Patent Publication Number: US-4733480-A

Title: Dryer for gas masks and the like

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to dryers for devices having wet inside and outside surfaces. More particularly, it relates to dryers for gas masks. 
     In recent years, it has been more and more prevalent for firemen to utilize gas masks while fighting a fire, or in any situation where there is smoke present, particularly when it is necessary for a fireman to enter a smoke filled building. The mask includes a covering for the face and a hose which is adapted to be connected to a portable air tank. After use, it is necessary to wash the mask to remove the particulate matter and odors therefrom. The washing wets the inside and outside surfaces of the mask. 
     A longstanding problem which occurs after washing is the inability to easily dry the masks, particularly the inside surfaces of the masks. In the past, firemen have dryed masks, one at a time, by using a portable hair dryer for both the outside and the inside surfaces. For the inside surfaces, the air output portion of the hair dryer is placed near the opening of the mask hose. The diameter of the air output portion of a hair dryer is larger than the diameter of the hose; therefore, it cannot be inserted. Thus, much of the air is wasted. Obviously, this is a very time-consuming, inefficient and labor-intensive procedure. 
     In a non-analogous art, U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,262, issued to Grasso, shows a cabinet for drying one or two radiators, whereby a compartment housing a dryer fan and piping is adjacent a side wall of the housing for the radiators. Obviously, the Grasso dryer would not work well for drying gas masks. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore one object of this invention to provide a simple and inexpensive apparatus for drying a plurality of devices having wet inner and outer surfaces. 
     It is another object to provide an apparatus for simultaneously drying the inside and outside surfaces of a plurality of gas masks. 
     It is still another object to provide an apparatus which both acts as a dryer and storage container for gas masks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one form of this invention, there is provided a dryer for a plurality of devices which have both inner and outer surfaces which are wet. The dryer includes an enclosure having at least top and side walls. A plurality of air inlet holes are received in the top wall. A plurality of air outlet holes are also received in one of the walls. A source of forced air is connected to the air inlet holes. At least some of the air inlet holes are connected to the wet devices for forcing air onto the inner surfaces of the wet devices. The other air inlet holes force air onto the outer surfaces of the devices. 
     More specifically, there is provided a dryer for a plurality of gas masks and the like, with the dryer also being utilized to store the mask. A first enclosure houses the masks, and has top and side walls. At least one of the walls has a plurality of air inlet holes therein. A second enclosure covers the air inlet holes. An air movement means is connected to the second enclosure for forcing air into the second enclosure. A mechanism is provided for attaching the gas mask to at least some of the air inlet holes wherein air moves into the interior of the gas masks. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the detailed description as follows, reference will be made to the following drawings, comprising the following figures: 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the dryer of the subject invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dryer of FIG. 1 with portions removed. 
     FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the dryer of FIG. 1 showing the devices to be dryed and the air flow. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the specialized connector used to connect the devices to be dryed to the dryer of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is provided dryer 10 having first enclosure 12 and second enclosure 14 attached thereto. First enclosure 12 includes a door 16 with handle 18 and elongated hinge 20. The bottom 24 of the first enclosure is held up from the ground when the dryer is mounted to a wall, as will be explained below. Forced air electrical fan 28 is connected to one side of second enclosure 14. 
     Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2, top wall 32 has a plurality of holes therethrough. The holes in row 34 are threaded, the function of which will be explained later. The holes in rows 36 and 37 are unthreaded. Referring again to FIG. 2, the holes 34 are in a row flanked by a row of holes 36 and 37 on either side. All of the holes in the top of the first enclosure 12 are referred to as air inlet holes. The bottom 24 of first enclosure 12 includes two rows of air outlet holes 38. The dryer is attached to a wall by applying screws (not shown) through holes 39 in back wall 41 of the first enclosure. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, a plurality of gas masks are received in the first enclosure. In the exemplification embodiment, for simplicity, only two masks 40 and 42 are shown connected to the larger holes 34 in the top 32 of the first enclosure. Each gas mask includes a hose 46 which is threaded on its end. The threaded end of the hose 46 of each mask is connected to holes 34 by means of coupling 48 which may be better seen in reference to FIG. 4. 
     As can be seen from FIG. 4, the coupling 48 includes hollow threaded stud 50 and ring 52 and nut 53 attached thereto. Nut 53 holds the coupling 48 to the top 32 of the enclosure. The coupling is adapted to receive the threaded portion (not shown) of the tubes of each gas mask. 
     The drying apparatus described above operates as follows: After the gas masks are washed, moisture remains both on the outside surfaces and the inside surfaces of the masks. A plurality of the masks are placed inside the first enclosure by attaching the hoses of the mask to the larger holes 34 of top 32 by coupling 48. Thus, the masks hang as shown in the position shown in FIG. 3. When the masks are hanging, some of the moisture which is on the inner and outer surfaces of the masks will drip to the bottom of the enclosure and out the holes 38. 
     Forced air fan 28 is turned on, and air flows into a second enclosure 14, through the larger holes 34 in the top of the first enclosure through the inside of the hose 46 of each mask, through the face portion of the mask, and out the bottom portion of the mask. Air also flows from the second enclosure 14 through rows of holes 36 and 37 in the top 32 of the first enclosure, thus into the first enclosure and on and around the outer surfaces of masks 40. The air contacting the outer surfaces and the inner surfaces of the mask exit the first enclosure through holes 38 in the bottom of the first enclosure. After the masks are dried, the fan 28 is shut down, and the masks may be left inside the enclosure for convenient storage. The fan may be equipped with a timer (not shown) so that it will automatically turn off. 
     Thus, there is provided an efficient and inexpensive apparatus for drying gas masks and the like which also acts as a storage container, and which may simultaneously dry a large number of masks.