Abstract:
A clothes dryer including a dryer body and at least three dryer arms pivotally connected to the dryer body about pivot points. The dryer arms can be folded into a stored position and moved to a deployed position wherein at least two of the dryer arms are spread out to allow clothes to be placed thereon or connected thereto for drying. Each of the dryer arms are able to be received in at least two channels such that each of the dryer arms can be positioned in a plurality of fixed deployed positions. The dryer body can also include a vertical slot for connecting the dryer body to a first support and a horizontal slot for connecting the dryer body to a second support. The dryer arms can have a generally planar profile with at least three pivot points thereof being positioned along a line.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/118 026, filed Feb. 19, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to recreational vehicles, and more particularly to a clothes dryer used with a recreational vehicle or the like. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    When traveling, it is sometimes difficult to find an easy way to dry wet clothes. A new and easy manner of drying wet clothes is therefore desired. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    One or more embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example and should not be construed as being limited to the specific embodiments depicted in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a clothes dryer of the present invention in a deployed position on a ladder of a vehicle. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the clothes dryer of the present invention in a storage position. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the clothes dryer of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a rear side perspective view of the clothes dryer connected to the ladder of the vehicle. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the clothes dryer of the present invention in a deployed position on a vertical support surface. 
       
    
    
       [0010]    The specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    For purposes of description herein, the terms “top,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as orientated in  FIG. 3 . However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations (e.g., the elements described as being on the left can be on the right and vice-versa), except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a recreational vehicle  10  having a ladder  12  thereon. An embodiment of a clothes dryer  14  is connected to the ladder  12 . The clothes dryer  14  includes a dryer body  16  connected to the ladder  12  and a plurality of dryer arms  18  extending in a cantilever manner from the dryer body  16 . The dryer arms  18  are configured to support clothes thereon for drying the clothes (e.g., shirts, pants, shoes, towels, swim suits, etc.)  FIG. 1  illustrated the clothes dryer  14  in a deployed position wherein the dryer arms  18  are separated for easily placing clothes thereon. The dryer arms  18  can be rotated to place the clothes dryer  14  in a storage position as illustrated in  FIG. 2  for storage. The clothes dryer  14  can also be removed from connection to the ladder  12  for storage during travel of the recreational vehicle  10 . 
         [0013]    The illustrated dryer body  16  ( FIGS. 1-4 ) is configured to be removably connected to the ladder  12 . The dryer body  16  includes a body bottom half  20 , a body top half  22  and a rotating gripping arm assembly  24 . The dryer arms  18  are secured between the body bottom half  20  and the body top half  22 . The rotating gripping arm assembly  24  is employed to selectively grip a portion of the ladder  12  to removably connect the dryer body  16  to the ladder  12 . 
         [0014]    In the illustrated embodiment, the body bottom half  20  of the dryer body  16  is rigidly connected to the body top half  22  and supports the dryer arms  18  thereon. The body bottom half  20  includes a support platform  26  and a rear wall  28  connected to the support platform  26 . The support platform  26  and the rear wall  28  can be an integral part (as illustrated) or can be formed of separate, but connected parts. Furthermore, the support platform  26  and the rear wall  28  can be made of any material (e.g., metal or plastic). The illustrated support platform  26  includes a support floor surface  30  having an arcuate front edge  32  and a rear edge  34 . The rear edge  34  includes a left portion free edge area  36  and a wall connection portion  38  to the right of the left portion free edge area  36  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The wall connection portion  38  of the rear edge  34  includes a left side edge area  40  co-linear with the left portion free edge area  36 , a central angled area  42  angled toward the arcuate front edge  32  and a right side edge area  44  that is substantially parallel to the left portion free edge area  36  and the left side edge area  40 . A peripheral skirt  46  extends downward from the periphery of the support floor surface  30  for support. It is contemplated that the body bottom half  20  could include a plurality of crisscrossing supporting struts connected to an inside surface of the peripheral skirt  46  and a bottom surface of the support floor surface  30  for providing strength and rigidity to the support platform  26 . As discussed in more detail below, the support floor surface  30  includes a plurality of openings  48  for accepting a portion of the dryer arms  18  therein and a plurality of tabs  50  adjacent the arcuate front edge  32  for maintaining a position of the dryer arms  18  in the deployed position. 
         [0015]    The illustrated rear wall  28  of the body bottom half  20  connects to the body top half  22  to form the dryer body  16 . The rear wall  28  of the body bottom half  20  is connected to the wall connection portion  38  of the rear edge  34  of the support floor surface  30 . The rear wall  28  includes a left side area  52  extending upwardly perpendicularly from the left side edge area  40  of the rear edge  34 , a central angled area  54  extending upwardly perpendicularly from the central angled area  42  of the rear edge  34 , a right side area  56  extending upwardly perpendicularly from the right side edge area  44  of the rear edge  34 , a right side end wall area  58  extending rearwardly from the right side edge area  44 , a back wall area  60  extending laterally from a rear edge of the right side end wall area  58  and substantially parallel to the left side area  52  and the right side area  56 , and a trapezoidal section  62  connected to the back wall area  60  and the left side area  52 . The trapezoidal section  62  includes a long rear panel  64 , an outside plate  68  connected to the long rear panel  64  and the left side area  52  and an inside plate  70  connected to the long rear panel  64  and the back wall area  60 . The outside plate  68  and the inside plate  70  converge in a direction toward each other from a largest distance at the long rear panel  64  to a smallest distance at the left side area  52  and the back wall area  60 , respectively. 
         [0016]    In the illustrated example, the rear wall  28  accommodates a portion of the rotating gripping arm assembly  24  therein. The right side area  56  of the rear wall  28  includes a front U-shaped slot  72  opening at a top of the right side area  56 . A bottom of the front U-shaped slot  72  defines a gripping arm assembly support surface  74 . The back wall area  60  includes a rear U-shaped slot  76  opening at a top of the back wall area  60 . The rear U-shaped slot  76  is substantially aligned with the front U-shaped slot  72 , although the rear U-shaped slot  76  is slightly wider. The rear U-shaped slot  76  also has a bottom at the gripping arm assembly support surface  74 . A connection wall portion  78  extends between an inside edge  80  of the front U-shaped slot  72  and an inside edge  82  of the rear U-shaped slot  76 . The connection wall portion  78  includes a front angled panel  84  connected to the inside edge  80  of the front U-shaped slot  72  and extending rearwardly and inwardly therefrom, a rear wall panel  86  extending toward the right side area  56  of the rear wall  28 , and a U-shaped panel  88  (as viewed from above) that extends between the front angled panel  84  and the rear wall panel  86 . A top edge of the right side end wall area  58  includes a first slot  90  and a top edge of the curved portion of the U-shaped panel  88  includes a second slot  92  aligned with the first slot  90 . As discussed in more detail below, the first slot  90  and the second slot  92  are configured to accept a pivot rod  94  of the rotating gripping arm assembly  24 . Moreover, a pivot arm  96  of the rotating gripping arm assembly  24  rests on the gripping arm assembly support surface  74 . Furthermore, a pull member  98  of the rotating gripping arm assembly  24  rests on the gripping arm assembly support surface  74  within the U-shaped panel  88  of the connection wall portion  78 . 
         [0017]    The illustrated rear wall  28  connects the body bottom half  20  to the body top half  22 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the rear wall  28  includes a ledge  100  adjacent the top of each the left side area  52 , the central angled area  54 , the right side area  56 , the right side end wall area  58 , the back wall area  60 , and the trapezoidal section  62 . The ledge  100  defines a thinner upper rear wall top section  102 . The body top half  22  includes a downwardly depending wall  104  that slides over the thinner upper rear wall top section  102  when the body top half  22  is connected to the body bottom half  20 . The body bottom half  20  includes a first fastener tube  106  located within the trapezoidal section  62 , a second fastener tube  108  connected by struts to the back wall area  60  and the central angled area  54  and a third fastener tube  110  in the gripping arm assembly support surface  74  adjacent the front U-shaped slot  72  in the right side area  56  of the rear wall  28 . Fasteners  112  extend through the body top half  22  and through the first fastener tube  106 , the second fastener tube  108  and the third fastener tube  110  to connected the body bottom half  20  to the body top half  22 . Nuts  114  are screwed onto a bottom of the fasteners  112  to lock the fasteners  112  in position. The fastener  112  extending through the third fastener tube  110  also acts as a pivot for the pivot arm  96  of the rotating gripping arm assembly  24 . 
         [0018]    In the illustrated example, the body top half  22  and the body bottom half  20  capture the dryer arms  18  therebetween. The body top half  22  is substantially a mirror image of the body bottom half  20 , except that the body top half  22  does not include any tabs  50  (although the body top half  22  could include tabs  50 ). Furthermore, the ledge of the rear wall  28   a  of the body top half  22  is on the inside instead of on the outside as in the body bottom half  20  as described above to allow the rear wall of the body top half  22  to be received within the body bottom half  20 . Therefore, a bottom edge  116  of the rear wall  28   a  of the body top half  22  envelopes a top of the rear wall  28  of the body bottom half  20 . Moreover, the body top half  22  does not include the first slot  90  in the right side end wall area or the second slot in the curved portion of the U-shaped panel as the pivot rod  94  of the rotating gripping arm assembly  24  fully rests within the body bottom half  20 . Furthermore, the top surface of the body top half  22  is flat and support struts are located under the top flat surface. 
         [0019]    The illustrated rotating gripping arm assembly  24  includes the pivot rod  94 , the pivot arm  96  and the pull member  98 . The pivot arm  96  is curved as viewed from above and includes a first end  120  receiving the fastener  112  extending through the third fastener tube  110 . The pivot arm  96  pivots about the fastener  112  extending through the third fastener tube  110 . A concave face  122  of the pivot arm  96  is used to grip the ladder  12  as discussed below. The pivot rod  94  includes a threaded post  124  and a grip  126  connected to an end of the threaded post  124 . The threaded post  124  of the pivot rod  94  extends through the first slot  90  in the rear wall  28 , through a lateral opening  128  in the pivot arm  96  adjacent the first end  120  but rear of the third fastener tube  110 , through the pull member  98  of the rotating gripping arm assembly  24  into a first nut  131 , through the second slot  92  in the rear wall  28 , and into a second nut  132 . The pull member  98  includes a block  134  and a T-shaped projection  136 , with an opening  130  extending through the block  134  and the T-shaped projection  136 . The pull member  98  is located in the U-shaped panel  88  of the connection wall portion  78 . The T-shaped projection  136  is received in a recess  138  in a convex face  140  of the pivot arm  96 . The threaded post  124  of the pivot rod  94  extends through the opening  130  in the pull member  98 . As the grip  126  of the pivot rod  94  is rotated, the threaded post  124  also rotates. Rotation of the threaded post  124  moves the pivot rod  124  into and out of the second nut  132  (which is prevented from rotating), thereby moving the grip  126  toward and away from the second nut  132  (as the threaded post  124  is “screwed” and “unscrewed”). The threaded post  124  of the pivot rod  94  extends through the opening  130  in the pull member  98 . The first nut  131  rotates with the threaded post  124  of the pivot rod  94  and thereby pulls on the pull member  98  when the grip  126  moves away from the second nut  132 . As the grip  126  moves away from the second nut  132 , the T-shaped projection  136  of the pull member  98  forces the pivot arm  96  to pivot. 
         [0020]    In the illustrated example, the rotating gripping arm assembly  24  secures the clothes dryer  14  to the ladder  12 . The ladder  12  includes a pair of parallel vertical support beams  150  having a plurality of steps  152  extending therebetween. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , a left one of the vertical support beams  150  is received within a first capture area  156  and a right one of the vertical support beams  150  is received within a second capture area  158  of the dryer body  16 . The first capture area  156  is located between the left portion free edge area  36  of the rear edge  34  of the body bottom half  20  and the body top half  22  and the outside plate  68  of the trapezoidal section  62  of the rear wall  28  of the body bottom half  20  and the rear wall  28   a  of the body top half  22 . The second capture area  158  is located between the back wall area  60  of the rear wall  28  to the right of the rear U-shaped slot  76  and the concave face  122  of the pivot arm  96 . When the pivot rod  94  is fully screwed into the second nut  132 , the right one of the vertical support beams  150  can enter into the second capture area  158 . As the pivot rod  94  is rotated to move the grip  126  away from the second nut  132 , the pull member  98  forces the pivot arm  96  to pivot, thereby forcing the concave face  122  of the pivot arm  96  against the right one of the vertical support beams  150  and rigidly connecting the clothes dryer  14  to the ladder  12 . 
         [0021]    The illustrated clothes dryer  14  can also be connected to a vertical surface  200  using a wall mount assembly  202  (see  FIGS. 3-5 ). The wall mount assembly  202  includes a wall mount bracket  204  that is configured to be connected to the vertical surface  200  using fasteners  206 . The wall mount bracket  204  includes a rear plate  208  having a plurality of holes  210  for accepting the fasteners  206  therethrough, with the fasteners  206  being inserted into the vertical surface  200  (e.g., by screwing). A top projection  212  extends from a top edge  214  of the rear plate  208  and a bottom projection  216  extends from a bottom edge  218  of the rear plate  208 . The top projection  212  has a forwardly extending panel  220  and an inverted J-shaped panel  222  extending upwardly therefrom. The bottom projection  216  has a forwardly extending panel  224  and a J-shaped panel  226  extending downwardly therefrom. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the rear wall  28   a  of the body top half  22  and the rear wall  28  of the body bottom half  20  define a recess  250  that has an open first side  252  at the second capture area  158  and a closed second side  254  at the inside plate  70  of the trapezoidal section  62  of the rear wall  28  and the rear wall  28   a.  A bottom of the recess  250  includes a bottom groove  256  and a top of the recess  250  includes a top groove  258 . 
         [0022]    In the illustrated example, the wall mount assembly  202  is connected to the vertical surface  200 . The clothes dryer  14  can then be connected to the wall mount assembly  202  by sliding the wall mount bracket  204  into the recess  250  in the dryer body  16  from the open first side  252  of the recess  250 . As the wall mount bracket  204  is slid into the recess  250 , the inverted J-shaped panel  222  of the top projection  212  of the wall mount bracket  204  slides into the top groove  258  of the recess  250  and the J-shaped panel  226  of the bottom projection  216  slides into the bottom groove  256  of the recess  250 . The wall mount assembly  202  allows the clothes dryer  14  to be stored (e.g., for travel) and brought out and easily connected to the vertical surface  200  for use. Once the wall mount assembly  200  is connected to the vertical surface  200 , no tools are required to connect and disconnect the clothes dryer  14  thereto. 
         [0023]    The illustrated dryer arms  18  are configured to be moved between a storage position as shown in  FIG. 2  and a deployed position as shown in  FIG. 1 . The dryer arms  18  have a first end with a pivot pin  300  (or a pair of aligned pivot pins) that extends downward and upward into the openings  48  in the support floor surface  30  of the support platform  26  of the body bottom half  20  and the body top half  22 , respectively. The pivot pin  300  allows each dryer arm  18  to be moved from the storage position to the deployed position and back again. The dryer arms  18  can have any configuration. Although the dryer arms  18  are illustrated as being a plurality of wires that can have clothes hung over top thereof or have hangers hung thereon, the dryer arms  18  can have any design (e.g., wires as shown or a single solid body). As outlined above, the openings  48  are located at a first end of the central angled area  42 , a second end of the central angled area  42  and between the first end and the second end of the central angled area  42 . The front to back spacing of the openings  48  are about equal to a width of the dryer arms  18 , Moreover, the openings  48  between the opening  48  at the first end and the opening  48  at the second end of the central angled area  42  are in a line. Therefore, when the dryer arms  18  are in the storage position, the dryer arms  18  are flat against each other as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Each arm  18  in the deployed position is located between a pair of the tabs  50  to maintain the arms  18  in the deployed position. It is contemplated that the arms  18  can be lifted over the tabs  50  (e.g., by having a height of the arms  18  other than the pivot pin  300  be smaller than the distance between the support floor surfaces  30  of the body bottom half  20  and the body top half  22 ) or that the tabs  50  can be flexible (e.g, made out of deformable material) to deform to allow arms  18  to pass thereby. It is further contemplated that, instead of the tabs  50 , the support floor surface  30  of the body bottom half  20  could include channels ending at the openings  48  such that a bottom of each arm  18  can rest in the openings  48  to maintain the arms  18  in the deployed position. It is further contemplated that each opening  48  could have one or more channels ending thereat. 
         [0024]    Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention. For example, the clothes dryer  14  can be connected to any surface using the wall mount assembly  202  (in an RV or anywhere else). 
         [0025]    The above description is considered that of the one embodiment only. Modification of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiment shown in the drawings and described above is merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the invention.