STRUCTURE FOR DRYER DUCT

An improved structure for a dryer duct, in which a center of the duct is an air intake channel; a top surface of the duct extends forward to form a top baffle; the top baffle is positioned above the air intake channel, and an air outlet of the air intake channel is positioned on an outer wall of the air intake channel; the air outlet is positioned below the top baffle. Dripping water is prevented from flowing into the air intake channel of the duct while the dryer is working, thereby avoiding short circuits or electrical leakage of the internal electrical components and ensuring safety and proper functioning of the dryer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the technical field of drying devices, and in particular to an improved structure for a dryer duct.

In daily life, shoes often become damp due to sweat, and in rainy or snowy weather, they are more prone to getting soaked or damp. However, achieving dryness inside waterlogged or damp shoes through natural air drying takes a considerable amount of time. Therefore, people have developed the dryer. For some boots worn in cold weather, they have taller calf extension and fur lining inside, making it even more challenging to dry the interior after it gets damp.

In an existing dryer, a duct for the outlet of hot air is provided thereon, and a plurality of air outlets are formed on the top of the duct. The dryer dries a shoe by placing the shoe over the duct. However, some of the existing dryer ducts have air outlets thereof formed at the top of the duct. According to customer feedback, these dryers cannot effectively dry shoes that have been washed (for safety reasons, most dryers on the market are unable to dry shoes dampened with a significant amount of water). When items to be dried contain a significant amount of water, especially shoes that have just been washed, dripping water exists during the drying process, or water vapor may be condensed into dripping water in case of hot drying. These dripping water falls into the air channel through the air outlets and interferes with the proper functioning of the dryer's airflow. If the dripping water continues to flow into the heating element located below the duct, it could lead to short circuits or electrical leakage in the internal electrical components, resulting in malfunction or even safety hazards.

In view of this, in-depth and extensive researches and improvement efforts have been made to address these issues and thereby resulting in the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide an improved structure for a dryer duct, which prevents water droplets from flowing into the air intake channel of the duct while the duct is working, ensuring the proper functioning of the duct.

In order to achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following solutions:

A duct of a dryer, wherein a central part of the duct forms an air intake channel for introducing hot air; a top surface of the duct extends forward to form a top baffle; the top baffle is positioned above the air intake channel, and an air outlet of the air intake channel is positioned on an outer wall of the air intake channel; the air outlet is positioned below the top baffle.

Further, a front end of the top baffle also extends downwardly to form an overhang.

Further, a lower baffle positioned below the top baffle is further provided as a side wall of the duct; the lower baffle extends outwardly from a position below the air outlet; at least one drainage hole is formed on the lower baffle.

Further, a water-permeable gap is formed between a rear end of the lower baffle and the outer wall of the air intake channel; the air outlet is positioned above the water-permeable gap; water dripped on the lower baffle flows out through the water-permeable gap and then flow down along the outer wall of the air intake channel.

Further, the air outlet is positioned above the water-permeable gap; a flow guide channel is positioned on an outer wall of the duct and below the lower baffle; the water-permeable gap is positioned above the flow guide channel.

Further, side baffles are provided respectively on two side surfaces between the top baffle and the lower baffle, and each side baffle extends downward from a side edge of the top baffle to a corresponding side of the lower baffle.

Further, the top baffle and the lower baffle are inclined, wherein higher ends of the top baffle and the lower baffle are defined as front ends respectively.

Further, at least one flow guide channel independent from the air intake channel is provided on an outer wall of the duct or inside the duct; the top baffle is positioned above the flow guide channel.

Further, at least one upper opening is formed on an upper portion of the flow guide channel, and a lower opening is formed at a lower end of the flow guide channel; the lower opening is positioned at a lower end of the duct; said at least one upper opening is positioned below the air outlet.

Further, a side vent area is further formed on a side surface of the duct; the side vent area is in communication with the air intake channel, and the side vent area is recessed from the outer wall of the duct; a plurality of downwardly inclined air outlet slots are formed on the recessed wall area.

Further, at least one supporting rib is further provided on the top baffle.

By adopting the structures described above where a top baffle is provided on top of the duct, and the top baffle covers the air intake channel, the air outlet and the flow guide channel to prevent dripping water from dripping or flowing into the air intake channel of the duct when the duct is operating. Also, a lower baffle which can guide the flow of water dropped on it is provided below the top baffle so as to prevent water from entering into the duct. Accordingly, the dryer can be ensured to operate as usual and is safer to use.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1represents a base,2represents a lower tube,3represents a duct,31represents an air intake channel,311represents an air outlet,32represents a flow guide channel,321represents an upper opening,322represents a lower opening,33represents a top baffle,331represents an overhang,34represents a lower baffle,341represents a drainage hole,342represents a water-permeable gap,35represents a side baffle,36represents a supporting rib,37represents a side vent area,371represents an recessed wall area, and372represents an air outlet slot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to further explain the technical solutions of the present invention, the present invention will be explained in detail by the specific embodiments.

The present invention discloses an improved structure for a duct of a dryer. An exemplary embodiment of the dryer is shown inFIG.1, the dryer may comprise a base1with at least one heating pipe installed thereon. In this embodiment, two heating pipes are provided. Elements such as a heater and a fan (not shown in the figure) may be provided in the base1, where the heater generates hot air, which is then blown out through the heating pipes by the fan. Each of the heating pipes in this embodiment comprises a lower tube2and a duct3movably sleeving the lower tube2. The duct3serves as an air outlet. Each of the lower tubes2is fixedly mounted on the base1, and the duct3movably sleeves the corresponding lower tube2to control a length of the corresponding heating pipe. Specifically, each lower tube2is slidably sleeved by a corresponding duct3to form a telescopic heating pipe. In this embodiment. The ducts3of the dryer can be used not only for drying shoes, but also for drying helmets, socks, gloves, and other items prone to damp. The improvement of the present invention lies in the ducts3, and so the structural aspects of the dryer are not within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, further details of the dryer itself will not be described in detail herein.

Referring toFIGS.2to7, in each of the ducts3, a central part of the duct3forms an air intake channel31for introducing hot air. In the present invention, to prevent dripping water from entering an interior of the duct3when the duct3is inserted into an item to be dried during the drying process, an air outlet311of the air intake channel31is positioned on an outer wall of the air intake channel31at a position proximal to an upper end of the air intake channel31. Hot air is discharged from the air outlet311after passing through the air intake channel31. For instance, when the duct3is inserted into a shoe, hot air can be blown into an interior of the shoe for drying. Further, a top surface of the duct3is a sealed surface formed by a top baffle33on top of the air intake channel31covering the air intake channel31, and the top baffle33further extends beyond the air intake channel31such that the air outlet311is also positioned below the top baffle33. With the aforementioned structure, when the duct3is inserted into a shoe, hot air is blown out from the air outlet311below the top baffle33, and the hot air disperses outwardly to dry an inner cavity of the shoe. Due to the shielding effect of the top baffle33, it prevents dripping water from directly falling into the air intake channel31and interfering with proper airflow and drying during the drying process.

In this embodiment, at least one flow guide channel32independent from the air intake channel31is provided on an outer wall of the duct3or inside the duct, and also, the top baffle33is positioned above the flow guide channel32. By providing the flow guide channel32, when the duct3is used for hot drying, the flow guide channel32can prevent air blockage inside the shoe or an inner cavity of any item to be dried which may otherwise lead to backflow of hot air, stagnant air and the lack of airflow circulation inside the shoe or the inner cavity of an item to be dried which may otherwise result in inefficient air circulation and low efficiency in drying, as well as damage to and malfunction of the dryer due to backflow of hot air which would easily cause deformation of the fan inside the dryer because of overheating.

Further, a front end of the top baffle33extended beyond the air intake channel may also extend downwardly to form an overhang331. The overhang331prevents dripping water on top of the top baffle33from flowing along the surfaces of the top baffle33and particularly running along a bottom surface of the top baffle33. With the overhang331, the dripping water can drip downwardly along the overhang331.

To further prevent water at a front end of the duct3from entering the air outlet311, a lower baffle34positioned below the top baffle33is further provided as a side wall of the duct3; the lower baffle34extends outwardly from the air outlet311below the air outlet311; an air outlet channel positioned at a front end of the air outlet311is formed between the top baffle33and the lower baffle34. To facilitate drainage, at least one drainage hole341is formed on the lower baffle34. This allows dripping water (coming down from the overhang331, or dripped down from outside the duct) to directly drain out through the drainage hole341after falling onto the lower baffle34, thereby effectively discharging the dripping water out of the duct. The lower baffle34can thus serve as a flow guide to guide water flow in the air outlet channel. Further, a water-permeable gap342may be formed between a rear end of the lower baffle34and the outer wall of the air intake channel31, and water dripped on the lower baffle34can flow out through the water-permeable gap342and then flow down along the outer wall of the air intake channel31. As shown inFIG.7, the air outlet311is positioned above the water-permeable gap342. The air outlet311forms an opening on the outer wall of the air intake channel31, and a portion of the outer wall of the air intake channel31between a lower end of the air outlet and the water-permeable gap342forms a barrier to prevent water from the lower baffle34from entering the air intake channel31which may otherwise affect the air outlet process and cause potential safety hazards from water dripping into the duct. In this embodiment, when the flow guide channel32is positioned on the outer wall of the duct3and below the lower baffle34, the water-permeable gap342is positioned above the flow guide channel32, allowing water to flow into the flow guide channel32and thus be discharged. As said, the flow guide channel32is an independent channel provided on the outer wall of the duct3or inside the duct. In this embodiment, the flow guide channel32is formed by a space enclosed by the outer wall of the duct3and the outer wall of the air intake channel31. At least one upper opening321is formed on an upper portion of the flow guide channel32, and a lower opening322is formed at a lower end of the flow guide channel, and the lower opening322at the lower end of the flow guide channel may be positioned at a lower end of the duct3. In this embodiment, the flow guide channel32is positioned on the outer wall of the duct3, and said at least one upper opening321may be embodied as a plurality of openings on an outer wall of the flow guide channel32(as shown inFIG.4) above the lower end of the flow guide channel. The upper opening321is positioned below the air outlet311and positioned below the lower baffle34. Alternatively, the flow guide channel32may also be an independent channel positioned inside the duct3, with the upper opening thereof positioned inside the air intake channel31and below the air outlet311.

For better drainage of the dripping water, in this embodiment, the top baffle33and the lower baffle34are inclined, with higher ends of the top baffle33and the lower baffle34defined as front ends, thereby allowing water to flow backward from the front end of the duct3. Also, side baffles35may be provided respectively on two side surfaces between the top baffle33and the lower baffle34, and each side baffle35extends downward from a side edge of the top baffle33to a corresponding side of the lower baffle34. The side baffles35can form barrier surfaces on both sides of the air outlet311, forming a passage between the top baffle33, the lower baffle34and the side baffles35. This allows for a more rapid and precise flow of hot air to the toe area of the shoe to dry the shoe and then the hot air is smoothly discharged through the flow guide channel32, thus improving the drying efficiency. Further, at least one supporting rib36may be further provided on the top baffle33. In this embodiment, a supporting rib36is provided at a middle part of the top baffle33, and upper edges of the two side baffles35at two side edges of the top baffle33can extend upward to form another two supporting ribs36. When a shoe is placed over the duct3, the supporting ribs36can create a supporting space above the duct3, keeping the inner surface of the shoe away from the duct and forming a thermally conductive space.

Furthermore, to increase the discharge quantity of air, expand the air outlet area, and enhance drying efficiency, a side vent area37is further formed on a side surface of the duct3. The side vent area37is in communication with the air intake channel31, and the side vent area37is recessed from the outer wall of the duct3to prevent water from entering. In this embodiment, the side vent area37comprises a recessed wall area371formed proximal to an upper end of the outer wall of the duct. A plurality of downwardly inclined air outlet slots372are formed on the recessed wall area371, the air outlet slots372are also recessed from the outer wall of the duct3, and the air outlet slots372are inclined downwardly from an interior of the duct3to the outer wall of the duct3. Specifically, the air outlet slots372are formed by providing spacing strips on the recessed wall area, and the air outlet slots372are formed between the spacing strips. The spacing strips are inclined, or only upper surfaces of the spacing strips are inclined, thus preventing water flowing down from the top of the duct3from flowing into the air outlet slots372, instead, water can flow outwardly from the air outlet slots without flowing into the side vent area37. With the side vent area37positioned on the recessed wall area of the outer wall of the duct3and rows of the air outlet slots372arranged from top to bottom in the side vent area37, water flowing down from the upper surface of the top baffle33can smoothly flow out along the outwardly and downwardly inclined air outlet slots372, and will not be guided to flow into the air intake channel31. Yet, some of the hot air can still be discharged outward through these air outlet slots372to dry the heel area of the shoes, thereby achieving comprehensive and rapid drying of the entire shoe.

The above embodiments and drawings are not intended to limit the form and style of the product of the present invention, and any suitable changes or modifications made by those of ordinary skill in the art shall fall within the patent scope of the present invention.