TOWEL DRYING SYSTEMS

A towel drying cabinet can include a cabinet structure defining an interior portion. The interior portion can be configured to be enclosed by one or more doors. The cabinet structure can include a first inner sidewall portion and a second inner sidewall portion. The towel drying cabinet can also include a first towel holding structure and a second towel holding structure. The first towel holding structure can be operatively connected to the first inner sidewall and can be configured to move between a stowed position and an extended position. In the stowed position, the first towel holding structure can be within the interior portion. In the extended position, at least a portion of the first towel holding structure can extends from the interior portion, through an opening in the cabinet structure and beyond the cabinet structure. The second towel holding structure can be operatively connected to the second inner sidewall and can be configured to move between the stowed position within the interior portion, through the opening in the cabinet structure and the extended position beyond the interior portion.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to towel drying systems.

BACKGROUND

Towels that hang on a traditional towel rack after use, but before being washed, begin to grow bacteria, mold and mildew immediately after being hung on the rack. This presents health and safety risk. Further, towels can only be used infrequently as they dry slowly.

Such conventional methods and systems have generally been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is still a need in the art for towel drying cabinets. The present disclosure provides a solution for this need.

SUMMARY

A towel drying cabinet can include a cabinet structure defining an interior portion. The interior portion can be configured to be enclosed by one or more doors. The cabinet structure can include a first inner sidewall portion and a second inner sidewall portion. The towel drying cabinet can further include a first towel holding structure and a second towel holding structure. The first towel holding structure can be operatively connected to the first inner sidewall and can be configured to move between a stowed position and an extended position. In the stowed position, the first towel holding structure can be within the interior portion. In the extended position, at least a portion of the first towel holding structure can extend from the interior portion, through an opening in the cabinet structure and beyond the cabinet structure. The second towel holding structure can be operatively connected to the second inner sidewall and can be configured to move between the stowed position within the interior portion, through the opening in the cabinet structure, and the extended position beyond the interior portion.

In certain embodiments, the first towel holding structure can be operatively connected to the first sidewall via a first hinge. The second towel holding structure can be operatively connected to the second sidewall via a second hinge. The first hinge and the second hinge can be offset from one another such that the first hinge can be closer to the opening of the cabinet structure than the second hinge. The first towel holding structure and the second towel holding structure can be configured to pivot outwardly 180 degrees from the interior portion moving between the stowed position and the extended position.

In certain embodiments, the towel drying cabinet can further include a receiving structure configured to hold the second towel holding structure in the stowed position. The second towel holding structure can be configured to be received by the receiving structure in the stowed position. The receiving structure can be on or extending from the first hinge. The receiving structure can include a detent configured to receive the second towel holding structure.

In certain embodiments, the first and second towel holding structures can each be configured to hold a towel. The first and second towel holding structures can be spaced apart in the stowed position to prevent towels placed on the first and second towel holding structures from touching each other. The first and second towel holding structures can be U-shaped bars.

In certain embodiments, the receiving structure can be a spring clip. The receiving structure can be configured to be pushed back towards the first sidewall to release the second towel holding structure.

In certain embodiments, the towel drying cabinet can further include a drying box configured to house a heating element and a fan. The drying box can be at a bottom portion of the interior portion. The towel drying cabinet can further include an air inlet at the bottom portion of the interior portion defining an airflow path. The air inlet can be operatively connected and configured to supply air to the interior portion. The drying box and the air inlet can be in fluid communication such that air from outside the cabinet structure enters the drying box.

In certain embodiments, the towel drying cabinet can further include a controller configured to control the drying box to control the fan and heating element. The controller can be positioned at a top portion of the cabinet structure. The controller can be configured to be connected to a power supply via a spine running along a back wall portion of the interior portion. The spine can house a wire which connects the controller to the power supply. The controller can be connected to the drying box via the spine.

In certain embodiments, the controller can further include a first button for drying and a second button for heating. When in a drying mode, the first button can operate the fan and when in a heating mode, the second button can operate the heating element and the fan.

In certain embodiments, the towel drying cabinet can further include an internal humidity sensor operatively connected to the controller. The internal humidity sensor can be configured to detect humidity within the interior portion and communicate humidity information to the controller.

In certain embodiments, the towel drying cabinet can further include an air vent at the top portion of the interior portion for exhaust. The towel drying cabinet can further include a wall mounting mechanism on the back side of an outer portion of the towel drying cabinet. In certain embodiments, the drying box can further include a compartment for a fragrance and/or a cleaning product to be dispersed through the air flow path.

A non-transitory computer readable medium can include computer executable instructions which can be configured to cause a computer to perform a method. The method can include, receiving a drying mode signal from a first switch (e.g., a button), initiating a drying mode in response to receiving the drying mode signal by turning on a drying box, receiving a humidity signal from a humidity sensor, sensing humidity within an interior portion of a towel drying cabinet indicative of dryness of a towel, and turning off the drying mode by turning off the drying box when detection of a predetermined humidity is reached within the interior portion.

In certain embodiments, the method can further include, receiving a heating mode signal from a second switch (e.g., a button) by turning on the drying box, running a heating mode for a preset time, and sending a signal to the controller to turn off the heating mode when the preset time runs out.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, an illustrative view of an embodiment of a towel drying cabinet in accordance with the disclosure is shown inFIG.1and is designated generally by reference character100. Other embodiments and/or aspects of this disclosure are shown inFIGS.2-5. Certain embodiments described herein can be used to dry and heat towels.

As shown inFIG.1, a towel drying cabinet100can include a cabinet structure102defining an interior portion104. The interior portion104of the towel drying cabinet100can be wood, or any other suitable material (e.g., for drying and reducing humidity). The interior portion104can be configured to be enclosed by one or more doors106. The one or more doors can include a handle or any other suitable mechanism for opening them (e.g., slots, etc.). The one or more doors106can be full length (e.g., cover the entire interior portion104), but can be any other suitable length. The cabinet structure102can include a first inner sidewall portion108and a second inner sidewall portion110. The various parts of the towel drying cabinet100(e.g., the side walls, doors, back wall portion, etc.) can be joined together by concealed spline joinery, e.g., the parts can be machined together with receiving slots and/or one spline part per each slotted end joint. An adhesive material can be used to construct the parts of the towel drying cabinet100.

The towel drying cabinet100can also include a first towel holding structure112and a second towel holding structure114(e.g., towel rods). The towel holding structures can be made from a plastic material, for example, but can be any other suitable material, e.g., wood (e.g., for better humidity control), metal (e.g., aluminum), etc. The first and second towel holding structures112,114(e.g., towel rods) can be configured to swing outward, e.g., to provide easy access outside of the cabinet structure102to the full available length of the towel holding structures112,114for a user.

The first towel holding structure112can be operatively connected to the first inner sidewall108and can be configured to move between a stowed position (e.g., as shown inFIG.4) and an extended position. In the stowed position, the first towel holding structure112can be within the interior portion104(e.g., entirely as shown inFIG.4). In the extended position, at least a portion of the first towel holding structure112can extend from the interior portion104, through an opening116(e.g., as shown inFIG.1when the doors are in an open position) in the cabinet structure102and beyond the cabinet structure102. The second towel holding structure114can be operatively connected to the second inner sidewall110and can be configured to move between the stowed position within the interior portion104, through the opening116in the cabinet structure102, and the extended position beyond the interior portion104.

In certain embodiments as shown inFIGS.1-2, the first towel holding structure112can be operatively connected to the first sidewall108via a first hinge118. The second towel holding structure114can be operatively connected to the second sidewall110via a second hinge120. In certain embodiments, the first and second towel holding structures112,114(e.g., pivoting towel rods) can include respective pivot brackets each hinged to the respective sidewalls of the cabinet structure100.

The first hinge118and the second hinge120can be offset from one another such that the first hinge118can be closer to the opening116of the cabinet structure102than the second hinge120(e.g., as shown inFIG.2). The first and second towel holding structures112,114and first and second hinges118,120can be offset so that when a towel is placed on each towel holding structure112,114(e.g., rods), and the towel holding structures are in a stowed position within the interior portion104, the towels do not touch for optimal drying of the towels. The first towel holding structure112and the second towel holding structure114can be configured to pivot outwardly 180 degrees from the interior portion104moving between the stowed position and the extended position (e.g. as shown inFIG.2).

As shown inFIG.3, in certain embodiments, the towel drying cabinet104can further include a receiving structure122configured to hold the second towel holding structure114in the stowed position. The second towel holding structure114can be configured to be received by the receiving structure122in the stowed position. The receiving structure122can be on or extending from the first hinge118(e.g., pivot bracket). The receiving structure122can include a detent124configured to receive the second towel holding structure114. The detent114can be configured to receive a towel holding structure (e.g., a towel rod) of any shape or size and can therefore take on various shapes and sizes to be able to accommodate varying shapes and sizes of towel rods. For example, as shown, the detent can include a hole in the receiving structure to receive a rounded end of the second towel holding structure114.

In certain embodiments, the first and second towel holding structures112,114can each be configured to hold a towel. The first and second towel holding structures (e.g., towel rods) can extend partially or completely across the interior portion104of the towel drying cabinet from the first inner sidewall108to the second inner sidewall110.

The first and second towel holding structures112,114can be spaced apart in the stowed position (e.g., in a direction from a back wall portion146of the cabinet structure102to the opening116as shown inFIG.4) to prevent towels placed on the first and second towel holding structures112,114from touching each other. The first and second towel holding structures112,114can be spaced apart from one other horizontally so that second towel holding structure114is closer to the opening116of the cabinet structure102than the first towel holding structure112when they are both in the stowed position. The first hinge118and the second hinge120can be offset from one another (e.g., in the direction from the back wall portion146to the opening116) such that the first hinge118can be closer to the opening116of the cabinet structure102than the second hinge120so that when the second towel holding structure114is received within the receiving structure122of the first hinge118and the first towel holding structure112is in the stowed position, the two towel holding structures do not touch.

In certain embodiments, the first and second towel holding structures112,114can be U-shaped bars. The U-shaped bars can provide strength (e.g., to avoid bending while holding a towel). The U-shaped bars can additionally reduce material and enhance the drying of a towel placed thereon. Other suitable shapes are contemplated herein (e.g., a straight bar, a planar shape, rectangular shape, etc.). The shape of the bars can be any shape suitable for optimally drying a towel placed there on.

In certain embodiments, the receiving structure122can be a spring clip. The spring clip can be a spring loaded structure or living hinge structure. The spring clip can include a cut, a slit, and/or a detent for the end of the second towel holding structure114to be received within. The spring clip can be configured to capture and hold the towel holding structures112,114in place and can be configured to release the towel holding structures112,114when triggered. The receiving structure122can be configured to be pushed back towards the first sidewall110to release the second towel holding structure114.

As shown inFIG.1, the towel drying cabinet100can further include a drying box126configured to house a heating element (e.g., resistive heaters)128and a fan130. In certain embodiments, a heat pump can also be included within the towel drying cabinet100(e.g., to reduce the humidity in the air and provide higher efficiency). In certain embodiments, the drying box126can be within the interior portion104of the towel drying cabinet100. The fan130can be configured to blow air through the heating element128. The drying box126can be at a bottom portion132of the interior portion104. The towel drying cabinet100can further include an air inlet134at the bottom portion132of the interior portion104defining an airflow path136. The air inlet134can be operatively connected and configured to supply air to the interior portion104. The drying box126and the air inlet134can be in fluid communication such that air from outside the cabinet structure102enters the drying box126.

In certain embodiments, the towel drying cabinet100can further include a controller138configured to control the drying box126to control the fan130and heating element128. The controller138can be positioned at a top portion140of the cabinet structure102. The controller138can be configured to be connected to a power supply142(not shown) via a spine144running along a back wall portion146of the interior portion104. The power supply142can be at the bottom portion132of the towel drying cabinet100and can be configured to plug into a wall outlet or hardwire. The spine144can house a wire which connects the controller138to the power supply142. The controller138can be connected to the drying box126via the spine144. In certain embodiments, the spine144can run along the back wall portion146of the interior portion104of the towel drying cabinet100from the power supply142to the controller138. A power wire within the spine144can be connected to the controller142. Additionally lines (e.g., wires) connecting the controller138to the fans and heaters in the drying box126can also be within the spine144.

In certain embodiments, the controller138can further include a first button148for drying and a second button150for heating. The controller138can have two button system (e.g., pre-shower warm up mode and drying mode). When in a drying mode, the first button148can operate the fan130and when in a heating mode128, the second button150can operate the heating element128and the fan130. A fail safe can be included so that the drying mode turns off after certain amount of time.

In certain embodiments, the towel drying cabinet100can further include an internal humidity sensor152operatively connected to the controller138. The internal humidity sensor can be located any place within the internal portion104of the cabinet structure102. The internal humidity sensor152can be configured to detect humidity within the interior portion104and communicate humidity information to the controller138. The towel drying cabinet100can include a humidity sensor and logic to turn off when humidity of exhaust is sufficiently low. The controller138can be operatively connected to the humidity sensor152and can be configured to sense humidity in the interior portion104of the towel drying cabinet100, determines percent of humidity within the interior portion104, and at a set humidity (e.g., approximately 15% humidity) the dry cycle can be configured to turn off.

In certain embodiments, the towel drying cabinet100can further include an air vent154at the top portion140of the interior portion104for exhaust. The towel drying cabinet100can further include a wall mounting mechanism115on the back side117of an outer portion of the towel drying cabinet100. The wall mounting mechanism115can be any suitable wall mounting mechanism115. In certain embodiments, the towel holding structure can include one or more legs119or any suitable means to be placed on the ground (e.g., wheels). In certain embodiments, the drying box126can further include a compartment156for a fragrance and/or a cleaning product to be dispersed through the air flow path136. The compartment156of the drying box126can be configured to receive a scent module that releases with flow of hot air. The compartment156of the drying box126can also be configured to include gaseous cleaning compounds/elements for cleaning the interior portion104of the towel drying cabinet100.

FIG.6shows an isometric view of the towel drying cabinet100ofFIG.1, showing one or more doors106in a closed position.FIG.7shows a front view of the towel drying cabinet100ofFIG.1, showing another embodiment of one or more doors106in a closed position.FIG.8shows an isometric view of the back117of the towel drying cabinet100ofFIG.1, showing a wall mounting mechanism115.FIG.9shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a towel drying cabinet100in accordance with this disclosure, showing one or more legs119for placement of the towel drying cabinet100on the ground.

A non-transitory computer readable medium can include computer executable instructions which can be configured to cause a computer to perform a method. The method can include, receiving a drying mode signal from a first switch (e.g., a button), initiating a drying mode in response to receiving the drying mode signal by turning on a drying box, receiving a humidity signal from a humidity sensor, sensing humidity within an interior portion of a towel drying cabinet indicative of dryness of a towel, and turning off the drying mode by turning off the drying box when detection of a predetermined humidity is reached within the interior portion. In certain embodiments, the heating element can be used in the drying mode. In certain embodiments, the heating element is not used in the drying mode.

In certain embodiments, the method can further include, receiving a heating mode signal from a second switch (e.g., a button) by turning on the drying box, running a heating mode for a preset time, and sending a signal to the controller to turn off the heating mode when the preset time runs out.

Embodiments can include any suitable computer hardware and/or software module(s) to perform any suitable function (e.g., as disclosed herein).