Abstract:
A bag dryer comprising a pair of identical members, each having a central portion, and integral faucet-engaging portion, and an integral bag-engaging portion. The two members are pivotally connected and spring-biased so that the faucet-engaging portions tend to be rotated toward one another. The dryer is intended to be mounted upon a faucet over a sink so that dripping from a bag inverted over the bag-engaging portions may drip into the sink.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of bag dryers, with particular focus on a device for drying all sizes of plastic food storage bags of the type in widespread use. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are a significant number of prior art bag dryers; one example being U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,137 which discloses a bag dryer including a plurality of elongated dowels projecting from a pair of rectangular base portions. Other examples include U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,237, disclosing a holder with segmented arms pivotally joined. U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,842 shows a capped-tree apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,827 discloses a plastic bag drying rack having a tree-like configuration. A dryer rack for freezer bags and similar articles is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,244. All prior art arrangements known to Applicant suffer from either being costly to manufacture and/or have other disadvantages associated with their use and storage. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved bag dryer which has advantages over the prior art bag dryers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention, in simple terms, is adapted to be clamped on the horizontal portion of a spigot or spout member of a faucet associated with a sink, with the dryer structure providing a support for an inverted plastic bag, the bags having been washed or rinsed out with water and requiring drying. More specifically, the bag dryer of this invention comprises first and second substantially identical members, each being fabricated from flat, thin material. Each member has a relatively narrow longitudinally-extended central portion having top and bottom ends. A faucet or spout-engaging portion is connected to the bottom end, and a bag-engaging portion is connected to the top end of the central portion. Each central portion has at least one bracket tab extending normal or transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof The two members are pivotally assembled together in matching facing relationship by pivot means connected to said bracket tabs, to thus define a pivotal axis. Further, the two members are biased by spring means so as to be rotated about the pivotal axis so that the faucet-engaging portions thereof tend to be rotated toward one another. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the faucet engaging portions are curved to facilitate the engagement of a spigot or faucet. Further, the bag engaging portions of the dryer are preferably characterized by having a longitudinal extent at least as long as the combined longitudinal extent of the central and faucet-engaging portions, and are further characterized preferably by having a substantial transverse extent with both sides tapered to connect with the top ends of the central portions. Another feature of the preferred embodiment is to have the bag-engaging portions longitudinally curved so as to define opposed concave surfaces. 
     A modification of the preferred embodiment provides, for each bag-engaging portion, at least one aperture therethrough so as to reduce the weight of the device, and to accelerate the drying process. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a view of a bag dryer  10  in accordance with the present invention, clamped on a spout or spigot or faucet SP and supporting a plastic bag AA inverted over a sink SK. 
     FIG. 2 is a left side view of the bag dryer  10 , with the bag AA being removed from this view. 
     FIG. 3 is a view of the bag dryer of FIG. 2 as viewed along section lines  3 — 3 . 
     FIG. 4 is a left side view of an alternate configuration of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of another modification of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a bag dryer  10  comprises first and second substantially identical members  12  and  12 ′, each of which may be fabricated from relatively flat material such as steel or plastic. Each of members  12  and  12 ′ has a relatively narrow longitudinally elongated central portion  15  and  15 ′ respectively, and each central portion has top and bottom ends as depicted in FIG.  2 . Faucet or spout-engaging portions  16  and  16 ′ are integrally connected, respectively, to the bottom ends of the central portions  15  and  15 ′, and these preferably have a curved shape as shown, so as to facilitate the efficient gripping of the outside surface of the spigot or faucet SP. A bag-engaging portion  12  is integrally connected to the top end of central portion  15 , as is clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the preferred embodiment, bag-engaging portion  12  has a longitudinal extent as least as long as the combined longitudinal extent of the central and faucet-engaging portions  15  and  16 ; further, portion  12  has a substantial transverse extent designated by reference numeral  13 , with side edges  12 A and  12 B tapered to connect with the top end of central portion  15  as is clearly shown in FIG.  3 . Additionally, bag-engaging portion  12  is longitudinally curved to form an inwardly facing or concave surface CC as is shown in FIG.  2 . 
     Each of the members  12  and  12 ′ have a pair of bracket tabs integrally connected with said central portions, and extending normal or transverse thereto, the tabs for member  12  being identified by reference numeral  17 , and the tabs for member  12 ′ being identified by reference numeral  17 ′. As is clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tabs  17  and  17 ′ are nested together and, together with a suitable rivet-like member  23  (which extends through suitable apertures in  17  and  17 ′ and is riveted at  23 ′), function to provide a pivotal axis for permitting the members  12  and  12 ′ to be rotated with respect to one another. A spring means  24  is positioned around rivet  23 , and the two ends thereof, as shown in FIG. 2, tend to bias the upper ends of members  12  and  12 ′ away from one another. Stated otherwise, the spring means  24  tends to bias the lower ends  16  and  16 ′, as shown in FIG. 2, toward one another so as to provide a gripping action on the spigot or faucet SP. 
     As mentioned, the first and second members  12  and  12 ′ are substantially identical so that, when assembled as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the concave surfaces CC and CC′, for members  12  and  12 ′, respectively, are opposed or facing one another. 
     In operation, the bag dryer is used as is depicted in FIG. 1 wherein the faucet-engaging portions  16  and  16 ′ of member  12  engage or grip the spigot or faucet SP, the spigot of course being connected to a valve means having an operator FF projecting up above a countertop CT in which is disposed sink SK having a drain DD. The plastic bag to be dried is inverted over the bag dryer  10 , with the two bag-engaging portions  12  and  12 ′ being spaced apart a preselected amount so as to facilitate an efficient air drying of the bag. It will be noted that any water or other material dripping or falling from the bag AA will fall into the sink SK, thus minimizing any messing of the countertop area. 
     The modification shown in FIG. 5 provides a bag dryer very similar to that depicted in FIGS. 1-3, except that the bag-engaging portion  112  has a large aperture  112 AA therethrough, the shape of the aperture being generally similar to the outside configuration of the member  112 , but with reduced dimensions. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the aperture  112 AA has a somewhat triangular shape. This arrangement has been found to be advantageous in that it uses less material in manufacture, has a reduced weight and cost of manufacture, and accelerates the drying process. 
     The alternate apparatus shown in FIG. 4 is a modification of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-3, wherein the bag engaging portions are no longer integrally connected to the central portions. To the contrary, the device shown in FIG. 4 has two relatively narrow longitudinally elongated central portions  38  and  39 , having top and bottom ends. At the bottom ends, respectively, are faucet-engaging portions  38 A and  39 A. Inwardly extending tabs  38 B and  39 B for portions  38  and  39  respectively are similar to tabs  17  and  17 ′ of the device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and a rivet-like member  223  provides a means for pivotal rotation. Further, a spring  224  tends to bias ends  38 A and  39 A toward one another. At the top ends of  38  and  39  are small housing-like members  38 C and  39 C for receiving the ends  41 A and  42 A of separate bag-engaging members  41  and  42 . The pivotal connections between members  41  and  42  and their respective pivotal supports  38 C and  39 C permit the members  41  and  42  to be positioned in one of several positions. The solid line depiction of  41  and  42  in FIG. 4 shows these members to be oriented substantially horizontal with respect to the longitudinal axes of the members  38  and  39 . An alternate position for members  41  and  42  is shown by the dotted-line designation in FIG. 4, and the members  41  and  42  may also be positioned in intermediate positions. 
     As indicated, the bag dryer may be made out of any suitable materials such as plastic, steel, aluminum, etc. The separate members  12  and  12 ′ as indicated, are essentially identical and thus may be made from a metal stamping process. It may be desirable to coat the inside or gripping surfaces of portions  16  and  16 ′ with a non-abrasive material, e.g., a rubber-like compound, so as to prevent any marring or scratching of the spigot or faucet SP. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated, it will be understood that variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the inventive concept. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.