Abstract:
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a shoe drier, comprising: a structure ( 16 ) having an enclosed space into which shoes ( 28 ) are placed for drying; a heating system (detailed in  FIG. 4  and the description thereof), for heating air inside said structure, thereby drying said shoes; a first rack ( 36 ), disposed inside said enclosed space, onto which said shoes are placed for drying; a mechanism for lifting said first rack as a result of opening the top of said structure, and placing down said first rack as a result of closing the top of said structure (detailed in FIG.  3  and the description thereof); thereby facilitating the use thereof for a disabled user.

Description:
The current application claims the benefit of IL Patent application no. 199710, filed 6 Jul. 2009, incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of home appliances. More particularly, the invention relates to a shoe dryer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Shoes tend to get wet during outings on rainy or snowy days. This problem is acute particularly in countries regularly featuring rain, snow and sleet, ski sites, and so on. Since the drying process may require several hours, sometimes even the entire day, it is desirable for more rapid drying, particularly when the user needs to go outdoors again soon. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,364 to Cochrane discloses a drying apparatus that utilizes air circulation to uniformly dry articles. The apparatus includes an enclosure having racks upon which the articles to be dried are placed. An air exchanger couples to the enclosure to recirculate and heat air within the enclosure. Recirculation operates continuously while articles are being dried, and recirculation air temperature is maintained around a predetermined level through a thermostat coupled to heating elements. The air exchanger is configured so that air expelled from the air exchanger travels upward near the enclosure&#39;s walls, then downward in the center of the enclosure back to the air exchanger. An exhaust fan is controlled by a humidistat to remove humid air from the enclosure whenever the humidity within the enclosure exceeds a predetermined level. Consequently, a mean humidity level is maintained within the enclosure to prevent excessive drying, and substantial recirculation of air results in improved efficiency. 
     One drawback of the disclosure of Cochrane is that the entire enclosure is heated, which results in energy waste if the enclosure is not fully occupied. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe dryer which overcomes the above-mentioned and other problems of the prior art. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a comprehensive solution to shoe drying. 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a shoe drier, comprising:
         a structure ( 16 ) having an enclosed space into which shoes ( 28 ) are placed for drying;
           a heating system (detailed in  FIG. 4  and the description thereof), for heating air inside said structure, thereby drying said shoes;   a first rack ( 36 ), disposed inside said enclosed space, onto which said shoes are placed for drying;   a mechanism for lifting said first rack as a result of opening the top of said structure, and placing down said first rack as a result of closing the top of said structure (detailed in  FIG. 3  and the description thereof);   
           thereby facilitating the use thereof for a disabled user.       

     The heating system may comprise a heating body, for heating air. 
     The shoe drier may further comprise a conveying system, for conveying heated air from said heating system into the interior side of said shoes. 
     The conveying system may comprise a propeller, for propelling air through the heating system, through a flexible pipe ( 30 ), into the interior side of the shoes ( 28 ). 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the walls of the structure comprise an inlet ( 22 ) through which air enters into the enclosed space, and an outlet ( 18 ) through which air exits the enclosed space. In this way, the air inside the enclosed space retains its dryness. 
     The shoe drier may further comprise a first rack ( 36 ), onto which shoes to be dried are placed. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first rack ( 36 ) is a grid, thereby allowing mud and dust to fall down. 
     The shoe drier may further comprise a second rack ( 20 ), for collecting mud and dust that falls from drying shoes. 
     The shoe drier may further comprise a mechanism for lifting the first rack ( 36 ) upon opening the top (i.e., seat  14 ) of the structure ( 16 ), and placing down the first rack upon closing the top (i.e., seat  14 ) of the structure ( 16 ). 
     The shoe drier may further comprise an attaching mechanism, for attaching the end of a pipe ( 30 ) that conveys heated air, to the first rack ( 36 ), thereby keeping the end of a pipe ( 30 ) directed to the interior side of the shoe while the first rack moves. Such a mechanism may be a clip, a clamp, a hook, and so on. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the structure is adapted to be used as a seat ( 14 ) for a user while taking his shoes off and putting his shoes on. 
     The foregoing embodiments of the invention are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments and features of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view that schematically illustrates a shoe dryer, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view that schematically illustrates the shoe dryer of  FIG. 1  in a situation wherein the seat thereof is lifted up. 
         FIG. 3  is a broken view of  FIG. 2 , which further details the inner parts of the dryer. 
         FIG. 4  schematically illustrates a drying mechanism of a shoe dryer, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view that schematically illustrates a shoe dryer, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     The shoe dryer, which is marked herein as reference numeral  10 , is designed in the form of a chair/stool, thereby allowing a user to sit thereon when taking his shoes off or putting his shoes on. 
     The seat of the chair, which is marked by reference numeral  14 , may be filled with padding, thereby allowing comfortable seating thereon. 
     The shoe dryer may further comprise arms  12 , a back support, and so on, in order to enhance seat comfort. Actually, a user may sit on the chair while drying his shoes. 
     In the embodiment illustrated herein, the enclosure is a structure in the form of a closed box  16  having an inlet  22  and outlets  18 . 
     A user may adjust the drying time by knob  24 , and the scale thereof,  26 . 
     Reference numeral  20  is a rack installed at the bottom of box  16 , for collecting mud from drying shoes. Preferably, rack  20  is pullable. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view that schematically illustrates the shoe dryer of  FIG. 1  in a situation wherein the seat thereof is lifted up. 
       FIG. 3  is a broken view of  FIG. 2 , which further details the inner parts of the dryer. 
     The top of the box (i.e., seat  14 ) is connected at one edge thereof, by an axle (not illustrated), to the upper back edge of box  16  of the dryer. Thus, seat  14  is also used as a cover to box  16 . 
     A pair of strings  34  connect seat  14  to a grid  36 , on which drying shoes are placed. Grid  36  is movable up and down along vertical rails  38 . Upon lifting seat  14 , i.e., upon opening cover  14 , strings  34 , which connect seat  14  to a grid  36 , pull the grid upwards. Upon placing seat  14  back, i.e., upon closing cover  14 , the gravity pulls grid  36  down into box  16 . This mechanism facilitates the use of the shoe dryer for a disabled user. 
     The drying process includes conveying heated air through pipes  30 , into shoes  28 . 
       FIG. 4  schematically illustrates a drying mechanism of a shoe dryer, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     The drying mechanism comprises three systems:
         a heating system that heats air;
           a conveying system that conveys the heated air into the interior side of the shoes to be dried; and   a control system that controls the time period of the heating process.
 
The mechanism operates as follows:
   
               

     A propeller  42  propels air from outside of box  16 , through heating body  40 , into pipe  50 , which splits into flexible pipes  30 . The end of each pipe  30  is directed into the interior side of the shoes  28  to be dried. This can be carried out by attaching a clamp  32  to the end of a pipe  30 . The clamp allows placing the end of pipe  30  such that heated air passing out of this end is directed into the interior side of a shoe. 
     Control system  44  controls the heating process. The duration of the heating process is determined by a timer, the knob of which is marked herein by reference numeral  24 . The heated air directed into the shoes spreads out of the shoes, heating the entire enclosure of the box, thereby allowing drying of other wet wear, such as gloves. 
     According to this embodiment of the invention, the heating system is connected by bolts (not illustrated) through bores  48  to the walls of box  16 . At the end of each of pipes  30  is installed a clamp  32  (clip, hook, and the like), which connects the end of pipe  30  to grid  36 . In addition, pipes  30  are flexible. This allows moving grid  36  up and down, while the end of pipe  30  is connected to the grid, thereby continuing the drying process of the shoe thereof. 
     As illustrated, pipe  50  splits into a pair of pipes  30 . However, it should be noted that the pair of pipes  30  is merely an example, and pipe  50  may split into other number of pipes, such as three pairs. 
     Of course, the illustrations and description herein present an example of a design, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that other designs may be used for achieving the same objects. 
     In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals have been mentioned:
         numeral  10  denotes a shoe dryer, according to one embodiment of the invention;
           numeral  12  denotes arms of a chair;   numeral  14  denotes a seat, which in the example herein is used also as a cover to box  16 ;   numeral  16  denotes a structure, which in the example herein is a box;   numeral  18  denotes an outlet through which air exits from the enclosure of box  16 ;   numeral  20  denotes a rack installed at the bottom of box  16 , for collecting mud from drying shoes;   numeral  22  denotes an inlet through which air is propelled into the enclosure of box  16 ;   numeral  24  denotes a knob for setting a timer;   numeral  26  denotes a timer scale;   numeral  28  denotes drying shoes;   numeral  30  denotes pipes that convey heated air into drying shoes;   numeral  32  denotes a clip, clamp, hook, and the like, for attaching the end of a pipe  30  to grid  36 ;   numeral  34  denotes a string that connects seat  14  to grid  36 ;   numeral  36  denotes a rack in the form of a grid, on which shoes to be dried are placed;   numeral  38  denotes a rail along which grid  36  is movable;   numeral  40  denotes a heating body;   numeral  42  denotes a propeller;   numeral  44  denotes a control system, which controls the power supply to propeller  42  and heating body  40 ;   numeral  46  denotes a cover of the heating system illustrated in  FIG. 4 ;   numeral  48  denotes a bore through which a bolt (not illustrated) connects the heating system illustrated in  FIG. 4  to box  16 ;   numeral  50  denotes a pipe into which heated air is propelled.   
               

     The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form. 
     Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should to be interpreted according to this definition.