Patent Publication Number: US-7913419-B2

Title: Non-tumble clothes dryer

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a non-tumble clothes dryer. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, the process of doing laundry involves washing the laundry in a washing machine followed by drying the laundry in a tumble clothes dryer. However, some clothing items, such as those designated as delicates, are not made to withstand the tumbling that occurs in the clothes dryer, and some loads of laundry are relatively small, having only a few clothing items, to warrant drying the load in the clothes dryer. Rather than drying these clothing items in the tumble clothes dryer, they can be laid flat to air dry, such as on a drying rack, or dried in a non-tumble clothes dryer. Non-tumble clothes dryers dry the clothing items while they are stationary (i.e., laid flat or hung) rather than while tumbling. 
     Known household non-tumble clothes dryers are integrated with the tumble clothes dryer or configured to be a pedestal with its own cabinet that supports the tumble clothes dryer in an elevated position above the ground. The known pedestal non-tumble clothes dryer relies on the air supply and heating system of the tumble clothes dryer for operation. As a result, the pedestal non-tumble clothes dryer cannot be utilized as a stand-alone appliance separate from the tumble clothes dryer and cannot be moved to another location, such as above the tumble clothes dryer or above or below the washing machine. Additionally, the width of the pedestal non-tumble clothes dryer is limited to the width of the laundry appliance, but many clothing items are larger than this width when laid flat. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A drying pedestal according to one embodiment of the invention for supporting a laundry appliance in an elevated position comprises a cabinet having a top configured to support a laundry appliance and defining an open face providing access to an interior of the cabinet, a drawer configured to support an article to be dried and movably mounted to the cabinet for movement relative to the interior through the open face, a non-tumble drying chamber formed at least partially by one of the cabinet and the drawer, and an air supply system mounted in the cabinet to provide air to the non-tumble drying chamber for drying the article supported by the drawer. 
     The drawer can comprise a drying rack for supporting the article to be dried in a generally horizontal position. The drying rack can comprise an air-permeable panel that at least partially supports the article to be dried and permits air from the air supply system to flow through the drying rack. 
     The cabinet can form the non-tumble drying chamber, and the drying rack can be movable with the drawer relative to the non-tumble drying chamber. The drying chamber can have an air inlet and an air outlet, where one of the air inlet and the air outlet is located above the drying rack, and the other of the air inlet and the air outlet is located below the drying rack. The drying pedestal can further comprise an air duct fluidly coupling the air outlet to the air inlet. The air duct can extend laterally behind the drawer. The drying pedestal can further comprise a heating system fluidly coupled to the air duct to heat the air passing through the air duct. 
     The air supply system can direct air beneath the drawer when the drawer is received in the interior of the cabinet. The drawer can comprise a bottom wall having a plurality of apertures, and the air blown beneath the drawer can enter the drawer through the apertures. The drawer can further comprise a peripheral wall extending upward from the bottom wall to define the non-tumble drying chamber. The drying pedestal can further comprise a heating system mounted in the cabinet to heat the air supplied by the air supply system. The heating system can comprise a heating element mounted in the cabinet below the drawer to heat to the air as it flows beneath the drawer before entering the drawer through the apertures. 
     The air supply system can comprise a blower having an outlet that directs the air through the non-tumble drying chamber and an inlet that receives the air exhausted from the non-tumble drying chamber. 
     The top of the cabinet can have a width approximately equal to that of the laundry appliance. 
     A drying pedestal according to another embodiment of the invention for supporting a laundry appliance in an elevated position comprises a cabinet having a top configured to support a laundry appliance and defining a drying chamber and an open face providing access to the drying chamber, a drawer configured to support an article to be dried and movably mounted to the cabinet for movement relative to the drying chamber through the open face, and an air supply system mounted in the cabinet to provide air to the drying chamber for drying the article supported by the drawer. 
     The drawer can comprise at least one drying rack for supporting the article to be dried in a generally horizontal position. The at least one drying rack can comprise an air-permeable panel that at least partially supports the article to be dried and permits air from the air supply system to flow through the at least one drying rack. The drawer can further comprise a drawer front mounted to the at least one drying rack to form the drawer. The drawer can comprise at least two of the drying racks vertically spaced from one another, and an uppermost drying rack of the at least two drying racks can be movably mounted to the drawer. 
     The drying chamber can have an air inlet and an air outlet, where one of the air inlet and the air outlet is located above the at least one drying rack, and the other of the air inlet and the air outlet is located below the at least one drying rack. The drying pedestal can further comprise an air duct fluidly coupling the air outlet to the air inlet. The air duct can extend laterally behind the drawer. The drying pedestal can further comprise a heating system fluidly coupled to the air duct to heat the air passing through the air duct. 
     The air supply system can comprise a blower having an outlet that directs the air through the non-tumble drying chamber and an inlet that receives the air exhausted from the non-tumble drying chamber. 
     A non-tumble clothes dryer according to an other embodiment of the invention for use with a pair of laundry appliances in a side-by-side arrangement comprises a cabinet having a width sized to overlie the pair of laundry appliances and defining an interior and an open face providing access to the interior of the cabinet, a drawer configured to support an article to be dried and movably mounted to the cabinet for movement relative to the interior through the open face, a non-tumble drying chamber formed at least partially by one of the cabinet and the drawer, and an air supply system to provide air to the non-tumble drying chamber for drying the article supported by the drawer. 
     The cabinet width can be sized to completely overlie the pair of laundry appliances. The cabinet width can be greater than a width required to completely overlie the pair of laundry appliances. The cabinet can have a top configured to support the pair of laundry appliances in an elevated position. 
     The cabinet can form the non-tumble drying chamber. 
     The drawer can comprise at least one drying rack for supporting the article to be dried in a generally horizontal position. The at least one drying rack can comprise an air-permeable panel that at least partially supports the article to be dried and permits air from the air supply system to flow through the at least one drying rack. The drawer can comprise at least two of the drying racks vertically spaced from one another, and an uppermost drying rack of the at least two drying racks can be movably mounted to the drawer. 
     The drying chamber can have an air inlet and an air outlet, where one of the air inlet and the air outlet is located above the at least one drying rack, and the other of the air inlet and the air outlet is located below the at least one drying rack. The drying pedestal can further comprise an air duct fluidly coupling the air outlet to the air inlet. The air duct can extend laterally behind the drawer. 
     The non-tumble clothes dryer can further comprise a heating system fluidly coupled to the air supply system for heating the air in the air supply system. The heating system can be mounted in the cabinet. 
     The air supply system can be mounted in the cabinet. 
     The air supply system can comprise a blower having an outlet that directs the air through the non-tumble drying chamber and an inlet that receives the air exhausted from the non-tumble drying chamber. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a non-tumble dryer according to one embodiment of the invention comprising a drawer slidably mounted to a cabinet and shown in a closed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the non-tumble dryer of  FIG. 1  with the drawer shown in an opened position. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the non-tumble dryer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the drawer from the non-tumble dryer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the non-tumble dryer without the drawer and with the cabinet shown in phantom. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the non-tumble dryer of  FIG. 1  utilized as a pedestal for a laundry appliance. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the non-tumble dryer of  FIG. 1  utilized as a pedestal for a pair of horizontally arranged laundry appliances, wherein a drying rack of the non-tumble dryer is sized according to the width of the drawer. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the non-tumble dryer of  FIG. 1  utilized as a pedestal for a pair of horizontally arranged laundry appliances, wherein two drying racks of the non-tumble dryer are separated by a spacer. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a non-tumble dryer according to another embodiment of the invention comprising a drawer slidably mounted to a cabinet and shown in a closed position. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the non-tumble dryer of  FIG. 10  with the drawer shown in an opened position. 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the non-tumble dryer of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the drawer of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 14  is a rear perspective view of the drawer of  FIG. 10  and showing an upper drying rack of the drawer in a generally horizontal position in solid lines and in a pivoted position in phantom. 
         FIG. 15  is a sectional view taken along line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view of the cabinet of the non-tumble dryer of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 17  is a sectional view taken along line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the non-tumble dryer of  FIG. 10  overlying a pair of horizontally arranged laundry appliances. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the figures,  FIGS. 1-9  illustrate a non-tumble dryer  10  according to one embodiment of the invention comprising a cabinet  12  and a drawer  14  slidably mounted to the cabinet  12  between a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , and an opened position, as shown in  FIG. 2 . When the drawer  14  is in the opened position, a user can load fabric items, such as clothes, shoes, hats, linens, and the like, into the drawer  14  so that when the drawer  14  is moved to the closed position, the fabric items can be dried in the non-tumble dryer  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the drawer  14  comprises an open-top housing  20  formed by a bottom wall  22  and a peripheral wall having a pair of side walls  24  joined by a front wall  26  and a rear wall  28 . The housing  20  forms an open-top drying chamber  30  having an inlet defined by a plurality of inlet apertures  32  formed in the bottom wall  22 . As best viewed in  FIG. 4 , the inlet apertures  32  in the illustrated embodiment are generally circular and are arranged in a plurality of horizontal rows extending from near the front wall  26  to about midway between the front wall  26  and the rear wall  28 . The inlet apertures  32 , however, can have any suitable shape, size, and arrangement and can comprise a single aperture or a plurality of apertures that collectively have a desired cross-sectional area for airflow into the drying chamber  30 . The drying chamber  30  has an outlet  34  defined by the open top of the housing  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, the open top of the housing  20  is collectively formed by the upper edges of the peripheral wall  24 ,  26 ,  28 . The drawer  14  further comprises a conventional slide  38  mounted on an exterior surface of each of the side walls  24  for slidably mounting the drawer  14  to the cabinet  12 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 3 , a drawer front  40  mounted to the front wall  26  of the housing  20  provides an aesthetic appearance to the drawer  14  and supports a control panel  42  for selecting a desired drying cycle and otherwise controlling the operation of the non-tumble dryer  10 . The drawer front  40  includes a handle  46  formed below the control panel  42 . The user can grasp the handle  46  when moving the drawer  14  between the closed and opened positions. The control panel  42  and the handle  44  shown in the figures are provided for exemplary purposed only; it is within the scope of the invention to utilize other types of control panels and handles and to locate the control panel and handle elsewhere on the non-tumble dryer  10 . 
     The drawer  14  further comprises at least one drying rack  50  supported by horizontally aligned rack supports  52  mounted to or integrally formed with interior surfaces of the drawer housing side walls  24 . The drying rack  50  comprises a frame  54  that surrounds a panel  56  upon which the clothing items can rest. The panel  56  is air-permeable so that air can flow from the inlet apertures  32  and through the panel  56  to the outlet  34  of the drying chamber  30 . For example, the panel  56  can be made of a mesh material or can be a rigid framework that forms a plurality of holes. The frame  54  includes a pair of grips  58  that a user can grasp for mounting the drying rack  50  on the rack supports  52  or removing the drying rack  50  from the rack supports  52  and the drying chamber  30 . The drawer  50  can comprise any desired number of the drying racks  50  and has a corresponding number of sets of rack supports  52 . Optionally, the location of the rack supports  52  on the side walls  24  or the front and rear walls  26 ,  28  can be adjustable so as to adjust the vertical position of the drying rack  50  in the drying chamber  30 . Alternatively, the drawer  14  can comprise several sets of the rack supports  52  fixed to the side walls  24  to provide several vertical positions for the drying rack  50 . 
     The cabinet  12  comprises spaced top and bottom walls  60 ,  62  joined by a pair of spaced side walls  64  that are integrally formed with the top wall  60 . The top, bottom, and side walls  60 ,  62 ,  64  are joined along their rear edges by a rear wall  66  to define an interior  68  of the cabinet  12  accessible through an opening  70  formed by the front edges of the top, bottom, and side walls  60 ,  62 ,  64 . A track  72  is mounted to an interior surface of each of the side walls  64 . The tracks  72  mate with the slides  38  on the drawer  14  in a conventional fashion to slidably mount the drawer  14  to the cabinet  12 . The interior  68  of the cabinet  12  is sized to receive the drying chamber  30  when the drawer  14  is slid into the closed position through the opening  70 . The cabinet  12  is structurally reinforced by a generally rectangular rear cabinet frame  74  near the rear wall  66  and a generally rectangular front cabinet frame  76  adjacent the opening  70 . The cabinet walls  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  and the rear and front cabinet frames  74 ,  76  are secured together with mechanical fasteners. However, it is to be understood that the cabinet walls  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  and the rear and front cabinet frames  74 ,  76  can be secured together in any suitable manner and with any suitable joining processes. The cabinet  12  can be supported by a plurality of feet  78  mounted to the bottom of the cabinet  12 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 3 , the cabinet bottom wall  62  supports a heating system  80  comprising a heating element  82  mounted to a heating element support panel  84  and positioned below a heat transfer plate  86 . The heating element  82  can be any suitable source of heat, such as a gas or electric heating element, and is shown in the illustrated embodiment as a serpentine electric heating element that extends across substantially the entire surface area of the heating element support panel  84 , which has a surface area slightly smaller than that of the cabinet bottom wall  62 . The heat transfer plate  86 , which is made of a heat conductive material and has a size comparable to that of the heating element support panel  84 , is positioned above and in close proximity to the heating element  82  so that heat generated by the heating element  82  conducts through the heat transfer plate  86 . The heating system  80  further comprises a pair of air guides  88  mounted to an upper surface of the heat transfer plate  86 . Each of the air guides  88  has a relatively tall rear portion  90  mounted near a rear edge of the heat transfer plate  86  and an elongated front portion  92  extending diagonally forward and outward from the rear portion  90  before terminating near a side edge of the heat transfer plate  86 . Thus, the air guides  88  form a generally V-shaped air duct or channel  94  that extends from the rear edge of the heat transfer plate  86  to about midway between the rear and front edges of the heat transfer plate  86 , as best viewed in  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the cabinet  12  houses an air supply system  100  comprising a blower  102  disposed within a housing  104  defining an air inlet  106  and an air outlet  108  for the blower  102 . The air inlet  106  extends across an upper portion of the housing  104  to expose a portion of the blower  102 , and the air outlet  108  is a generally rectangular opening extending along a front portion of the housing  104 . The blower  102  and the housing  104  are supported by a blower bracket  110  mounted to the rear cabinet frame  74  and to the heat transfer plate  86  such that the air outlet  108  is positioned between the rear portions  90  of the air guides  88 , as best viewed in  FIG. 5 . The blower  102  is powered by a blower motor  112  mounted to the housing  104 . 
     The heating element  82  of the heating system  80  and the blower motor  112  of the air supply system  100  are operatively coupled to a relay  122 , which is operably coupled to a controller  120 . The controller  120  in the illustrated embodiment is mounted to the rear wall  66  of the cabinet  12 , and the relay  122  is supported by a relay bracket  124  mounted to the rear cabinet frame  74 . The controller  120  is operably coupled to the control panel  42  and controls operation of the heating element  82  and the blower motor  112 . The cabinet  12  further houses a power supply  126  for providing power from an external power source to the various components of the non-tumble dryer  10 , such as the heating element  82 , the blower motor  112 , and the controller  120 . 
     The cabinet  12  can be configured as a pedestal to support a laundry appliance  16  in an elevated position, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . For example, the cabinet top wall  60  can include supports or brackets designed to mate with the bottom of the laundry appliance  16  and/or can form a recess sized to receive the bottom of the laundry appliance  16 . According to the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet top wall  60  is configured to support the laundry appliance  16  in the elevated position as a result of being sized according to the laundry appliance  16 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the top wall  60  has a width W 1  that is approximately equal to a width W 2  of the laundry appliance  16  and a depth D 1  that is about equal to or greater than a depth D 2  of the laundry appliance  16 . As a result of this geometry, the laundry appliance  16  can stably rest upon the non-tumble dryer  10 . However, because the non-tumble dryer  10  is a stand-alone unit that does not rely upon the laundry appliance  16  for a source of air and/or heat, the non-tumble dryer  10  can be positioned in a location other than below the laundry appliance  16 . For example, the non-tumble dryer  10  can be set upon the laundry appliance  16 , positioned adjacent to the laundry appliance  16 , located in another position relative to the laundry appliance  16 , or used in any location without the laundry appliance  16 . 
     An exemplary description of the assembly of the non-tumble dryer  10  follows. The following description is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the invention in any manner. The assembly process can proceed in any suitable chronology and is not limited to the sequence explained below. 
     To assemble the non-tumble dryer  10 , the drawer  14  is assembled separately from the cabinet  12 . The drawer  14  is assembled by mounting the front and rear walls  26 ,  28  to the bottom wall  22  and the side walls  24  to form the drawer housing  20 . The drawer front  40  with the control panel  42  is mounted to the front wall  26  of the drawer housing  20 , and the slides  38  are attached to the side walls  24 . The rack supports  52  are mounted to the drawer housing  20  so that the drying rack  50  can be removably mounted in the drying chamber  30 . 
     The cabinet  12  is assembled by mounting the tracks  72  to the cabinet side walls  64  and mounting the rear and front cabinet frames  74 ,  76  to the cabinet top wall  60  and side walls  64 . The heating system  80  is mounted to the cabinet bottom wall  62 , and the bottom wall  62  is attached to the assembly of the cabinet top and side walls  60 ,  64  and the rear and front cabinet frames  74 ,  76 . The blower bracket  110  is coupled to the rear cabinet frame  74  and the heat transfer plate  86 , and the blower housing  104  with the blower  102  and the blower motor  112  mounted thereto is connected to the blower bracket  110 . The relay  122  and the relay bracket  124  are mounted to the rear cabinet frame  74 , and the power supply  126  is positioned within the cabinet  12 . The cabinet rear wall  66  with the controller  120  attached thereto is mounted to the rear end of the cabinet  12 , and the feet  78  are mounted to the bottom of the cabinet  12 . 
     After the drawer  14  and the cabinet  12  are individually assembled, the slides  38  on the drawer  14  are coupled with the tracks  72  on the cabinet  12  to slidably mount the drawer  14  to the cabinet  12 . 
     An exemplary description of the operation of the non-tumble dryer  10  follows. The following description is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the invention in any manner. The operation process can proceed in any suitable chronology and is not limited to the sequence explained below. 
     To operate the non-tumble dryer  10 , a user grasps the handle  44  on the drawer front  40  and slides the drawer  14  from the closed position of  FIG. 1  to the opened position of  FIG. 2 . When the drawer  14  is in the opened position, the user can access the drying chamber  30  and can position items to be dried in the drying chamber  30 , such as by setting the items on the drawer bottom wall  22  or on the one or more drying racks  50 . If desired, the user can adjust the positions of the drying racks  50  relative to the bottom wall  22  and, when the drawer  14  contains more than one of the drying racks  50 , relative to each other. After the items to be dried are positioned in the drying chamber  30 , the user slides the drawer  14  into the cabinet  12  through the opening  70  to the closed position of  FIG. 1 . When the drawer  14  is in the closed position, the drying chamber  30  is fully received in the interior  68  of the cabinet  12 , and the drawer front  40  closes the opening  70  and thereby the cabinet interior  68 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The user selects the desired drying cycle through the control panel  42 , which communicates the selected drying cycle to the controller  120 . 
     The controller  120  controls the operation of the heating element  82  and the blower motor  112  via the relay  122  to execute the selected drying cycle. As shown by solid line arrows in  FIG. 7 , when the blower motor  112  operates, the blower  102  rotates to draw air in though the air inlet  106  and exhaust air through the air outlet  108  into the air channel  94  formed by the air guides  88  on the heat transfer plate  86 . The air flows forward through the air channel  94  and across the heat transfer plate  86 , which conducts the heat from the heating element  82  to the air to heat the air, as indicated by dashed line arrows in  FIG. 7 . The heated air then turns upward and flows through the inlet apertures  32  in the drawer bottom wall  22  to enter the drying chamber  30 . The heated air flows upward through the drying chamber  30  from the inlet apertures  32  to the outlet  34  and thereby dries the items to be dried in the drying chamber  30 . If the drying rack  50  is in the drying chamber  30 , the heated air flows through the drying rack  50  as it flows from the inlet apertures  32  to the outlet  34 . After the air exits the drying chamber  30  through the outlet  34 , the air is drawn rearward and into the blower  102  through the air inlet  106  to re-circulate the air in the manner just described. Thus, the non-tumble dryer  10  forms a closed air circulation path for drying the items held within the drying chamber  30 . 
     When the selected drying cycle is complete, the user grasps the handle  44  on the drawer front  40  and slides the drawer  14  from the closed position of  FIGS. 1 and 7  to the opened position of  FIG. 2  to unload the items to be dried from the drawer  14 . The user can leave the drying rack(s)  50  supported by the rack supports  52  when not in use, or the drying rack(s)  50  can be stored elsewhere. For example, the drying rack(s)  50  can be set on the bottom wall  22  of the drawer  14  or removed from the drawer  14  and placed in a separate location, such as between the conventional washing machine and dryer. Alternatively, the non-tumble dryer  10  can be adapted to store the drying rack(s)  50  in a recess or cavity, such as a cavity formed in the cabinet  12  above or below the drawer  14 . 
     The non-tumble dryer  10  has been described above and shown in the figures as configured to function as a pedestal for the laundry appliance  16  and as having the width W 1  about equal to the width W 2  of the laundry appliance  16 . However, it is within the scope of the invention for the non-tumble dryer  10  to function as a pedestal for more than one laundry appliance  16  or for the width W 1  to be greater than the width W 2 . For example, the non-tumble dryer  10  can function as a pedestal for two of the laundry appliances  16  in a horizontal arrangement, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . In these examples, the width W 1  is about equal to the sum of the widths W 2  of the laundry appliances  16 . In the example of  FIG. 8 , the drying rack  50  is sized to accommodate the width of the drawer  14 , while the drying racks  50  in the example of  FIG. 9  are sized similarly to the drying rack  50  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  but are separated by a spacer  128 . As stated previously, the non-tumble dryer  10  can be positioned above the laundry appliances  16  or in another suitable location. 
       FIGS. 10-17  illustrate a non-tumble dryer  150  according to another embodiment of the invention comprising a cabinet  152  and a drawer  154  slidably mounted to the cabinet  152  between a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 10 , and an opened position, as depicted in  FIG. 12 . When the drawer  154  is in the opened position, a user can load fabric items, such as clothes, shoes, hats, linens, and the like, onto the drawer  154  so that when the drawer  154  is moved to the closed position, the fabric items can be dried in the non-tumble dryer  150 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 12 , the drawer  154  comprises an upper drying rack  156  mounted to a lower drying rack  158 , which is mounted to a drawer front  160 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , each of the upper and lower drying racks  156  comprises a lower support  162  having a generally rectangular frame  164  that surrounds a plurality of interconnected ribs  166 . The frame  164  is sized to receive an air-permeable panel  168 , such as a mesh panel, and an upper support  170  comprising a frame  172  and plurality of horizontal ribs  174 . Thus, the air-permeable panel  168  is sandwiched between the lower and upper supports  162 ,  170 . The upper and lower drying racks  156 ,  158  are connected to one another at their rear ends by a pair of drying rack couplers  176 . Each drying rack coupler  176  comprises a generally rectangular body  178  mounted to and extending upward from the lower drying rack  158 , as best viewed in  FIG. 14 . The upper end of the body  178  is hingedly mounted to a bracket  180  mounted to the upper drying rack  156 . The bracket  180  can pivot relative to the body  178  so that the upper drying rack  156  can pivot relative to the lower drying rack  158 . The upper drying rack  156  is movable between a generally horizontal position shown in solid lines in  FIG. 14  and a pivoted position shown in phantom in  FIG. 14  so that the lower drying rack  158  can be accessed to position items to be dried on the lower drying rack  158 . In  FIG. 14 , the air-permeable panel  168  of the upper drying rack  156  is not shown in phantom in the pivoted position for visible clarity of the figure. The drawer front  160  can include detents (not shown) on its rear side to support the upper drying rack  156  in the horizontal position. As in the previous embodiment, the drawer front  160  includes a handle  182  graspable by a user for moving the drawer  154  between the closed and opened positions. The drawer  154  further comprises a conventional slide  184  mounted to each side of the lower drying rack  158  for slidably mounting the drawer  154  to the cabinet  152 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 12 , the cabinet  152  comprises a top wall  190  integrally formed with depending left and right side walls  192 ,  193 , and the rear edges of the top wall  190  and the side walls  192 ,  193  are joined by a rear wall  194 , while the lower edges of the side walls  192 ,  193  and the rear wall  194  are joined by a bottom wall  196  substantially parallel with the top wall  190 . Together, the cabinet walls  190 ,  192 ,  194 ,  196  define an interior  198  of the cabinet  152  accessible through an opening  200  formed by the front edges of the top, side, and bottom walls  190 ,  192 ,  193 ,  196 . 
     The cabinet  152  further comprises a set of drying chamber walls comprising a drying chamber left side wall  202 , a drying chamber right side wall  204 , and a drying chamber rear wall  206 . The drying chamber walls  202 ,  204 ,  206  extend vertically between the cabinet top and bottom walls  190 ,  196  such that air cannot pass above or below the drying chamber walls  202 ,  204 ,  206 . Referring additionally to  FIG. 15 , the drying chamber left side wall  202  is parallel to and spaced from the cabinet left side wall  192  to form an inlet chamber  208  therebetween. The inlet chamber  208  is closed at the opening  200  by a control panel  210  mounted to the cabinet  12 . Similarly, the drying chamber right side wall  204  is parallel to and spaced from the cabinet right side wall  193  to form an outlet chamber  212  therebetween. The drying chamber rear wall  206  is parallel to and spaced from the cabinet rear wall  194  to form a circulation duct  214  therebetween. The circulation duct  214  is closed at its left and right sides by the drying chamber left and right side walls  202 ,  204 , respectively. Together, the drying chamber walls  202 ,  204 ,  206  and the cabinet top and bottom walls  190 ,  196  form a drying chamber  216  accessible through the opening  200 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 12  and additionally to  FIG. 16 , an inlet to the drying chamber  216  is defined by a plurality of drying chamber inlet apertures  218  formed in a horizontal row near an upper end of the drying chamber left side wall  202 . The drying chamber inlet apertures  218  fluidly couple the inlet chamber  208  with the drying chamber  216 . Similarly, an outlet from the drying chamber  216  is defined by a plurality of drying chamber outlet apertures  220  formed in a horizontal row near a lower end of the drying chamber right side wall  204 . The drying chamber outlet apertures  220  fluidly couple the drying chamber  218  with the outlet chamber  212 . Furthermore, both the drying chamber left and right side walls  202 ,  204  have a plurality of apertures arranged in a vertical row near a rear end of the respective drying chamber side wall  202 ,  204  and function as an inlet and as an outlet for the circulation duct  214 . The apertures in the drying chamber right side wall  204  function as circulation duct inlets  222  that fluidly couple the outlet chamber  212  with the circulation duct  214 . Similarly, the apertures in the drying chamber left side wall  202  function as circulation duct outlets  224  that fluidly couple the circulation duct  214  with the inlet chamber  208 . 
     A track  226  is mounted to an interior surface of each of the drying chamber side walls  202 ,  204 . The tracks  226  mate with the slides  184  on the drawer  154  in a conventional fashion to slidably mount the drawer  154  to the cabinet  152 . The drawer  154  slides into and out of the drying chamber  216  through the opening  200 . The drying chamber  216  is sized to receive the upper and lower drying racks  156 ,  158  when the drawer  154  is slid into the closed position through the opening  200 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 17 , the cabinet  152  houses an air supply system  230  and a heating system  232  located in the inlet chamber  208  and operatively coupled to a controller (not shown). The air supply system  230  comprises a blower  234  disposed in a housing  236  defining an air inlet  238  and an air outlet  240  for the blower  234 . The air inlet  238  extends across a lower portion of the housing  236  to expose a portion of the blower  234 , and the air outlet  240  is a generally rectangular opening extending along a portion of the housing  236  that faces the drying chamber inlet apertures  218 . The blower  234  is driven by a blower motor  242  mounted to the housing  236 . 
     The heating system  232  comprises a heating element  250  that can be any suitable source of heat, such as a gas or electric heating element, and is shown in the illustrated embodiment as an electrical heating element supported by a conductive body  252 . The conductive body  252  and the heating element  250  are disposed adjacent to the blower air outlet  240  and within an open face duct  254  having an opening  256  sized to receive the blower air outlet  240 . The duct  254  is mounted to the drying chamber left side wall  202  such that the drying chamber left side wall  202  closes the open face of the duct  254 . The duct  254  is sized to cover the drying chamber inlet apertures  218  so that air that flows from the blower air outlet  240  into the duct  254  is heated by the heating element  250  and leaves the duct  254  by flowing into the drying chamber  216  through the drying chamber inlet apertures  218 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 18 , the cabinet  152  is sized to overlie a pair of the laundry appliances  10  arranged in a horizontal side-by-side configuration. In the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet  152  has a width W 3  substantially equal to a combined width W 4  of the laundry appliances  16 . As a result, the cabinet  152  completely overlies the pair of the laundry appliances  16  with the sides of the non-tumble dryer  150  and the laundry appliances  16  forming substantially continuous surfaces. The cabinet  152  can also be sized to partially overlie the laundry appliances  16  (i.e., the width W 3  is less than the width W 4 ) or to more than completely overlie the laundry appliances  16  (i.e., the width W 3  is greater than the width W 4 ). For example, the cabinet  152  can be sized to completely overlie only one of the laundry appliances  16 . Furthermore, because the non-tumble dryer  150  is a stand-alone unit that does not rely upon the laundry appliances  16  for a source of air and/or heat, the non-tumble dryer  150  can be positioned in a location other than above the laundry appliances  16 . For example, the non-tumble dryer  150  can function as a pedestal and support the laundry appliance(s)  16  in an elevated position. When the non-tumble dryer  150  is used as a pedestal, the cabinet top wall  190  is configured to support the laundry appliance(s)  150  in an elevated position as described above with respect to the non-tumble dryer  10 . Further, the non-tumble dryer  150  can be positioned adjacent to the laundry appliance(s)  16 , located in another position relative to the laundry appliance(s)  16 , or used in any location without the laundry appliance(s)  16 . 
     An exemplary description of the assembly of the non-tumble dryer  150  follows. The following description is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the invention in any manner. The assembly process can proceed in any suitable chronology and is not limited to the sequence explained below. 
     To assemble the non-tumble dryer  150 , the drawer  154  is assembled separately from the cabinet  152 . The drawer  154  is assembled by assembling the upper and lower drying racks  156 , 158  and coupling the upper and lower drying racks  156 ,  158  via the drying rack couplers  176 . The lower drying rack  158  is mounted to the drawer front  160 , and the slides  184  are attached to the sides of the lower drying rack  158 . 
     The cabinet  152  is assembled by mounting the drying chamber walls  202 ,  204 ,  206  to the cabinet bottom wall  196 . The air supply system  230 , the heating system  232 , and the duct  254  are mounted in the inlet chamber  208 , and the tracks  226  are attached to the inside surfaces of the drying chamber side walls  202 ,  204 . The cabinet top wall  190  and side walls  192 ,  193  are mounted to the cabinet bottom wall  196 , and the rear wall  194  is coupled to the cabinet top, side, and bottom walls  190 ,  192 ,  193 ,  196 . The control panel  210  is attached to the front of the cabinet  152  to close the inlet chamber  208 . 
     After the drawer  154  and the cabinet  152  are individually assembled, the slides  184  on the drawer  154  are coupled with the tracks  226  on the cabinet  152  to slidably mount the drawer  154  to the cabinet  152 . 
     An exemplary description of the operation of the non-tumble dryer  150  follows. The following description is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the invention in any manner. The operation process can proceed in any suitable chronology and is not limited to the sequence explained below. 
     To operate the non-tumble dryer  150 , a user grasps the handle  182  on the drawer front  160  and slides the drawer  154  from the closed position of  FIG. 10  to the opened position of  FIG. 11 . When the drawer  154  is in the opened position, the user can access the upper and lower drying racks  156 ,  158  to load items to be dried on the drawer  154 . To access the lower drying rack  158 , the user pivots the upper drying rack  156  upward to the position shown in phantom in  FIG. 14 . After the user places the items to be dried on the lower drying rack  158 , the user pivots the upper drying rack  156  to the generally horizontal position so that the user can place items to be dried on the upper drying rack  156 . After the items to be dried are positioned on the upper and lower drying racks  156 ,  158 , the user slides the drawer  154  into the cabinet  152  through the opening  200  to the closed position of  FIG. 12 . When the drawer  154  is in the closed position, the drying chamber  216  fully receives the upper and lower drying racks  156 ,  158 , with the upper drying rack  156  located vertically below the drying chamber inlet apertures  218  and the lower drying rack  158  located vertically above the drying chamber outlet apertures  220 . Additionally, the drawer front  160  closes the opening  200  and thereby the drying chamber  216 , as illustrated in  FIG. 15 . The user selects the desired drying cycle through the control panel  210 , which communicates the selected drying cycle to the controller. 
     The controller controls the operation of the heating element  250  and the blower motor  242  to execute the selected drying cycle. As shown by arrows in  FIGS. 15 and 17 , when the blower motor  242  operates, the blower  234  rotates to draw air from the inlet chamber  208  though the blower air inlet  238  and exhaust air through the blower air outlet  240 . The exhausted air flows into the duct  254  through the conductive body  252  whereby the heating element  250  heats the air. The duct  254  directs the heated air through the drying chamber inlet apertures  218  into the drying chamber  216 . The heated air flows downward through the drying chamber  216  from the drying chamber inlet apertures  218  to the drying chamber outlet apertures  220  and thereby dries the items to be dried in the drying chamber  216 . The heated air flows through the upper and lower drying racks  156 ,  158  as it flows from the drying chamber inlet apertures  218  to the drying chamber outlet apertures  220 . The air exits the drying chamber outlet apertures  220  and enters the outlet chamber  212 . Air from the outlet chamber  212  enters the circulation duct  214  through the circulation duct inlets  222  and flows through the circulation duct  214  before exiting into the inlet chamber  208  through the circulation duct outlets  224 . After the air exits the circulation duct  214 , the air is drawn into the blower  234  through the blower air inlet  238  to re-circulate the air in the manner just described. Thus, the non-tumble dryer  150  forms a closed air circulation path for drying the items held within the drying chamber  216 . 
     When the selected drying cycle is complete, the user grasps the handle  182  on the drawer front  160  and slides the drawer  154  from the closed position of  FIGS. 10 and 15  to the opened position of  FIG. 11  to unload the items to be dried from the drawer  154 . 
     The non-tumble dryer  150  has been described above and shown in the figures as comprising two of the drying racks, the upper drying rack  156  and the lower drying rack  158 ; however, it is within the scope of the invention for the non-tumble dryer  150  to comprise one of the drying racks or more than two of the drying racks. When the non-tumble dryer  150  comprises more than two of the drying racks, the drying racks positioned above a lowermost drying rack are preferably configured to move, such as by pivoting, so that the user can access the individual drying racks to place items to be dried on the drying racks. Moving the drying racks can also include completely removing the drying racks from the drawer  154 . Further, the drawer  154  can comprise a support other than the illustrated drying rack for supporting the items to be dried. 
     Furthermore, the circulation duct  214  is shown as extending laterally behind the drawer  154 , but it is within the scope of the invention for the circulation duct  214  to be located elsewhere in the non-tumble dryer  150 . For example, the circulation duct  214  can extend above or below the drawer  154  or in front of the drawer  154 . 
     The non-tumble dryers  10 ,  150  according to the invention can be modified while remaining within the scope of the invention. For example, the heating systems  80 ,  232  of the non-tumble dryers  10 ,  150  can be omitted such that the air supply systems  100 ,  230  blow non-heated air through the respective drying chambers  30 ,  216 . When the heating system  80 ,  232  is included, the non-tumble dryers  10 ,  150  can comprise a temperature sensor to facilitate control of the heating element  82 ,  250  to control the temperature of the air in the drying chamber  30 ,  216 . Additionally, each of the non-tumble dryers  10 ,  150  forms a closed air circulation path, but the non-tumble dryers  10 ,  150  can be modified so that the air that exits the drying chamber  30 ,  216  exits the cabinet  12 ,  152  rather than being re-circulated. It also follows that the cabinet  12 ,  152  can include a fresh air inlet so that the blower  102 ,  234  takes in fresh air rather than or in addition to re-circulated air. Furthermore, the blower  102 ,  234  can be configured to draw air through the air circulation paths in a reverse direction rather than the direction described above and shown in the figures by arrows. It is also within the scope of the invention for the drawers  14 ,  154  to be mounted to the cabinet  12 ,  152  for types of movement other than sliding movement. For example, the drawers  14 ,  154  can be pivotally mounted to the cabinet  12 ,  152 . Additionally, the drawers  14 ,  154  can comprise other supports rather than the drying racks  50 ,  156 ,  158  to support items to be dried in the drawers  14 ,  154 . For example, the drawers  14 ,  154  can comprise a rack specifically adapted to support shoes in a desired position for drying, such as an inclined position. Further, the non-tumble dryers  10 ,  150  can include an air distributor mechanism to provide jets of air against the rack and to equalize air flow distribution over the rack. An exemplary air distributor mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,032, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     The non-tumble dryers  10 ,  150  have been described as being stacked with the laundry appliance  16 . Examples of the laundry appliance  16  include, but are not limited to, a washing machine, a dryer, a combination washing machine and dryer, or a non-aqueous non-aqueous washing apparatus. An exemplary non-aqueous washing apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0155393, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The non-tumble dryers  10 ,  150  can also be arranged relative to a module of a modular laundry system, such as disclosed in our Ser. No. 11/323,125, filed concurrently herewith, and titled “Modular Laundry System with Horizontal Modules,” our Ser. No. 11/322,715, filed concurrently herewith, and titled “Modular Laundry System with Horizontal Module Spanning Two Laundry Appliances,” our Ser. No. 11/323,221, filed concurrently herewith, and titled “Modular Laundry System with Horizontally Arranged Cabinet Module,” our, Ser. No. 11/322,739, filed concurrently herewith, and titled “Modular Laundry System with Horizontal and Vertical Modules,” our Ser. No. 11/323,075, filed concurrently herewith, and titled “Modular Laundry System with Vertical Module,” our Ser. No. 11/323,147, filed concurrently herewith, and titled “Modular Laundry System with Cabinet Module,” and our Ser. No. 11/322,742, filed concurrently herewith, and titled “Laundry Module for Modular Laundry System,” which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Other exemplary modules are disclosed in our Ser. No. 11/323,867, filed concurrently herewith, and titled “Vertical Laundry Module,” our Ser. No. 11/322,943, filed concurrently herewith, and titled “Vertical Laundry Module with Backsplash,” our Ser. No. 11/323,270, filed concurrently herewith, and titled “Ironing Station,” and our Ser. No. 11/322,944, filed concurrently herewith, and titled “Sink Station with Cover,” which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     The non-tumble dryers  10 ,  150  can also be used in conjunction with a work surface, examples of which are disclosed in the above-incorporated modular laundry system applications as well as in our Ser. No. 11/323,220, filed concurrently herewith, and titled “Modular Laundry System with Work Surface,” our Ser. No. 11/322,773, filed concurrently herewith, and titled “Modular Laundry System with Segmented Work Surface,” our Ser. No. 11/322,741, filed concurrently herewith, and titled “Modular Laundry System with Work Surface Having a Functional Insert,” our Ser. No. 11/322,740, filed concurrently herewith, and titled “Modular Laundry System with Work Surface Having a Functional Element,” and our Ser. No. 11/323,658, filed concurrently herewith, and titled “Modular Laundry System with Shelf Module,” which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     The non-tumble dryers  10 ,  150  can optionally include a hanging element, such as the retractable hanging elements disclosed in the above-incorporated modular laundry system, laundry module, and work surfaces applications as well as in our Ser. No. 11/322,503, filed concurrently herewith, and titled “Retractable Hanging Element,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     The non-tumble dryers  10 ,  150  according to the invention provide several advantages. The non-tumble dryers  10 ,  150  can optionally be utilized as a pedestal but can function independently of the laundry appliance(s)  16  and, therefore, be positioned in any desirable location relative to the laundry appliance(s)  16 , such as on top of the laundry appliance(s)  16 . Additionally, when the non-tumble dryer  10 ,  150  is utilized as a pedestal, the non-tumble dryer  10 ,  150  can execute a desired drying cycle while a conventional dryer supported by the non-tumble dryer  10 ,  150  executes a different drying cycle; the non-tumble dryers  10 ,  150  and the conventional dryer are not required to execute the same drying cycle when operated at the same time. The non-tumble dryer  10 ,  150  can be relatively wide so that clothing items that are relatively long, such as pants, can be completely laid flat on the drying rack  50 ,  156 ,  158  to dry. 
     While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.