thrust between the plurality of feet 110 and the plurality of support elements 112 so that the base unit 100 can be stably fixed in receiving spaces of different sizes or shapes, making it suitable for use in vehicles of various brands and models. It is worth noting that since the plurality of feet 110 extend from the bottom of the base unit 100 and their bottom surfaces are parallel to but not coplanar with the bottom surface of the base unit 100, the gaps between the plurality of feet 110 allow external air to flow freely into the interior of the base unit 100 even when the portable clothes drying device 10 is placed in the accommodating space. As can be understood from the above content, the portable clothes drying device 10 can stand stably whether placed on a horizontal surface or in the receiving space, and allows external air to enter the base unit 100 quickly and without obstruction; then, the air processed according to the user's needs can enter the air outlet unit 200 through the connecting part 300, and then flow to the clothes G through the extension part 210 and the air outlet 212.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the portable clothes drying device 20 in use according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 6, the structure of the portable clothes drying device 20 is generally similar to that of the portable clothes drying device 10 described above. However, the difference between this embodiment and the aforementioned embodiment is that the air outlet unit 200' included in the portable clothes drying device 20 is directly connected to the base unit 100, and the air outlet unit 200' includes an extension 210', which is configured as a columnar structure with a hemispherical top; furthermore, the top of the extension 210' is provided with a plurality of air outlet holes 212'. According to this embodiment, the user can place various types of clothing corresponding to the extension 210' as needed, including but not limited to snow boots. According to some embodiments of the invention, the user can also directly use the heat or disinfectant droplets/gas generated by the portable clothing drying device 20 to heat or disinfect the surrounding environment.

In summary, the portable clothes drying device provided by this invention can not only be stably installed in various storage spaces, but also placed flat on a flat surface, thereby improving its portability; on the other hand, the portable clothes drying device provided by this invention can be used for various types of clothing with different geometric shapes, and provides functions such as heating and drying as well as disinfection and cleaning.

10, 20: Portable clothes dryer; 100: Base unit; 110: Foot; 112: Support element; 114: Elastic structure; 120: Power input; 130: Power switch; 140: Indicator light; 150: Insulation layer; 152: Heating unit; 154: Exhaust unit; 156: Sterilization unit; 158: Battery; 160A: Connector; 160B: Air inlet; 200, 200’: Air outlet unit; 210, 210’: Extension; 212, 212’: Air outlet; 214: Telescopic element; 216: Spacing adjustment element; 218: Extension end; 300: Connector; G: Clothes; R: Radius

To make the above and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention more readily understood, the accompanying drawings are explained as follows: Figure 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a portable clothes drying device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a portable clothes drying device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 3A and 3B are respectively a cross-sectional schematic diagram and a bottom view schematic diagram of the base unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 4A and 4B are respectively partial schematic diagrams of a portable clothes drying device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the portable clothes drying device in use according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the portable clothes drying device in use according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As is customary, the various features and components in the drawings are not drawn to scale. The drawing method is to present the specific features and components related to the invention in the best possible way. In addition, similar components and parts are referred to by the same or similar component symbols in different drawings.

without.

10: Portable clothes dryer 100: Base unit 110: Foot 112: Support element 114: Elastic structure 120: Power input 130: Power switch 140: Indicator light 200: Air outlet unit 210: Extension 212: Air outlet 300: Connector G: Clothes

Claims (11)

A portable clothes drying device includes: a base unit, further comprising: an air inlet disposed at the bottom of the base unit; a plurality of legs disposed around the air inlet at the bottom of the base unit, the plurality of legs extending from the surface of the bottom of the base unit; a heating unit disposed inside the base unit; an exhaust unit disposed inside the base unit; and an exhaust unit connected to the base unit, the surface of the exhaust unit having an exhaust hole; wherein the exhaust unit draws in external air through the air inlet and sends it into the exhaust unit, and then sends it to the outside through the exhaust hole. The portable clothes drying device as described in claim 1, wherein the bottom surfaces of the plurality of feet are parallel to and not coplanar with the bottom surface of the base unit. The portable clothes drying device as described in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of legs is further provided with a support element, which is hinged to one end of each of the plurality of legs. The portable clothes drying device as described in claim 3, wherein the support element is a support plate, and an elastic structure is provided between the support element and each of the legs to provide an elastic restoring force to open the support element and each of the plurality of legs. The portable clothes drying device as described in claim 1 further includes a battery module and a power input unit, wherein the power input unit is electrically connected to an external power source, and the power energy of the base unit is provided by the battery module or the power input unit. The portable clothes drying device as described in claim 1, wherein the base unit further includes a heat insulation layer disposed on the outer surface of the base unit. The portable clothes drying device as described in claim 1, wherein the base unit further includes a disinfection unit disposed inside the base unit or inside the air outlet unit. The portable clothes drying device as described in claim 1, wherein the air outlet unit further includes a plurality of extensions, each extending in a direction away from the base unit, and the surface of the plurality of extensions is provided with a plurality of air outlets. The portable clothes drying device as described in claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of extensions is provided with a plurality of extension ends, the plurality of extension ends are provided at intervals, and at least one of the plurality of extension ends is provided with an interval adjustment element to adjust the interval of the plurality of extension ends. The portable clothes drying device as described in claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of extensions and/or the plurality of extension ends is provided with a telescopic element to adjust the length. The portable clothes dryer as described in claim 1, wherein the base unit is housed within a car cup holder.