Garment drying cabinet and system

A garment drying cabinet and a garment dryer utilizing the garment drying cabinet. The garment drying cabinet includes a housing through which at least one heater mounting opening and at least one exhaust hole are disposed. At least one heater mount is attached to the housing proximate to each mounting opening and is dimensioned to attach a heater to the housing such that the air directed from the heater is delivered into the interior of the housing. A cabinet door is movably attached to the housing. The garment dryer combines the drying cabinet with at least one heater.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of drying devices and, in particular, to a garment drying cabinet and system for drying and de-wrinkling articles of clothing utilizing such a cabinet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention represents the culmination of many years of development, which began in response to a need that surfaced in one of the co-inventor's automobile and truck restoration businesses. At the time, he had seven shops and eighty-six employees. An accountant brought the business' exorbitant cleaning expenses to the attention of the co-inventor, who was always looking for creative ways to ensure quality and control costs. Full-time mechanics needed sharp-looking uniforms to be cleaned quickly and without ironing in machines that could be operated by unskilled, part-time employees.

Despite this need, conventional cleaning and drying equipment failed to provide an effective solution. For example, conventional dry cleaning equipment is large, expensive, requires the use of harmful chemicals, and requires trained operators in order to effect satisfactory results. Because of these factors, such equipment is not readily available or desirable to individuals or small businesses.

Conventional wet washing and tumble-drying machines are effective at cleaning and drying clothing, and are readily available, and affordable, to individuals and small businesses. However, conventional tumble-drying typically results in dried clothes that are wrinkled and, therefore, not suitable for wear without de-wrinkling via ironing, steaming, or other art recognized means.

A number of non-tumble type dryers have been developed and patented. However, each of these fails to solve the problems encountered by the inventor of the present invention. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,640, titled “Household Drying Center”, discloses a multipurpose household drying center in which a blower and heating chamber are disposed on the top portion of a cabinet to generate forced and heated air downward into a drying chamber in the cabinet below the heating chamber. There are horizontally disposed heat diffusion plates under the heating chamber and vertically disposed air ducts on the side walls of the cabinet to enable heated air to be evenly distributed and filled in the drying chamber for uniform drying of the goods held therein. A support stand having a horizontal and rectangular frame secured on the top ends of a pair of spaced and vertical telescopically structured tubes is disposed within the drying chamber for hanging clothes, and can support a wire basket for holding delicate or odd shape goods for drying. There are side rods on the sidewalls for hanging articles, and a base grid is provided above the bottom wall to hold heavy or odd shape goods for drying.

The above referenced patent states “clothes and goods are dried without tumbling, thus avoiding fraying or wrinkles.” However, this is not the case as the drying center fails to monitor and adjust the air for temperature and humidity, which are the primary factors in reducing wrinkles. Further, it requires that that same hot air be utilized for drying, creating a risk of damage to the clothing being dried and the risk of bums to users. Accordingly, although a distinct improvement over conventional tumble dryers, this drying center does not produce the level of sharp, wrinkle free clothing required to meet the needs of the inventor nor does it provide any safeguards against damage to clothing or injury.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,424, titled “Clothes Drying Apparatus”, describes yet another non-tumble style drying apparatus that includes a hanger rod mounted above a drip pan element, that may be slidably removed from a drying cabinet so that wet clothing articles may be easily mounted on the hanger rod. The patent discloses a system that is similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,640, and further includes an automatic control so that the drying cycle may be pre-selected so as to achieve the most efficient drying of the clothing articles. However, this apparatus also has distinct drawbacks that make it unsuited to satisfactorily solving the problems solved by the present invention. For example, like the dryer of U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,640, this apparatus fails to monitor and adjust the air for temperature and humidity, which are the primary factors in reducing wrinkles. Further, it likewise requires that that same hot air be utilized for drying, creating a risk of damage to the clothing being dried and the risk of bums to users.

Another non-tumble dryer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,961, titled “Clothes Treating Cabinet with Inflatable Hanger”. This patent discloses a clothes treating apparatus having a cabinet that defines an interior region for receiving clothes. The interior region has opposed inner side surfaces and a door is connected to the cabinet for closing the interior region. An inflatable hanger for supporting shirt-like clothes items is disposed within the interior region and is in communication with a blower that selectively inflates the inflatable hanger for pressing the shirt-like clothes item against the cabinet inner side surfaces. A steam generation means is provided for introducing moist air into the cabinet for humidifying the clothes item disposed therein. A heater and fan supply heated air into the interior region for drying the shirt-like clothes items disposed therein. During the de-wrinkling cycle, steam is introduced into the interior region while the inflatable hanger assembly is periodically inflated. Following the steaming period, the inflatable hanger is inflated while the clothes are subject to warm air such that the clothes wrinkles are pressed out and the clothes are partially dried, setting the clothes in a smooth appearance. Heated air is then delivered into the interior region to completely dry the clothes item.

This system claims to be effective at de-wrinkling already dried clothes, but has inherent drawbacks. The first, and foremost, of these drawbacks is the need to carefully arrange the clothing and inflatable hanger to avoid any unwanted creasing of the garment. If the hanger and clothing are not properly arranged, the inflation of the hanger will cause the garment to fold upon itself and cause a crease or wrinkle in an unwanted area. Another drawback is that the inflation of the hanger is unsuited for garments, such as pants or skirts, that require creases to be formed in the material. Another drawback is the increased cost involved in manufacturing an inflatable hanger and the need for hangers of many sizes to accommodate the many sizes of garments. Finally, the need to generate a separate flow of steam over the garment is undesirable due to the safety hazard attendant to live steam, the need to pipe in a source of water, or continually refill a water reservoir, and the increased cost in providing means for heating and distributing the steam. Accordingly, the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,961 is not effective at solving the problem of the present invention.

In response to these drawbacks, the co-inventor developed the air-flow dryer and method described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,496, which is incorporated herein by reference and referred to herein as “Air Flow I”. The dryer of this patent is effective at overcoming the drawbacks inherent in prior art dryers. However, the fixed nature of this product, and the need for portable drying units for travel purposes, led to the development the portable drying apparatus disclosed and claimed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/935,416, which is likewise incorporated by reference and is referred to herein as “Air Flow II”.

The Air Flow II apparatus was originally designed for transport during travel. However, the development of the apparatus into a commercial product also revealed that the Air Flow II apparatus could replace the mechanical assembly located within the upper compartment of the Air Flow I apparatus to provide a lower cost alternative thereto. In these embodiments, the Air Flow II apparatus was mounted within the Air Flow I cabinet such that they were oriented downward to produce the same “top down” drying action that the co-inventor believed to be critical to the dewrinkling of the clothing. However, although effective at drying garments, it did not meet the drying time goals set by the co-inventor.

Therefore, the inventor sought to develop an improved drying apparatus that allows garments to be dried quickly and without ironing or use of another appliance, that may be operated by unskilled, part-time employees, that does not require a large initial investment, a large space or the use of hazardous chemicals or live steam, that effectively removes wrinkles while drying, that does not risk the creation of additional wrinkles, that may be mounted anywhere within a home, and that does not require piping or constant filling of a water reservoir, and that utilizes low cost fan heaters to produce a flow of heated air over the garments without significantly increasing drying times over those obtained using the Air Flow I apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to further improve his dryer, the co-inventor sought the assistance of the other co-inventors, who performed numerous tests and made a number of modifications to the dryer. This testing confirmed the that the dryer disclosed and claimed herein, hereafter referred to as Air Flow III, produced the fastest drying times while maintaining the wrinkle free properties of the Air Flow I and Air Flow II units. However, the Air Flow III unit did not utilize the “top down” drying action that the co-inventor believed to be so critical to the dewrinkling properties of the Air Flow I and II, but rather used a unique baffle type arrangement to blow air over the garments from a variety of directions rather than just from the top down. Further, although a variety of different cylinder type fan heaters were identified as being usable, the fan heaters utilized during testing were conventional hair dryers. This led the original co-inventor to conceive of a low cost garment drying cabinet that could be sold without fan heater units, but rather would include attachments to allow conventional hair dryers to be attached to the garment housing to produce the necessary flow of heated air.

Therefore, the present invention is a garment drying cabinet and a garment dryer utilizing the garment drying cabinet. In its most basic form, the garment drying cabinet includes a housing comprising a back wall, a right side wall, a left side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall defining an interior and an exterior of the housing. At least one heater mounting opening is disposed through the housing, and at least one exhaust hole is disposed through at least one of the bottom wall, the right side wall, and the left side wall of the housing. At least one heater mount is attached to the housing. The heater mount is dimensioned to attach the source of heated air to the exterior of the housing such that substantially all of the air directed from the source of heated air is delivered into the interior of the housing. At least one air diverter mounted in the path of the heated air and is dimensioned to direct air upon the garment from at least two directions. Finally, a cabinet door is movably attached to the housing.

In preferred embodiments of the garment drying cabinet, the air diverter is at least one baffle attached to the interior of the housing a predetermined distance from the right side wall, the left side wall, and the top wall of the housing so as to define at least one air duct and at least one drying compartment. The preferred baffles include at least one air opening disposed therethrough such that the air ducts are in fluid communication with the at least one drying compartment. The air ducts are preferably sealed such that a substantial portion of the heated air delivered into the interior of the housing from the source of heated air will flow through the air openings into the drying compartment.

The preferred embodiment includes a right baffle and a left baffle that attach to the back wall and the right wall and the left wall respectively and form a top air opening. Each of the baffles preferably includes at least one, and ideally two, air openings and the top air opening, the right air opening and the left air opening are each preferably disposed within the housing and dimensioned such that no more than thirty percent of the air directed from the source of heated air into the interior of the housing passes through the top air opening. The air ducts formed by the baffles are preferably narrow and, therefore, it is preferred that a substantial portion of the right an left baffles be disposed a distance of between 0.5 inches and 2.5 inches from, and in substantially parallel relation to, the right and left side walls, respectively.

In some embodiments, the air openings through the baffles are merely holes that allow heated air to flow perpendularly from the baffle. However, it is preferred that that air openings include air deflectors that are dimensioned to deflect the heated air both inward towards the drying compartment and upward toward the top wall of the housing.

The preferred garment drying cabinet also includes a right angled wall attached to the back wall, the top wall and the right wall, and a left angled wall attached to the back wall, the top wall and the left wall. In such embodiments, a left heater mount is preferably disposed upon the left angled wall and the right heater mount is preferably disposed upon the right angled wall such that heated air is directed in angular relation into the interior of the cabinet. In its most basic form, the garment dryer of the present invention includes the garment drying cabinet of the present invention and at least one heater attached to the each heater mount. The preferred embodiment includes a left and right heater mount to which left and right heaters are attached. The preferred heaters each have a diameter of between 1.5 inches and 3.5 inches and each preferably produces a volume of airflow of between 40 and 70 cubic feet per minute. In the preferred embodiment, the heaters and the cabinet are dimensioned and adapted to maintain a temperature of at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit within the interior of the housing.

In some embodiments, the air diverters are deflectors mounted within the path of the incoming heated air from the heater. The preferred diverters are disposed so as to direct approximately ten percent of the heated air over the center of the garment and to allow the remaining ninety percent of the air to flow over the periphery of the garment. In some preferred embodiments, the diverter is approximately six and three eights inches long and includes a straight portion of approximately three and one half inches and a curved portion that terminates at an approximately forty five degree angle from a line extending perpendicular to the straight portion. The preferred deflector terminates approximately two inches from the top of the garment so as to create significant turbulence when the heated air comes into contact therewith.

Therefore, it is an aspect of the invention to provide a garment dryer that allows garments to be dried quickly and without ironing or use of another appliance.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a garment dryer that may be operated by unskilled, part-time employees.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a garment dryer that does not require a large initial investment.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a garment dryer that does not require a large space or the use of hazardous chemicals or live steam.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a garment dryer that effectively removes wrinkles while drying and that does not risk the creation of additional wrinkles.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a garment dryer that may be mounted anywhere within a home and that does not require piping or constant filling of a water reservoir.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a garment dryer and that utilizes low cost fan heaters to produce a flow of heated air over the garments without significantly increasing drying times over those obtained using the Air Flow I apparatus.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a garment dryer and that utilizes a garment drying cabinet to which conventional hair dryers may be attached to produce the desired drying action.

It is a still further aspect of the invention to provide a drying apparatus that may be safely used around children.

These aspects of the invention are not meant to be exclusive and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when read in conjunction with the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first toFIG. 1, the preferred garment drying cabinet10of the present invention includes a housing12that presents as a tall box of relatively shallow depth having a back wall18, a right side wall13, a left side wall15, a top wall17, a bottom wall16, and a substantially open front. Preferred housing12has a height of approximately five feet, a width of approximately three feet and a depth of approximately one foot. In the preferred embodiment ofFIG. 1, the top wall17is joined to the right and left side walls13,15via left and right angled walls19,21. However, in other embodiments, the angled walls19,21are eliminated and the right and left side walls13,15are attached in substantially perpendicular relation to the top wall17. The housing12may be constructed of a wide variety of materials including wood, plastic and sheet metal. The preferred housing is manufactured of wood to provide a finished, “furniture-like”, look to the drying cabinet10.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 1, a plurality of exhaust holes24are disposed through the bottom wall16of the housing12to allow heated air to be exhausted from the drying compartment20. The preferred bottom wall16has a total of fifteen exhaust holes24, which are preferably evenly spaced and have a diameter of one inch. This arrangement is preferred when the preferred heaters (not shown) are mounted in the heater mounts27,29, as the combination of these heaters and the exhaust holes24allows the heaters to produces a volume of airflow of between 40 and 70 cubic feet per minute while maintaining a temperature of at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit within the interior of the housing12. However, other embodiments may use greater or lesser numbers of exhaust holes24, and/or exhaust holes of different diameters, to achieve similar results. Further, although the exhaust holes24are preferably disposed through the bottom wall16, in embodiments of the cabinet10that do not include baffles34,36, such as the embodiment shown inFIG. 3, exhaust holes24may be disposed through the bottom wall16, left side wall15and/or right side wall13. Regardless of where the exhaust holes24are disposed, because of the need to expel air through the exhaust holes24, the housing12must be mounted such that air may escape therethrough. This is preferably accomplished by leaving a space between the housing and an interior floor or wall of the room in which it is disposed to allow the air to mingle with the interior of the room. However, it is recognized that the exhaust holes24may be in communication with a conventional exterior duct (not shown), which directs the exhaust air to the building exterior.

Heater openings23,25are disposed through the housing12and heater mounts27,29are attached to the exterior of the housing12proximate to the heater openings23,25. In the preferred embodiment, the heater openings23,25are disposed through the angled walls19,21, which allow the heated air blown by the heaters (shown inFIG. 2) to be more easily diverted to desired locations within the drying compartment. However, the heater openings23,25may be disposed through the top wall17or, in embodiments in which baffles or diverters are utilized, through the side walls13,15, to achieve similar results.

Heater mounts27,29may take a many forms, provided they are capable of attaching the sources of heated air to the exterior of the housing12such that substantially all of the air directed from the sources of heated air is delivered into the interior of the housing. In testing performed by the co-inventors, common household hair dryers served as the source of heated air, and it is envisioned that such dryers will serve as the source of heated air in many embodiments of the garment dryer. As the diameter of the air outlet, through which heated air is directed, will vary from hair dryer to hair dryer, it is preferred that the heater mounts27,29be designed to accommodate air outlets of varying diameters. In the preferred embodiment, the heater mounts27,29include flexible rubber sleeves and hose clamps, which attach to the air outlets of the hair dryers, or other sources of heated air, in a manner similar to that utilized by plumbers when attaching a PVC drain pipe to an existing cast iron waste line. In other embodiments, the heater mounts27,29are manufactured of a flexible material and include tapered inner diameters. In these embodiments, the air outlets of the hair dryers, or other sources of heated air, are inserted into the heater mounts27,29, advanced to the point of contact with the tapered inside diameter, and pressed slightly further therein to expand the flexible material about the air outlets and hold them in place. In such embodiments, it is preferred that the heater mounts also include some means, such as straps, cables, set screws, or the like, for insuring that the sources or heated air are secured within the heater mounts and cannot inadvertently be dislodged during use.

The preferred embodiment of the cabinet10includes a right baffle34attached to the back wall18and right side wall13and a left baffle36attached to the back18and the left side wall15. The baffles34,36define both the drying compartment20and the air ducts57,59, and are preferably sealed such that heated air must flow into the air ducts57,59before entering the drying compartment20. The baffles34,36may be manufactured of sheet metal and attached to the back wall18of the housing12using a tab and bolt arrangement of the type shown inFIG. 1. However, other embodiments may utilize molded plastic baffles, or a singe molded baffle insert to achieve similar results.

The preferred baffles34,36include substantially straight portions41,43are parallel with the right side wall13and left side wall15, and bent portions45,47, which extend inward and terminate proximate to the top wall17to form a top air opening51therebetween. As the air ducts57,59formed by the straight portions41,43of the baffles34,36are preferably narrow, it is preferred that these straight portions41,43be disposed a distance of between 0.5 inches and 2.5 inches from, and in substantially parallel relation to, the right and left side walls13,15, respectively. However, it is recognized that air ducts57,59may take a number of forms and should not be seen as being limited to the configuration described herein.

Each of the baffles34,36preferably includes at least one, and ideally two, air openings53,55therethrough. The air openings53,55are preferably sized and disposed in locations that allow the heated air to be dispersed over the garment26to effect substantially uniform drying thereof In the preferred embodiment, the baffles34,36are disposed and dimensioned such that no more than thirty percent (30%) of the air directed from the source of heated air into the interior of the housing12passes through the top air opening51. This is accomplished by sizing the top air opening51to be six inches in width, disposing the straight portions41,43of the baffles34,36one inch from the left and right side walls13,15, and providing right air openings53and the left air openings55each having a area of approximately seven square inches, and sizing the bent portions45,47of the baffles such that air flow is diverted appropriately into the air ducts57,59. Although the above described arrangement is preferred, in other embodiments the baffles34,36are disposed and dimensioned to produce different flow characteristics or, as described in detail below, may be eliminated altogether.

In some embodiments, the air openings53,55through the baffles34,36are merely holes that allow heated air to flow perpendularly from the baffles34,36. However, it is preferred that that air openings53,55include air deflectors61,63that are dimensioned to deflect the heated air both inward towards the drying compartment20and upward toward the top Wall17of the housing12. In embodiments in which the baffles34,36are manufactured of molded plastic, the deflectors61,63are preferably molded into the baffles34,36when the baffles34,36are formed. However, in other embodiments, such as those in which the baffles are formed of sheet metal, the deflectors61,63are formed separately and attached to the interior of the baffles34,36during assembly.

The drying compartment20is dimensioned to accept the article of clothing26. As shown inFIG. 1, the article of clothing26is a shirt. However, it is recognized that the housing may be adapted to dry and de-wrinkle other articles of clothing, or non-clothing items, such as towels, sheets, blankets, or the like. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the drying compartment20of the housing12includes a hanging device42, such as a hook or wire, positioned near the top wall17of the housing12and dimensioned to accept standard-sized coat hangers44, upon which the article of clothing26is hung.

Finally, as shown inFIG. 4, a door86is preferably mounted on the front of the housing12and swings open on a hinge88. However, in some embodiments, the door86is hingedly mounted on one side of the drying apparatus10and the clothing is inserted in through the side. In others, the door is mounted on the front of the housing and slides aside on rollers to expose the open front of the housing12. The door is preferably dimensioned to seal the drying compartment20of the housing12such that so that a substantial portion of air does not escape therethrough. The preferred door86includes a transparent viewing panel90to allow a user to see the clothing disposed within the compartment. However, in others, the door is solid and provides no such viewing panel. Finally, in some embodiments, the door86is fitted with a contact (not shown) that allows a control system to determine whether or not the door is open or closed and to energize or de-energize the mechanical assembly based upon the open or closed position of the door.

Referring now toFIG. 2, the movement of the air within the preferred drying cabinet is shown. First, heated air is directed through the air outlet72of each of the heaters70disposed within the heater mounts27,29and impinges upon the bent portions45,47of baffles34,36. A portion of the air is then diverted downward into air ducts57,59and another portion of the air is directed upward toward the top wall17. Because the baffles34,36are substantially sealed, pressure builds up within the air ducts57,59and in the area of the interior of the housing proximate to the top wall12. Because the drying compartment20is vented to the exterior of the housing12via the air flowing through exhaust opening24, the pressure within the drying compartment20is lower than that of the air ducts57,59causing the heated air to flow downward through the top opening51and inward through the air openings53,55through the baffles34,36. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 and 2, the air drawn inward through the air openings53,55through the baffles34,36impinges upon deflectors61,63, which direct the air upward toward the top wall17and inward toward the garment26. However, in embodiments in which deflectors61,63are omitted, the air will flow substantially perpendicularly from the air openings53,55.

Referring now toFIGS. 3A and 3B, an alternative embodiment of the garment dryer100is shown. In this embodiment, the housing12of the garment drying cabinet10is a rectangular cubiod that does not include the angled walls19,21of the embodiments of the housing12shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. Rather, the right side wall13and left side wall15are attached in substantially perpendicular relation to the top wall16, and the heater openings23,25are disposed through the top wall. Further, in this embodiment, baffles34,36are eliminated and are replaced by air deflectors73,75mounted proximate to the heaters70.

The air deflectors73,75ofFIGS. 3A and 3Bare preferably curved pieces of metal that are mounted in the path of the air flowing from the heaters70to the heater openings and deflects a portion of the heated air toward the center of the hanging garment26while allowing the remainder of the air to flow in a substantially straight fashion over the periphery of the garment. As shown in detail inFIG. 3B, the preferred deflector73is mounted a distance A from the edge of the heater opening23such that approximately ten percent of the air flowing from the heater70will flow through this area and be directed toward the center of the garment and such that that the remaining ninety percent will flow straight through area B over the periphery of the garment. The preferred deflectors73,75extend a distance D into the cabinet, preferably approximately six and three eights inches long, and include a straight portion C, which is preferably approximately three and one half inches, and a curved portion that terminates at an approximately forty five degree angle from a line extending perpendicular to the straight portion. The preferred deflectors73,75terminate approximately two inches from the top of the garment26so as to create significant turbulence when the heated air comes into contact therewith. However, it is recognized that the air deflectors73,75may take a number of forms and should not be seen as being limited to the preferred embodiment described herein.

The heaters70of this embodiment are not hair dryers, but rather are specialized heaters designed specifically for this application. As was the case with the embodiments above, the heaters70are attached to the housing12via heater mounts27,29. However, the heater mounts27,29of this embodiment need not account for variations in the size of the heaters70and, therefore, may simply be traditional bracket and bolt type mounts. The heaters70preferably include cylindrical housing within which are mounted a ceramic heater and a centrifugal fan. The preferred heaters each have a diameter of between 1.5 inches and 3.5 inches and each preferably produces a volume of airflow of between 40 and 70 cubic feet per minute. These are preferred as it was found that lower volumes of air blown at higher velocity over the garment26allowed the temperature within the housing12to remain above 130 degrees Fahrenheit while providing greater evaporative capacity than could be achieved using fans blowing larger volumes of air into the housing12at lower velocity. However, it is recognized that other types of heaters70may be utilized and that the garment dryer100is not limited to the preferred heaters70described herein.

Referring now toFIG. 4, the front of one embodiment of an assembled drying apparatus10is shown. In this embodiment, user controls,102,104,106are mounted to a panel80on the front of the upper compartment22of the housing12for easy access by the user. However, in other embodiments, the user controls102,104,106may be mounted to the side of the upper compartment22, or may be located directly upon the heaters themselves.

The user controls102,104,106of the embodiment ofFIG. 4are an on/off switch102, a timer switch104, and a cycle selector106. The on/off switch102controls the operation of dryer100. The timer switch104energizes and de-energizes the heater (not shown) based upon its rotational position. As shown inFIG. 4, the timer switch104is a common analog switch, operating in a manner similar to a timed sauna or whirlpool control. However, other art recognized timing devices, such as digital clocks, timing circuits, or the like, may be substituted to achieve similar results. The cycle selector106in the embodiment ofFIG. 4is a series of buttons that allows a user to choose the type of clothing to be dried. As the selector106ofFIG. 4does not need to perform any timing or humidity control functions, this selector is essentially a temperature control, which sets the desired temperature between ambient and two hundred degrees Fahrenheit depending upon the type of clothing to be dried. However, in other embodiments, the cycle selector106sets the desired temperature and time for drying. In others, the cycle selector106sets temperature, time and humidity set point based upon the clothing to be dried. In still others, the cycle selector106sets the time for drying based upon the type and/or number of articles of clothing to be dried.

The garment dryer100of the present invention is readily adapted for use in a number of different applications. For example, the apparatus may be used as an air freshener by opening the door and placing a typical automotive air freshener on the hanging device. Similarly, the apparatus are readily adapted for use in home dry cleaning, by hanging the cleaning bag on the hanger. In such uses, the dry cleaned clothing need not be ironed as they emerge wrinkle free from the apparatus.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions or applications would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.