# US 11,079,178 B2 · Cap drying apparatus and systems and methods thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,079,178 B2 - Document ID: US11079178B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/587,884 - Filed: 2019-09-30 - Published: 2020-04-02 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-01 - Assignees: Allen Research Tech-Services, Inc. - Applicants: Allen Research Tech-Services, Inc. - Inventors: Todd Renell Allen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079178B2 ## CPC - D06F 59/00: Supports adapted to retain the shape of particular articles being dried, e.g. incorporating heating means {(devices for retaining the shape of hats A42B1/002)} - F26B 3/343: {in combination with convection} - A42B 1/002: External devices or supports adapted to retain the shape of hats, caps or hoods (for changing the size A42C3/00) - D06F 57/00: Supporting means, other than simple clothes-lines, for linen or garments to be dried or aired (in combination with means for heating or positive air circulation D06F58/00; adapted to retain the shape of particular articles being dried D06F59/00) - F26B 9/003: {Small self-contained devices, e.g. portable} - F26B 21/001: {Air generating units, e.g. movable or independent of drying enclosure} - F26B 21/008: {the objects being flexible, e.g. inflatable tubes or sausage casings} - F26B 21/37: Velocity of flow; Quantity of flow - F26B 21/55: Outlets for directing or distributing the air or other gases - D06F 58/203: {Laundry conditioning arrangements} - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES - F26B: DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM (drying devices for combines A01D41/133; racks for drying fruit or vegetables A01F25/12; drying foodstuffs A23; drying hair A45D20/00; body-drying implements A47K10/00; drying household articles A47L; drying gases or vapours B01D; chemical or physical processes for dewatering or like separating liquids from solids B01D43/00; centrifugal apparatus B04; drying ceramics C04B33/30; drying yarns or fabrics in association with some other form of treatment D06C; drying frames for laundry without heating or positive air circulation, domestic laundry-or spin-driers, wringing or hot pressing laundry D06F; furnaces, kilns, ovens F27) - A42B: HATS; HEAD COVERINGS (headbands A41D20/00; head-scarves A41D23/00) ## Abstract The present application provides a cap drying apparatus and a method for drying a cap. The apparatus includes a base console having an inlet and a fan. The inlet receives an air stream from outside of the base console. The apparatus also includes an air supply conduit that is fluidly connected to the inlet and receives the air stream via operation of the fan. The apparatus further includes a mounting head having a distribution chamber and an outer portion comprising a plurality of air channels. The distribution chamber receives the air stream from the air supply conduit and disperses the air stream through the air channels and out of the mounting head. A cap securely fits on the outer surface of the mounting head, and the air stream dispersed through the air channels dries the cap. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cap drying apparatus comprising: a base console comprising at least one air inlet and a fan, wherein the at least one air inlet is configured to selectively receive an air stream from outside of the base console; an air supply conduit fluidly connected to the at least one air inlet and configured to selectively receive the air stream via operation of the fan; and a mounting head comprising an inner air distribution chamber and an outer portion comprising a plurality of air channels, the air channels being in fluid connection with the inner air distribution chamber, wherein the inner air distribution chamber is fluidly connected to the air supply conduit and configured to receive the air stream from the air supply conduit, wherein the inner air distribution chamber is configured to disperse the received air stream through the plurality of air channels and out of the mounting head, and wherein the mounting head is sized and shaped such that a cap securely fits on its outer surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cap drying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting head is adjustable in size and shape, and configured to securely fit hats of a various sizes on the outer surface of the mounting head. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cap drying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fan is a reversible fan that is configured to either force air from the air inlet into the air supply conduit and subsequently into the inner air distribution chamber or to force air out of the inner air distribution chamber into the air supply conduit and subsequently into the air inlet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cap drying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fan is configured to run at a plurality of different speeds. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cap drying apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a deodorizing chamber in fluid communication with the air inlet and configured to receive a deodorizing substance, wherein the air stream passing through the air inlet entrains at least a portion of the deodorizing substance. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cap drying apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second mounting head, wherein the mounting head and the second mounting head are selectively removable from the cap drying apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cap drying apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second mounting head is of a different size than the mounting head. ### Claim 8 A cap drying apparatus comprising: a base console comprising at least one air inlet and a fan, wherein the at least one air inlet is configured to selectively receive an air stream from outside of the base console; an air supply conduit fluidly connected to the at least one air inlet and configured to selectively receive the air stream of air via operation of the fan; and a plurality of selectively removable mounting heads of varying sizes, wherein each mounting head comprises an inner air distribution chamber and an outer portion comprising a plurality of air channels, the air channels being in fluid connection with the inner air distribution chamber, wherein the inner air distribution chamber is fluidly connected to the air supply conduit and configured to receive the air stream from the air supply conduit, wherein the inner air distribution chamber is configured to disperse the received air stream through the plurality of air channels and out of the mounting head, and wherein each mounting head is respectively sized and shaped such that respective caps of varying sizes and shapes securely fit on their respective outer surfaces. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The cap drying apparatus of claim 8, wherein the fan is a reversible fan that is configured to either force air from the air inlet into the air supply conduit and subsequently into the inner air distribution chamber or to force air out of the inner air distribution chamber into the air supply conduit and subsequently into the air inlet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The cap drying apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a deodorizing chamber in fluid communication with the air inlet and configured to receive a deodorizing substance, wherein the air stream passing through the air inlet entrains at least a portion of the deodorizing substance. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The cap drying apparatus of claim 8, wherein the fan is configured to run at a plurality of different speeds. ### Claim 12 A method for drying a cap, the method comprising; providing a cap drying apparatus, wherein the cap drying apparatus comprises: a base console comprising at least one air inlet and a fan, wherein the at least one air inlet is configured to selectively receive an air stream from outside of the base console, an air supply conduit fluidly connected to the at least one air inlet, and a mounting head comprising an inner air distribution chamber and an outer portion comprising a plurality of air channels, the air channels being in fluid connection with the inner air distribution chamber, and the inner air distribution chamber being fluidly connected to the air supply conduit; securely fastening a cap to the outer surface of the mounting head; initiating the fan of the base console; transferring, via the fan, the air stream received by the air inlet to the air supply conduit and subsequently to the inner air distribution chamber; dispersing the air stream received by the inner air distribution chamber through the plurality of air channels; and drying the cap via the air stream that passes through the plurality of air channels. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: loading a deodorizing substance into a deodorizing chamber of the cap drying apparatus, wherein the air stream entrains at least a portion of the deodorizing substance as the air stream is transferred into the air supply conduit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the mounting head is selectively removable, and wherein the step of providing the cap drying apparatus includes securing the mounting head to a neck portion of the cap drying apparatus, which is connected to the base console. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the mounting head is adjustable in size, and further comprising the step of adjusting the size of the mounting head to fit a size of the cap.