CLOTHES DRYER GARMENT BAG

Abstract: A portable sport equipment bag (10) having an air distributor (44) is connected with a hose (12) to a blower (11) operable to move air under pressure into the air distributor (44). The air distributor (44) has one or more manifolds (46, 47, 48) located within the bag. The manifolds (46, 47, 48) have a plurality of holes (66, 83) to allow air in the manifolds to flow into the bag to dry sport equipment and objects within the bag. One or more air filters (31, 32, 33, 34) mounted on the bag (10) remove odors and foreign matter from the air flow from the bag (10) into the environment adjacent to the bag (10).

Description: Clothes Dryer Garment Bag FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention is in the field of portable bags having air distributors for air drying clothing, sporting and athletic equipment and air filters for removing odors from the air expelled from the bag. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Damp garments, sport and athletic equipment, boots and shoes have been dried out in storage areas having natural air circulation. Garments and sport equipment that retain water will mold, mildew and have unpleasant odors without adequate removal of the water. G.L. Dhaemers in U.S. Patent No. 5,369,893 discloses several self- contained dryers for accommodating articles, such as clothing, sporting equipment and shoes. The dryers have walls that cause heated air to re-circulate in the drying chambers to decrease the moisture content of the air and increase the drying energy efficiency. Blowers and fans associated with electric heaters operate to circulate heated air through the drying chambers. The dryer shown in Figure 23 to 26 of U.S. Patent 5,369,892 is a chest or foot locker structure having a rigid housing. Wheels and a handle attached to the housing are used to facilitate manual movement of the dryer. The top of the housing has a cover movable to an open position to allow access to the drying chamber. A motor driven fan located in an air mixing chamber within the housing draws air through a filter into the drying chamber. Air porous walls within the drying chamber allow air to flow from the drying chamber back to the air mixing chamber for re- circulation back into the drying chamber. Air also flows out of the drying chamber through a filter having activated charcoal to remove odors from the air discharge into the environment. This dryer requires an internal motor and fan associated with an electric heater, and specialized porous walls within a housing. While this dryer is effective to dry articles in the drying chamber it is complex and expensive to manufacture. The travel and sports bag equipped with an air distributor of the invention disclosed in this application is effective in air drying articles without complex and expensive structures. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is a portable bag, known as a sport bag, having an internal chamber for storing articles, such as clothing, shoes, boots, ice skates, ski boots, sporting equipment and other objects. An air distributor located in the bottom of the chamber directs a plurality of streams of air into the chamber to dry the articles located in the chamber. Air under pressure is supplied to the air distributor with a blower connected to the air distributor projected into the chamber to supply air to hollow articles, such as gloves, shoes boots and ice skates. One or more air filters mounted on the bag allow air to flow out of the bag and remove odors and particulates from the air. The bag is an elongated flexible container having side walls joined to end and bottom walls. The bag is made from canvas, vinyl, or fabric materials which allow it to be folded for storage and expanded for accommodating articles. One or more zippers or hook and loop releaseable fasteners along the top of the bag functions to close the bag and allow access into the bag chamber to facilitate the introduction of articles into the bag chamber and removal of the articles from the bag. A modification of the bag includes side pockets for storing articles, such as shoes, ice skates and mittens. Air is introduced into the side pockets through tubular members mounted on the air distributor to dry the articles in the side pockets. Air filters mounted on the side pockets allow air to flow out of the side pockets and remove odors and particulates from the air. The air from the side pockets can be routed back into the chamber of the bag. The air will be exhausted from the chamber through the air filters mounted on the bag. The bag can have a longitudinal or vertical orientation. A vertical bag has a side wall containing a releaseable closure providing admittance into the interior of the bag. An air distributor located at the bottom of the bag directs air up into the bag chamber to dry articles located within the bag chamber. An external blower discharges air into the air distributor. The air distributor has one or more internal chambers for accumulating air under pressure supplied by an external located blower. The blower can be equipped with an electric heater operable to heat the air discharged by the blower into the air distributor. Holes in top wall of the air distributor dispense and spread out the air flow into the bag chamber so as to subject a large number of surfaces of the articles in the bag chamber to flowing air. This increases drying efficiency and reduces damp sections of the articles. The air distributor has one or more manifolds that fit into the bottom of the bag. The manifolds are generally flat and utilize only a small amount of space in the bag chamber. When two or more manifolds are used for an air distributor they are hinged together to allow articulation between the manifolds. One manifold has an air inlet tube adapted to be coupled to the hose to receive air from the blower. The moving air in the bag chamber picks up the moisture, foreign matter and odors from the articles stored in the bag chamber. The odors and foreign matter carried by the air are collected by the filters mounted on the bag. The filters have activated carbon or other odor reducing materials that remove odors from the air discharged into the environment. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a travel and sport bag equipped with the air distributor of the invention connected to an air blower; Figure 2 is an enlarged section view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a top plan view of the air distributor; Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the right side of the air distributor of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the left side of the air distributor of Figure 5; Figure 8 is an end elevational view of the left end of the air distributor of Figure 5; Figure 9 is an end elevational view of the right end of the air distributor of Figure 5; Figure 10 is a bottom plan view of the air distributor of Figure 5; Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 11-11 of Figure 5; Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 12-12 of Figure 5; Figure 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 13-13 of Figure 5; Figure 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 14-14 of Figure 5; Figure 15 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 15-15 of Figure 6; Figure 16 is a side elevational view of a modification of the travel and sport equipment bag having an air distributor of the invention connected to an air blower; Figure 17 is an enlarged top plan view of the bag of Figure 16; Figure 18 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 18-18 of Figure 17; Figure 19 is a sectional view taken along line 19-19 of Figure 18; Figure 20 is a sectional view taken along line 20-20 of Figure 19; Figure 21 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 21-21 of Figure 19; Figure 22 is an enlarged plan view of the filter assembly attached to the end of the bag; and Figure 23 is a sectional taken along line 23-23 of Figure 22. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A travel and sports bag 10, shown in Figure 1, is connected to an air blower or pump 11 with an elongated flexible hose 12. Bag 10 is a flexible canvas, plastic, vinyl, or cloth container or grip used to store and carry sports equipment, such as hockey, basketball, soccer, football, tennis, hand ball, and baseball equipment. The equipment stored in bag 10 is at times moist and wet due to the weather and body sweat. Air is moved through bag 10 to dry the equipment in the bag. An air blower 11 has an electric motor driving an impeller or fan to force air through hose 12 into an air distributor 44 located along the bottom of bag 10. The air flows out of distributor 44 into the bag chamber 24. The air flowing through bag 10 picks up moisture, foreign matter, and odors from the equipment and is discharged through filters 31-34 mounted on the bag to atmosphere. Air blower 11 is an electric motor driven pump located within a casing 13. The timer 14 mounted on top of casing 13 controls the operation of the electric motor for a predetermined time and shuts off the motor. Blower 11 can be equipped with an electric heater whereby hot air is discharged into hose 12 and air distributor 44. A device operable to introduce a mist or vapors into the air intake of blower 11 to mitigate odors in bag chamber 24 and equipment stored therein can be operatively associated with blower 11. This device can be mounted on the blower. Bag 11, as seen in Figure 3, has upright side walls 16 and 17 joined to end walls 18 and 19. Walls 16-19 are joined to a generally flat bottom wall 21. The top wall 22 of bag 10 has a longitudinal zipper or linear releaseable fastener 23 that extends into end walls 18 and 19 to facilitate access to the interior or bag chamber 24 comprising the storage area of bag 10 and allow the equipment to be placed into and removed from bag 10. Bag 10 can be made from canvas, fabric and plastic materials. A pair of straps 25 and 26 are secured to the side walls 16 and 17 of bag 10. The upper portions of straps 25 and 26 extend above top wall 22 of bag 10 and provide handles used to carry the bag. A second handle 27 is secure to end wall 19 to facilitate towing of bag 10. Two sets of wheels 28 and 30 are attached to opposite bottom ends of end wall 18 with brackets 29. Each set of wheels 28, 30 has a pair of rollers rotatable mounted on a transverse axle. Other types of wheels or rollers can be used to provide movable support for bag 10. Top wall 22 has air filters 31, 32, 33 and 34 in each corner to remove odors and foreign matter from the air allowing air to flow from bag chamber 24 to the atmosphere. The filters absorb odors and collect particulates that are carried by the air. As shown in Figure 4, filter 31 extends through a hole 38 in top wall 22 and has a cap 36 having a first grid 37 threaded on a holder 39 having a second grid 40. Holder 39 has an annular lip 41 located in firm engagement with top wall 22 to clamp filter 31 on top wall 22. Air filtering materials 42 including activated charcoal, fiber materials, or other odor reducing materials are located within holder 39 to remove odor and foreign matter from the air. Screens on opposite sides of filtering materials 42 cooperate with the grids 37 and 40 to retain filtering materials 42 within holder 39. Filters 32, 33 and 34 have the same structure and function as filter 31. Air within chamber 244 flows through all filters 31-34, as shown by arrows 43, when zipper 23 is closed. The air filters 31, 32, 33, and 34 are removable from their holders to allow the filters to be replaced with new filters. The air filters can be replaceable cartridges accommodating odor removing materials. An air distributor, indicated generally at 44 in Figures 2, 3, and 5, located within chamber 24 on top of bottom 21 of bag 10 dispenses air into chamber 24. The air flows around the equipment and objects stored in bag 10 to remove moisture and odors from the equipment and objects. Air distributor 44 has three sections or manifolds' 46, 47 and 48. Hinge connectors 49 and 51 connect manifold 46 to central manifold 47. Manifold 48 is joined to manifold 47 with hinge connectors 52 and 53. Hinge connectors 49, 51 and 52, 53 allow end manifolds 46 and 48 to be moved upright adjacent the ends of bag 10 and folded side-by-side to facilitate shipping and storage. Manifold 46, shown in Figure 12, has a top wall 54 and a bottom wall 56 joined together along middle section 57 which separates air chambers 58 and 59. A U-shaped tubular edge 61 having an air passage 62 is joined to walls 54 and 56. An air inlet tube 63, shown in Figure 11, having a passage 64 connected to tubular edge 61 directs air from blower 11 into air passage 62. Walls 54 and 56 and edge 61 are air impervious plastic members. The air blows from passage 62 through openings 63 into chambers 58 and 59 as shown in Figure 11. Top wall 54 has a plurality of holes 66 open to chambers 58 and 59 for directing air from chambers 58 and 59 into bag chamber 24. Holes 66 are arranged in a generally square pattern adjacent the outer edge section of top wall 54 to allow air flow in the entire end of bag chamber 24. Returning to Figures 5 and 12, a generally horizontal tubular member 67 in mounted on top wall 54 with a connector 68. Member 67 is used to support boots, shoes, skates, gloves, mittens, and equipment and direct air into these items to dry the interiors thereof. The tubular member can be located in a vertical position to allow gloves and mittens to be placed over the tubular member. Manifold 48 has the same structure as manifold 46 with the exception of air inlet tube 63. A U-shaped tubular edge 69 surrounds a top wall 71 having a plurality of holes 72 for directing air into bag chamber 24. The interior of manifold 48 has two air chambers 73 which are charged with air from tubular edge 69. A horizontal tubular member 73 attached to top wall 71 with a connector 74 is used to direct air into hollow objects, such as gloves, skates, boots, shoes, mittens to dry the interiors thereof. Member 73 can be located in an upright position. As shown in Figure 13, manifold 47 has a top wall 74 and bottom wall 76 joined to linear side tubular members' 77 and 78. The middle section 79 of walls 74 and 76 are joined to provide two air chambers 81 and 82. Top wall 74 has a plurality of holes 83 to allow air to flow from chambers 81 and 82 into the central portion of bag chamber 24. Returning to Figure 5, holes 83 are arranged in a rectangular pattern adjacent the outer edge portions of top wall 74 to distribute air in the central area of bag chamber 24. A horizontal tubular member 84 mounted on top wall 74 with connector 86 has open opposite ends to direct air into hollow objects, such as skates, boots, shoes, mittens, gloves, helmets, and hats. Hinge connector 51, shown in Figure 14 and 15, is a U-shaped tubular member 87 having a passage 88 allowing air to flow from chamber 58 of manifold 46 into chamber 81 of manifold 47. The ends of tubular member 87 snap into lateral holes in manifolds 46 and 47 to allow manifolds 46 and 47 to pivot relative to each other. Hinge connectors 49, 52 and 53 have the same structure a hinge connector 51 to allow relative movement to manifolds 47 and 48. As shown in Figure 15, air flows from passage 62 through hole 63 into air chamber 58. Air in chamber 58 flows through passage 88 in hinge connector 51 into chamber 81 of manifold 47 and out of chamber 81 through hole 89 into the passage of tubular member 78 leading to hinge connector 53. Connector 53 directs the air into the air chamber of manifold 48. Hinge connectors 49 and 52 also have passages that allow air to flow from manifold 46 into manifold 47 and out of manifold 47 into manifold 48. In use, air distributor 44 is placed in bag 10 with the top walls 54, 71 and 74 of manifolds 46, 47 and 48 exposed to bag chamber 24 and equipment and objects stored in the chamber. Hose 12 connects blower 11 to air distributor 44 as shown in Figure 1. Zipper 23 is closed to contain the equipment and objects in a closed environment. Blower 11 operated to move air through hose 12 into air distributor 44. The air flow through holes 66, 74 and 83 in manifolds 46, 47 and 48 into bag chamber 24. The air flowing through chamber picks up moisture and odors from the equipment and object in air chamber 24. The air in chamber 24 is forced through filters 31 - 34 which absorb odors and removes particulate from the air. The moisture ladened air is discharged into the atmosphere adjacent the top of bag 10. An ionized unit located in bag chamber 24 can be used to generate ozone to control odors in the air in chamber 24 and on the equipment stored in chamber 24. A modification of the travel and sports bag 100, shown in Figures 16 to 23, is equipped with an air distributor 144 operable to direct air into bag chamber 124 to dry equipment and objects in chamber 124. Air distributor 144 is coupled to an air blower or air pump 111 with a flexible hose 112. Blower 111 has a casing 113 enclosing an electric motor drivable connected to an impeller or fan (not shown) operable to force air through hose 112 into air distributor 114. A motor control 114 mounted on casing 113 includes a timer for operating the motor for a selected period of time. Blowers 111 may include a heating element for heating the air discharged into hose 112. Bag 100 is a flexible canvas, plastic, or fabric container used to store and carry sport equipment, such as hockey pads, breezers, soccer, football, tennis, handball, and baseball objects. The moisture on the equipment in bag chamber 124 is removed by the air flowing through chamber 124 and filter 131. Bag 100 has side walls 116 and 117 joined to end walls 118 and 119 and bottom wall 121. Zipper or linear releaseable fasteners 123 are located longitudinally along the top of bag 100 to facilitate access to bag chamber 124 and permit equipment to be placed into and removed from bag chamber 124. A pair of straps 125 and 126 are secured to side walls 116 and 117. The upper portions of straps 125 and 126 extend above the top of bag 100 and provide a handle 127 used to carry bag 100. A second handle 130 secured to end wall 119 is used to lift and tow bag 100 using wheels 128. Brackets 129 secure wheels 128 to opposite lower portions of end wall 118. As shown in Figures 22 and 23, filter 131 has a cylindrical casing 132 extended through an opening 133 in end wall 118. Casing 132 has an annular outside flange 133 and spaced vanes 134 providing openings 136 to allow air to flow through casing 132. A washer or ring 137 clamps flange 133 to end wall 118 to hold filter on end wall 118. An annular sleeve 138 holding a grid or screen 139 is threaded into the inner end of casing 132. As second screen 140 is located adjacent the inside of vanes 140. The space between screens 139 and 140 accommodate filter materials including a bed of charcoal 141 and fiber material 142 for removing odors, particulates, and foreign materials from the air flowing through filter 131. Air distributor 144, shown in Figures 18, 19 and 20, is a generally rectangular manifold located on the bottom wall 121 of bag 100. Air distributor 144 has a top wall 146, a bottom wall 147 and an interior chamber 148. An air inlet tube 149 is attached to an end of distributor 144 adjacent wall 119 with a hose 151. Tube 149 projects through end wall 119 to accommodate hose 112 thereby allowing air to flow into manifold chamber 148. Top wall 146, as shown in Figures 19 and 20, has a plurality of rows of holes 152, 153, 154 and 155 open to bag chamber 124 to allow air to flow into bag chamber 124 as indicated by arrows 156 in Figures 18 and 20. Holes 152 and 153 are located in a raised rectangular section 157 of top wall 146. A second raised rectangular section 158 has holes 154 and 156. A first pocket 159 secured to side wall 116 has a chamber 161 for storing a hollow object, such as a shoe, boot, or ice skate. The top of pocket 159 holds an air filter 164 to allow air to flow through pocket chamber 161. A curved tube 166 attached to air distributor 144 carrier air to pocket chamber 161 to dry the interior of hallow items, such as ice skates placed over the outer end of tube 166. A second pocket 167 secured to side wall 117 has a chamber 168 for storing a hallow object, such as a boat, show, or ice skate. A flap 169 and zipper 171 closes the top of pocket 167. An air filter 172 mounted on pocket 167 removes odors and foreign material from the air flowing through the filter 172. A curved tube 173 attached to air distributor 144 carries air into pocket chamber 168 to dry hollow objects placed on the end tube 173. The air in pocket chambers 161 and 168 can be routed back into bag chamber 124. This eliminates the need for filters 164 and 172 as the air flows through bag filters 31, 32, 33 and 34 into the external atmosphere. In use, blower 111 is connected with hose 112 to air inlet tube 149 whereby the blower discharges a stream of air into air distributor chamber 148. The air flows through the rows of holes 152-155 into bag chamber 124. The air moving through bag chamber 124 picks up moisture and odors from the equipment in the bag chamber 124. Filter 131 removes odors and particulates from the air flowing through the filter to the environment adjacent bag 100. Air also flows through pocket chambers 161 and 168 to remove moisture from objects located in the pockets' 159 and 167. Filters 164 and 172 remove odors and foreign materials from the air flowing out of pocket chambers 161 and 168. The bag herein described are elongated horizontal sport and equipment bags. The bags of the invention can have an upright or vertical orientation having tops that include a hanger bars to hold the bags on a fixed rod or support. The air distributors including upright air tubes are located at the bottom of the bags. One or more of the walls of the bags have zippers or other releaseable fasteners that allow equipment and clothing to be placed in and removed from the interiors of the bag. Blowers and air pumps are used to supply air to the bags. Filters mounted on the bags remove odors are foreign materials from the air moving through the filters into the external atmosphere. While there has been shown and descried preferred embodiments of the bag, air distributor, and air filters of the invention, it is understood that changes in the structures, materials, and arrangement of structures can be made by these skilled in the art without departing from the invention. The invention is defined in the following claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for drying objects comprising: a bag having an interior chamber for accommodating objects, air distributor means located within the interior chamber of the bag, said air distributor means having chamber means for accommodating air, first means to allow air from a supply of air to flow into the chamber means, and a second means to allow air to flow from the chamber means into the interior chamber of the bag to dry objects in the interior chamber, and filter means mounted on the bag to remove odors from the air flowing from the interior chamber of the bag through the filter means to the environment adjacent the bag. 2. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: the bag has a bottom wall, and an opening providing access to the interior chamber of the bag, said air distributor means being located on said bottom wall with said second means directed away from the bottom wall to direct air upward into the interior chamber of the bag, and closure means secured to the bag for closing the opening, said closure means being operable to open the opening to provide access to the interior chamber of the bag. 3. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: the first means is a tubular member open to the chamber means, said tubular member having a portion extended through the bag. 4. The apparatus of Claim 3 including: blower means operable to generate a stream of air, and means connected to the blower means and tubular member to carry air from the blower means to the tubular member and chamber means of the air distributor. 5. The apparatus of Claim 4 wherein: the means connected to the blower means and tubular member is a hose. 6. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: the air distributor means has a wall facing the interior chamber of the bag, said second means comprising holes in said wall to allow air to flow from the chamber means of the air distributor to the interior chamber of the bag to dry objects in the bag. 7. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: the air distributor means has at least two manifolds, means for movably connecting the manifolds to allow movement of the manifolds relative to each other, and means to carry air between the manifolds, said second means including holes in the manifolds to allow air from the manifolds into the interior chamber of the bag. 8. The apparatus of Claim 8 wherein: second means includes tubular members mounted on the manifolds for directing air into the interior chamber of the bag. 9. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: the second means includes a tubular member for directing air into the interior chamber of the bag. 10. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: the bag includes pocket means having pocket chambers for accommodating objects to be dried, said second means including tubular means for carrying air from the chamber means into the pocket chambers to dry objects located within the chamber. 11. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: the filter means includes a bed of activated charcoal for removing odors from the air flowing through the filter means. 12. The apparatus of Claim 1 including: wheel means secured to one end of the bag for supporting the bag on a surface, and handle means secured to the other end of the bag to facilitate transport of the bag on said surface. 13. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: the filter means includes materials for removing odors from the air flowing through the filter means. 14. The apparatus of Claim 1 including: straps secured to the bag providing handles used to carry the bag. 15. An apparatus for drying objects comprising: a bag having an interior chamber for accommodating objects, air distributor means located within the interior chamber of the bag, said air distributor means having chamber means for accommodating air, first means to allow air from a supply of air to flow into the chamber means, and a second means to allow air to flow from the chamber means into the interior chamber of the bag to dry objects in the interior chamber, and means to allow air to blow from the air flowing from the interior chamber of the bag to the environment adjacent the bag. 16. The apparatus of Claim 15 wherein: the bag has a bottom wall, and an opening providing access to the interior chamber of the bag, said air distributor means being located on said bottom wall with said second means directed away from the bottom wall to direct air upward into the interior chamber of the bag, and closure means secured to the bag for closing the opening, said closure means being operable to open the opening to provide access to the interior chamber of the bag. 17. The apparatus of Claim 15 wherein: the first means is a tubular member open to the chamber means, said tubular member having a portion extended through the bag. 18. The apparatus of Claim 15 wherein: the air distributor means has a wall facing the interior chamber of the bag, said second means comprising holes in said wall to allow air to flow from the chamber means of the air distributor to the interior chamber of the bag to dry objects in the bag. 19. The apparatus of Claim 15 wherein: the air distributor means has at least two manifolds, means for movably connecting the manifolds to allow movement of the manifolds relative to each other, and means to carry air between the manifolds, said second means including holes in the manifolds to allow air from the manifolds into the interior chamber of the bag. 20. The apparatus of Claim 15 wherein: the bag includes pocket means having pocket chambers for accommodating objects to be dried, said second means including tubular means for carrying air from the chamber means into the pocket chambers to dry objects located within the chamber.

Inventors: DHAEMERS GREGORY L, DHAEMERS, GREGORY, L.
Applicants: DHAEMERS GREGORY L, DHAEMERS, GREGORY, L.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: F26B9
IPC codes: A43D3, F26B9, F26B21