# US 5,199,188 A · Method and apparatus for drying footwear and handwear

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- Number: US 5,199,188 A
- Document ID: US5199188A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/725,322
- Filed: 1991-07-08
- Granted: 1993-04-06
- Earliest claimed: 1991-07-08
- Inventors: Daniel Franz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5199188A

## CPC

- F26B 21/006: {with the air or gases passing through hollow spaces or cores within the materials or objects to be dried, e.g. tubes, pipes or bottles}
- A47L 23/205: {with heating arrangements}
- 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)
- A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08)

## Abstract

A method and apparatus for drying footwear and handwear utilizing a compartment having a blower assembly and a central tube for directing air into a tree-rack for contact with the wet or damp footwear. A second embodiment includes a drying fitting for drying handwear. The apparatus includes a rotating element to ease the installation of the footwear.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for drying multiple articles of outerwear comprising:
a) a base member having a top surface provided with at least one aperture;
b) air circulation means in said base member to force air through said at least one aperture;
c) outerwear support means having a hollow central member one end of which is profiled to be received in an aperture of said base member and a plurality of hollow arms, said arms in fluid communication with and extending from said central member in a patterned spaced array, each said arm receiving an article of outerwear thereon and directing air therein; and
d) a plurality of plug means to close off unoccupied open arm apertures and base member apertures.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:
means to heat said air.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:
means to draw ambient air into said base.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said outerwear includes handwear further comprising:
a plurality of drying fittings through which said air passes, each said fitting having a first end adapted to be received in a respective arm end aperture and a second end provided with shape-retaining drying elements.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said one end of said central member is provided with means for rotating said central member about its longitudinal axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said outerwear includes footwear further comprising:
means having a first end received in a respective aperture and a second end receivable within a shoe to both support said shoe and circulate air therethrough.